April 2020

The

Boomerang April 2020

Out of Sync or Out of Sink?

Recipes to be More Present and Flourish in Corona Times

by Chiara Robbiano, Gideon Frey, Jana Dimitrova, Sam van der Lugt, Jonathan Sendker, Janneke Boonstra, and Maria Higelin

Illustration © Sofie Ryan

Have you recently felt scattered or frenzied?

Melting down or hyper? Have you asked yourselves how to become the boss of your own capacity to pay attention? How not to be scattered, free-floating, with our eyes wandering around, but sinking in the situation? How to stay synced to the words, moods, and needs of the people around us?

The first step is easy —at least in theory— let’s look them in the eyes, let’s switch off notifications and buzzy sounds from our phone when talking t o someone or listening to them.

The second is hard. The second is really being there. Which is when our incapacity to pay attention might well stand in the way of a real encounter, even with ourselves, let alone with others. If you have ever felt scattered, distracted, if you have ever not slept properly, if you have ever had strained relations with the few of those physically around you — can you imagine that if you could direct your attention and sink into your conversation, sink into your bed and sink the room you are in, you would be able to relate more properly to your situation?

During our world philosophies group thesis meetings, we always end up discussing how we relate to the new corona-era into which we have been teletransported. By now, some of us have gotten out of our pajamas. We have tried to catch up with readings, we have adjusted to online classes, found a rhythm to do our groceries.

Some have stopped ranting at the choices governments made (or, especially, did not make) either out of ignorance or out of lack of care.

While talking, we realize that we all have our own distinct metaphors for explaining to each other how we feel and different ways to cope with the amplified challenge to stay present, rooted, synced, aware.

Here are our thoughts and tips: Chiara I suggest that what keeps us going is the quality of our relations. We don’t exist separately from them. If my relations become strained or superficial, I experience immediate existential thinning. Many of us are more than ready to invest in the quality of our relations. And it seems pretty obvious that, in order to properly relate, one really needs to be present when encountering the other.

Sinking-syncing does not seem to be the result of a mere decision. It’s a result of training. A training of attention.

I imagine attention to be some kind of muscle. So no amount of sheer will power will make it stronger. Training is the answer. And training is not only mental: it must happen in the body-mind.

This article continues on page 2F

Closed Book Exams are Obsolete

3

A Tribute to Mark Rutte

11

Harry’s Hedonistic Hotspots

7

Daydreaming Doodles

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Stan's Sad Boi Sounds

8

Mask Off?

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The Boomerang | April 2020

This is a continuation of page 1

I try to train my attention by trying not to wander off while doing my 10 minutes of qigong exercise before breakfast, by trying to observe the surroundings and feel the pavement under my feet while jogging once in 2 or 3 days. For my Japanese kanji training, I have switched from tracing the characters on the screen of my phone while waiting for my train, to “calligraphy”; using a brush and real ink on a piece of paper. It calms me down and may very well train my attention in the long run. And I try to sit quietly every evening for 20 to 30 minutes. I cannot call it meditating because I constantly think about something else and I am not aware of where I sit, my breath or the noises around me —the same happens while I do qigong and while I jog. But I will keep training; I am just a beginner in all of this.

A last thought. I believe that training our attention is not only a way to stay sane and to deepen our relations, but it is also a political gesture.

It does not only allow us to produce harmony between our body and our mind, but also to really see and really listen to the ones we are relating to. It also allows us not to be swayed by whatever "power" manipulates us by bewitching our attention.

Jana It helps me to see what we are dealing with right now as a chance to experience much needed stillness. It’s remarkable to see for ourselves how we react to a slowed down pace when we are so used to the usual rush and intensity of everyday life. So, this time can be used to explore the ways in which we may embrace stillness. The main way of doing this for me has been painting. I find it soothing to only concentrate on the shapes and colors instead of the thoughts that come by. There is no rush.

Maybe this is also a time for us to make space for everything that hasn’t been expressed in the rush that existed before this slow pace. We don’t know if we will come to experience something like this again, which is why we should explore different ways of embracing it while being patient and caring to ourselves and each other on the way.

Gideon I wish I had some smart “10 things you can do to not go crazy in your room” BuzzFeed advice; I sadly don’t. There is a part of me that wants to push myself to meditate, paint, learn knitting and become a marathon runner, but I think it is often our self-moralising that can backfire in these situations. For me it is starting with the smallest things, eating something nice, going outside. Reading, especially (not for courses), has become my refuge, the place where I don’t think about anything else; but I think that nothing is a good substitute for admitting that this is rough, this is isolating and alienating, this affects us all and there is no easy fix. At least for me the first step is to accept the subtle tragedy of this situation before jumping to big projects that will fail if we haven't got our bearings in this weird world.

Maria Playing with words: synch-sink. The “introduction” to most dances and martials arts I know of systematically involves the art of falling. This is my first anchored thought when I think of sinking.

A funny geographic resonance: I remember now that The Netherlands has developed centres of

‘learning-training how to fall’ for old people (yes, actually; they lay carpets in rooms and accompany the old ones - which enables them to move, be surrounded, and of course, to practice falling).

