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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