NUKS
INTRODUCTION 2020
w w w. s t u d i e v e r e n i g i n g k n u s . n l
What’s Inside? Table of Contents
Preface..................................................................... 3 A Word from the KNUS Board................................... 4 Best Finds!: Recommendations.................................. 6 An Introduction to Nijmegen................................... 12 An Introduction to the KNUS Committees............... 13 Nijmegen through the Seasons................................ 16 Can you Guess these Paintings?................................ 17 KNUS in the Picture................................................. 18 Previous KNUS Activities to Get you Excited!......... 20 Being a Student of Colour at a Majorly White University............................................................... 21 Tips on Tackling University..................................... 22 An Alternative Recipe of Apulian Panzerotti.......... 24 Crossword.............................................................. 26 Intro To Do List....................................................... 27 Pro-Tip: Boost your CV!............................................ 28 Tips and Tricks: Make your Student Room a Home....29 Cartoons................................................................. 30
Chief Editors
Shanna de CaluwĂŠ Tatyana Dimitrova
Designer
Tatyana Dimitrova
Cover
@take1official
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Editors
Adil Boughlala Daniela Piangiolino Minsun Kang Sarah Selena Selena Soemakno
Preface Dear reader,
Perhaps you have had numerous introductions to newness in your life: that sinking feeling of oh here we go again. But do you want to go down the pits all alone by yourself? We are joking, of course! This is going to be a fun and relaxing one! So, here we go again! We are Shanna and Tatyana! And this, which you are reading, is NUKS: the magazine for the study association of Arts and Culture Studies and Algemene Cultuurwetenschappen, KNUS. In it, you will find all sorts of articles, from fun tutorials and quizzes, to more serious political articles and information about KNUS and art-related matters. Are you still lost and worried that you do not know where to find things, or confused about the purpose of many things in the Faculty of Arts and the studies itself? Well, lucky you!
Co-head of the NUKS committee Shanna de CaluwĂŠ
Co-head of the NUKS committee and Designer Tatyana Dimitrova We, the NUKS committee, have taken care of that and hereby provide you with a start-up guide, including answers to many of the questions which you may be asking yourself and others. In addition to that, we have included many fun things inside the magazine that you will hopefully enjoy! The artist is the creator of beautiful things. But can you be so sure about that? Arts and Culture Studies and Algemene Cultuurwetenschappen will challenge this perspective for you. Many of us here are creators, and dare we say artists, as well. But in addition to the artist, there is the critic: they who can translate their impression of beautiful (or not so beautiful) things into another manner or a new material impression. In the NUKS committee, both of these kinds of people have gathered to present you with our creations, thoughts and interpretations of art four times a year. And if you like the magazine, you can join as well and freely express yourself to your student mates! Will we see you in our committee meetings this academic year? We hope so! For now, we welcome you into the wonderous world of the NUKS! Co-heads of the NUKS committee and Designer of the NUKS, Shanna de CaluwĂŠ & Tatyana Dimitrova
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A Word from our Chairwoman Howdy, y’all! For the new students, welcome to the Radboud Universiteit and your first year of Arts and Culture Studies and Algemene Cultuurwetenschappen! And for the returning students, welcome back homies! I’m Olivia Krumwiede, the new Chairwoman of the XVII Board of KNUS for the 2020-2021 academic year. I know what you’re thinking… What in the Vincent Van Gogh is KNUS? And who is this weird American shouting “howdy” at me in the hallways? Both of these questions shall be answered soon, dear children!
What is KNUS? Great question! KNUS is the study association for the Arts and Culture Studies
(ACS) and Algemene Cultuurwetenschappen (ACW) at the Radboud. A study association is a group of students that helps organize committees, host social events and parties, work together with professors, create learning opportunities, and so much more. We make sure there are plenty of opportunities for each student to get involved in ACS/ACW and make connections with our awesome group of students. A study association is your go-to for any issues you have with your studies. Need help writing an essay? Having trouble with a particular class or professor? Feeling like you’re spending too much time studying and need a break? Need help making friends? We can help! If we can’t help you personally, we will direct you to the person who can. Just about every study in the Netherlands has a study association, all with the goal of helping students get the most out of their studies. Every year there is a new “Board” that is voted in by previous board members and other students. This year, I was voted in as the Chairwoman of the XVII Board of KNUS, which brings us to the next question…
Who is the Chair? That’s me, Olivia! First, I’ll give you a bit of an introduction of myself, and
then I’ll explain my position in the board. I’m a 23-year-old human from Kansas City, Missouri, United States. I have been living in the Netherlands for the last couple of years. I speak a bit of broken Dutch, so for our students from the Netherlands, feel free to speak Dutch with me (I will try my best)! This will be my second year in the Arts and Culture Studies and I absolutely enjoy this program. ACS and ACW have great professors who are super dedicated to the students. Plus, our study association is super helpful and beneficial, especially as a first-year at the Radboud. That’s why I decided to join the board! SO… What does the Chairwoman of the board do? The Chairwoman is the leader of the study association. The Chairwoman organizes and delegates the Board of KNUS. I am the face you will probably see most throughout the year, as I will do most of the presenting for KNUS. But mostly, I am a student just like y’all!