At whatever point our respective hourglasses may be, it’s never too late to practice sinking-falling.

I’m training to let my body breathe again, by fragments... paradoxically enough the body is surely not a given. Dice throw for a fragment: listening back to my ears, all those minimalistic yet sometimes overwhelming sounds that are always always around. How do I (de)compose with them? How about my thoughts, what volume do they have? What’s the sound of that word again synch-sink...ssss….then a wave that goes up and down with the in…then comes the cut, back to the fleeting present... Well that makes a good rhythm for beatbox (sss...nnn….k….). Another dice throw: Close your eyes. Witness the rhythms of your eyelid, heartbeat, breathe, and all those pulses, comings-and-goings, our body incessantly emit - to synch... Okay, eyes closed again. Sense the gravity through your spine, from feet to head, and lift one leg. Witness yourself falling. What are your instincts? Do you feel light, or heavy? Do you wish to find ground again asap, in a brutal contraction that interrupts the fall, or do you seek to see where gravity takes you, and where your instincts stop you? Are you judging yourself, or apologizing to others if you fall or if you trip? And even if you do judge yourself, and see all the bad moves you’ve just made, try to really be negative, looking at yourself from the outside, not covering it up, and see how such talking to yourself changes the fall/move. Try the opposite, non-judgmental, present, attentive, from within...and witness how such talking to yourself changes the fall/move.

Then put on some music and feel that rhythm.

Dance it out!

Some Miles Davis discernment: "When you hit a wrong note, it's the next note that you play that determines whether it's good or bad".

Sam "We need to learn how to sink" is a phrase Chiara kept repeating during our last thesis group call. I asked her whether she meant syncing or sinking ("like a ship"); then I realized that question didn't make any sense to me. The presence that her maritime metaphor alluded to has increasingly gotten tied up with a sense of being in tune with my surroundings. "Sinking" is syncing.

Over the past days, I've been busier than ever.

An average day can include up to four meetings, multiple online classes, video editing, and ASC work, with writing and reading filling in the gaps.

If I then have a spare hour, I might catch up with my girlfriend through FaceTime. This all adds up to entire days spent on a 12-inch screen. These are days in which I tend to forget something so obvious I feel stupid for having to remind myself: that I have a body, and that my body is in the world.

At the same time, it looks like a trend of 'body time' has taken flight during this digital quarantine. This is the idea that we can spend however much time talking to pixelated people and gulping ice cream as we want, without going crazy. That

is, as long as we spend 15 minutes meditating, 30 minutes walking, 5 minutes stretching, or 60 minutes gurgling green tea and listening to Bach while balancing on a ouija board facing eastward or whatever the latest health trend is. These activities are still amazing - I can't deny my long walks in the forest have been a crucial part of keeping sane - but I want to do more.

What has truly helped me to keep my sanity, has been to remind myself that "body time" isn't something I do for only 30 minutes a day, but all the time. Even during a Skype meeting, I can feel my weight pressing down on the chair, hear bird chirps emerging from the windy backdrop, taste my coffee, and move my desk plant into the sun. These tiny things continuously keep me in tune with my body and the world around me. I am here, present, and sane. Even if I'm talking to faraway people in an aluminum light-box.

Jonathan How to develop presence. I think presence is an incredibly central idea, sitting at the very center of many, many important things in life, and I’ve made it a priority to develop it in myself. Here’s what works for me: in the mornings, I journal about anything that’s on my mind and that I want to take a closer look at. I’ve recently started doing a bit of Tai Chi on my balcony in the sun afterwards - just check out some YouTube videos - followed by around 15 minutes of mindfulness meditation: focusing on your breath and trying to develop awareness and acceptance. Apart from that, reducing the time I spend on my computer as much as possible has been a key to not feeling like I’m going crazy or becoming depressed. I also take naps very regularly and when I feel exhausted I literally just lie down and breathe for however long it takes.

All of this stuff is kind of boring, and not particularly sexy, because it involves practice and cultivation - and practice isn’t about wild wow-look-at-me success, but about continuously, well, practicing.

Janneke I found that one of the most important things during crises like this one is not to desperately try to be on top of your work like you were before.

This is a strange period in which all sorts of negative moods might be affecting you. Instead of beating yourself up for feeling these things, my tip is to try to be nice to yourself. Find the things you enjoy, whether it is an impromptu date with some of your friends or housemates, or an hour of lying in the grass and feeling the warm rays of sun shine on your face. You should not feel bad for all the things you are not doing right now and allow yourself to be.

These have been our tips on not only how to survive, but flourish in these times. Perhaps we can all take this as an opportunity to train to be the person that we really would like to be.

A University College Student Association Magazine

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Closed Book Exams are Obsolete

by Noah Stapper It is the weekend before finals week and Voltaire is packed. Students have fallen into the trap of our education; they are preparing for tests, but they are not learning. They are not gaining knowledge, they are force-feeding themselves information. Next week they hope to have enough information to puke it out onto the exam paper.

