October 2014

The

a University College Student Association Magazine

October 2014

Boomerang De Omnibus Dubitandum Est

HumCo and Enactus Collaborate in Kenya P03

UCU’s Hidden Jewel: the UCU in Africa Programme

By RENS BAKKER

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very year a group of UCU students travel to Tanzania and Kenya to study the lives and challenges of people living there. Afterwards, they all participate in a five-week internship at a local NGO. Participants unanimously praise the UCU in Africa program – many even call it ‘life-changing’.

Still, many students seem to be unaware of the program, and last years’ editions suffered from a lack of participants. What is the UCU in Africa program exactly? And why is a program that seems so successful, threatened by a dropping number of applicants?

The UCU in Africa program consists of three parts. In the spring semester, all participants follow a preparatory course. Then, during the summer term, the group travels to Tanzania for the field course. After that four-week experience, the group spreads out to do internships at local NGOs. Students use big words in their evaluations: “a unique and life-changing experience”, “just the best and most fun course I have ever done at UCU” and “simply amazing” are only a few examples of the unanimously positive responses to the field course.

More than a normal trip to Africa

On the morning of June 25th 2014, participants woke up in an unfamiliar setting. They had just spent their first night with an agricultural family in northern Tanzania, as part of their first, five-day homestay. Some had to get up at 5AM to cut grass for the cattle, while others were awakened by an elephant threatening to steal the crops. Everyone’s involvement in the local culture, of which they have already seen so much, has once again

reached new heights. This, in a nutshell, is what UCU in Africa is about: studying the East African life, not only by reading about it, but mostly through experiencing it.

The program’s field course, of which the homestays are an important highlight, is an intense and intensive experience. The group drives around in their own big truck, sleeping in tents and eating meals prepared by the cooking staff. Days are filled with community visits, class discussions and lectures by local experts. Topics and locations alike are manifold, including a visit to a National Park in Kenya, the pastoralist Maasai in Tanzania and a slum in Nairobi.

“You get to know elements of yourself in the process of building intimate relationships with families.”

Learning through immersion

The field course is co-taught by Corey Wright and Kimaren Riamit. Wright is an experienced Canadian scholar in sub-Saharan development while Riamit, an indigenous Maasai from Kenya, represents African indigenous peoples across the international arena. The teachers and their contacts take students to places and people that other visitors do not

Illustration by ALEXANDRA BARANCOVA reach — how many people conduct focus groups with local fishermen, witness centuries-old goat slaughtering rituals and talk to families about their polygamous marriages in only four weeks’ time?

It is not only the mere access to such things that makes the program unique, Wright argues, but also “the degree of immersion into political economic contexts, professional environments, ecological landscapes, diverse cultural communities, and specific family milieus that is rarely achieved in other programs.” Government policies, NGO activities and questionable company practices are not studied distantly, but through active

discussions with stakeholders on all levels.

Most importantly, immersion happens through the three homestays as Wright explains, “The homestays provoke degrees of discomfort that most students have rarely experienced.” Being thrown into a fundamentally different environment is not easy.

The nomadic Maasai, for example, where students stay for two nights, do not have any sanitary facilities. “It is in these spaces of discomfort that important things happen: you get to know elements of yourself in the process of building intimate relationships with families.”

CONTINUES ON P06

Is Campus as International as a Dutch Milk Advert?

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P02 P04 P05 P09 P11

the Boomerang | October 2014

02 THE BUBBLE

Editorial To whomsoever finds themselves concerned, There is a dark, but very interesting moment in Mikhail Bulgakov’s famed semiautobiographical series of shorts stories, ‘A Young Doctor’s Notebook’, in which the eponymous character, having just performed his first amputation, notes down the following: “wherever possible, use a sharpened saw; and in case of tiredness, change arms.” In any field, one can imagine that such notes would be of great use, but especially so in journalism. Medicine and journalism- yes I am going there- aren’t too far from one another. In the same way a doctor observes the symptoms of the ill to form a diagnosis, it is the duty of journalists to cast their eye over institutions and report that which has gone wrongnot for some sadistic purpose- but in order that things may be put right again.

Unfortunately nothing is ever quite so simple. The plethora of conflicting opinions make facts seem malleable and impossible to discern from the agendas of their dealers. As you might notice, my name ventured outside the confines of this box and, as much as I would like it to go without even a passing reference, our attempts at addressing the outlandish rumours circulating campus has been far too baneful for all. The CAO’s initial strong aversion to the article being run cannot be understated, but what ensued was a testament to the will for truth and understanding to prevail. From Usman Mahar who initially approached us, to BarCo who, despite their hesitations, did end up contributing to the need for balance and clarity in the article.

From Photo to Focus

By VINCE VAN ‘T HOFF

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eet FocusCo, the one and only committee on campus that is totally dedicated to the fine art of photography. The board of this year consists of five energetic, dedicated and of course Focused people, namely chair Will Richard, vice-chair Leonore ter Hulsen, (whose name is actually wrongly spelled on the UCSA website), Secretary Lisa Steffen, treasurer George King and PR Manager Dalia Ali. You probably have seen them walking around campus with their photo cameras ready to take a picture of every silly move you make, every weird face you pull(?) and every awkward moment you are engaged in. You have probably also seen them around at all the events, taking pictures of your best (or worst) party moments at the bar, every activity at the introduction week and during lots

By OMAR NÜR-NATHOO This brings me onto another issue I have noticed, which perhaps I oughtn’t remark on, but feel compelled to do so. Underpinning one committee’s reluctance to talk to us was their belief that The Boomerang sought only to scathe them. It appears far too many people mistake this great dispenser of actualities with sensationalist tripe. It is difficult to express quite how offensive this is but, and I am fully aware of the irony, actions speak louder than words. As such, I want to give a special thank you to Emma Braningen and Jake Hillman, whose ruthless editing skills would have put a smile upon Machiavelli’s face. In this- their encapsulation of everything which we envisage The Boomerang to be- they are invaluable members of our editing team.

On the writing front, we have a tremendous feature penned by the (in) famous Rens Bakker who passionately addresses the decline of the UCU in Africa programme. With announcements that the Xiamen programme and the New York fieldwork will no longer operate “in their current set up”, our special feature takes a look at the future of UCU’s international presence.

Through all of this- the fiery debates, the sleepless nights and despairing exasperation- one finds that the greatest support often comes in the form of beautiful (wisdom) which, no matter how far it may seem, is always in your heart.

And on that soppy note we, the board, bequeath to you this- the October issue of The Boomerang.

De omnibus dubitandum est

of other events that are organized within our vibrant and (in)famous ‘UCU bubble’. In short, FocusCo captures every moment of our beautiful campus life.

But if you think that FocusCo does only that and nothing else, you are wrong.

FocusCo also organizes exhibitions, one of them one of which started the 7th of October. This exhibition has been called ‘identity’, a very abstract word, which leaves a lot of room for interpretation for new photographers in the making, but also for the more experienced ones. In November, FocusCo wants to do a whole lot more. There will be a real FocusCo party at the bar, a workshop as well as a guest speaker, unknown by the time this paper went to the press, as well as an exhibition fieldtrip to a yet unknown location.

Besides that, FocusCo has a main goal for this year. According to an inside source, the mission of FocusCo for this year is to capture and make as many memories as possible, to help develop newbies as well as the more experienced photographer and to give the campus an insight in how awesome photography is. So if you are interested in photography, don’t be scared to talk to one of the members, participate and who knows, maybe this opens up a whole new world you didn’t know before.

But remember, always smile when you see cameras flashing, because that picture will probably make it to the famous and notorious FocusCo Facebook page!

A Horse Walks

into the Bar UCSA and BarCo Stand Firm over Resignation of Inventory Manager

By OMAR NÜR-NATHOO

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t last month’s GA, BarCo’s Treasurer, Bob van Rugge, gallantly fended off criticism from across the assembled.

Stern but straight he made the repeated assertion that tantamounted to, ‘BarCo is a business, and we make a profit.’ Whilst their €544 profit makes the latter half of this statement true, the surprising resignation of BarCo’s Inventory Manager, Usman Mahar, early this semester hints at a degree of dubiety upon the internal workings of BarCo. Talking to the Boomerang, Mahar admitted that the trigger for his departure was the interplay between BarCo and the UCSA Board in the organisation of Equites’ Introweek party. Disclosing a series of exchanges between the three parties, Mahar shows that Equites approached him- as BarCo Inventory Manager- in order to procure drinks for the party (including 17 litres of Bacardi Rum). As usual, he returned to Equites with the price- the selling price (the same price at which any student would purchase alcohol from the bar). This is where confusion ensued. Very recent precedent gave Equites- a closed group independent of the UCSA- the impression that they were entitled to get drinks below cost price (which a longheld convention stipulates is available only to the UCSA for UCSA events). Furthermore, in documents obtained by The Boomerang, it appears in previous years Equites were given substantial discounts on alcohol procured by the UCSA Bar. In Fall 2012, not only

“In previous years Equites were given substantial discounts on alcohol procured by the UCSA Bar.” had Equites been charged at cost, rather than selling, price, but the final price they paid excluded taxes and included a 10% discount.