Who is the rest of KNUS? An American, a Dutchie, a German, an Italian, and a Romanian walk into a bar… Oh wait, that’s just KNUS! There are five members on our board: the Chairwoman, the Secretary, the Treasurer, the Commissioner of Internal Affairs, and the Commissioner of Public Relations. Each has their specific purpose in supporting KNUS on our journey of helping students.
What are the main goals of KNUS this year? With each new school year, the new board sets goals to improve KNUS and the overall experience of the studies. This is all included in our policy plan for the year, but here is a summarized version to get an idea of what we’re working on!
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1. Internationalization/Inclusivity: We want to bridge the gap between the ACS and ACW students. We’re starting a “Buddy System”, as well as organizing more Dutch Culture Events to achieve this goal. More information coming soon!
2. Mental and Social Health: We understand that the topic of “mental health” should be left to the
professionals. However, KNUS is dedicated to being an open, safe, and “gezellige” space for students, in which they can ask for support. We understand that starting university after months of quarantine is not going to be easy. Especially now, when the rules about social interaction are changing all the time. That’s why we’re dedicated to creating small-scale events so people can still meet in person in addition to hosting online events. Also, the “open hours” will be an opportunity for everyone to speak their mind and get help from the board.
3. More Educational Events: We are planning more education workshops such as the “Exam 101” to help new and current students with their studies. Also, we want to plan more educational excursion opportunities.
4. Sustainability: To add onto the great work from the previous board, the current board wishes to create a
more sustainable culture in KNUS. We are currently creating a connection with the Radboud Green Office to learn more about what we can do to decrease our footprint as a study association.
5. Committee Involvement: We want to get more students involved in a committee! Committees are a great
way to get experience working in a group and to make connections from all years of the studies. I myself was in three committees last year! They’re not as much work as one would think and there are always opportunities to learn something new. This year we will be promoting as best as we can and getting people connected with the right committees.
Does KNUS make a little bit more sense now? Hopefully! Do you have any questions, comments, or concerns about our study association? Magical! Feel free to talk to me or any of the board members about any feelings you might have about this upcoming year. We’re super eager to meet the new firstyears as well as see our returning students that we haven’t seen since March. The XVII Board of
KNUS wishes all of the luck in the world to each ACS and ACW student of the upcoming 20202021 academic year! Veel succes jongens en meisjes!
Treasurer of KNUS
Secretary of KNUS
Hi, it’s me ,Melanie! Your fellow ACS student, who is in the second year. I’m 22 years old, German and love to travel and I have already participated in way too many research studies as a guineapig.
My name is Anouk. I am a Dutch, 21 years old and I will be entering my second year of ACS. You will most likely see me drawing or painting portraits. Do not confuse me with my twin though!
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Commissionner Internal Affairs of KNUS
Commissionner Public Relations of KNUS
Heya! I’m Daniela. I’m an Italian 20-yearold, who’s gonna start her 3rd year in Arts and Culture Studies! I’m a perfomance art and musical theatre geek who’s pretty interested in alternative forms of tourism. Oh, and I’m an Hufflepuff dog’s person.
Hello everyone! I am Cami. I am 19 years old and I come from a small Transylvanian city in Romania. I am a second-year ACS student. A few things about me: I am an academic lover, a fan of the 80s era, I love comedy, and going to concerts. Fun fact: There are only 10% of people who are left handed, and I am one of them.
Best Finds!
Recommendations by Tatyana Dimitrova In my first two years of Arts and Culture Studies, I have collected a handful of media works that have been very helpful for me to digest the information of the courses and give inspiration for writing topics, but also easy to enjoy and take your mind off of the study workload which also cover a bunch of topics. Here they are!
Podcasts
Philosophise This!
Stuff You Should Know
Philosophise This! is a free podcast dedicated to sharing the ideas that shaped our world. It is beginner friendly (if listened to in order or not)! It is perfect for anyone interested in educational podcasts about philosophy, where you don’t need to be a graduatelevel philosopher to understand it. In chronological order, the thinkers and ideas that forged the world we live in are broken down and explained, which perfectly applied to courses such as Cultural Theory in year one of ACS and later Culture Through Philosophy. And who knows! Maybe you will find it useful for other courses as well! At the beginning, these theories are hard to take a grasp of, but I believe that all education should be free and accessible and this is exactly what Philosophise This! does.
If you’ve ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks and many more topics, which normally would never cross your mind, then look no further. The hosts of Stuff You Should Know Josh and Chuck have you covered. Each episode, the podcasters have a conversation about the given topic and, by the end, the listeners have a basic working knowledge of that subject. They are on a never ending quest to explain absolutely everything there is on planet earth and beyond.
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Love Your Bod Podcast
Drawn: The Story of Animation Are you a cartoon lover like myself? Great! Then I have just the perfect podcast for you! The host Holly Frey of Drawn: The Story of Animation breaks down the history of animation into 13 episodes in an exploration of cartoons with an insider’s perspective, including show creators, voice actors, historians, animators and business leaders. A collaboration between Cartoon Network and HowStuffWorks which tells you how your favorite cartoons are made!