When studying for a closed book exam, students often consume excessive amounts of information in a short amount of time, and then spew it out shortly after. The drawback: very little of the information is stored in the long-term memory. In my opinion, this educational method of assessment (namely, closed book exams) is obsolete and does not educate a student, but merely keeps them busy and monitors them.

Since COVID-19 has made closed book exams less feasible, it is a good time to reflect on UCU’s assessment procedure. Contemplating my past 3 years at UCU, I do not think that I have gained as much knowledge as I could have. Two factors could explain this: my laziness or the education system. Since it is always easier to focus on the faults of others rather than your own, let’s

consider the latter - the educational system.

Because assessment methods shape the way students study (and therefore the amount of knowledge they gain), I will discuss such methods used at UCU. Closed book exams are not only an unfair measure of students’ knowledge, but they shape the students’ study processes in a negative way. We are merely rehearsing information, and it is not put into practice. Neuroscience studies have shown that information needs to be given a meaning prior to entering the long-term memory. Since this is often not done while studying for an exam, the information rehearsed stays in the short-term memory, which is sufficient for the exam, but not sufficient to remember it past then.

Furthermore, closed book exams kill creativity and passion. Students are not given the choice of topics they would like to learn about in depth but are forced to scrape the surface of many topics, including topics that do not interest them. UCU is supposed to prepare us for the ‘real world’.

But in the real world, we do not need large amounts of information memorized because we can research all types of knowledge. Contrary to what exams prepare us for, we need ways to put

this researched information into use and practice.

When thinking about a course you have taken in the past, what do you remember? In which context did you learn this information: exam preparation, lectures, projects, presentations or essays?

In my experience, the knowledge can clearly be traced to specific sources: research for essays, presentations or projects. This could be due to the fact that we are mostly allowed to choose these topics, which means there is increased interest. It could also be due to the fact that the preparation is more in-depth, and less based on memorization, as well as the fact that the information is put into use: examples, graphics, comparisons.

In light of the previous arguments I would propose the following: closed book exams should be replaced by performance assessment. This includes: take-home exams, essays, projects and discussions.

Will Dutch Nuchterheid Get Us through the Corona Crisis?

by Jill Roeleveld

You may have heard your Dutch friends, unitor classmates mention the word ‘nuchterheid’.

Especially during a time of crisis, the Dutch tend to pride themselves on their nuchterheid.

But what does it actually mean? And is it something to be proud of? Nuchterheid can be directly translated to sobriety. Though both words are associated with the state of not being drunk and are most often used in this context, it is not their only definition. Sobriety means sensibleness or seriousness. Nuchterheid is a bit harder to define since it refers to a cultural attitude but it comes down to three key characteristics. The first is Tranquillity. This means that you don’t worry about things that are out of your control and you can’t change anyway. The second is Objectivity.

This is determined by a strong sense of reality and not letting yourself be derailed by your own subjective experiences or those of others. In other words, you keep both feet firmly on the ground.

The third and last characteristic is Rationality.

This means that you don’t let your decisions be influenced by feelings or emotions; you don’t let yourself get carried away.

This TOR-attitude has caused some problems in these corona-times according to several Dutch newspapers. The Volkskrant reported that the current situation has made clear that the critically acclaimed Dutch nuchterheid appears to be nothing more than arrogance. The article draws

attention to how the Dutch MP laughed off his mistake when he shook the hand of a colleague after holding a speech in which he advised the Dutch population not to do precisely that.

The article goes on to illustrate how coldly the Dutch government reports about the number of COVID-19 victims and highlights their controlled-infection policy as a questionable way of dealing with the crisis.

The NRC reported that most Dutch civilians responded to the crisis with a tranquil attitude.

People who immediately took the situation seriously were told to not overreact. When the news broke that the virus could potentially be fatal, the young and healthy Dutchies looked at this from an objective point of view and dismissed the concern by stating they would not die from it.

This highlights the fact that the Dutch are individualistic in an unflattering and eye-opening way. It was not until the governments started actively putting out the information that you can infect others even if you do not have any symptoms and that you can indirectly cause the death of someone who is vulnerable to the virus, that the Dutch started taking the crisis seriously. By then, it was too late; every day the death toll and number of infections rise at a concerningly fast pace.

The regulations implemented by the Dutch government limits individual freedom which goes against Dutch principles. The Dutch are historically known to be rebels and revolutionists. You cannot really tell them what to do unless you appeal to their rationality. Once the seriousness of the crisis was established and the Dutch stopped treating their forced-upon free time as a holiday, nuchterheid started playing a more positive role. Since staying at home, washing our hands, and social distancing are all reasonable requests in regards to the virus and within our control, the Dutch are likely to adhere to them.

They look down on stockpiling and other irrational behaviour. They even go as far as to criticise their fellow countrymen if they break the rules and will share their direct and unedited opinions on Facebook for others to agree with.

It seems that the message of solidarity has finally gotten through. Behaviour that is individualist and poses a risk for the collective good is not sensible and therefore no longer tolerated.

Thus, Dutch nuchterheid slowed down the initial response to the Coronavirus but it is also what ensures that Dutchies follow the rules once they are implemented. Over the next few months, as the Dutch are put to the test more and more, we will find out whether nuchterheid is something to be proud of and whether it is the best approach to help resolve this crisis.

