Issuu

August

2021

S K U N n o i t c u d o ntr

www.studieverenigingknus.nl

Editors Editors in Chief Shanna de Caluwé Tatyana Dimitrova

Cover and Internal Design Tatyana Dimitrova

Adil Boughlala Anna Heijnis Charlie Chowdhry Daniela Piangiolino Jonathan Zackor Merel Van Bommel Paula Werdnik Sam van Stokkom

Welcome to all newbies! Radboud campus is quite large, so here you get a general map of all locations and some places you will get to hang out more often as a ACW/ACS student!

Introducting: the XVIII Board of Study Association

KNUS What is KNUS?

Hi and welcome, everyone! If you are a first-year, I’m so pleased to meet you, and welcome back to everyone else who already had the pleasure to study with us the last few years! I am Jonathan (he/him) and I am this year’s Chair of the Study Association KNUS at the Radboud University Nijmegen. Before my fellow board members and I tell you a bit about KNUS, I would like to introduce myself a bit! I am an international student from Eastern Germany, and will be in my third year of the Arts and Culture Studies programme. I am super passionate about learning languages, as well as playing music, writing, dancing, and many more things! I absolutely love this study programme and being here at this university, which I am sure you will be able to tell sooner rather than later. And I really love animals, especially the little chickens back at my home in Germany who I always miss the most when I am in the Netherlands. One thing that helps me with that, however, are the amazing people in my study and the lovely KNUS members! Which is exactly why I am so happy to be the chair of the study association this year, because my fellow board members and I want to give our best to provide the comfy and safe space that every student should have (even if you are a bit more on the shy side - just like I was in my first year here!).

KNUS is the study association for Arts and Culture Studies and Algemene Cultuurwetenschappen! This doesn’t mean that if you study something else, you can’t become a member; we actually have some members that study something else, including our new Commissioner of Internal Affairs, Charlie! KNUS doesn’t directly translate to English, but it means something along the lines of “snug”, or “cozy”; that is also exactly the vibe we want the study association to have! We find it really important that KNUS is inclusive and a safe space for everyone, where every member feels heard and at home and is comfortable.

What do we do? KNUS does a lot of stuff. What you will mostly see KNUS do this year is organize and host parties, run events that are either fun or educational (and often both!), and give students a chance to gain experience through committees. Committees are groups that organize events and other fun things, and you can easily sign up to become a member (which will look pretty nice on your resume as well! There are also some official things KNUS does, but you will learn more about that as the year progresses.

Why should you join us?

KNUS is, honestly, like a readymade university family; you will easily find friends and you’ll have so many things to do each week! You will be able to attend association events designed by students with the same interests as you, so they will be made with you in mind. If you are looking for new connections, friends, ways to expand your resume, or just something to do on your Thursday night, KNUS can make all that happen! (Okay, we’ll stop with the shameless promo).

What is our focus as a board this year? It is a common practice to choose some specific areas on which the board will work in the upcoming year. We as the XVIII Board, have decided on these four elements: Sustainability, Inclusivity, Open Dialogue, and Safeguarding! Both sustainability and inclusivity have been a focus of our association for a long time now, but there are always more opportunities to improve on something. We want to build on the efforts of the previous boards, and be mindful of, for example, ethical consumption, and to make our events as sustainable as possible. Therefore, we are also pretty excited to organise events such as frequent clothing swaps! And of course, we have to deal with something that has influenced all of our lives greatly in the past year… with all of the hardships that the pandemic brought, we recognize that it can be a big challenge to get back into the world and social life after all the months of isolation. Yet, we can also all agree that life before the pandemic was not always perfect. We as a board do not believe in the mindset of toxic positivity, but rather want to pay attention to mental health and facilitate open communication on all levels within the association. We therefore encourage honesty, directness, and well-being, while also being mindful to continue making KNUS a safe environment in which every member can thrive and create long-lasting friendships. We actively aspire to establish a protective space for every member of the association to express themselves fully and without judgement! And lastly, since we are a study association that is accessible to both Dutch and international students, we aim to embrace all of our members’ perspectives and differences, and bring everybody together.

Introducing the Other Board Members: Treasurer: Anna Heijnis

Hi loves! My name is Anna (she/her), I am Dutch, 21 years old and am starting my second year of ACS! You wouldn’t say so maybe, but being a treasurer entails more than just keeping tabs on KNUS’s finances, but you’ll find out what that means in the year to come. In my free time I love to wander and visit museums, as well as find new vegan cooking recipes and do anything I’ve never done before! I can’t wait to see all your pretty faces this year, whether that be online or in real life!