The Love Your Bod Podcast is all about intuitive eating, female empowerment, body acceptance and saying goodbye to diet culture. Cara Carin Cifelli, your host, is a holistic health coach, author, speaker, online course creator, and avocado toast lover! Of course, this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and does not substitute individual medical or mental health advice, but it is of great help to improve your self-confidence and accept your body in all its greatness and glory. We all need positivity in our lives to learn how to love ourselves! In addition to that, it helps you understand the way society works and how it has unconsciously internalised in us harmful behaviours. Hopefully, after that, you will be able to break away by all these toxic habits and work towards dismantling them!
Instagram Accounts
FLOSS (@florencegiven)
Florence Given is a UK based artist and bestselling author of Women Don’t Owe You Pretty. The British feminist queer illustrator and social activist is known for her popular slogan designs which address social issues surrounding sexuality, gender and race. An accessible introduction to feminism, her bright colours and retro fonts make for some highly Instagrammable #content, but it is the feminist messages behind them that are getting people talking. Given aims to empower women to embrace their sexuality and speak out against toxic patriarchal ideals, such as slut-shaming.”I want to encourage women to question the world that they were born into. I want them to find their power and realise that they should never settle for less than they deserve.” - Florence Given for The Independent.
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YouTube
Kristen Leo
Kristen Leotsakou is a Greek is vegan and ethical living YouTuber who showcases her way of living on YouTube to share how anyone can help animals, fellow humans and the earth. She makes informative video essay analyses on topics such as fast fashion, make-up, travelling, privilege and gives alternative suggestions on how we can decrease our impact on the planet. Do you want to become a part of the movement for making the planet a better and kinder place to live? Then Kristen’s channel is the perfect place to start from!
The Art Assignment
Tiffany Ferguson
Tiffany is a versatile YouTuber mostly well-known for her commentary videos in her “Internet Analysis” series, where she researches and discusses media trends and social topics. She gives insight into areas of society, which are not usually questioned and argues why they should, in fact, be questioned.
The Art Assignment is a webseries focused on contemporary art. It is hosted by Sarah Urist Green who used to be a curator of contemporary art for the Indianapolis Museum of Art. After all, you are going to be an ARTS and Culture Student, right? So before learning the cultural theories, you will need to know some knowledge in art history too. The Art Assignment YouTube channel is the perfect place to broaden your horizon in addition to the information gained during the History of the Western Arts lectures and seminars and find that inspiration that you so desperately might need in order to write the disciplinary and interdisciplinary essays.
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Cartoons Craig of the Creek
Did you absolutely love Steven Universe and terribly miss it now that it is over? From its creators Matt Burnett and Ben Levin, I present to you Craig of the Creek! In the fictional suburban town of Herkleston, a boy named Craig Williams and his two friends, Kelsey Pokoly and John Paul “J.P.” Mercer, have their many adventures in the titular creek, described as a kid utopia of untamed wilderness, in which tribes of children reign over tree forts and dirt bike ramps. Not only is it fun, enjoyable and relaxing to watch, but it is full of LGBTQ+ representations and racial diversity, with Graig, the protagonist, being a Black kid. That’s right, the white person is no longer the centre of the universe! Not to mention how soothing and comforting the end credits of each episode: a literal bliss contained in 32 seconds!
Pinky Malinky
Pinky Malinky marks the first collaboration between Nickelodeon and Netflix. The series chronicles the adventures of Pinky Malinky, a 12-yearold middle school student who also happens to be an anthropomorphic hot dog and his efforts to climb up the social ladder with his two human friends Babs Byuteman and JJ Jameson. The format of the cartoon is a fly-on-the wall reality show and I personally like to classify it as mockumentary as well. Are you curious to find out the story behind Pinky’s unusual hot dog origins? Then find a comfortable place, make sure all stressful thoughts are put aside and enjoy the series!
Films A Whisker Away
Perhaps you are (also) an anime fan? Perhaps you have already heard about A Whisker Away? Well, in case you haven’t, here I am telling you about it! This film was released in June this year on Netflix and holds an approval rating of 92% based on 13 reviews, with an average rating of 7.78/10 on Rotten Tomatoes. And why would it not? Humans turning into cats? Doesn’t that sound like the most relaxing heavenly thing? Well, it turns out not really. Miyo Sasaki is in love with her classmate Kento Hinode and tries repeatedly to get his attention by transforming into a cat, but at some point, the boundary between herself and the cat becomes ambiguous. Sounds angsty, right? Did I stir up your interest? I do not want to spoil anymore, so lastly I will add that the soundtrack is just as good as the film itself.
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Okja
Perhaps you are not a fan of animation? Don’t worry, I got you covered! Okja is an actionadventure film about a girl who raises a genetically modified superpig, directed by Bong Joon-ho the creator of masterpieces such as Parasite and Snowpiercer. As it can be expected, this film is also concerned with the themes of environmentalism, class privilege and the moral issues of capitalism. And if you do not wish to get that deep, you can just enjoy the heartfelt bond between the young girl from South Korea Mija and the super pig Okja, while she tries to save it back after it is stolen and led towards a slaughterhouse.