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The Boomerang | April 2020

A University College Student Association Magazine

by Mai Thai de Rijk

Is There Room for Manoeuvre in the Case of UCU? by Stanley Ward

Quarantine has been a difficult and confusing time for us all. My days look like weekends and the hands on the clock seem to constantly spin in all directions. Nevertheless, I enjoy waking up having the sun shine through my windows, warming up my blankets. I roll a cigarette and close my eyes while I enjoy the rays. I open my eyes and see a beautiful green tree, freshly cut grass and hear birds singing.

Though, on some of these days, I also see groups of more than 3 people hanging out together, and I know for a matter of fact that they don’t live together. Whether it’s outside my window, on the quad, behind Adam Smith; it doesn’t matter. We are all equally responsible once we are inside our gates.

Sitting in the garden of a friend’s holiday house in the Dutch countryside I realised my own privilege. And no, not just the inherent privilege of my being a cis-het white male. The privilege of light and space. Of comfort and (relative) security. To be able to ‘enjoy’ any element of life under the lockdown measures is an incredible privilege I feel incredibly fortunate to have. Most don’t. I wanted to write this Bar Brawl about social distancing, not to argue against the measures of social distancing, as we should respect and follow the law to protect the vulnerable, but to explore whether there are any low-risk things we can do to improve quarantine life for those of us privileged enough to still have the resource of campus.

Why are some students acting as if we are exempt from the law and regulations just because we live on campus?

Social distancing lays bare the disparities in wealth and privilege.

Not that it’s easy for anyone, but the realities of a villa in Southern France and a box room apartment in New York are vastly different.

The privilege of having the space to move around and breathe is a rare one. Those of us on campus should recognise how lucky we are to have the space and environment we do. Here is perhaps where my stance on social distancing could be perceived as a little lax.

I frequently overhear people say that “they’re only seeing the same people anyway, so why does it matter?” But it does matter. Let’s say you go to the supermarket or another public space and contract the virus. You have chosen 5 people to consistently hangout with, but not all of you live together. Let’s say 2 pairs do and 1 individual doesn’t; that is 3 different units. Each unit probably has at least 1 person still living there. You share your living space and kitchenware, so the virus could easily travel. And don’t forget you and your friends’ unit mates also have their own group of 5 people. That’s 25 already people infected. This number grows exponentially, and it won’t stop unless we adhere to the rules given to us. We can avoid this by keeping our 1,5m distance.

I’m not saying I’m in any way perfectly self-isolating, but I know that I’m doing everything in my power to see as few people as possible.

When leaving home, you should be second guessing yourself; “am I being a responsible? Is this trip necessary?” I’m not saying don’t see the people you love, but instead see them from a distance.

Comic © Annelise van den Akker

Seeing your friends is important for your mental health and as much as UCU culture prescribes hugs upon seeing one another, but please refrain! The best solidarity is fighting COVID-19 together, consciously and carefully.

While the most ‘rational’, effective, and low risk course of action would be to stay inside, there is another consideration, one that is often unmentioned. The effects of total isolation on a person’s mental health is worth considering. It looks like life under quarantine is gonna be continuing in some form for the foreseeable future, most likely lasting until after the summer. Should we then hole up in our rooms/units for this entire time? Technically, the answer is yes. But in reality, this is going to be pretty damaging, especially for anyone who’s standard mental health support system has been dismantled by the pandemic. In the very specific case of UCU, I believe there is a privilege to slightly bend the guidelines in the interest of staying sane. People are making use of the outside space on campus - is this advised? Not really. But in groups of less than three, it’s not too risky, and mentally, it can really help people. How about seeing friends on campus? Again, not recommended, but the risk is low, and having a small, self contained social circle could help some people get through this. The situation of campus allows us a privilege we can take advantage of.

Now this could be perceived as a risky perspective, I understand that, and it comes with caveats. Even in bending guidelines, caution should be taken. If you, or anyone you know has a pre-existing condition, then in my opinion it’s too risky to bend rules at all. If you’re making use of the outside space, do it responsibly. Stay (properly) spread out, and please don’t exceed the limit of three people, because otherwise the police get cross and shout at everyone. I don’t know about you, but my bank account can’t take the hit of a fine. In terms of seeing friends, make sure the group is self contained. For this idea to work, you have to make sure that in terms of your quarantine group, the only people you have contact with should be each other. Of course doing these things does increase personal risk, and what I’ve written should not be taken as a recommendation - but as many people on campus know, it is a reality. In my (slightly controversial) opinion, bending the rules in this way won’t worsen the pandemic - as long as students remain careful, and do isolation in small friend groups, then they won’t spread the virus as carriers. These actions shouldn’t contribute to the overloading of the healthcare system.

I felt very strange arguing against social distancing for this piece, but I thought it was a valid argument that should be presented. It comes from a mental health perspective, not just a selfish one, as isolation can become damaging itself. It’s a toss up between whether we preserve our physical or mental health, and I felt this angle might help people who like me, have been struggling with what aspect of their health to protect.