Circumnavigating Mahar, Equites proceeded to contact BarCo’s CAO. So, obviously the UCSA Board stepped in a supported BarCo? Initially they did, taking on a suggestion by Mahar to give Equites drinks at cost price, on the condition that they pay the same fixed profit the Bar would otherwise make were they holding the party. This figure was set at €2500, but it was agreed by the UCSA Board and BarCo to lower it to €1750. However, it was thereafter discovered that these figures represented the average revenue- income generated prior to the deduction of expenditure- rather than profit. As

such the figure was revised to a mere €400, which Equites have, as of this article’s publication, yet to pay. When paid, this deal would mean that Bar could have lost an estimated potential profit of almost €100. What is so staggeringly incomprehensible is that no UCSA-affiliated committee tends to receive such a favourable deal.

Accusing BarCo of flagrant financial mismanagement over the previous two years, Mahar nonetheless postulates that the cost of this has fallen upon the average student bar-goer. He points to the recent hike in the price of a large beer (which increased by a third last semester), as a prime example.

Done so under the pretence that the cost price had increased, the former Inventory Manager revealed that a five-year deal between BarCo and their supplier- which runs out next year- fixes the price of drinks. However, BarCo have explained that this deal does not take into account inflation, the rise of which has underpinned the aforementioned price increase.

It is also worth mentioning that this €400 will enable BarCo to record a profit for the night. Despite this, delving into the history of BarCo’s financial health one realises something rather alarming: the bar has, for the past two years, been running at a loss, which is automatically absorbed by the UCSA. Yes, BarCo did make a profit (for the UCSA) last year, though the figure- in the mere hundreds- is relatively small in comparison to the tens of thousands the Bar used to make annually. Contrariwise to what Van Rugge opined at the Budget GA, BarCo have since made patently clear to The Boomerang that this is irrelevant. Whilst BarCo can make a profit for the UCSA, they themselves are not a business in the sense of being profit-driven.

The primary concern is to ensure that BarCo recovers the planned expenses, thereby breaking even.

Equites’ party was unusual in that no other organisation takes over the stocking and running of the Bar for a night. While anyone can rent the Bar for a night, few exercise such influence over it and the degree to which Equites did so is what makes this so contentious. There is neither malice nor animosity, but it is clear that rules, albeit unwritten ones, have not been upheld.

In a joint statement, the UCSA Board and BarCo admitted as much. Expressing the complexity of the situation, the decisionmaking process was made more strenuous by the geographical spread of individuals involved, leaving Facebook messages, emails and Skype calls the only way to communicate. This affair has, howbeit, lead to the reconstruction of the BarCo rental guidelines which, it is hoped, will clarify such contentions in the future.

a University College Student Association Magazine

THE BUBBLE 03

HumCo & Enactus Work Hand-in-Hand

By IRINA FOMICHEV

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or their yearly charity project HumCo is teaming up with Enactus to collect funds for the Redhill Baraka school.

“When Tashi approached me with the idea of HumCo raising money for Enactus UCU I was very excited,” says HumCo Chair Renee Vollenberg. She likes that it is now a campus project and that Enactus UCU is much more transparent than bigger charities. Moreover, there is more collaboration on campus, a benefit for the community inside the bubble.

Similar enthusiasm is found in Enactus as Tashi Maseland, secretary of Enactus UCU, expressed how pleased she was that HumCo will be supporting their cause.

For her the Redhill Baraka School (RBS) project is close to home. Maseland heard of RBS through an old colleague and friend of her mother’s, Lazarus Tsuma, who has been working hard to get the school back on its feet.

The School, located in Nairobi, Kenya, started out as a centre that offered education solely for orphaned children, regardless of race, colour, religion and gender.

It used to be sponsored by several organizations but has run into trouble as funding was withdrawn seven years ago because of serious corruption within the school. The director, responsible for said corruption left, after having it plunged into debts and leaving the building in ruins. Some children were forced to find shelter in the bathrooms of the school.

Thankfully, one of the teachers approached Tsuma to bring the school back.

He was given one semester to save the school and came to the conclusion that the school did not need money to recover but input from the community as “self-reliance is the key!!!!”

Tsuma and other volunteers have already put in a lot of work to try to keep the school afloat. They repainted it to make it look more attractive so that wealthier children would come and pay school fees which would in turn fund scholarships for the orphans.

Vice Chair, Maurits de Munck, said that the school has started a farm with rab-

bits, goats, ducks, chickens and banana trees in order to become self-sufficient. The issue is that the school does not own the land it is situated on. The landlord doubled the rent an expense the school cannot afford. Additionally, they took out a loan to buy a bus, which led to over twenty students paying.

Unfortunately, however, the expenditure has left the school in danger of shutting down.

As an effort to climb out of the financial troubles, the school has recently set up a very basic fish farm. If successful, the profits could provide enough to cover the costs of the school and to give the staff decent salaries. The downside is that the school needs professional equipment for the fish farm to become a success. Jambo Fish Limited, an aquaculture company in Nairobi, is willing to provide most of the equipment and offer trainings in how to successfully farm fish. However, the school needs money to invest.

This is where Enactus comes in to help. Enactus’ main goal is to raise money for the school to invest in a professional fish farm. The project only started up recently so

Leijtens on Volatility of

Ukraine Crisis

By ALEXANDER DAVEY

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ans Leijtens is Lieutenant General Commander of the royal Dutch military police (Nederlands Marechaussee). He was first Royal Nederland’s army platoon commander of a tank platoon. But soon left as he realised the military wasn’t for him. He then re-schooled himself, studying sociology at Leiden before becoming an officer of the royal Marechaussee.

The Marechaussee are a police force and their tasks are mainly civilian or to the royal Netherlands constabulary force which is more known in the Anglo-Saxon countries.

His second but more ceremonial job is as the governor of the city of The Hague. This gives Leijtens responsibility for all the military protocol in his residence- especially on occasions such as the opening of parliament on the third Tuesday of September or royal weddings and funerals.

General Leijtens accepted PoliticsCo’s invitation to come speak at UCU and beforehand The Boomerang was lucky enough to have the opportunity to interview him.

MH17

“I was closely involved in both the decisionmaking, developing the operational concept and executing it. Altogether I had more than 100 police officers on site including the unseen commander. We performed a search and rescue and were responsible for security in the area, and we had forensics in the area. I myself was involved by being in the command control centre here in the Netherlands.

Almost everyone you saw on television were my people. It was a delicate situation over there. Very early we decided to move on with the OSCE [Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe]. They had the network, they had the position to decide whether it would be safe or not. My officers experienced, in a strange way, a very rewarding contribution to a big disaster but also of course felt the tension and experienced the threat at hand. It was by me being there and hearing explosions and small gun fire, it was on one hand by them being there on a voluntary basis eager to go there and

do their job. On the other hand they experienced some personal threat in doing their job.

My men are well trained and know how to handle such an unknown and unexpected situation. But still you feel a bit like your faith is in their hands. At one point you’re shaking hands and having a cup of tea and then at a stage where you’re in a firefight. It’s very volatile. Typically unstable fragile states and especially where clans have a big role – it is very difficult to be assured that they are your comrades when the next day they change sides because that may be more convenient from the clan’s perspective.”

The Dynamic

“It’s difficult. You’re there for a mission. The military mission is more important than us.

It’s not about us, it’s about the mission, always. But of course you make a professional guess about what are the rules here- what are the rules of the game? If you only move according to their rules, then most of the

the project team still has to refine the business plan and the cost breakdown. So far it has only estimated the approximate need of the School.

Instead of tilapia fish, which they were farming before, they will now farm catfish, a more lucrative endeavour. The demand for catfish is growing in Kenya, as it is relatively new in its farming industry.

So far Enactus has received €1000 in donations adding to the €317,49 HumCo has already raised with the bake sale.

HumCo will also organize their wellknown slave auction and a bottle pick up.

After the fall break they will introduce a new event, Movember, as an attempt to involve more guys because, as Renee put it, “HumCo is more of a girl committee and this way we can involve guys as well. The idea is that guys find sponsors for them to grow a beard and/ or a moustache.”

Since this year’s charity is so transparent, HumCo is planning on releasing biweekly updates so that students “know where every cent is going.”

time you won’t get to your objectives. You need to bend the rules, you need to play with their rules. Getting the black box, how did we get to the train where all the bodies were- it’s a bit of bluffing your way in. It’s not about threatening because we were unarmed it’s about convincing. ‘This is what we want, we will do it’.

It sounds a bit discriminatory but especially among Slavic people need to feel the strength of their opponents- without threatening them but you must be self-confident and direct in what you want. In Russia or Ukraine by being direct it means you respect them. By bowing too much or by making yourself small you than you are then they don’t respect you and run over you. We call it a game, but it is trial and error, looking for a way, the right approach. In the end we were able to do what we had liked to do but not in the time schedule we liked because we were forced to leave as the security circumstances changed rather rapidly.