TV Series Never Have I Ever Never Have I Ever is an American coming of age comedy-drama on Netflix created by Mindy Kaling, whose parents are from India. The comedy is partially based on Kaling’s real childhood story, growing up in the Boston area. The story centers around Devi Vishwakumar, a 15-yearold girl from Sherman Oaks, California. After a horrible freshman year, Devi wants to change her social status, but friends, family, and feelings do not make it easy for her. As the series follows her highs and lows, it has been described as a watershed moment for South Asian representation in Hollywood and has been praised for breaking Asian stereotypes.
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Kim’s Convenience
Here’s another find which introduces racial diversity. Kim’s Convenience is a Canadian television sitcom on Netflix which depicts the Korean Canadian Kim family that runs a convenience store in the Moss Park neighbourhood of Toronto. The show stays away from the pseudoseriousness that could easily plague a comedy about immigrants and family dynamics. The dialogue is sharp, on point and borderline subversive. It’s funny and true, but not a reality we typically see reflected on television.
Books 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World by Elif Shafak
This is a book I finished in two days after the wifi at my house had inexplicably stopped working and I was waiting for someone to come fix it. I do not regret one bit of it though! Ten minutes and thirty-eight seconds, the time it takes for a kettle to boil. It is believed that for that amount of time the human brain continues working after the heart has stopped. For Leila, each minute after her death brings a sensuous memory: the taste of spiced goat stew; the sight of bubbling vats of lemon and sugar; the scent of cardamom coffee. Each memory recalls the friends she made at each key moment in her life. Elif Shafak is a Turkish feminist author who writes about the sexual violence towards women in her country. This last novel of hers with humanising narrative is yet another push for the Turkish government to decide to investigate her. Shafak takes a piercing, unflinching look at the trauma women’s minds and bodies are subjected to in a social system defined by patriarchal codes. It’s a brutal book, bleak and relentless in its portrayal of violence, heartbreak and grief, but ultimately life-affirming.
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An Introduction to Nijmegen by Shanna de Caluwé The city of Nijmegen has a rich history, beautiful sights, well-known events and a cultural sector that satisfies the hearts of all the Arts and Culture and Algemene Cultuurwetenschappen students. Nijmegen will surely come to mean a lot to you as well, I just know it! Therefore, I will introduce you to some of the major historical events of the city, things that it is known for and some of the most beautiful spots in our beloved city.
History of Nijmegen
1272: Saint Stephen’s Church was built
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1300
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17 October 1923: Founding of the Radboud University
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1600
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16 June 1936: Opening of the Waalbrug
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1900
22 February 1944: Bombing of Nijmegen during WWII
9 August 1865: Opening of Nijmegen’s first train station
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2000
Well-known things about Nijmegen
1. The Nijmeegse Vierdaagse
The Nijmeegse Vierdaagse is a hiking event that first took place in 1909 and has taken place every year since (apart from this year, due to the Corona Crisis). It starts on the third Tuesday of July and lasts for four days. Every year, people from up to 80 different countries partake. It is the biggest hiking event in the world. During the week that the Nijmeegse Vierdaagse takes place, there are many festivities throughout the city and its surroundings, which are called the Vierdaagsefeesten.
2. Mariken van Nieumeghen
Mariken van Nieumeghen is a book with an unknown author, the first edition of which is known from 1518. It is a miracle play that is saturated with religious messages and symbolisms. The book is well-known throughout the Netherlands as high schoolers are often required to read it as an assigned reading. You can even find a statue of Mariken at the Grand Market Place in the city centre.
3. Goffertpark
Goffertpark is a place in Nijmegen that is well-known for its large stretch of ground that is used as a podium for concerts, music festivals, circus acts and so on. It is one of the places in the Netherlands where some of the most famous musicians to have ever existed have performed: AC/DC, Aerosmith, Black Sabbath, The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, U2, Pink Floyd, and many more! If you ever get to visit a concert there, it will be something you will never forget!
Most beautiful spots in Nijmegen at night
Waalkade
Valkhofpark
MariĂŤnburgkapel
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Study association KNUS has twelve active committees which members can join. Being part of a committee is a great way to have fun, get to know new people, use your skills and it is an asset that you can add to your CV! Below you can find the different committees and a short overview of what each of them does. • Shanna de CaluwÊ
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Nijmegen Through The Seasons Summer
Hello newbies!!! Welcome to Radboud University of Nijmegen! I understand that a lot of you may be international students and might not be familiar with the city of Nijmegen and its weather and scenery across the seasons. Hence, this article describes Nijmegen through the seasons with sufficient pictures and descriptions. • Sarah Selena
Summer is the season that most enjoy when living in Nijmegen. If you thought the city was lush and green in spring, the greenery is on crack in summer with clear blue skies and sunsets at practically 11 PM. You will be baffled at how late the sun sets during the summer and will find it super disconcerting. In addition, summer is the best time to head to the Waal Beach with your friends during the warm weather and occasional sweltering heat. Make sure to stay hydrated and wear lots of sunscreen during this season.