The guy I’ve been “seeing” has been pulling back lately, and I’m not very optimistic as to how long it’s going to last. I want to see other guys but I feel this immense guilt and I don’t want to be the one to end things... please help!

Dear Anon, First of all, whilst it is perfectly natural to feel bad about potentially hurting someone or letting them down, you should not have to feel guilty about your own feelings; they are there for a reason. I’m not saying that you should always follow your emotions without consideration for anyone else, but if you aren’t as into this ‘seeing’ situation as you think you should be, or if he is not giving you the effort that you deserve, just know that the doubtful thoughts you are having are valid. With that being said, I do think that having a conversation with this guy is the first action that you should take. Even if he’s being distant, he still deserves to know your side of the story; something that could then lead to you hearing his, and gaining an explanation of your own. If, after speaking to him, you are still feeling the same, then I think that you may have to bite the bullet and call it quits. I know that ending things is scary, which is exactly why leaving it as a job for the other person can seem like the easier route to take, but when it comes down to it, you have to put your happiness first in these kinds of situations. So if this boy isn’t making you happy but you think that others might, then you gotta do what you gotta do, because no one else is in charge of your own happiness as much as you.

Dear Agony Aunt. Some of my board members are fucking awful and make me want to quit, but I really like the things I do (solo) in my board. Should I get out of there or wait for them to leave?

Dear Anon, I feel your struggle, I really do. Having to work alongside people that you really do not get along with can not only affect your mental sanity, but in some cases, your motivation to do the very job you signed up for itself. But as you’ve said that you still really like what you do for the board, then I think there is only one way you should go. Stick with it. I know - that’s easier said than done. In some meetings you're gonna have to resist the urge to scream and/or try to knock some sense into your fellow members with the nearest solid object, but just trust me on this one. Firstly, If you were to leave, then you’re also the one losing out on doing something you love just for the sake of avoiding some unwanted conversation.

Why should you have to miss out on what you enjoy because of others? Secondly, and this is key, in life: you are gonna

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When ‘Wellness’ Stops Making You Well

Agony Aunt UCU Students are Social Without Distancing

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come across people that you don’t like.

Maybe even some that you hate with a burning passion. But the sad truth is, in a lot of situations, you are not going to have the power to choose whether or not these people are in your life, whether that be work colleagues, neighbours or your sibling’s latest love interest. Whilst quitting your job or disowning your family is always an option, living a life where you are constantly having to change your own path to avoid that of others is not the ideal situation for anyone. So, as said before, just keep going, maybe trying to focus more on the great work that you are doing whilst shoving the others to the back of your head; and if it helps, you can always imagine some knockout moments in your head to get you through the meetings.

How do you deal with liking someone you shouldn’t? I know he’s not into me and we would be a mess together but i just can’t get over him and I can’t stop hanging out with him because we are really good friends.

Dear Anon, This is a really tricky situation to be in.

Liking someone never tends to be an easy ride anyway, so add in some more complications on top of that and you enter a whole new world of difficulty. Although it might not be what you want to hear, there are really only two ways to go about this; tell him how you feel and hope he feels the same, or cut the friendship for a while to give yourself space. As you’ve said that you’re certain option A would be a no go, that leaves you with, arguably, the harder pick of the two. Yes, it might seem drastic and unnecessary, but for the sake of your own wellbeing and the friendship long term, you have to be able to get over him; something that is gonna be made 100 times harder if you are being reminded of his presence 24/7. Now you don’t have to go ghost style, but maybe just try and reduce how often you are hanging out and texting. It’ll definitely feel worse before it feels better, but if you really do want to move on, then space is the first step and time is the second. I would normally also suggest getting out more with other friends, distracting yourself and meeting new people - but given the lil issue of a world pandemic, those may not be the most viable options. Instead, make sure to Skype people more - maybe even set up a dating app? You don’t have to use it seriously if you don’t want to, but by having a flirty chat with some other guys, you might just realise that there are plenty of options out there that you could actually follow through with, so moving on could happen quicker than you think.

by Ella-Mae O’Sullivan The topic discussed in this article may be triggering. It touches on what it is like to have a complicated relationship with eating and food.

It was my second year of university. Whilst everyone was indulging in pints and pesto pasta, I was sipping my gin and slimline tonic after a meal of 2 quorn sausages and a side of spinach. ‘I love the taste’ I would say, ‘cider makes me bloated.’ Whilst the latter was true, it wasn’t the ‘food baby’ look I feared as much as the calories it represented.

When January rolled around, it was the Veganuary that took my fancy. I was already a vegetarian, so the change wasn’t drastic, but the decision to go further wasn’t spurred on by some undying moral cause. Rather, in my mind, this was a way I could eat the diet I wanted to and refuse the one I didn’t, with the protection of a valid excuse for those that may question my choices.

Now I’m not saying that all vegans are using the title as an excuse to cover up some hidden agenda; I’m vegan now but will happily indulge in the odd veggie burger or dairy free delight. What I want to show is that I was so consumed by the need to ‘eat clean’ that in my head I began to label foods as ‘dirty.’