You’re also used by different parties for their benefits. So on one hand the Russians used us, the Ukrainian army used us, the pro-Russian rebels used us, in a way of getting what they wanted to get.

“You need to bend the rules, you need to play with their rules.”

There was a fight between Ukraine armed forces and the pro-Russian rebels and you must be naive to think that because there is a disaster that everyone must step back and let us do our job. It is not a surprise they do, you have to take that in to account during your operation, I mean it would be very naive to think that the moment there is a crash that it creates a neutral zone and nothing will happen. It is still their grounds on which both sides are fighting. They’ll use that vacuum for a couple of days to regroup or to approach the area.”

the Boomerang | October 2014

04 THE BUBBLE

Stealing from Campus:

Vigilantes or Kleptomaniacs?

Are UCU students suffering from chronic digestive problems? There’s no need to consult a doctor to find out why our campus uses “three times as much toilet paper as is normal in other UU buildings.”

By NAOMI KREITMAN

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his issue doesn’t end with toilet paper – Kees Jan Spronsen, Dining Hall manager, reports that since August “more than one third of all cutlery” has been taken, and that theft of food items “happens a lot.”

Spronsen and Maarten Diederix, UCU’s Housemaster, share the view that stealing food from Dining Hall should be treated criminally. Diederix explained that historically, UCU has turned a blind eye to theft because in UCU’s infancy, “there was a reluctance to publicize” the fact there were issues with students stealing from campus.”

Because over a decade ago management chose not to risk tarnishing the name of the college, casual, comfortable theft is commonplace on campus.

Gyles Kemper (real name withheld), an international second year student, considers himself a “dining hall crusader.” He sees helping himself to campus toilet paper, cutlery and crockery as an act of “moral convenience,” a marriage of the two things one desires most in their homeware; justice and efficiency. Kemper explains that many students are “so jaded with the system that they don’t feel like abiding by the rules it imposes upon them.” He discusses the “extortionate campus fees,” and thinks that Sodexo,

the company running our cafeteria, is “just looking to make more money by exaggerating the prices.”

Here lies our campus catch-22. Is Sodexo robbing the students, with their outrageous liquid gold ketchup? Or are the students re-

“Since August more than one third of all cutlery has been taken.” jecting one of the most fundamental conventions of civilized society, casually taking what they know is not rightfully theirs?

Yara Vrolijks, a second year Dutch student, thinks that stealing from the institution is “not a good way to fight for justice,” since it only profits the individual, and does not have any effect on the fees. In fact, it affects other students negatively, forcing them to use plastic cutlery because so much metal cutlery has been taken. She is not convinced by the proclamation of moral righteousness,

and instead sees the widespread stealing as a “sign that students here are lazy.”

“Maybe it’s my morals - I don’t feel the need to steal,” she says.

Diederix, Housemaster, also sees Kemper’s justification as a flawed argument; “the government steals from me, who doesn’t? It’s a made up reason. Very bad logic.”

Furthermore, students considering their theft an act of rebellion are in fact unproductive, as it does not directly affect the fees or prices. Stealing toilet paper “happens a lot but it’s not on our (UCU’s) bill, it’s on the general UU cleaning contract,” and therefore does not have a direct effect on UCU finances.

Spronsen, the Dining Hall manager, demonstrates how misguided the students’ complaints are, explaining that “the UU decides on the prices,’” not Sodexo. However, when pressed several times Spronsen failed to explain this in more depth, eventually admitting that the prices of “some luxury products,” accounting to “20% of total products,” are, in fact, decided by Sodexo. The exact system of pricing, and the reason the Universiteit Utrecht is apparently deciding what students will pay for a slice of bread, was left foggy. However, this means that “di-

Measure for Measure

By ROSALIE FIDDER

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easure for Measure (‘M4M’) might not be one of Shakespeare’s most famous plays – but it is definitely a very interesting one. The story about justice and mortality investigates how power can change purpose. From September 24 till 27, the small cast of the Shakespeare Project performed it in our very own Beach Party Area (‘BPA’).

The Shakespeare Project is a Humanities two hundred-level course, and offers students ‘the rare opportunity to learn about Shakespeare from a performance-oriented perspective’, as its course description notes.

In six weeks, the students discuss, prepare and perform one of Shakespeare’s classics.

In the previous year, the audience had difficulties understanding the storyline – it is Shakespeare, after all. The rich language is even for native speakers hard to follow. This year however, the group took some actions in order to inform and prepare the innocent and unaware audience a bit better.

A short video was posted, explaining the storyline, and the programme contained a summary of M4M as well.

Moreover, the actors definitely succeeded in translating their complicated lines into understandable body language – the expressions and intonations of the performers were incredibly strong; so even when a nonnative speaker like me was completely unaware of the direct meaning of the words, the

plot could still easily be followed and understood.

This strong acting kept the play entertaining. The general arc of the emotions was quite stable, with an inclination downwards and a few well-timed ups and moments of comic relief. The undertone was slightly grim, partially because of the occasional use of intimidating drums, and throughout the play the audience’s interest was captured, all eyes locked to the performing students in their impressive masks.

Adding even more to the general entertainment was the beautiful décor of the BPA. Those familiar with the BPA might (not) remember it from last year’s beach party, or the many hours of practice for the musical

ning hall crusaders” using Sodexo’s pricing as a justification to steal may be barking up the wrong tree.

Jake Hillman, a Canadian exchange student with an outside perspective, extends the irrelevance of the pricing in this discussion. With fees high or low, ‘our generation, and age group, has a sense of entitlement […] it’s a phenomenon the world over.’

He believes changes in pricing would not change the amount of items stolen.

Diederix, Housemaster, recognizes the problem with this sense of entitlement, but remains positive. He sees it as a result of students treating “campus as their home and garden.” Despite his frustration at small acts of vandalism, he commends how generally “considerate” the students are. He thinks that as a result of living in such a small, closed off community, students feel more responsibility towards their surroundings, but also more entitlement, just as one would feel comfortable taking a cup out of their kitchen and into their bedroom at home.

So perhaps stealing from campus is in fact a manifestation of the warm, friendly, almost communal way of life here at UCU. Whether this theft is a venting of frustration, or an indulgence of the lazy kleptomaniac inside, it is very much part of the campus socialism that makes UCU unique.

or DramaCo pieces. This night, however, the black, dusty and dark was unrecognizably white, warm and light. The intimate atmosphere was fairy-tale like, and soft, minimalistic sounds of the keyboard added to the dreamy aura that hung in the room like cotton-candy clouds.

It is hard not to be amazed by this performance. Fellow-students transformed into strong, powerful actors that did not cease to entertain for the entirety of the play.

They spoke Shakespearean as if it was their first language. The intriguing story, supported by the warm atmosphere and pleasant sounds, was delivered in a successful way that left the audience impressed and satisfied.

a University College Student Association Magazine

LOCAL 05

If You Are Wearing Shoes, You Don’t Fear the Horns

By CHRISTOPHER FRATTINA DELLA FRATTINA

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ust like the Hobbits in Tolkien’s legendarium, you can learn all about the Sudanese in just one month. Yet, after fifty years, they can still surprise you. Like the Hobbits, they are shoeless and, to make matters worse, they don’t have the strong, thick soles of Frodo and Sam. It seems that everything related to Sudan is tainted by contrast. It is a place where BMWs and donkeys share the same road; where the heat of the sun is counterweighted with aggressively air-conditioned rooms and where Africa meets the Middle East, a confluence of Afro-Arab. It is where those at the upper echelons of the political hierarchy provide a corrosive, ‘thorny’ contradiction to the seemingly innate goodwill of the lower and middle class Sudanese.

Popular media have indoctrinated many into perceiving Sudan as a cauldron of jihadist extremism, a hub of anti-west sentiment, and the Sudanese as a reckless band of squabbling warmongers pledging the downfall of rival factions. But this is a

defunct narrative of the status quo. In actual fact, Sudan plays host to diverse and varied cultures.

Gaining independence in 1956, Sudan has experienced several-ongoing- civil wars, two coup d’etats and a secession. A cornerstone of Afrocentricty, reinforced by its former name Bilad- Al Sudan meaning “land of the blacks”; Sudan hosts all shades of the same black we have in the world today; it is a microcosm of everything that is black.

Just like the Hobbits, most average Sudanese haven’t a single malicious bone in their body. Indeed, it is melancholy to think that a world with such kind and giving people can’t experience the right to say what they wish- to do as they please. No student would co-sign a theory in which the convulsion of our damaged and mangled planet doesn’t adhere to the kind and the gentle receiving the basic essentials in order to pursue human happiness. Like backwater waiting aimlessly and mercilessly at the whim of the wind Sudan has reached a point of political stagnation, waiting and waiting. “Lau

labis jazma ma takhaf min alshok;” if you are wearing shoes you don’t fear the thorns: the Sudanese remain shoeless.