Spring
Spring is what I would describe as “discount winter”. Early spring follows the heels of winter with its early nights, chill, cold, nearly constant rain and naked greenery. However, later on in spring, the trees which you thought were naked and bare suddenly sprout leaves and the city becomes lush and green when you least expect it. And when you find your mood uplifting and the incredible sight of the rejuvenation of Nijmegen in spring, you then know that spring has sprung.
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Autumn
I’m biased, I will admit this straight up. Autumn is my favourite season and autumn in Nijmegen does not disappoint. Reds, oranges, browns and golds surround you on every tree and it is absolutely breathtaking. It is a little chilly during autumn but arguably extremely pleasant. Plus, cute scarves and sweaters are absolutely warranted which is a massive plus. The sidewalks are often scattered with fallen leaves that come up to your ankles. Kicking them around when you are bored is a fun activity. The parks, Kronenburgerpark, Hunner Park and Valkhof park are stunning during this season. Chill winds and sweeping leaves in the breeze surrounds you and the beauty makes you feel content.
Winter
Alright, I’m just going to let you know upfront that winters are rough. The winter seasonal affective disorder is through the roof. The sun sets at 4-5 PM and the sun rises at 8 AM. The skies are grey and rain falls almost constantly. It’s cold and depressing with the naked greenery. Nijmegen becomes arguably ugly during this season. My advice to survive this season is to simply hang in there, and everything will be okay. I promise.
Can you guess these paintings? by Minsun Kang
Artwork #2
This dark and gloomy painting is a large oil painting by a Spanish artist. This painting is considered to be one of the most intense antiwar paintings. Only three colours, grey, black and white, are used in order to depict the suffering of people and animals which signify the brutal violence and chaos of the war. It was painted in response to the bombing of Guernica in northern Spain by Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy at the request of the Spanish Nationalists. Eventually, this painting contributed to pay worldwide attention to the Spanish Civil War.
Artwork #3
The comic book series Girls’ Romances edition no. 78 in 1961 is the original source of this painting. This painting was included in the painter’s second solo exhibition at Leo Castelli Gallery in 1963. The horizontal parallel lines, which express the sense of motion, are significant features to make the painting look more powerful. Moreover, the key point is the “fantasy drama” of women in love affairs with oppressive men. This painting is especially regarded as a prelude to 1964 paintings of innocent “girls next door” in a variety of tenuous emotional states.
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Picasso, 1937; 3. In the Car, Roy Lichtenstein, 1963.
This painting depicts a real political murder of a leader of the French Revolutionary. In that sense, the painting is well-known as an image of the French Revolution. This painter was one of the leading figures among French painters. The painter was inspired by Entombment of Christ by Caravaggio which reflects the drama and light in its style. He painted the figure like a martyr of the Revolution which resembles a Christian martyr through the face and body bathed in soft light.
Answers: 1. The Death of Marat, Jacques-Louis David, 1793; 2. Guernica, Pablo
Artwork #1
KNUS in the
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Previous KNUS Activities to Get You Excited!
Bob Ross Paint Along Even during the Corona Crisis, KNUS found a way to organize activities for its members, one of them was a Bob Ross Paint Along! The event took place on the KNUS discord and was a way to let the members express their creativity and get inspired by their friends, while following along with a Bob Ross Painting tutorial. In his words, happy accidents happened and the inspiration flowed.
KNUS offers a large variety of activities to its members throughout the year. These are either study related or social activities that make the association as fun and exciting as it is! To give you an impression of what these activities might be like, we have compiled some examples of things that were organised in past academic years.
• Shanna de Caluwé
Childhood Heroes Drinks Some of the most popular KNUS events are the drinks! Each with their own theme and characteristics, they mostly take place at our favourite café Het Alternatief. One very successful evening was centred around the theme of “Childhood Heroes”. The KNUSers released their inner child by dressing up as their favourite childhood characters ranging from Totally Spies to Pippi Longstocking, see for yourself!
Murder Mystery Dinner KNUS also organizes an annual Murder Mystery Dinner, where no one can be trusted and everything is a mystery. The purpose is to defend your innocence and solve the crime, all while staying in your assigned character with your own backstory and motives. Each of these dinners have been evenings full of mystery, excitement and fun! Even though you might leave with some serious trust issues...
Magical Pub Lecture When the nights were long and it was dark and rainy, KNUS organised a Magical Pub Lecture that took place in the small café of our favourite book shop: Dekker van de Vegt. One of our wonderful lecturers, Frederik Van Dam, told us all about fairytales and the unheimlich in his magicthemed lecture.
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Glow in the Dark Mini Golf In February, the KNUSers set out to play a competitive game of Glow in the Dark Mini Golf, which is just like the mini golf you know, but just a lot better! KNUS members even got a discount, which is the case for many of the paid activities that take place throughout the year. As you can tell from the picture, it was a great success!