Secretary: Sam van Stokkom

Hello hello, you beautiful people! It’s Sam (she/her) here, the Secretary for KNUS this year. I am a 19 year-old student from the Netherlands, about to start my second year of Arts and Culture Studies! When I’m not busy with uni stuff, you’ll find me listening to one of my 67 Spotify playlists, browsing Pinterest (and making heart-eyes at musicians from the 70s), reading, or playing the drums. I am beyond excited to meet all the darling new faces we have with us this year, and to continue having fun with the wonderful students I have already had the pleasure of knowing.

Commissioner of Internal Affairs: Charlie Chowdhry

I’m Charlie (he/him), I’m 21 and I’m an international student from Scotland. I’m the first Board member to come from outside of ACS and ACW; I fell in love with the vibe of KNUS after tagging along to one of the events in my first year, and I’ve been around ever since! My hobbies are writing, knitting, The Sims 4 and Minecraft. I’ll be the Commissioner Internal Affairs this year - I’ll be the contact person for committees, and you’ll see my posts on KNUS’ social media accounts.

Why did you choose to study ACW/ACS? What do you like about the study? Student Experiences Thomas (second year ACS)

I chose ACS because it was the closest I could find to a film study that was relatively nearby my home! While a part of it has indeed been about film, I was pleasantly surprised by the variety of subjects offered, especially in the philosophical field. It definitely feels like one of the more varied programmes out there!

Freya (graduated ACS) Nora (second year ACW)

I chose ACW because I wanted to do a study that focused on art and culture. Ever since I was little, I have been interested in art; therefore I saw myself doing nothing else than studying at an art academy. I did this for a year, but I found out that it wasn’t quite it for me. Fortunately, I found this study, where you learn so much in a theoretical way and actually study all art disciplines and place them in today’s society. From visual arts to theater, from fashion to music, everything comes along and is super interesting and contemporary, relevant. I got to do super many assignments where I could choose my own topic within the disciplines, so it stays the most interesting for you personally as well. My mentor, Tom Sintobin, said this year, “Actually, you don’t have any free time after lectures, because if you watch a movie, go to a museum, or read, you’re actually still thinking about things that you learn during the study.” But, don’t worry, there are plenty of KNUS activities where you can take a break from thinking about your studies and do fun things with fun people!

Stefani (second year ACS)

To be honest, I wanted to study Archeology at first. But, as I was researching universities, the Arts and Culture Studies program caught my attention. What really spoke to me were the History of the Western Arts courses; coming from a place where we don’t thoroughly study art history, I thought this would be amazing, and so it was. What I really liked about the studies during my first year was the fact that they gave us a “base”, so to say: all the knowledge that I would need in the next two years of the studies (and after that), had been obtained. I love that we covered all of the history of western arts, learned how to analyze film, music and literature. Not to mention the inclusion of gender studies and learning how to properly use research methods. I can’t wait for the next two years!

I chose Arts and Culture Studies because I’m fascinated by art history and cultural theory, so this was a perfect combination of the two! I love how broad the study is and also how it attracts students from all different backgrounds, so group work and class discussions are always engaging and lively!

Shanna (graduated ACS)

I decided to study ACS because it is quite broad and the topics that get discussed really suit my interests. What I really liked is how we used our interdisciplinary knowledge to try to answer questions about society. I also liked that I chose the English track because I got to meet people from various backgrounds.

Adil (third year ACS)

During high school, I learned that I had an affinity with art. However, my interests were really broad - so broad, that I didn’t want to only learn about art history. I wanted to choose a study that had a little bit of everything: art history, culture, interdisciplinarity, political engagement, an international classroom, and even more! That is why I decided to study Arts and Culture Studies.

Janneke (third year ACS)

I recall the introduction talk for ACS quite clearly. I was visiting the open day with friends and remember saying that this study seemed “too fun”, nothing like an actual serious study. Two years, of which one a gap year to figure out what the hell I wanted to do with my life, later, I finally realised that maybe my thought that ACS was “too fun” was a sign that it would be the perfect study for me. Ultimately, I went with my gut and I don’t regret it. As this study allows me to analyse art and cultures (huh I wonder what ACS stands for), whilst showing the importance of the two.