Containing reserves of gold, iron ore, silver, uranium, chromite, gypsum, oil and gum Arabic, Sudan is plagued with the ‘resource curse’.. It seems that everyone in Sudan wants to exploit it. The President of Sudan, Omar Bashir, alone has over 9 billion US dollars in foreign assets- all frozen by the United Nations. Nevertheless, there is a sense of belief and of expectation. Far from defeated, It feels as if Sudan is on a precipice of better times ahead, in which they can reclaim their former tag as the “breadbasket of Africa”.

But the lack of a go-getting attitude is preventing Sudan from moving forward.

Hope is manifested not in the downright will to survive (to subsist) but in the Sudanese’s endearing care for one another. During the most recent demonstrations in Sudan in 2013, Salah Al Sanhouri, led protests in the capital, Khartoum, against the present government’s inaction over the low quality of life.

The demonstrations climaxed with Al Sanhouri’s death. Martyred for the Sudanese cause, his death sent shockwaves around Sudan as the people finally realised how unwilling the present government is to improve life for the Sudanese and lessen their grip on power. The two day halt in demonstrations to honour their fallen comrade was a testament to the Sudanese Nevertheless, there is a growing feeling that Al Sanhouri’s death should not be in vain.

According to Western media, Sudan is underdeveloped. It is backward and is the second most corrupt country in the world.

Sudan harbours various Islamic extremist groups. Its sharia system is the most barbaric and inhumane of all. Well, the Sudanese, more so than any other Arabian culture, have a penchant for saying inshallah, meaning “god willing.”

Inshallah, the time will come when Sudan is better perceived around the world.

Inshallah, the Sudanese will have markedly improved standards of living. Inshallah, the Sudanese go out and get what they deserve.

Fueling the Fire: Spanish Censorship Has Unintended Effects

The Day that Began with Explosions

By PAU CASTELLVÍ CANET

By IVO TARIK DE VRIES

W

hile I was born in Catalonia, Spain there are often times when I feel more Dutch than I do Spanish.

It has little to do with my language proficiency which is admittedly poor, but rather with that I resonate with the values of Dutch democracy. The Netherlands contains institutions that safeguard freedom of speech and respect for others, where anything is debatable, where the government seeks consensus and where voting is an inherent feature of democracy. Many of us, living in Western European countries, take said rights and concepts for granted but we ought not to.

“Political tension grew between and Catalonia as the independence referendum date was approaching.”

On Thursday, September 4, 2014, the Spanish government censored the presentation of Victus, a novel written by Albert Sánchez Piñol , that was to be presented in the “Instituto Cervantes” of Utrecht. The institute is an international publicly subsidized Spanish language and culture institute.

This censorship, a common occurrence in Spain, was ardently opposed by the liberal

democratic press here in the Netherlands.

The discussion eventually reached Spain, dividing political elites along regional and ideological lines. On one side the Spanish politicians supported the censorship and on the other Catalan politicians called for an explanation from the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

Political tension grew between Spain and Catalonia as the independence referendum date was approaching, before being suspended by the Constitutional Court of Spain. The date was unilaterally decided by the Catalan government and condemned by the Spanish government as “unconstitutional”. It promised to be a crucial date for the development of the conflict, dictating the direction of Catalan and Spanish politics and, to lesser extent, EU policy. Approximately 80% of all Catalans, according to 2013 polls, wanted to hold a referendum on independence within the current legislature. The most recent polls indicate that whilst the November 9th date has been illegitimized by the Spanish government close to 90% of Catalans would still recognize the results. This situation has led those working for Spanish foreign affairs to try to obstruct a number of events seeking to spread awareness about the Catalonia-Spain conflict (e.g. Lisbon, February 2014; Mexico, May 2014). What happened in Utrecht can therefore be understood in a greater context; as part of a recent push by the Spanish government to conceal their current domestic debate of independence.

By censoring an event presented by a proindependence author the Spanish government has unintentionally thrown even more fuel on an already heated debate.

O

n a Saturday morning, several thundering explosions awoke some of the countless hung-over UCU students. Some living on the side of Kromhout viewing the military base may even have seen clouds of smoke rise into the air. This was Monuments Day and Veterans Day being celebrated next door, on the 13th of September.

The booms and smoke were the effect of canons being shot. Old, green, and heavy, and pulled by horses ridden on by men and women dressed in the traditional garments of gele rijders (yellow horse riders). Four important monuments, including the Dutch waterline that was useful in many wars before WWII, were open to the public. All this was accompanied by an outside orchestra playing Dutch classical war music that the attending veterans could best tap their feet to. A “traditional image” projected onto a modern military base, as Wouter Kalkman put it.

Kalkman is the communications adviser at the military base and has been for 27 years. He expressed the importance of “neighbours [to] come and see” the military base on Monuments Day, for a number of reasons.

He said that for one, the military base has a social interest. “We inevitably live in a society together.”

Kalkman also revealed that Monuments Day is a remedy for the friction that the military base has with the surrounding area concerning parking spots. Military employees crowd their cars where normal resi-

dents park as well. It seems Monuments Day is partially a means of giving back for the inconvenience.

Another reason that people ought to visit Monuments Day is to see where tax revenues go to: “This is what happens with your money, hope that you are pleased with it,” Kalkman said, pointing towards the dark, glass-paneled office buildings that fill the back of the site.

Visitor and civilian Mereike Klein however, finds these edifices “stylish but chilly” and says “they should be more lively.”

She did find the art that is placed around the site admirable. Klein added that she had expected more people to show up, and that perhaps there is “little interest” in the military base.

UCU could apparently have played a part in this. Station adjutant Marcel Platenburg said he had received many questions from visitors of why the “old station” – now the UCU campus – was not accessible. In previous years, the UCU campus had been open to visitors on Monument’s Day. It gave visitors the chance to experience the “connection between old and new.” This was not so this year, because the Academic Student Council was not at UCU that weekend.

Nevertheless, half-Indonesian, halfDutch Klein also shared her primary experience of that day: meeting a man who was stationed in the same battalion in Indonesia as her father. An 88 year-old veteran, Herman Luca. This was for her the true merit of the Monuments and Veterans Day and she made sure to show her rejoice: “How small the world actually is!”

the Boomerang | October 2014

06 SPECIAL FEATURE

cover story continued Personal and academic development

For Wright, the key driver of personal development in the program is the process of confronting diversity. “I believe that it is in the experience of confronting diversity that we confront ourselves. Ultimately, it all boils down to understanding ourselves: what have we uncritically internalized, what assumptions do we have, and how does that influence the way we perceive the world? How do I need to change myself in order to more effectively engage with the world around me?”

It is this that makes the program ‘life-changing’, as so many alumni call it. Edward Dunkley, an alumnus of 2011, still acknowledges its impact on him: “The program not only revolutionized my way of thinking about development, but also generally how I saw the world. It makes you think about what it is you’re doing in a much more academic and useful way.”

Lonia Jakubowska, the academic director of the program, emphasizes students’ academic development as well. “Students apply the skills they learn in class to very real problems experienced by underprivileged

populations. It is a program that integrates their knowledge and skills, their interests and experiences, all of which are put to good use.”

“It is in the experience of confronting diversity that we confront ourselves.”

Making your own contribution

This ‘good use’ is immediately achieved through the final part of the program: an internship at a local development organization. Working in paris, students are given the opportunity to pursue their field of interest with an NGO. This exposes participants to new experiences, such as having to build up their own lives in a developing country and set up their own on-the-ground research project.

The internships serve two goals: students’ further development, and, as Jakubowska puts it, “making a small contribu-

tion to the improvement of human condition in the world, and East Africa in particular.”

Students go Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia and Uganda for their projects, and work on very different scales: some worked in only one village, others from an office, and again others traveling across an entire region.

Lack of interest?

Applying for UCU in Africa used to mean that you had to compete with other applicants to be selected. In the past two years, however, the program suffered from a lack of applicants. While two years ago extra student campaigns and a more lenient admissions policy were sufficient to attract enough participants, last year a one-off reduction of the program fee was necessary before enough people applied. And still, the final group only included nineteen participants.

Jakubowska enumerates a number of possible causes for this problem: the introduction of the 15 ECTS credits-thesis (which used to be only 7.5 ECTS); growing competition of other summer programs; the high costs and a lack of knowledge of the program among students. Especially the increase of credits for the thesis, implemented two years

ago, correlates very strongly with the lack of participants, while the other causes are more gradual developments that do not necessarily explain the sudden dip.

Although no extensive research has been conducted into each of these causes, Jakubowska’s assumption is that the main cause was a lack of student awareness.

Therefore, she says, “this year we put greater efforts in making students aware of the existence of UCU in Africa and the benefits it brings.” Furthermore, the program’s course load is being reduced by abolishing of the 2.5 ECTS methodology module.

Whether these measures will be enough to save the program remains unclear.