Being a Student of Colour at a Majorly White University
Being a part of a minority in any kind of community can often be an isolating and exhausting experience, especially if the community does not foster a safe space for you to learn, question norms, seek joy, and generally exist. Although I personally look back on my experience as an ACS student with a satisfied sigh, the ride has not been without its own ups and downs. In light of the Black Lives Matter movement, I believe it is especially vital to normalise discussing race so as to create a transparent and accepting environment at the university. • Selena Soemakno The Culture Shock is Real
Your cultural identity might be challenged, questioned, awarded, tokenised, and who knows what else when you’re a part of a marginalised group in a space with non-marginalised people running the show. You will run into people who have views that you’ve never even heard of. This can be terrifying, but it can also be exciting. No one else gets to define what your race, culture, or identity means to you. While university is a great time for you to experience new things, it might also be a great time to deconstruct your values, morals and what being you means to you.
Find your space
Find likeminded people, find the people you can consider your home away from your home. Go to on-campus events, go to Radboud Reflects talks, go to seasonal celebrations, watch local film screenings, attend ESN get-togethers, strike conversations with random people in class or at the gym, and see what the campus has to offer. It can be a little awkward at first, but there is no better time to practice social skills than at a place dedicated to learning.
Correct others, if need be
I hope it doesn’t happen, but you might run into peers and professors that say things that are ignorant or disrespectful in the classroom setting. This goes for every intersectionality of identity. If someone uses a word that is outdated, calls you by the wrong pronouns, or makes you feel silenced, correct the people around you—with kindness, of course. There’s nothing wrong with making a mistake and you can always help your peers understand certain topics they might not have as much experience with.
Don’t Stick to the Status Quo
Challenge the system if you believe something is problematic. Initiate conversations about course materials with your professors, seek course coordinators if you believe there is a structural issue, bring suggestions to the OpCo so that they can bring real change to your study if need be. The best things in life always evolve and you shouldn’t be afraid to create change in your own community.
Speak up
One of the best ways I’ve found my own circle is by speaking up in class or during audience commentaries. Being outspoken can be terrifying, especially in the face of professors and peers who may make you feel judged, but this is how you make yourself and your views known to your fellow peers without actually coming up to them.
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Tips on tackling university by Adil Boughlala
How to handle all the courses
Every course you’ll get is different from the other, and that makes the studies very interesting. However, this also requires different ways of preparing for tests and/ or essays. For the first semester, I will give you some tips on how to tackle your first four courses.
History of the Western Arts 1
• The first part of a 4-part course, HotWA1 will introduce you to the classic art history and follows it. • For all of the HotWA exams, I found it very useful to take notes during the lectures, and at the end of the period, turn those notes into a chronological summary, divided by each discipline. That way, you can see the development of, let’s say, monophonic to polyphonic music in just one glance. • Don’t be discouraged if you can’t do all the reading, or if you feel like it takes you longer than what is expected of you! The base of the course is mostly discussed in the lectures and the literature helps you prepare for the lectures and understand them better. In a sense, this applies to most courses, but definitely not all! • Prepare for the seminars! Even if it’s just looking at the assignments and thinking about it. There is nothing more timewasting than attending a seminar of which you have no idea what it is about. Seminars are most effective when everyone tries to contribute something.
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European Culture
• What I remember most about European Culture is that whatever I knew about Europe in advance, I should not take for granted. I challenge you to have an open, yet critical mindset during this course (actually, all courses)! • At first glance, the course might seem intimidating because it’s a two period course. But it’s still a 5EC course, just like HotWA. So in the end, you’ll probably put as much energy in this course as a single HotWA course, but you’ll have more time to do so. • Pay close attention to the lectures, because your exam will most likely feature points that were discussed in class. But that obviously doesn’t mean you get to disregard the literature.
Academic Skills
• In my opinion, one of the most important foundational courses in the first year! Everything you learn during this course, you will need for the rest of your academic career. From writing essays and citing sources to presenting in front of a crowd. • AcSki is probably the most practical and least theoretical course in your first year, so make sure to keep up with assignments that you are given! Practice makes perfect, especially since the feedback you’ll recieve is key to passing this course.
Image, Music and Text Analysis
• One of the two 10EC-courses you will have this year. And for a good reason; IMTA is basically a combination of three smaller courses, but in the end, it’s all about analysis. • Make sure you watch/listen to/read/understand all the examples that are given during class. They will not only help you as inspiration for essays, but chances are the examples will be referred to in the exams! • Since analysis is a combination of theory and the practical, be sure to practice your analysis skill and know all the theories! This will help you find patterns in analysis and become faster.
Overall
• Don’t be scared to answer or ask questions. Even though it’s mostly lectures you will get, it’s best to see them more as a conversation between you (the class) and the teacher. You will learn best if you interact with the teacher. Answer their question or ask questions when you don’t understand. You can even ask a teacher to slow down if they’re talking to fast (please do, cause teachers are humans as well). • The teachers are not just there for their paycheck and for you to look at them. They are there to help and teach you. If you struggle with an assignment, or you don’t understand a sentence you’ve written down during one of the lectures, you can always mail them or walk up to them. It’s best if you don’t do this a day before the exam though. You can also always ask a second-year or someone else in the study! We will always be here to help you (trust me, we’ve all been there). • Be sure to find your desired way of planning, because planning is essential! Trust me on this, you can’t do everything one day in advance and still expect to pass with flying colours. Sometimes it takes a bit more effort to get there.