Daniela (almost graduated ACS)

To be honest, my university choice was quite random. During my last year in the Art high school, I found some universities abroad with extremely interesting programmes, and RU was one of them. When I visited RU during an open day, I instantly fell in love with it and felt that Nijmegen was my place in the world. Since the very first day, I have adored the programme and all teachers, and I have always felt very welcomed in the studies and in KNUS. I hope that you get the same feeling, too! Remember to always have fun in what you do and to reach out for help to your fellow students or KNUS whenever in need! I wish you all the best for your beginning in this beautiful journey!

Still lost on the university website looking for specific information? Here are some useful links for you! First of all, portal.ru.nl will become your best friend during these years, providing you with all the helpful information about the programme, such as:

Sarah Selena (graduated ACS)

•

Arts and Culture is an incredibly valuable program to partake in since its education grants us a new perspective which completely changes the way we look at and function in our world and society. Why I chose to study Arts and Culture was to step out of my comfort zone and experience disciplines of a different interest than my own- literature. I am happy to say that my choice in the program was a wonderful one as it fulfilled my goals of personal growth and so much more.

Therese (graduated ACS)

I chose arts and culture because I couldn’t decide what I loved more: art history or music analysis? This programme perfectly solved my dilemma! I liked that we were unapologetically critical and could discuss and dissect any and every piece of culture and art, in and outside of the classroom. I love that it broadened my mind to the way that culture is constructed and perpetuated!

Helpful Links!

•

Paula (graduated ACS)

I chose Arts & Culture Studies at Radboud University because I liked the wide scope of the course. We had courses about photography, fashion, cultural theory, gender, art history and so much more. It offered some insight into a wide variety of the arts such as visual art, theatre, music, TV, film analysis, fashion and photography. I felt this would give me a variety of options when discovering my interests and passions. It also gave insight through an interdisciplinary approach. You learn to make connections between different arts and how they influence and impact one another, and that is a real benefit to this course. However, I was able to “specialize” in my third year, when I chose the course “Literature in Society” as my minor. After completing the first two years I was more certain than ever that literature was my passion and what I would want to continue my studies in. The minor tied in well with the previous courses I had taken, and I felt I had a lot of information and knowledge already to draw upon within my minor. Aside from content material, ACS is super interesting in general and links to a lot of the books, shows, social media, and societal themes you engage with in your day to day. Also, there is an international and friendly setting in the classroom, and it’s a relatively small class so by the end of the studies you feel like you know everyone quite well, which is comforting when moving to a new place. The classes are very discussion-based and engaging for the most part, with film screenings after class at times, a few cultural outings, and discussions in class; so there’s a lot of opportunities to share your opinion and discuss in class rather than just watching a lecturer talk all the time. The teachers were also inspiring and open, and the campus is very green and easy to get around in.

•

Brightspace (brightspace.ru.nl): essential platform where you will find all your courses with the respective syllabus, assignments and group works; Outlook Web App (mail.ru.nl/owa/): here you can access to your university email address through your email (name.surname@student. ru.nl); Osiris (sis.ru.nl): here you can insert your personal details, register for courses, check out your grades and review your study progress; Personal schedule (persoonlijkrooster.ru.nl): here you can check out all the timetables of your lectures, by selecting your programme and/or your courses; Radboud Writing Labs (writinglab@let.ru.nl): if you need any help with your papers, this is the place to be, since the Writing Lab provides tutoring and support for all academic writing assignments; STIP (stip@let.ru.nl): here you can ask all your questions regarding the programme and the whole Faculty of Arts. You can also visit them on the 7th floor of the Erasmus building; RUQuest (ruquest.ru.nl): this link is fundamental to look for available books and articles either in the university libraries, or in other Dutch universities, or online, allowing you to always get the perfect sources for your papers. If a source is placed in the open staks, you will find the coordinates of it in the library, otherwise, if it is in the closed stacks, you can easily request it and you will find it on the ground floor of the Central Library the next day; SKUARIO (www.skuario.net): since 2019 printing on campus is possible through SKUARIO, a system that allows you to charge your student card either online, or on the service desk at the entrance of the Central Library; Studielink (student.sl-cloud.nl): you already know this platform, which allows you to enrol for every study year by entering your personal details.

Helpful Resource: The OLC Introduction to the OLC/ OpCo of ACS/ ACW

ear first years, we hope that you are having a wonderful introduction to your new studies! You might have already met some of us, but we are the Programme Committee, or Opleidingscommissie (short: OLC/OpCo), of the BA studies Arts and Culture Studies and Algemene Cultuurwetenschappen.

What is the OLC/OpCo? The OLC/OpCo is a group of students and staff members whose function is to ensure that the quality of education is being held high. We do so by taking constructive criticism and complaints from students and discussing them amongst the student and staff members, but in some cases we also work together with the FSRL (Faculty Student Council of Arts).