Far from just avoiding the humble chocolate bar, every food item began to have a place on my scale of acceptability. Sweet potato was okay but white potatoes were too starchy, rice was a no-go unless blended out of cauliflower, and don’t even get me started on the evils of pasta.

But how did I get from being the one scraping out the last morsels of buttery mashed potatoes from the bottom of the saucepan to shunning all things beige?

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the wellness industry.

Where there’s

avocado toast on tap and in an instagrammable acai bowl on every corner. What started out as ‘the active pursuit of activities, choices and lifestyles that lead to a state of holistic health,’ the notion of ‘wellness’ originated as far back as 3000BC with the holistic tradition of Ayurveda, later encompassing a wider range of medicinal and therapeutic practices. Nowadays though, the first image that comes to mind when I think of ‘wellness’ are young women with model-like figures, living in yoga pants and inhaling matcha lattes like they’re 90s pop stars and the green stuff is their cocaine.

Now worth a staggering $4.2 trillion, the wellness industry has become a confusing web of misguided contradictions based on gaining wealth over providing health. With information spurting from the feeds of often unqualified instagram ‘professionals,’ each advocating the next biggest trend in health and fitness, it’s no wonder that I was overwhelmed. Everywhere I looked, the food that was hailed a week before as miraculous was now said to be gut damaging, fat inducing or cancer causing, and even though I knew that the claims were ridiculous, I still made a mental note.

So, if I could send a message to my former self, number one would be to stop comparing what’s on your plate to what’s on everyone else's; each body is built differently and has different needs, and what you see online is not the whole picture. Next, please stop spending money on those fad supplements you read about in Cosmo; the only thing they’re gonna shrink is your bank balance. Lastly; if you want pasta, eat some damn pasta.

No matter what anybody says, spiralised courgette is not the same thing. It doesn’t bite, it won’t kill you, and most importantly, it's bloody delicious, so bon appetit.

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The Boomerang | April 2020

A University College Student Association Magazine

Quarantine Fitness: When Life Gives You Lemons, Use Them to Work Out you haven’t done sports for years. Set achievable goals, then you can be proud when you achieve them and not discouraged when you don’t. Start small and take it from there.

The Novitiate You have been known to exercise from time to time but when given the choice, would still always choose to go for a beer with your friends over a gruelling gym sesh. You always say you’re going to work out before your 9am but when push comes to shove and that alarm goes off, your bed wins every time.

Your heart is already in the right place and you know doing

by Harry Mills

● You need a sports buddy, someone you’re afraid to let down, the scarier the better. The type of person that when they call you in the morning, it won’t feel like you’re waking from your nightmare but like the nightmare’s only just beginning. You will not hit that snooze button

Quarantine is rough and social distancing is dreary, but it really does help to keep moving whenever you can. Hang in there, campus dwellers!

Dear gastronomic enthusiasts, before this month’s culinary adventure begins, a few words about Harry’s Hedonistic Hotspots: Corona Edition. I have decided to continue this column in the same way as before - even though many restaurants in Utrecht are now closed for a couple of reasons. First off, I hope that it inspires you to explore new places to feast, even if only through the medium of Thuisbezorgd or Uber Eats, and thereby support these local eateries I would hate to see go out of business.

Secondly, I hope that it gives us yet another thing to look forward to when the days of quarantine are over. I for one cannot wait for the glorious O’Panuozzo to open again.

Speaking of the light at the end of the tunnel, our culinary adventures this month take us to the radiant little Ethiopian restaurant Sunshine. Although not particularly radiant from the outside, huddled away down a sidestreet between Voorstraat and the Oudegracht, as soon as you step through the door you are

greeted by a warm and inviting interior. On the television in the corner a virtual fire crackles away, to be replaced by a virtual aquarium in the summer months – or whenever the recording ends and automatically aquafies. Traditional Ethiopian mesob tables and stools occupy a quarter of the restaurant, with more conventional Western seating arrangements taking up a further half and a funky jungle themed bar occupying the remaining corner.

Though Sunshine’s menu is extensive, with plenty of tasty delicacies to choose from, I would recommend accepting the jovial manager’s invariable offer that he bring you a surprise assortment of three or four classic Ethiopian dishes. Although these mystery assortments cost approximately €20 per person, depending on whether you choose the meat or vegetarian option, you certainly get what you pay for.

While you’re waiting for the food, your drinks arrive. In addition to your standard beverages (water, beer, and fizzy drinks), Sunshine offers an impressive range of fruit juices, tej (sweet Ethiopian honey wine), and even fruit flavoured beer. While the mango beer is actually pretty good, I would definitely recommend keeping a 1.5m distance from the coconut and banana flavored varieties – unless you’re one of

those people who likes that singular taste found in every banana flavoured product around the world, except actual bananas.

Shortly after delivering your drinks, the manager emerges from under the canopy of the bar, balancing on his arm a platter as large as your front bike wheel. As he lifts the mesob lid, revealing a mountain of food underneath, you are forced to stifle your squeal of excitement.