Jakubowska is confident that enough students will sign up this year. However, by not implementing stronger measures — such as structurally decreasing the price, or a more meaningful reduction of the course load — she takes the risk that the program could soon cease to exist. “We sincerely hope that our strategy works. If not, well, programs live and programs die, but after eight years of the program’s existence and the energies put collectively into it, it would be a shame to let that happen.”

This year’s edition Interested in participating in UCU in Africa 2015?

An information event is organized on October 28th, at 19.00 in the Auditorium.

For questions, you can contact Lonia Jakubowska: l.a.jakubowska@uu.nl.

Floris Triest’s intership in

Tanzania I stayed at the house of Dr. Mwerinde in Moshi, Tanzania. We worked at his health center in a poor but beautiful neighborhood of Moshi. Together with Linda, a Kenyan fellow student, we conducted exploratory research into family planning perceptions in Moshi. With help of an international NGO, we were able to statistically represent the town’s population regarding family planning issues.

This hands-on experience, working together with a Tanzanian doctor, a student from Kenya, an international NGO: it’s unbelievable but it happened. To me, UCU in Africa was an incredibly valuable experience.

I hope no one underestimates how much it offers!

Madeleijn van den Nieuwenhuizen’s

intership in

Uganda My partner and I lived in a small village in Uganda. We worked for a primary school that targets children from the lowest economic classes. With lowest, I mean bananaand-beans-diet low, little hygiene, hardly any safety nets and no money for medication other than aspirin or herbs.

We visited 75 families to set up a database with children’s profiles. Although our contribution was small, we did make a real difference by listening to people and doing something with what we heard. Thanks to our help, the children can now receive more personal guidance at school.

Esmée Mulder’s internship in

Tanzania

Together with Maartje, I worked for Sauti Moja, a Tanzanian NGO. Our task was to help Corey Wright with his research, looking into the participation in village governance concerning wildlife management in a Maasai community.

We conducted focus group discussions with Maasai women. To do that, we often had to camp out in the bush. This meant: no electricity, zebras next to our tent in the morning, hyenas running around our tent at night, and beautiful sunsets. I learned about the way the Maasai live, the problems they face and the stakeholders – national and European– involved in these problems.

Disclaimer: The picture of the Maasai children above is not related to UCU in Africa (source: trekkingadventures.co.nz)

a University College Student Association Magazine

OPINION 07

The Sun Sets over Xiamen After ten years the UCU International Xiamen Program has come to an end. But why has this happened and what will replace it?

By ALEXANDER DAVEY

Xiamen University

What was it?

According to the UCU semester abroad guide for 2013-2014, “The China Program is a predefined set of courses in Chinese language, history and culture taught on location at Xiamen University, China….. Students interested in Chinese language and culture can do a minor in China Studies that includes a semester abroad at Xiamen University in China.”

The China program was part of the Chinese Language and Chinese Studies minor track whereby “Students take a course in Chinese language and culture, after which they go abroad for a semester to Xiamen University. As such the language is learnt in a context making it applicable to the curriculum.”

The Xiamen Program was a UCUled initiative whereby a contingent of UCU students would go to study at Xiamen University in the South Eastern province of Fujian in China. Usually every student took the Introduction to Chinese Language and Culture course at UCU in the summer term as a prerequisite or else had prior knowledge of some basic level of Mandarin. Students went in either their 3rd or 5th semester or in some special cases in their 7th semester to Xiamen to study for four months in China. There were four courses UCU students took which only consisted of the small UCU contingent; Chinese Politics; History of Economic Reform; Chinese Culture and Anthropology; and an intensive Chinese language course.

Each student also had to keep a journal of their experiences during the program to send back to UCU on a regular basis.

How was it different from exchange?

The Xiamen program differed from a normal UCU exchange in a couple of ways. First, the courses were UCU courses and not Xiamen University courses, and therefore the workload, class time and assignments were, in theory, decided by UCU. UCU also decided

on the amount of credits per course ranging from 3.5 credits (for Chinese culture and Chinese politics) to 10.5 credits (for the language course).

Why was it set up in the first place?

Originally students asked for a study of liberal art and sciences from a non-western perspective which generated the Xiamen program. In the Osiris course outline’s feeble attempt to lure students, China is described as a hot topic at the moment with so much economic growth and an increasing impact on the global society. It was no wonder UCU decided to introduce Chinese language courses along with the Xiamen program to facilitate to a relevant culture.

What changed?

The Xiamen program never officially ended.

The first indication it had ceased

to be was when the course offerings for Fall 2014 were uploaded on to the intranet last spring. Ties were cut between the two universities as there had been some alleged difficulties with keeping the Xiamen program going. The retirement of the Head of the Humanities department, Orlanda Lie, certainly impacted on the program as she was in charge of it.

Now, in its place is the Hong Kong Program. Little is known what this program will entail but it will probably involve a similar set up to the Xiamen program but just in Hong Kong. However, this raises a number of issues. It goes against two of the main reasons of why the China Program was set up.

First, as the recent events have highlighted, Hong Kong is not in truly, culturally Chinese, but rather an ex-British colony with very Western values. This goes against the ethos of the China program- to study

Research in Paradise

By PETRA ZAAL

H

aving postponed my language requirement for the longest time possible, I should have taken Chinese in my last summer. I was already registered to delve into the wide variety of Chinese Characters, when news about a new course came out: the Field Research in Aruba Programme, a course with a wide variety of interdisciplinary topics concentrating on one geographical location. As soon as I heard about it I switched out of Chinese, and into the Aruba programme. The Aruba Programme is a project comprised out of three parts with the ultimate goal to write your thesis using data you collected on Aruba.

The first part is the summer course.

During this course you will learn a great deal about the Caribbean, and particularly Aruba from the standpoint of a lot of different fields. Politics, ecology, history, culture, and many more. This was the first reason I decided to take this course. The interdisciplinary aspect of the course is something that really appealed to me. These classes are taught by someone from the University of Aruba, as well as many guest speakers, who often speak over skype. Since these people have much practical experience you learn the most about Aruba. For me, being a science major, I had never imagined that the cultural aspect could be so interesting to learn about. Besides learning about the country, you will also write a research proposal with

the help of the course coordinator. The proposal will be evaluated on whether or not it can be executed, and if it gets okayed you can go to Aruba!

Being on Aruba is step two in the project. Before leaving in January you will have to find a supervisor here in Utrecht, and a local supervisor in Aruba to help you with the process is appointed to you. You will be placed in a house with your fellow UCU students that did the summer course, just a short walk from the university of Aruba, and since it is such a small island - pretty close to those sandy white beaches we dream about as well. Between January and April you will escape the Dutch winter and instead spend your days doing research on Aruba. Before

liberal arts & sciences from a non-western perspective.

Second, the aim of the China program is for students to fulfill their Chinese language requirement or Chinese language minor. The Chinese language in this case being Mandarin. However, Cantonese and English are the two main languages spoken in Hong Kong. From speaking to previous UCUers who went on exchange to Hong Kong it is very difficult to immerse oneself in Mandarin when no one is speaking it around you.

What next?

UCU’s ten year legacy in Xiamen is over. We have turned towards Hong Kong and away from China. What is to come with this change in direction is yet to be seen. All we know is that the liberal arts & sciences will continue to be viewed through a western lens.

blok 4 of the UU starts you will return with a tan and a heap of information, and an almost concluded thesis.

When you get back to the Netherlands, the third part starts: rehabilitation from the bright sun to the dreary Dutch days, and writing the rest of your thesis as well. In addition you will take two off campus courses to get all the ECTS you require to graduate. In the end, by May, you will have a fully written thesis, and hopefully still some of that tan.

All in all the Field Research Aruba Programme is something that you really do need to invest in. It is a long way from the Netherlands, and in total with your thesis will be 22.5 ECTS. On the other hand, it will give you a lot in return: practical experience, friends, and, let’s not forget, 3 months on white beaches while “working on your thesis”; in my opinion that is one big step up from procrastinating in Voltaire.

the Boomerang | October 2014

08 GLOBAL

Holy Land, Holy City, Holy War:

July in Jerusalem

By JUSTIN MACDOWELL

W

hen the sirens ring, Israelis living close to Gaza have about 15 seconds to run for shelter. In Jerusalem, it’s a minute and a half. I became a target in a mob attack, simply for walking with a Palestinian unit mate in Zion Square.

I wore a touristy Israel shirt to a market in a Palestinian neighborhood and narrowly escaped being beaten by employees and people off the street. I had managed to get myself caught in the middle. Then the rockets began to drop.

“I became a target in a mob attack, simply for walking with a Palestinian unit mate in Zion Square. “ From the Galilee down to the Red Sea, I wanted to see every inch of Israel and the Palestinian territories. Considering myself well educated on the Middle East – a passionate interest stemming from the issues surrounding my home country’s occupation of Iraq, I was motivated to find a way to The Levant.