Our e-mail address is: OpCoBA-ACW_ACS@ru.nl

Be sure to write it down!

For you, it is mostly important to remember the student members. This academic year, the student members are the following: Adil Boughlala (ACS B3), Jonathan Zackor (ACS B3), Anouk Stevens (ACS B3) and Misha Alzer (ACW B3).

So, how do we get this constructive criticism from students? At the end of every period, you will receive an email from the university stating that there are courses ready to be evaluated. We really urge you to fill these in as these give us a direct idea of how the course went and what can be improved! And since these evaluations are anonymous, you can be as honest as you want!

Besides that, we want every student to know that they are safe in confiding us with problems if they encounter them during their studies. University offers many useful resources such as STIP Letteren and the study advisor, but there is always the possibility you just don’t know what to do or where to go to. In that case, you are always free to whatsapp any of the student members, or send us an e-mail! We regularly hold ‘spui uurtjes’ during the Open Hour, in which you can just approach us and tell us about your problem. We promise to keep your information anonymous and will not share your name with any other student or staff member.

How can I join the OLC? Every year, each student can sign up to become a member of the OLC at the end of the academic year, which means that, unfortunately, you cannot become a member of the OLC until next academic year. However, it is for us important to have direct connections within every study year, so there is always the possibility for you to become a shadow member, which means that you become a member of the OLC without any voting rights. But you will still be able to bring in input and help us with keeping the education quality high.

KNUS Traditions by Merel Van Bommel Kees In Kees (the pun had to be made) you haven’t been introduced to him: Kees is KNUS’ mascot. As a round yellow creature, he saw the light in the autumn of 2014 when he was given to the XIth board at their constitution drinks. Kees has a little suitkees (again, sorry) in which he keeps the necessary items for a sleepover. It’s tradition that Kees gets to

*clap* As you should have experienced at least once by now (hopefully), KNUS prefers to honor guests or performances with a simultaneous short clap that is as satisfying as those pimple-popping videos. We prefer that rather than a long incoherent cacophony of sweaty hands. Usually taught during the introduction week to be mastered throughout the rest of your KNUS career, the short round of applause is surely one of the more iconic things that KNUS has produced. When executed with careful precision and conviction, the striking clap has the capability to make even Marx and his communist dreams jealous. Anyway, the short round of applause has been around for a little over a decade now, it would be a shame to see it disappear, wouldn’t it? So, SHORT ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR THE SHORT ROUND OF

APPLAUSE *clap*.

exclaim how knus (cozy in Dutch) the drinks are.

SPONSORKLIKS Do you want to help KNUS make some cash? Sponsorkliks is a large affiliate network through which you can sponsor your favourite association, without actually giving extra money! All you need to do when you are purchasing something online is go to KNUS’s website and find the Sponsorkliks option under Links. Then you can search the store you wanted to order something from and voilà! Sponsorkliks also has a Chrome extension, which automatically asks you if you want to sponsor KNUS when ordering without going through the whole process of searching through Sponsorkliks’ website. DEKKER VAN DE VEGT As a KNUSer, you get a 10% discount on school books, second-hand books, foreign books, agendas and calendars at Dekker van de Vegt! Just show them the sticker on your student ID when shopping!

@178kz_boy

The Short Round of Applause

Yet, Kees is more than just our collective child, he also has the very very important task of being the keeper of pun fines. Specifically, KNUS-pun fines. That means that whenever someone, member or not, makes a pun with the word ‘KNUS’, they have to pay the fine of 20 cents that Kees will gladly keep in his belly for the remainder of the year. At the end of the year, the treasurer counts the contribution of pun-sinners and adds it to the financial overview under the beautiful name of ‘het gat van Kees’, which you can either translate as ‘the hole of Kees’ or ‘the arshole of Kees’, whatever you prefer. So if you are a lover of puns, make sure nobody catches you when you

illustration:

any of you might have just learned about KNUS’ existence and even so, your experience of KNUS might have been overshadowed by a certain shutdown of social university life. That’s why I wanted to take it upon myself to write a little something about some of KNUS’ traditions. I am, for the most part, not a big fan of traditions, often finding them to have roots in a problematic past. Yet, some traditions, especially those that are barely a decade old, are worth sharing, in the hopes that they don’t get lost.

stay at the house of KNUS’ member of the month for a week. If you stalk KNUS’ Instagram, you can find a highlight with some of Kees’ sleepovers.