For the carnivores there are juicy chunks of lamb and beef, and chicken drumsticks with a hard boiled egg, all covered in mouth watering sauces. For the vegetarians there is stewed kale, slow cooked lentils, and delicious yellow split peas. Yogurt lines the border between the meat and vegetarian dishes, like a gastronomic Switzerland, hoping in vain to avoid that carnage that will ensue as soon as the first person get their hands on the injera (an Ethiopian pancake used to scoop up the food into salivating mouths).

In the wake of the feast, as the last lips are licked and belt buckles are loosened, the table leans back with a collective sigh of contentment. “Good thing we have a ten minute bike ride home to work some of it off,” you think.

Comic © Anna Tchitcherine

fitness can be fun. It’s just not a priority. Some tips to turn that emerging motivation into action and not let it die before it sees the light of day:

● Get crazy with it! You might have had a normal routine that you can no longer do, but this doesn’t mean you can’t challenge yourself in new and exciting ways. We get it, you can probably do a handstand pushup and hold a plank for 10 minutes but like, can you unicycle? Have you tried naked yoga? Can you hold a squat whilst reciting the alphabet backwards? Now’s the time to get fun and creative! ● Use the mundane! Keeping yourself busy in and around the home is hard when you’re in and around the house 24/7. So making your daily chores a part of your fitness routine is a nice alternative. Want to sweat but don’t feel like doing all the work? Get lots of layers on (e.g. thermal, sweater, jacket) and clean something vigorously.

Vacuum the stairs, clean the windows, mop the communal area… What bigger flex is there than being the fittest and cleanest unit mate? ● Try out new things in your diet. The classic chicken breast and broccoli combo gets so stale after a while, so this is the time to experiment and try new recipes… Read up on nutrition and see if you can find or come up with new meals or snacks that might normally be out of your comfort zone. Abs are made in the kitchen after all!

Sunshine Ethiopian Pauwstraat 11, Utrecht Cost: €€€ Price to Calorie Ratio: Extra Good

Illustration © Tara Sitindjak

Couch Potät If you are a couch potato and even the notion of getting out of bed seems daunting, keeping fit is probably the last thing on your mind. Quarantine, not being allowed to go outside for a while?

Sounds ideal. Thuisbezorgd, Netflix, and PJs, the only holy trinity that actually matters! But as the days pass and you start looking increasingly like a sickly Victorian child, it might be good to actually do something other than lie in a bed full of crumbs. So from us to you, a few quarantine fitness tips for a couch potato! ● Get ALL the shit OFF and OUT your bed.

Crumbs, chargers, empty bottles of water, whatever. Then, make your bed as perfect as you can get it. Oh yeah baby, I’m talking sheets tucked so tight under the mattress it could be a hotel bed. You wouldn’t believe how much a nicely made bed can make a difference. ● Get your preferred music/podcast out and go for a walk or a bike ride! Especially when the weather’s good, a little trip through one or two of Utrecht’s hidden alleys is like chicken soup for the soul. Whoever said you need to go to Bali to find yourself has obviously never seen the canals of Utrecht empty at 4pm on a Thursday. ● Don’t start too ambitiously. It’s not realistic to think you’ll be running 5km within a week if

an extra time but stand to attention, ready to rumble. ● Find innovative ways to exercise. Routines can be such a drag. Don’t go for that same run you always do. You know that by now. Go crazy, maybe run the route the other way around, or even explore a different way. If you’re feeling really wild - try a new sport. Mix up that running with roller skating. Obviously quarantine kind of limits the options out there right now but all that extra time to reflect can also bring out our creative geniuses. ● Plan your workouts in. If you just think “oh I might go for a jog tomorrow if I have time” it’s much easier to justify cancelling to yourself.

If it’s there written down in big red letters underneath your 11am class, really there’s no reason not to go.

The Chad Is there any device in the gym that you don’t know how to use? You’re a regular and can be seen lifting weights day and night. You would choose a good protein shake over a pizza any day. Now that all the gyms are shut down you suddenly find yourself with a lot of free time, lacking purpose and needing something, anything to get that endorphin rush. Not to worry, here are some tips for the absolute beast.

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Harry’s Hedonistic Hotspots

by Maud Rinkes & Noor van Asseldonk Chen It can’t have escaped anyone who’s stepped foot outside the past couple of days that despite all the social distancing measures the government is enforcing and their constant urges for people to avoid public places, it is very busy outside. Not busy with people running errands, working or meeting up with their friends - no what greets you is a rush of runners. This ranges from clearly experienced marathon runners to those sweating, panting and out of breath after just a couple of steps. Ironically, it seems that those people who pre quarantine were saying “I hate running” are the most avid enthusiasts right now. Corona has given everyone an excuse to dig out those brand new running shoes from the back of the cupboard or sports gear bought in a spur of the moment a couple of years ago but never worn since, and actually start to use it. Exercising is an excuse to go outside, keep busy and stay fit, a nice escape from the boredom of sitting at home. And people clearly miss their sports that have been cancelled en masse. We have noticed three types of people and thought we’d describe them and see if you recognise them too.

Maybe you can relate to them or have noticed them in your friends or unit mates. Whichever character you are, here are some tips to become/stay fit in these strange times.