Yet when Pegasus flight 781 touched down at Tel Aviv’s Ben-Gurion Int’l Airport on July 1st, I hadn’t a clue what I was in for. USmediated peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority had failed two months prior to my arrival and both the West Bank and Gaza appeared to be apathetic and generally quiet.

It appeared a perfect time to study “Israel & International Law” with ten other internationals at Hebrew University of Jerusalem’s Rothberg International School. It’s located on Mount Scopus, a unique location in Jerusalem since becoming a UN-protected area within Jordanian East Jerusalem during the 1948 war that established Israel.

It was captured in 1967, and, today, remains a controversial site and receptor of numerous attacks over the years. Mere kilometers away there stands the 8-meter-high concrete Separation Wall.

Then, on June 12th, news of the triple kidnapping of three teenage Jewish settlers south of Jerusalem went viral. Israel blamed Hamas, a Palestinian faction that runs Gaza. This is what began a tragic chain of events that led to war.

All three victims had been found murdered the day I arrived.

Jerusalem is beautiful, ancient, historically and culturally rich and religious. Yet it possesses surprising modern twists such as the light-rail system, which was completed in 2011. However, these paradoxes are obvious and you can feel the tension in the streets whether in the Muslim Quarter of the Old City or on Jaffa Street in Jewish

West Jerusalem. This was something native students said is always present – regardless of whether a new war is brewing. To them, Tel Aviv, a liberal metropolis, and Jerusalem, a religious stronghold, were two different worlds. We were in a place where two cultures, two societies, and two ways of life collided.

Classes began and so did my exploration of the city. Soon, revenge for the triple murder took place in the form of a kidnapping and live immolation of a 16-year-old boy from Shuafat refugee camp near Mt. Scopus. Jerusalem began to see what was called “the largest clashes” in its modern history. Riots, retaliation, and mob attacks plagued both sides for weeks.

Rockets caused cancellations for all Tel Aviv trips scheduled for my class, but our professor Dr. Leonard Hammer was able to make up for it with speakers at The Van Leer Jerusalem Institute, a leftwing think tank, and NGO Monitor, a right wing non-governmental organization. I visited the northern coastal city of Haifa, known for its harmonious mixed population. However, massive protests gripped the city and Southern Lebanese militants launched rockets causing the first sirens in the Mount Carmel region in eight years. At 3 in the morning. Just my luck.

My unit mate Wassim took me to his home in Nazareth for a weekend, my favorite place I visited. The hospitality I experienced

The Best Exchange

Lesson

By MEREL VAN ‘T HOOFT

I

t’s rather evident that studying in a different country teaches you more than that final major requirement, the course that wasn’t available at our college or the native language you learn. There is, of course, the real eye-openers: insights about another people, another way of living, another culture. As an exchange student at Hanyang University in Seoul, my greatest shock was something that is often overlooked: the style of education.

An average class, like UCU, involves a teacher lecturing. But unlike UCU, the class keeps quiet, takes notes, types into their smartphones (which, oddly enough, seems to be very acceptable), or absentmindedly stares out of the window. Questions, or any remarks in general, are not only rare but are even frowned upon by the teacher.

When another exchange student

reminded me of The Netherlands. This time, I had great timing - major protests waited another week before gripping the Galilean city. Towards the end of my trip, as the war between Hamas and Israel intensified into a ground invasion, the U.S. Embassy began sending messages to American citizens warning them to refrain from going beyond the Separation Wall into the West Bank until the war ceased. So I spent a majority of time in the Old City of Jerusalem, wandering through the markets sprawled over winding

ancient alleyways. I wandered through the enormous Yad Vashem, the famous Holocaust museum in West Jerusalem. It hosts over one million visitors a year, making it the second most visited tourist destination behind the Western Wall.

The day I left, an unknown assailant shot an Israeli soldier outside Hebrew University on Mt. Scopus. Two kilometers away a teenager hijacked a bulldozer and flipped a public bus before police shot and killed him.

Multiple ceasefires fell through. I had left a country in the midst of chaos and turmoil, but on the ground, in my unit, I was welcomed by Israelis and Palestinians and forged close and lasting relationships with them.

From Ramadan to Shabbat dinners, I experienced unmatched generosity and kindness.

The regret I experienced during my first days, convinced I couldn’t have had worse timing, had long slipped away. Indeed, it felt like I was leaving family when I hopped in the sherut, a shared taxi, and headed back to BenGurion, ready for the next adventure.

Ongoing conflict in Jerusalem (Photo: Amit Shabi)

asked her teacher whether he could explain a certain concept again, because she didn’t quite follow, he fell silent for a few seconds, stared at her, and then promptly went on talking. The whole class received an e-mail in which the teacher stated that he had been appalled by the ‘behaviour’ of two students during class, and that he would not tolerate this anymore in the future. The apparently out-spoken girl received a separate e-mail, which banished her to the back of the class and forbade her to ask further questions.

Not all Korean teachers adopt these teaching methods. The ones who have studied overseas, mostly in America, have often westernised their view on didactics, and seem to agree with UCU that active student participation is actually beneficial.

However, students have predominantly become used to being passive recipients in lectures. This is naturally only exacerbated when the class is taught in English.

As a result, one of my lecturers has developed a special reward system in an attempt to elicit a response from his students. Whenever someone speaks up in class, they receive a virtual ‘song pyeon’ - a bread-like product that Koreans eat during their Thanksgiving.

At the end of every class, the students have to report their number of ‘song pyeons’ back to the teacher; the more you have at the end of semester, the better your final grade will be. It is a system reminiscent of UCU’s participation grade, yet seemingly less effective.

As any cultural value, tracing its background is difficult. This notion of oneway-teaching in Korea is largely based on historical values regarding the country’s hierarchal culture and love of Confucianisma philosophical view that values proper respect for both the individual as the elder and wiser. My exchange in Seoul has given me an extra appreciation for UCU, where conversations between students and teachers are encouraged rather than admonished.

“When another exchange student asked her teacher whether he could explain a certain concept again, because she didn’t quite follow, he fell silent for a few seconds, stared at her, and then promptly went on talking.”

a University College Student Association Magazine

COLOSSEUM 09

More International Than a Dutch Milk Advert?

By WILLIAM STUART

F

or a university which prides itself on its ‘international character’ it often seems that UCU students are a pretty homogeneous bunch. This may appear counterintuitive when, in class, you find yourself sitting next to an Italian and a Botswanan whilst listening to a presentation from a Brazilian. However, when you speak to your classmates, certain trends become apparent. There are a large number who have gone to international schools, whilst the ranks of the “I’m Dutch but not really”crowd are swelled with people whose globetrotting childhood was due to a parent working for oil companies or acting as a doctor in some Third World country. What our diverse intake seems to mean, in reality, is that the comfortably middle class children of Europe, and occasionally more exotic countries, are concentrated in our small community.

This is noticeable in a number of ways. In casual conversations people assume that you are of a certain level of affluence, that your parents went to university as well and that you’re used to going somewhere distant and exotic each year for holiday. Happily, I’m typical of the kind of middle class white European that UCU attract, so I don’t find this as odd as I might.

However, even I, bastion-of-white-middleclass-male-privilege-gaze-on-my-heteronormative-penis-and-despair-ye-mighty that I am, was surprised to find that we have both skiing and sailing trips. I once explained to a classmate that I had never been skiing. She was only slightly less ap-

“Most of this year’s intake appear to have been produced especially for a Dutch milk advert, such is the pastiness of their complexions.”

palled than if I’d explained that my parents had made me spend the majority of my youth locked in a dingy shed, subsisting only on slivers harvested from the more sin provoking parts of my siblings.

I was surprised. I had always considered skiing something the upper classes did to counteract inbreeding and winnow out the most genetically defective through loving embraces with trees. The fact that everyone here seems to do it still leaves me a little baffled.

This selection of the most affluent sections of society is especially evident in the intake of Dutch students. The level of ethnic diversity is far lower than at University Utrecht or the Hogeschool.

Most of this year’s intake appear to have been produced especially for a Dutch milk advert, such is the pastiness of their complexions. Not that the international students are much more diverse.

We have an array of white Africans that would make P.W. Botha concerned about the uniformity of our intake. Whilst many of the students from elsewhere in Europe are indistinguishable from the Dutch students, save for their less grease slathered hair and the ability to speak their mother tongues without gobbing on their interlocutor.

So what is the solution to this problem? I feel I represent the sentiments of most UCUers when I state that there is no solution needed. Why not simply keep those dreadful “other people” where they belong, in the Anthropology classroom, not in Dining Hall.

Review: Little Machines

By VALÉRIE PIJLMAN

O

ne baby and almost two years later, Lights (aka Valerie Poxleitner) is back with a new album called ‘Little Machines’. With its more sophisticated sound, it can be considered a mature runner-up of her hit album ‘Siberia’ from 2011, still revibing the cheerful and electronic sound from before. On this new album, her voice is completely in the spotlight, as opposed to previous years, where the synthesizer had a stronger influence.