Recommendations by Sam van Stokkom & Merel Van Bommel

ALBUMS

BOOKS

Out Of The Blue by Electric Light Orchestra My friends will probably laugh if they see I am recommending this album. They have heard me praise it time and time again, for it is my favourite album of all time. But that is not the (only) reason I am recommending it. This album is about new beginnings, about leaving something behind and working towards a bright future full of possibilities. I think many people can relate to a theme like this, especially first-year students who have just started a wonderful new chapter of their lives. To those first-years I say: try to welcome this new world with the same spirit as is conveyed in Out of the Blue (especially in my favourite songs Summer and Lightning and Sweet is the Night), one full of expectation, love and excitement.

PODCASTS

The History of Rome

For this podcast, I have to admit that there isn’t really any connection to university, the fact that summer is almost over or anything else. I just really like it and wanted to share it with you darling folks. The History of Rome is a podcast hosted by Mike Duncan, in which he talks about the history of the Roman Empire. The episodes are really short, mostly around 15 minutes, so you don’t have to concentrate on an hour-long recording (which I always find difficult). So, for those who are a bit of history

nerds (like myself) and prefer learning through listening rather than reading, this podcast will surely come in handy!

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe I know I am not the only one who has a difficult time seeing summer come to an end. A time that is always so carefree, so full of joy and optimism is hard to let go of. For those who wish summer would take just a little longer on its way out, I recommend the book Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe. The thing that I remember most prominently about this book is the atmosphere which the author had created in it. The story is set in the late 1980s, in a city in Texas, USA, and has the most summery, going-to-the-poolevery-day feel ever. The story follows two young teenage boys, Aristotle and Dante, who become best friends and spend their summer trying to figure out their feelings for each other. This book truly makes you feel like you are with them, cycling around El Paso, driving to the desert and eating ice cream on the front porch. So, if you want to hang on to the remains of summer for a little longer, be sure to pick this one up!

TIKTOK While I do love my permanent residence on gay TikTok, every now and then I take a trip to the more ‘knowledgy’ side of TikTok. From lace-history to dinosaurs, every niche you can think about is represented. I share with you my favorite quality ‘niche’ TikTokkers should you want to broaden your knowledge.

Fashion

@palominoclothing Evan’s TikToks focus on explaining technical sewing. Each video focuses on explaining a specific term or method when working with fabric. Not only are his explanations to the point, they are also accompanied by a short demonstration and pleasing visuals. If you are into making your own clothes or looking to understand how garments are made, definitely give him a follow! @oldloserinbrooklyn Mandy is a trend analyst based in NYC. Her Tiktoks include short videos on specific Designers and specific trend and trend-cycle analyses. An analysis of cheugy, fashion influencers or mod revival, she has it all! She is in favor of slow fashion so if you are into mindful consumption and getting insight into which trends will last and which will not, she is the one to follow! @erenanaomi Who thought lace could be so interesting? Elena certainly makes it so. She studied textile design and later got her master’s in costume studies. Her TikToks mostly talk about the history of lace as well as lacemaking. They are often accompanied by Elena making lace herself. @fauxfluencer Julia strives for ethical and inclusive fashion. Her Tiktoks thus focus on showing a more inclusive perspective on fashion. While her content leans more towards highlighting brands, fashionistas, and inspiration that fit within the ethical and inclusive, she also makes some TikToks reflecting on specific norms in fashion. @bernadettebanner When history and fashion meet we get historical fashion with Bernadette. She has a Youtube channel but recently also started making Tiktoks, worth a check.

(Queer) History

@rainbowhistoryclass Rudy’s account is dedicated to queer and trans history. He also pays attention to current affairs so you will always find relevant TikToks, for example, at the time of writing this article the Olympics are a thing, so naturally, Rudy dives into queer Olympic history, with TikToks like ‘Were the OG Olympics Gay?’ and ‘Otto Peltzer: The Gay Olympian Who Survived the Nazis’. The account is a breath of fresh air as Rudy actively works to undo the erasure of queerness. @jdraperlondon Jenny Draper is a London-based tour guide. Her TikToks reflect that. Her sub-topics include Women, Working Class, Food, Queer and Black history, of course in relation to the UK. She often wears fun costumes while presenting which pairs well with her British accent. @medievallauren Lauren is one of the first historians I started following on this app. She makes awesome TikToks that bust the myths of (European) medieval history. She mostly focuses on the daily life aspect, so don’t worry if you are not into war-history. If you want to know how medieval Europe viewed abortion and contraception, take a look! @slaviccaesar More queer history is always a good idea. Brooke is a history major that offers that LGBT perspective, need I say more?