Reading academic articles
• The best tip I can give is: keep reading. Practice makes key, so make sure you read plenty enough. Sure, reading takes time, but the more you read (including your study books), the faster and easier you’ll read. • You will find that some articles will be harder to read than others. Sometimes authors even reference other authors and their works or theories. Make sure you look up these works and get the gist of what the author is trying to make out. There is always a reason why someone else is being referenced. • Look up the words you don’t understand yet frequently see. This will help you better understand the article, and it will broaden your vocabulary, which will help with other sources. • Not every source will be useful to you. Make sure to always read the summary if it’s available, and start by scanning your article. After a more distant approach, you can decide whether it is necessary to read more. Then, you can do close reading, which is more focussed on the content. This way you don’t waste precious time reading articles that won’t benefit you, no matter how interesting it is.
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How to find good academic sources
• Although Google is one of the best ways to find information (general definition), it’s not necessarily a great way to find actual academic sources, but you will learn this soon enough. Rather, use the resources that the university has given you access to; • The university library is filled with useful books from several studies of the Faculty of Arts. Sometimes you find even a book outside of our faculty will deem useful. To access the catalogue of the University Library, you go to www.ru.nl/ ubn • On here, you will also see a lot of e-sources, like e-books, journals and more. You can, of course, also use these! There are some databases that I prefer to use, because the university catalogue is sometimes a bit too broad a place to look for sources. You can try using JStor or Project Muse (or find your own preferred database!).
An Alternative Recipe of Apulian Panzerotti Living alone is a wonderful experience, before you actually realise that your mum is not going to cook for you anymore and you’ve never touched a pan for eighteen years of your life. When I moved to Nijmegen, I would cook pasta every day to try to keep my ‘Italianness’ although it is quite impossible to find the right ingredients to recreate my mum’s dishes here. So I’ve started experimenting with different recipes using fresh and local products, opening my cuisine horizons to other cultures and tastes. During my last vacation in Italy, I went and ate panzerotti - a traditional dish from Puglia (or Apulia) known also as ‘calzone’ or ‘fried pizza’ in some other Italian regions - in a special shop in my parents’ hometown. The cook, Davide, had a really singular idea of panzerotti: he would take the original filling tomatoes and mozzarella - and play with it, inspired by traditional dishes from all around the world. Every panzerotto was an explosion of tastes; the one I ate was inspired by his 2005 trip to Australia, characterised by figs, gorgonzola, and speck. Such a weird union of tastes, isn’t it? Therefore, I will now explain to you how to cook panzerotti, and I will challenge you to add your country’s traditional ingredients to the traditional recipe and share it with your fellow students! Get creative in the kitchen! • Daniela Piangiolino
INGREDIENTS Preparation time: 15 min Cooking time: 5 min Rising time: 2 hours Ready in: 20 min
FOR THE DOUGH • 500 grams of flour • 300 ml of warm water • 3 g of dehydrated brewer’s yeast (or 10g of fresh brewer’s yeast) • 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil • 6 grams of sugar (1 small teaspoon) • 10 gr of salt (1 generous teaspoon) FOR THE STUFFING • 200 gr of mozzarella for pizza in cubes • 100 gr of tomato puree • Salt and Pepper to taste • Oregano to taste • Seed oil for frying
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DIRECTIONS • To make the Apulian panzerotti, prepare the flour in a bowl, add the dehydrated brewer’s yeast, the sugar to activate the leavening and mix with your hands. • In another bowl, pour the lukewarm water, add the salt, the extra virgin olive oil and start mixing with your hands. • Then add the flour with the baking powder a little at a time and mix until a smooth, homogeneous and elastic dough is obtained. • Let’s move to the work surface to work the dough. Ready the dough, place it in a bowl, practice the classic cross cut and cover it with cling film. Let the dough rise for 2 hours in a warm place until its volume is doubled. • Once the dough has risen, let’s move it onto the lightly floured pastry board. Work it a little with your hands and form many balls weighing about 80 grams. About 10/12 balls should be obtained with this dough. • Put the balls on the baking sheet, covered with parchment paper and let them rise in a warm place for 20 minutes. • In the meantime, prepare the filling. put the diced mozzarella for pizza in a bowl, add the tomato sauce, salt, pepper, oregano to taste and mix all the ingredients with a
spoon and set aside. • After 20 minutes, spread the balls of dough on the work surface with a rolling pin and a little flour if necessary, until you get a disc of dough, not too thin. • At the center of the pastry circle, put our filling, wet the edges with a little water and close well with your fingers, forming the classic crescent and then seal the edges well with a fork. • Heat the oil well in a pot or a pan. Do the toothpick test: dip a wooden toothpick in the oil, when many bubbles form around it. The oil is ready to be used. The correct temperature for frying is 170 ° if you have a thermometer. • We fry the panzerotti until they are golden brown on both sides. It will take about 4 minutes. • Once the Apulian panzerotti are cooked at the browning you prefer, drain them on absorbent paper to remove the excess oil. • They can also be cooked in a static oven at 200 ° for 20 minutes, ventilated at 190 ° for 15-20 minutes, until they are golden brown (in this case, it is better to brush them first with egg yolk or olive oil or a little of tomato sauce).