Little Machines opens up with ‘Portal’, a ballad-type of song. Lights’ voice is very strong, and it is not as dominated by electronic sounds, as it used to be. A country influence can be heard in ‘Running with Boys’, giving the album a playful twist. The main single, ‘Up We Go’, is a typical Lights kind of song, already increasing in popularity due to its catchy tones.

For more of Lights’ catchy side, listen to ‘Same Sea’ and ‘Muscle Memory’.

They are quite electronic, but nevertheless showcase Lights’ soft and sweet voice, with upbeat and cheerful undertones. If you prefer slower songs, ‘Speeding’, ‘Oil and Water’

and ‘Slow Down’ are the songs for you. The songs really manage to compliment Lights’ voice. Although for some people, they can easily be a boring listen, these songs are actually relaxing. Besides, a few songs on the album are mediocre – nice to listen to, but nothing special. ‘Meteorites’, is one of them: good, but not very impressive.

However, the bonus tracks remain the best songs of Little Machines; I think they should have been part of the original album instead. ‘Lucky Ones’, ‘Child’ and ‘From All Sides’ show an unexpected side of Lights’, that fits her well. These are the songs you will remember, with their electronic, indie and R&B influences. The last songs on the original album are the weakest ones, which is a shame, as it had the potential to end with more of a bang. Luckily, the deluxe album, which finishes off with a bonus song, has a much

stronger end.

Little Machines is a solid, mature and consistent electropop album, with surprising influences and sounds. Lights’ voice is mostly in the spotlight, and not overruled by the electronic elements in her songs. However, the end, unfortunately, does not turn on the light.

How To Get Through Winter On Your Dining Hall Credit Homemade Creamy Tomato Soup

By WELMOED VAN ENS

With an annual €1550,- of our budget already going towards Dining Hall food, not all of us can afford regular trips to Albert Heijn. Luckily, that doesn’t have to rule out home-cooked meals. Here’s how you can feed an entire Kromhout unit with Dining Hall groceries.

Pillage the salad bar for raw vegetables and top them off with plenty of olive oil. Red and yellow peppers, carrots, onions, leek or a combination of those, work best. Grab ten of the ripest tomatoes you can find. Finally, make your way to the soup and scoop some crème fraîche and cheese into a cardboard cup. Don’t forget to explain to the cashier that your bowl contains soup toppings or you’ll be charged for a “yoghurt experience”. Grab some basil from the bowls of spices and salt and pepper on your way out. You can make an optional trip to Albert Heijn and add a clove of garlic, a can of tomato puree and pesto.

Chop up your raw oily veggies as finely as you can. Fry them for 15-20 minutes in a big pan while you dice your tomatoes. Add the tomatoes and leave to simmer for at least two and a half hours.

This will make all the difference to the taste and consistency of your soup. Add cups of water as the soup thickens and occasionally stir to prevent it from burning. Season your soup with the spices you collected in dining hall and top it off with some crème fraîche and cheese right before you serve it. Enjoy!

Salad bar 10 ripe tomatoes Soup toppings Salt and pepper A whiff of basil 7 cups of water

€1,54 €3,90 €0,29 FREE FREE FREE

Total:

€5,73

the Boomerang | October 2014

10 COLOSSEUM

Bambi Back in Town

By LAURA PALOMA

M

uscular golden Bambis and redwhite posters were all that most of us, oblivious to extra-bubble commotions, perceived of the “Nederlands Film Festival”. The premiere of the thriller Bloedlink set off this national get together: the most important event for the Dutch film scene. Every September, Dom city transforms into the Cannes of the Netherlands.

This year, 15 different venues were showing a total of 300 movies with the impressively renovated TivoliVredenburg as the festival mecca. All Dutch film production from the last year was presented as well as a great number of Flemish films, other foreign films and older productions. Documentary films and television production were also included in the program. The newest and hottest

1

Turning

Tables

By EUGENIA MELISSEN FERRER

S

itting in class one Tuesday morning, it suddenly hit me: viewed from the right perspective, professor’s desks have aesthetic appeal. With my philosophy professor’s words vaguely resonating in the background, I started to wonder whether the display on professor’s desks could somehow be linked to what they teach. Also: how much could the clutter on their desk reveal about their personality? Armed with a camera and a critical eye, I intended to find out.

(1) First up is philosophy professor Jan van Ophuijsen’s reassuringly tidy desk. Displayed on it are the few indispensable items necessary to teach – books on Aristotle, a bag (labeled ‘sport’), glasses

as well: the NFF hosting a great number of premieres.

The lucky ones this year saw brand new Dutch movies such as: “Infiltrant” the thrilling tale of two Moroccan brothers; “Aanmodderfakker” a tragic comedy about growing up; or were entertained by a lost Dutch speaking mummy in the hilarious “Dummie de Mummie”.

The most prestigious Dutch film prize is the ‘Gouden Kalf’ or the ‘Golden Calf’ (no not Bambi). The best films, directors and actors were awarded this oranje Oscar on the closing night.

But don’t go underestimating the glamour of Utrecht; red carpets were rolled out for this festival, giving the autumnal air a Hollywood feel. In flocked the rich and famous: Dutch celebrities, stars and VIPs of the

2 with their leather case, a pen, lecture notes and three pieces of chalk delicately placed in the centre. A rather daring Western-style jacket placed over the chair completes the picture. Van Ophuijsen’s desk suggests the minimalist approach to life of someone who prefers to own only a few good quality items.

The cowboy jacket and the ‘sport’ bag hint at a yet unknown, adventurous side of Van Ophuijsen, reminding us that there is more to people than meets the eye. The desk has a rather rational lay-out – everything has an assigned place. Less clutter means more room to think!

(2) On to a science-desk belonging to Martin Houweling. The simple, yet puzzling question on his laptop already says a lot, as does the Aquarius-bottle, the book opened on a chapter called ‘The Proton-Motive Force’ and the way everything is scattered at random: desk aesthetics is not where Houweling’s interest lies. A science professor, it seems, needs energy (Aquarius) to explain complex concepts and his desk is merely a tool to get the message across.

(3) Linguistics professor and tutor Gaetano Fiorin’s desk is a different affair. He is one of the first to have added some artistic

film world. Utrecht was certainly the place to be at this end of September.

The theme of this year’s festival was “Film, music and Film music!” which meant that an emphasis was put on music as well as the music in film. Unique live performances, movie screenings with live orchestras and interviews with film score composers were on the menu.

Much more than just movie and music: TivoliVredenburg offered an interactive space freely accessible inviting the public to explore digital visual culture. One of the many memorable nights was BYOB (Bring Your Own Beamer) night. More than 75 artists attended, projectors in hand to their work on the walls, windows and escalators of the city’s new music centre. Eyes darted from one end to the other to keep up with

3 touches to his workplace – a photograph, a thank-you note and a painting. A box of tissues in the corner adds a touch of functionality and the headphones are open to many interpretations amongst which listening to music seems like the most pleasant. This is the desk of a family man who likes to be reminded of the simple, good things in life.

(4) Ah those humanities folks… hw they live with their head in the clouds! A testimony to this is the desk of Gothic Literature professor Agnes Andeweg, whose desk has little to do with serious worldly affairs. Displayed are the horror film The Others, a book on literature and psychoanalysis with an intriguing illustration of two women in fetus- positions with faces coming out of their feet, a printed article titled ‘The Uncanny’, a Gothic novel (The Turn of the Screw) and an open notebook with handwritten notes. This final desk suggests an active imagination and interest in all things morbid, as well as a willingness to write with one’s own hand – truly reflecting the humanities spirit.

How about now taking an honest look at your own desk? There’s no knowing how much it could reveal about you…

the optic delight. Quite the optic delight: eyes were certainly everywhere.

NFF 2014 was a platform for inspiration, knowledge and the exchange of ideas.

Talk shows, seminars and discussions celebrated all aspects of film. Special guests were invited: “Life of Pie’s Oscar winner ErikJan de Boergave presented the magic of visual effects.

This festival welcomes everyone: fans, actors and artists, creating an inclusive atmosphere with the perfect touch of presumption.

This year the ten-day movie marathon, annually held in our very own city took place from the 24 September to the 3 October.

4

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By JOACHIM MACDONALD

a University College Student Association Magazine

COLOSSEUM 11

Dancing in the Dark

By DOMINIC STEPHEN

I

t took around ten minutes for the itching self-consciousness to dissolve while the darkness enveloped our twirling silhouettes. In the dimly lit performing arts studio, insecurities were gradually transformed in the space between and around us. Rather, the very possibility for insecurity had been replaced by something quite liberating and empowering. I wondered where this unexpected sense of confidence and freedom had come from; I wanted to uncover the part of the human psyche responsible for this euphoria.