Architecture and Design

@healthy_punk If you want to learn more about that black and white neutral architecture and design aesthetic, Nora’s Tiktoks are for you. They make simple explanation videos, each talking about a different designer or idea.

Plants

@edenish Always killing your plants? Tia can help! Their TikToks are dedicated to teaching you about plant care. From very specific tips on watering, soil and bugs to general information about specific plants! @reagankastner One plant account is not enough. Reagan is also great to follow. Apart from plant care tips she also loves making videos on the ‘why’ of plant things. And let’s be honest, when you know why something is, you are much more likely to remember. Also, aren’t you also tired of ‘this plant needs direct or indirect light’ like what does that even mean concretely? Reagan knows.

Art

@umeboi Dane makes, amog more funny video’s, some very interesting art history TikToks. They mostly pick specific artworks, artists or concepts to talk about. @artistcolette Colette is a gem. Not only does she post videos of her own art and art process (which is highly insightful!), but she also regularly makes TikToks discussing certain artworks or ideas in contemporary art. On top of that, she is also up to date about all the art world drama so if you are into that, you know where to go!

Music

@songpsych Dev’s account is dedicated to analyzing songs, from new releases to greatest hits. Her series ‘why is this song so good’ delves deeper into why a specific song is good, often accompanied by an easy-to-follow explanation of concepts from music theory. Putting that theory into practice should sound familiar. @ghutner If you’re looking to explore more music from the 70s and 80s, Ghutner’s account is the way to go. This wholesome dad-figure reviews his record collection. His format is simple, he stands there, holding the record, and talks about it, what more do we need?

Science-ish

@duranosaur Who doesn’t like dinosaurs? Follow Harry Duran, a paleontologist who films himself and his colleagues excavating dinosaur fossils and giving that some commentary. It’s cool.

Movies

@reelfoleysound Even wonder about the process behind recording sounds for movies? It’s not only breaking celery! Follow Sanaa to learn more about creative ways of making sound.

Books

@robert.reads If you are not familiar with booktok yet, this is a good place to start. Robert makes quality content in a wide range of books. The vibes from his videos are what you would expect from booktok, cozy and relaxed.

My Go to Spots in Nijmegen! by Paula Werdnik

Honigcomplex + De achtertuin This area is a bit further from the city center, but worth the bike ride or walk. It is a cool urban area, with an old factory, The Honigcomplex, turned into a cultural hub with cafés, breweries and an art gallery called

Expobart. Nearby there, there is also the skatepark Waalhalla (which sometimes hosts events), and De

First of all, welcome to Nijmegen! Nijmegen has become my home over the past 3 years in which I completed Arts and Culture Studies, and I’ve come to know some hidden gems within this beautiful city and campus. Below I will share with you some quintessential ACS Nijmegen spots.

In the center:

Kattencafe balthazar - cat café

Achtertuin which is also an awesome urban and hip outdoor spot for drinks, music and cultural activities.

Art galleries + Museums If you’re an Arts & Culture Studies student, you probably also want to know the best spots to see art and attend cultural activities. The Valkhof Museum is an art museum with numerous changing exhibitions, near the Valkhof Park. As mentioned before, Expo Bart is an innovative and cool art gallery at De Honigcomplex. POST gallery can be found inside the very cool Paraplufabriek, and NEUS ,

RUIS and Extrapool are art galleries within the center. There is also a Nijmegen Kunstnacht every year full of art events, and the Stukafest which is full of music and live performances, and keep an eye on the

Cultuur op de Campus as they organize events and put up artworks around the campus throughout the year.

This is the first café I went to in Nijmegen. It is super cool because it has cats you can pet and play with while having your coffee, tea or cake. The cats live and are cared for there, and it has a really calm and lovely atmosphere full of feline friends!

The fuzz café

Cultuur Café

On campus:

The ‘Cultuur Cafe’ is the go- to spot for a beer or “borrel” (which is a kind of Dutch informal get together for drinks and snacks) after your

This café has chill vibes, cool decorations and a great outdoor terrace to sit on.

classes end! Most of our ACS classes took place at the TvA building

They have coffees, tea, beers, wine, homemade lemonades, and some cocktails

right next to the Cultuur Cafe, and since it’s so central you can always

and dishes as well.

find different students relaxing in the late afternoon sun with a beer there after classes - it is definitely a part of the ACS experience.

