{"id":88988,"date":"2018-08-22T11:16:46","date_gmt":"2018-08-22T09:16:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=88988"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:23:04","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:23:04","slug":"iets-minder-alcohol-tijdens-de-introductieweek","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2018\/08\/22\/iets-minder-alcohol-tijdens-de-introductieweek\/","title":{"rendered":"A little less Alcohol during the introduction week"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you were to ask new first-year students, they would be unanimous: alcohol is essential for creating the right mood during the introduction week. The Eureka Week organisers decided to start serving alcohol two hours later this year, at 14:00 instead of noon, but the cantus won\u2019t change: \u201cIt\u2019s a party featuring music as well as alcohol.\u201d EM decided to explore the introduction week scene and speak to students about alcohol, and in the process witnessed the very first beer served during this year\u2019s introduction week.<\/p>\n

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Last years Eurekaweek board enjoys a drink<\/span><\/p><\/figcaption><\/figure>

Changed from twelve to two<\/h2>
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Maaike de Keulenaar<\/span><\/p><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>

\u201cOur message is: \u2018enjoy your time as a student\u2019\u201d, says Eureka Week committee chair Maaike de Keulenaar on day one. \u201cThis year we\u2019re focusing on all students, and the importance of alcohol varies a lot among the participants. Some of them come for all the partying, but we also have a great programme for students who are looking for something else\u201d. On the cantus (singalong) evening, an open-air cinema is offered as an alternative activity.<\/p>\n

This year, the organisers felt compelled to review their existing alcohol policy: \u201cStudents will notice that alcohol will only be served after 14:00. It\u2019s a minor change, but it reduces the amount of time that alcohol will be served. Why start serving alcohol at noon? We felt that was very early, especially considering our programme continues until 11 in the evening.\u201d Another measure is that no spirits will be sold this year.<\/p>\n

The first beer<\/h2>\n\t
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\n\t\t\u2018Beer helps break the ice\u2019\n\t<\/blockquote>\n\n\t<\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n

Business Administration student Ruben Bun will enter the history books as the first person to order a drink during this Eureka Week. At two o\u2019clock sharp the 19-year-old guide took a big swig of his beer on Schouwburgplein \u2013 even though he didn\u2019t know when he placed his order that he had beat out four thousand students to the first beer. \u201cI wasn\u2019t aware that the taps would open later this year, and I don\u2019t think it\u2019ll be a problem: I think in the coming days we\u2019ll still be hungover when two o\u2019clock comes around, so we won\u2019t necessarily want to drink before then.\u201d<\/p>\n

He feels that alcohol helps you get to know each other better on a first day like this: \u201cWe don\u2019t know each other, and the beer helps break the ice and get the conversation going.\u201d He is especially looking forward to the beer cantus: \u201cThat was a lot of fun last year and I\u2019m sure it\u2019ll be just as much fun this year.\u201d<\/p>\n

The cantus: a celebration of music (and alcohol?)<\/h2>

In 2015, Rutger Engels, who has just taken up the position of Rector Magnificus and was then the director of the Trimbos-instituut (Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction),\u00a0spoke out against holding a beer cantus<\/a>\u00a0during the introduction period. Alcohol consumption shouldn\u2019t be encouraged during the introduction week: \u201cThat\u2019s not appropriate for a university, and it certainly doesn\u2019t fit in with an introduction week meant for 17 and 18-year-olds.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chair Maaike de Keulenaar explains that the cantus was also reviewed with regard to measures related to alcohol consumption, but it was decided that no changes would be made compared to last year\u2019s edition: \u201cThe cantus is a fun and appealing event and is uneventful compared to other cities. Students have to remain seated, and there are no penalties that involve having to drink alcohol. It\u2019s a party that features music as well as alcohol.\u201d<\/p>\n

Drinking is just part of university life<\/h2>

Micha Verschoor (18), who will be studying fiscal law starting this September, doesn\u2019t agree with the Rector\u2019s position. While taking a sip of his first beer of the day, he explains: \u201cI feel that it (alcohol, ed.) is actually part of being at university. In my opinion it\u2019s just a part of university life\u201d. His guide Charlotte de Lange (20) \u2013 \u201cRelatively speaking, I\u2019ll be sober\u201d \u2013 is amused by his remarks. \u201cDuring the mentor training sessions we discussed alcohol extensively.\u201d She agrees with fellow guide Ruben: \u201cI think that alcohol helps break the ice on the first day and makes things a little more relaxed.\u201d She is also looking forward to the cantus: \u201cI don\u2019t think it\u2019s an event where you necessarily have to be really drunk. A cola cantus would be completely different, but you\u2019ll still have fun if you\u2019ve had a couple of beers.\u201d<\/p>\n

He and the other first-years drinking beer on Schouwburgplein don\u2019t appear to be planning to drink less due to the tap opening two hours later, nor do they seem to be contemplating the risks attached to excessive drinking. Aernout de Leeuw (19, Economics and Law programme) lies in the grass recovering from an RSC party: \u201cI started drinking at around one o\u2019clock yesterday and by eight in the evening you\u2019re down for the count<\/em>. It\u2019s cool if the tap opens a couple of hours later, you can party later into the night that way.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t

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\n\t\t\u2018It\u2019s cool if the tap opens a couple of hours later, you can party later into the night that way\u2019\n\t<\/blockquote>\n\n\t<\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n

The new first-years still have some tips for anyone who wants to make it through the week drunk but intact. Micha: \u201cEat properly; fortify yourself before you start drinking.\u201d His friend Robbert van der Weide (19), who has just calculated out loud that he estimates he\u2019ll drink about 50 more glasses of beer this week, adds: \u201cEven though it\u2019s a pity the tap doesn\u2019t open until two o\u2019clock, if you continue drinking and never stop, there\u2019s no chance of getting a hangover either.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Ruben Bun (l) is enjoying his first beer of the day<\/span><\/p><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t

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De redactie<\/h2>\n\t\t\n\t\t
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