Have you ever stood still in a bar, party or club and just observed? It is strange to watch all the moving arms, stomping feet and hands with a life of their own moulding invisible shapes… the huge smiles of bliss; the closed eyes of intense concentration; the tightly clenched facial features of something vaguely resembling orgasm. Dance seems to come naturally to us but as with the most fundamental parts of the human experience, its specific value is elusive and difficult to define with any confidence. Is dance a careful moulded art form, truly accessible only by the talented minority who devote hours to the craft? Or is it, in all forms, simply the engagement in one of the purest forms of self-expression, open to all? Among

the communicative toolbox of our species we have singing, the written word, musical instruments, the visual arts… After one hour of Meditation through Movement, it was clear that Dance deserved its rightful place in this box of human antiquity.

“There is a curious fountain of freedom that can be tapped from the thrusting and spinning of ones body in the surrounding air.”

Dancing is at once introspective and intrinsically social. Listening to Indianinfused techno or a deep-house remix of Ray Charles, the landscape that I explore will not be identical to yours, but the undertones, colours and topography might be similar.

As the songs rolled forward, the handful of ecstatic dancers sank deeper into the collective ritual. Comfort within the group grew stronger despite the darkness; we knew that nothing we did, or in no way that we chose to

move, would be considered inappropriate.

This strong sense of togetherness is perhaps ironic since all eye contact, conversation and body contact was minimal. Some were sat on the floor stretching; others were skipping around the room with the glee of an unburdened child; some were simply standing still and breathing deeply. I noticed a number with crossed legs on the floor, meditating.

This might seem odd at first – sitting down with closed eyes and observing the objects of consciousness is not the first thing usually associated with energetic dub, soul and samba. But legitimate comparisons can be made. If meditation is the understanding of the mind for all its quirks, unpredictabilities and unexpected distractions, then “ecstatic dance” is gaining familiarity with the body, both as a fascinating artefact of biological engineering, but also as something over which we have limited control. The attention of the meditator follows the movements of the breath; this anchors the focus on the events of the present rather than in concerns for the future or in the retrospective evaluations of the past. Similarly in dancing I found my mind following the changes of my moving body in real time, without periodic retreats to regrets of incomplete homework or ideas for possible sojourns in the mid-term break. I found this direct, uninterrupted con-

frontation with movement as it moved to be inherently blissful.

There is a curious fountain of freedom that can be tapped from the thrusting and spinning of ones body in the surrounding air. Perhaps this is because through movement we can construct our own individual sense of space, creating and opening doors of possibility that did not exist before.

Through stepping within and around this personally crafted area, and through drawing invisible patterns with our hands, we affirm our physical capabilities and we are empowered. There is a reason that a conversation is enhanced with hand signals, that the simple movements of a walk in the fresh air are so invigorating, and that a perfectly functional but cramped room can feel so existentially limiting.

Amidst the waving hands, yoga poses and spinning pirouettes of Meditation through Movement, I caught myself smiling.

It felt as if we had been given the key to a free mode of expression denied to us by the world of rigid routines and limiting conventions. Regardless of whether we danced, stretched or just stood still breathing, we had been reduced to children playing in the rays of a sunny afternoon, rolling around and giggling in a pile of crunchy autumn leaves.

Autumn Recommending Dates: Rowmantic Edition A G

By LISA MARKSLAG

utumn is always a little dark. Not because a black blanket already covers town in the early evening. Not because the streetlights form shadows on the semi-lit pavements. Not because some of these lights don’t even work. Hell, it’s because of you. You are what makes autumn dark.

It happens gradually. You seem fine, smiling your hours away, but as the days get shorter, your thoughts get bigger. Your good mood seems to tumble down with the leaves, it seems to decay with them – disappear with them. Your eyelids close a little more as your mind opens up, your lips get pale, your nails short, your hair thin. And then it always ends the same.

You call me on the most autumn of autumn days – complete with a gale howling and trying to get in, with trees that make that ghostly sound as the weather trembles with rage, and I’m sipping a cup of ‘Spiced Apple Chai.’. My phone rings and I know it’s you, because the rain is pouring and the trees are whistling, as I’m sipping this damn cup of tea in this ugly sweater. It is simply the most autumn of autumn days.

I pick up the phone.

‘Hi.’ I say. And your voice shakes a bit: ‘H-hi.’

Then it’s silent for a while – and I just hope you’re okay, or at least okay enough to make it through the day. And then you do – you do make it through.

Autumn is always a little dark- not even because of you! In fact, you radiate a shining happiness into the darkest recesses of all that is autumn.

By BIRGIT HASENACK & GRACE HARDMAN

race: I was half an hour late, I admit. I hadn’t seen Birgit’s message and in my nervous anticipation forgot my keys and money. If she was irritated it didn’t show - so we set off to buy our picnic.

The plan was simple: rowing on the Kromme Rijn, dinner, and a walk in the woods. The date was level intermediate/low, perhaps for a third date rather than a first. We chose a fresh baguette, avocado, grapes and white wine. The bottle was small, as not to ruin the rowmance with alcohol-fuelled sea-sickness that would drown the moment.

On the way to the supermarket, events spiralled quickly. Perhaps my superior cycling speed had embarrassed my Dutch counterpart, and in her urge for acceptance she had pushed herself too far.

“My belt has fallen off.” She said, an event I’m not sure was entirely accidental.

Birgit: When I was about to leave, I couldn’t find my keys. The only option was to use my unit mate’s bike. It was too late when I found out that I couldn’t quite reach the pedalsmaking me look like a complete fool. Grace didn’t seem to mind that I lost half of my belongings on the way to the supermarket, nor that I looked like said-fool.

Despite being English, my date impressed me with her knowledge of the Dutch language. Seemingly without any effort, she

used “lekkere wijn” and “pepernoten” as if born and raised in the Netherlands.

Armed with food and alcoholic beverages, the date could begin. We made our way to the Kromme Rijn, simultaneously trying to find my lost belongings. The location is perfect for a spontaneous rendez-vous and also made my embarrassing bike-experience, pleasantly short.

“It looks closed” Grace commented, always the pessimist, but I didn’t want to give up. I firmly rang the bell and seconds later a friendly lady appeared. Our initial plan was to rent a canoe. However, the thought of watching each other become progressively sweaty for an hour wasn’t very appealing.

Instead we upped the anti, opting for the rowmantic version, and hired a boat fit for a scene from The Notebook.

Alone, and surrounded by water, we had plenty time for good conversation. The boat was spacious, allowing us to sit at a close but comfortable distance. My companion showed herself to be an excellent rower: each time we were almost stranded I learned some new British four-letter words (and I’m not talking about L-O-V-E).

Grace: “What a prick” I shouted at the ducks, perhaps killing the mood. Birgit laughed nervously and tucked her hair behind her ear, perhaps silently contemplating whether she could handle my capricious nature and short temper. She suggested we open the wine; I of course obliged.

Birgit: Perhaps renting a boat for two hours would have been a better idea. We missed the most beautiful part of the Kromme Rijn not that I’m criticising Grace’s biceps.

We ended our date enjoying food and wine and watching the sunset. Without having to move oars, we now had the energy to converse about sophisticated matters. As we discussed the future and the meaning of life, I couldn’t help but smile. As the sun started to turn from yellow to orange, slightly wobbly from the wine, we returned to campus.

Grace: Poor Birgit, wearing heels for a walk in the forest. Poor me, for trying to look sophisticated and dribbling avocado. We decided this would be a risky first date, but vowed to recommend it to the highest degree. Before parting ways, I gave Birgit the remaining grapes. She turned around and made her way to her unit.

I did the same, feeling tired but satisfied.

Birgit: Looking back on our date, I wouldn’t have changed a thing. I have no regrets, just love, and a couple of grapes.

Where?

De Rijnstroom Boat Hire, open daily between 9:30-18:00

Price?

From 4euro per hour

12 “What’s the scariest thing that ever happened to you?”

“I have sleep paralysis. I see figures black and grey. I can’t move.” – Emma Van Schie, 1st year

“I was chased by a policeman.”

– Beniamino Vitagiliano. 2nd year

“This – taking a photo without my consent.”

– Jan Des Fleurs, 1st year

“It was a dark and stormy night … There were bananas involved. Take that as you will.”

– Rachel Ecclestone, 2nd year

“Beniamino is scary enough.”

– Clem Bouju, 2nd year

“I just did a Violence, Trauma & Memory exam.”

– Mikki Korodimou, 2 ½ year

“I nearly drowned once. That was pretty shit.”

– Rohaan Thomas Mathew, 1st year

“My sister hid under the bed; I walked past and the hand appeared and grabbed me.”

– Dalia Ali, 2nd year

“A reoccurring dream that my head is being chopped off by a guillotine.”

– Charlie Rogers, 2nd year

EDITORS Emma van Braningen Ivo Tarik de Vries Meike Brouwer Anne Lucasses Jake Hillman

BOOMERANG BOARD FALL ‘14 Editor-in-Chief Managing Director Executive Editor & Secretary Executive Editor & Treasurer Managing Editor Art & Layout Director

Omar Nur-Nathoo Rosalie Fidder Grace Hardman Lucie Kattenbroek Alexander Davey Lucas Koppen