Spirit in style - crystal shop This is my go-to spot whenever I need crystals, incense, new tarot cards or any

The sky lounge

other spirituality knick knacks - they have a wide selection of crystals, journals,

The Sky Lounge is in the Erasmus building (which interestingly is the

essential oils, incense and other spirituality related goods. (Plus it’s a great place

tallest high-rise building in Nijmegen!) on the 20th floor. If you have

to get gifts, because they pack them really nicely.)

classes in the Erasmus building or just need a quiet place to study, I would recommend going to check out the Sky Lounge . You can get

Erica - natural/vegan products (and you guessed it, more crystals) This shop has more of a selection of vegan and natural products - including cosmetics, tea, spices, and body products. But they also have some nice selection of crystals and incense (though not as extensive as Spirit in Style).

Thrift shops There are a lot of great thrift shops sprinkled around Nijmegen - some of the most well known ones are Fabrics & More, or Sussies , but the Re-share Store is much cheaper (though less curated and trendy, if that’s what you’re looking for) and

Basta is also great, they are also part cultural café serving coffee and lunch, and

scenic place to study that isn’t one of the main libraries and sometimes you can catch a glimpse of a beautiful early sunset after finishing a day of studying.

The hortus botanical gardens One of the great perks to studying on the Radboud campus is that there’s so much nature around. The woods near the TvA building (and behind the Refter cafeteria) are a great place to take a walk, or get a breath of fresh air between classes. But my favourite spot for nature on campus is a short walk away (behind the Radboud Sportscentrum)

occasionally having activities.

you can find a nice park called Park Brakkenstein. But inside the park

De kaaij + waal beach

is a magical little spot.

One of the coolest spots in Nijmegen is the Waal Beach - there are beaches stretching out along the Waal River. It is great for a picnic, suntanning or a swim in the summer months. In the winter, it can get quite windy. But it is always a beautiful place to take a walk (they also have some wild bulls and horses that live there) and to see the sunset (with the outline of the well-known Waalbrug, or Waal Bridge, and the Nijmegen city skyline as a scenic backdrop).

a great view of the whole campus and city from the windows. It’s a

there are beautiful botanical gardens, called Hortus Nijmegen, which

Things I Wish I Knew as a First-Year... An Open Letter by Anna Heijnis

’m going to be honest: I wasn’t a real first-year in thесе studies. Last year was my first year as an Arts and Culture student, but, the year before, I had studied Law at University Utrecht. I have nothing bad to say about it to illustrate why I stopped; it just didn’t suit me the way I hoped it would. I was very focused on my future after university, instead of my personal development during it. It wasn’t until lockdown started at the beginning of spring in 2020 that I realized Law really wasn’t for me; my personal growth had stagnated, the study didn’t spark joy for me. I was afraid that if I stopped studying Law or switched to a different study, I would be failing my future self. I decided I could allow myself to look around, see what other studies there were. I had never looked further than what studies would allow me to have a great income and made me academically well-respected. My personal interests and happiness were never the most important to me. But that all changed, because I found ACS. Every aspect seemed interesting to me, I could see myself thrive while studying Arts and Culture, much more than I could imagine myself doing

in any other study. So, on a whim, I signed out of Law in Utrecht and enrolled myself into Arts and Culture Studies, and I haven’t looked back since. Now, clearly, the thing I most wish I knew as a first-year - which I think most of you already know, good for you! - is that it is way more important to study something you like than it is to keep doing something because of some expectations you had or assumptions you made. I am so much happier now than I was when I studied something I thought was expected of me! Another thing that would’ve come in handy when I was a first-year is the knowledge that it is okay to take things slow. It is okay to not know everything immediately, be aware of everything that is going on. Actually, now, I think it’s best if you really take your time getting familiar with everything and everyone crossing your path. For example, university, its courses and grading system were totally foreign to me, and I felt pretty alone in my inexperience with it. The truth is that everyone is struggling with the switch from high school to university, or maybe even the switch to a different country and culture! Getting to know all the new ways can be quite overwhelming, so it’s definitely okay to take your time to take it all in. It is also totally okay to ask older-years questions! I felt pretty isolated from them in the beginning of the school year, but I soon realized this was all in my head. Everyone was (and is) super approachable, and I realized the only person keeping me from integrating was myself! Something that I had benefited from by having studied a year prior to this last one was knowing what in-person class was like. This year, almost every course was taught fully online. It really made me appreciate the times that I could truly connect with my professors and peers, because it made me feel pretty alone to have to sit behind my laptop everyday and not be able to get to campus and meet my friends and talk to new people. Trust me, I didn’t like going to in-person lectures either, but I wish I had known how much I would miss it, because then I would’ve appreciated them much more. What I hope for you is that you guys get to go to in-person classes this year, and if you do, I highly suggest attending them. If not for the subject, do it for real-life connection! Lastly, something else I wish I knew as a first-year is that my voice truly matters. For example, the OLC (see page 10!) works hard to make sure that our opinions are heard by professors and faculty. Your opinion actually makes a change; you can change the curriculum, organize events within KNUS, vote on important matters, surveys you fill in are truly investigated (I know because I have conducted these investigations with my peers, you have more power than you may think!) and being a first-year doesn’t matter in any of this at all. If you have something to say, you are valid, you are heard, you are respected. All in all, I think it is most important to know that all your questions and opinions are valid! You are all totally new to this and I admit it is a big change… Don’t be afraid to tell your peers or anyone what’s on your mind! Being a firstyear might be scary at first but you’ll feel comfortable in no time.