Here you are! The Apulian panzerotti ready to be brought to the table! Enjoy! 25
26 Answers: 1.Corinthian; 2.Nuks; 3.Orientalism; 4.Louvre; 5.Kronenburg; 6.Doornroosje; 7.Juliet; 8.Feliciter; 9.Buonarroti; 10.Vincent; 11.MoMA; 12.Fanon.
Intro To Do List Have You Done This Yet? for each of these things that you box Check the complete! ☐ Get your address registration ☐ Get your BSN number ☐ Open a bank account ☐ Go to Albert Heijn ☐ Have or buy new bed sheets and a pillow ☐ Make new friends ☐ Take a look at your university schedule ☐ Visit at least one of the buildings where you will have lectures or seminars ☐ Eat traditional Dutch food ☐ Hear an argument between a Dutch person from the south of the Netherlands and a Dutch person from the north of the Netherlands ☐ Hear an argument between a Dutch and a Belgian person ☐ Get a tote bag ☐ Follow KNUS’ social media accounts ☐ Learn new Dutch words ☐ Get the Intro NUKS? ☐ Take a deep breath and rest!
For the Dutchies: Some Extra Challenges ☐ Find someone who lives in the same place/area as you. ☐ Use your AH bonus card in Nijmegen ☐ Try to go a whole day without forgetting how to pronounce your intro-group members’ names ☐ Try to come up with the shortest answer possible to “ACS/ ACW, wat studeer je daar precies?” ☐ Get a Knaek/CPJ card for discounts ☐ Teach an international student your favorite Dutch words
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p: i T Pro st Boo V! rC u o Y
I know thinking about your CV already sounds stressful, I know, trust me. But bear with me! Because you may actually find these tips useful and, surprisingly, enjoyable! Here are two things that you can already do in your first year of ACS (or ACW), which will look really nice on your CV later!
• Tatyana Dimitrova
UniBuddy
I joined UniBuddy in my first year of ACS and I am still part of it in my third year! Perhaps you have already used it yourself? It is a global virtual community diminishing the gap between RU current students and prospective students. You get an account on the UniBuddy website, fill up the required information about yourself and voila! Now, you wait to so kindly help out the students who are interested in doing ACS or ACW and come to ask you questions! You will most certainly receive an e-mail with an offer to join UniBuddy later in the academic year from Anne Opmeer.
A Student for a Day
For this one, you join a group organised by our study advisor Lieneke Setton. Throughout the year, prospective students, who wish to come study at RU and want to experience what a day in the life like that is, are assigned to you. You bring them to lectures, take them to the Refter and have lunch with them and show them around the campus while having a chit chat. Sounds fun, right? And you get a free meal!
Get Involved in an Association
This can be KNUS - joining a committee looks good on your CV because you learn real-life skills that are useful in your career later! But there are also other associations such as Cultuur op de Campus which you can join.
Volunteer for Cultural Instances in Nijmegen
Those can be galleries, the filmfestivals etc. A good way to know who is looking for volunteers is to look at KNUS’ linkedin and facebook, and sometimes the vacancies are also posted in the groupsapps.
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Tips and and Tricks: Tips Tricks: Make Your Make YourStudent Student Room a a Home Room Home by Shanna de Caluwé
1. Make your room smell nice! One thing that will certainly make
your student room feel more like a home is the scent. You could either bring in some nice smells that remind you of home, or something completely new to create your own scent that makes you feel at home. Some candles or fragrance sticks will do the trick, which don’t have to be expensive; you can even buy them at Primark in the city centre!
2. The next thing that will bring more happiness into the sometimes
quite somber student rooms are pictures. Hang up pictures of anything and everything, your parents and siblings, your pets, your friends from home, your new university friends and anything else your heart desires. Put your favourite ones in a nice picture frame and set them up in your room, which will instantly feel more like a home!
3. Moving on, plants are an easy way to bring some life
into your room. Plants are living beings, which means you will never be alone in your room. As long as you are able to keep them alive, that is… If not, some colour from even fake plants will do too, nobody will notice anyway!
4. Another way to make your room feel more homey is to have little
trinkets everywhere, unless you are more into minimalism, of course! Things like seashells, little sculptures, dishes, cute boxes, postcards, etc. are a great way to make your room feel less empty and more like a home.
5. Lastly, soft things. This could be anything from a pillow, to a blanket, to a plush toy. These things make your room look a lot warmer and welcoming. The soft texture will make it feel very cozy and cute.
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We always like to end the NUKS magazine with a cartoon or two from our favourite artists on Instagram. Do not forget to visit their accounts and leave them some love! We hope you had fun going through the magazine and continue to do so for the rest of your time in Arts and Culture Studies and study association KNUS!
• Tatyana Dimitrova
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Friends of KNUS
Marcel van den Haak
INTRO NUKS 2020
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