Intro Check list

TO DO: Purchase your study books: Dekker v.d. Vegt offers ACS/ACW study books on their website. You can also find the books on other sites or you may find digital copies if you’re lucky! KNUS will also be organising a book sale event where you can buy books from the older students for a lower price, so look forward to that!

TO DO: Get comfortable with OSIRIS and Brightspace: these are the two services uni uses to keep you up to date on news, courses and homework! Look around on the websites in advance and make yourself familiar with the system.

TO DO: Sign up to become a member of KNUS: this will help you connect and stay connected with your peers!

TO DO: Join the KNUS and study group chats! These chats will update you on activities and news and they might come in handy in terms of homework and lecture notes in the future.

TO DO: Listen to the KNUScast: the XVIII Board (Elect) has made a podcast episode to answer (hopefully) all questions you might have as a first year. You can most easily find the podcast on KNUS’ website and on social media.

TO DO: Want to move to Nijmegen? Check SSHN, Facebook groups, Kamernet and our group chats! List what you are looking for in a room and be on the lookout, but most of all: be patient...

TO DO: Show up to as many KNUS events as possible! Not only would we love to have you here, it is also great to see your classmates and get to know Nijmegen while just hanging out.

TO DO: Have any questions, about anything at all? Don’t hesitate to reach out to the XVIII Board (Jonathan, Sam, Anna, Charlie) or anyone else! We have all been there and we are more than willing to help, that’s what we’re here for, essentially!

Intro Check list

TO DO: Koop je studieboeken: Dekker v.d. Vegt biedt ACS / ACW studieboeken aan op hun webshop. Je kunt de boeken natuurlijk ook op andere sites vinden of als je geluk hebt vind je misschien zelfs digitale exemplaren! KNUS zal ook een boekenverkoop organiseren waar je de boeken van ouderejaars voor een lagere prijs kunt krijgen, dus kijk daar naar uit!

TO DO: Maak je vertrouwd met OSIRIS en Brightspace: dit zijn de twee diensten die de uni gebruikt om je op de hoogte te houden van nieuws, vakken en huiswerk! Kijk van tevoren rond op de websites en maak je vertrouwd met de systemen.

TO DO: Meld je aan om lid te worden van KNUS: dit zal je helpen om in contact te komen en te blijven met je medestudenten!

TO DO: Word lid van de KNUS en studiegroep chats! Deze houden je op de hoogte van activiteiten en nieuws en ze kunnen van pas komen in termen van huiswerk en les notities in de toekomst.

TO DO: Luister naar de KNUScast: het XVIII Bestuur heeft een podcast aflevering gemaakt om (hopelijk) alle vragen te beantwoorden die je als eerstejaars zou kunnen hebben. Je kunt de podcast het makkelijkst vinden op onze website en op social media.

TO DO: Wil je verhuizen naar Nijmegen? Check SSHN, Facebook, Kamernet en onze groepschats! Zet op een rijtje wat je zoekt in een kamer en wees op de uitkijk; blijf geduldig.

TO DO: Kom naar zoveel mogelijk KNUS-evenementen! Niet alleen vinden we het leuk om je hier te hebben, het is ook leuk om je studiegenoten te zien en Nijmegen te leren kennen terwijl je gewoon chillt.

TO DO: Heb je vragen, over wat dan ook? Aarzel dan niet om contact op te nemen met het XVIII bestuur (Sam en Anna kunnen Nederlands, maar Jonathan en Charlie zijn ook bereid te helpen in het Engels) of iemand anders! We weten precies hoe het voor je is en we zijn meer dan bereid om te helpen, daar zijn we voor, in essentie!