QUIET BUBBLE

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QUIET BUBBLE

The Boomerang | April 2020

Stan’s Sad Boi Sounds :(

QUIET BUBBLE The Boomerang Interviews Your New Student Body Representatives CAR

by Stanley Ward For this issue, I thought I’d expand beyond just recommending some music. It would be untrue for me to say I’m sure you all have lots of time on your hands (as it seems the UCU schedule waits for no-one) but for me, and many others across the world, music can be a fantastic coping mechanism. It’s a great way to stay busy, and if you start making it and interacting with it, it’s a great release. There’s a lot of Noise happening in everyone’s lives right now, and I’d love it if I can help make some of it a little more positive.

For this column I’ll be sticking with the list of 5 format, but giving you 5 ways music can ease your quarantine.

5. Quarantine concerts As I’m sure you’ll have seen, musicians trapped at home across the globe have all had the same impulse to broadcast themselves on Instagram live. I did this too - although I have been called ‘barely a musician’, the natural impulse is still there. Unlike my Banjo cover of Justin Bieber’s Yummy people have been doing some really great stuff. Often stripped back and unpolished, artists such as Phoebe Bridges have used these performances to promote their work, while also offering a little snippet into how they’re actually holding up. It’s reassuring to see Bridges performing in her pyjamas in a bathtub - an emo-folk sign of solidarity. A favourite of mine has been Ben Gibbard’s home concerts, where he takes fan requests, playing material from obscure deep cuts, great covers, and even themed broadcasts. His demeanour is comforting in a way you wouldn’t expect from a man whose music has soundtracked teenage breakdowns world-

wide since the late 90s. Finally, don’t sleep on NPR’s Tiny Desk at home series, which carries the signature spirit of Bob Boilen’s famous desk to artists everywhere.

off this fanboy section with a quote from their signature song; we should call our parents when we think of them, and tell our friends when we love them.

4. Concert Videos Since all concerts have been cancelled, bona fide live music is off the table for a little while.

But concerts are scientifically good for the soul (this is true because I read it in Vice) and there’s plenty of great concerts online that make for half-decent substitutes. If you have a TV, even better, but turn down your lights, and turn up the volume to get those vibes. If you want the experience to be even more realistic, every time you crack open a beer throw 5 euro out the window so it’s like you bought it at the venue bar. Or just transfer it to me. My personal recommendation would be Sufjan Steven’s Carrie and Lowell live; the arrangements are stunning and it’s a real journey.

2. Make some Music Most houses have some kind of instrument gathering dust. Find it, and hit, slap, strum, whack, or blow it until it makes some sounds you like.

Maybe you’re already pretty good. Then write and record some of those noises down. Top end music software Logic Pro and Ableton live are currently available to try out for 90 days free, so you can record your stuff like a pro. If you wanna expand your setup and get a little high-fidelity into your work, most online music stores are offering deals on recording packages containing everything you need to take your ideas even further. Crank the reverb and go wild. It feels real good.

3. Pinegrove It makes sense for me that out of any band, Pinegrove are the best soundtrack to life of staying inside, occasional walks, and a lot of time thinking. Heartfelt and intimate, introspective and emotional, the lyricism focuses on specifics and abstractions. That’s the kind of energy I need right now. The instrumentals have a beautiful organic quality to them, and they’re a good band to get deep into, and discover the connections and self references hidden in the records.

A central thread to Marigold, their latest release, seems to be cycles and phases, waking and falling asleep, feeling how time passes. To round

1.Reply All, Episode 158 - The Case of the Missing Hit. Imagine having a song stuck in your head but being physically unable to listen to it. If I was only allowed to recommend one music based thing, it would be this podcast. I don’t want to include any spoilers, but it’s a true story about a man who can’t get a song out of his head. The problem is, the song itself has disappeared.

The hosts of the show attempt to track it down, with help from music industry giants and indie darlings along the way. It even has Christian Lee Hutson, one of my favourite songwriters in it.

It’s 52 minutes of joy, and a ridiculous concept in the best kind of way.

ASC

Willem

I prefer getting at least 7 hours, but it’s hard when someone in your building loves loud techno.

How long does it take you to walk from dining hall to your unit and back?

What activity would you pick for board bonding and why?

Google Earth says that the distance from my unit to DH is 170.34 meters, and with an average walking speed of 1.4 meters per second that’s 2 minutes and 3 seconds.

When was the last time you fought someone?

I almost got into a fight with some off-campus people at the most recent Wall 1 party. They were convinced that I had (I quote) ‘’stolen their girl’’, even though everyone knows I am incapable of stealing anyone's girl.

What is the best vending machine snack?

Vending machines are a capitalist plot to make the poor poorer.

Sam

How do you like your coffee?

Shitty and from a vending machine I miss spending about 10 euros a week on horrible campus coffee.

On a scale of 1 - 10 how Dutch is your accent?

Not as Dutch as Willem’s.

What activity would you pick for board bonding and why?

Answering questions for the Boomerang.

I know we are all missing these things; our normal lives. Our bubble has been punctured and is slowly deflating; the real world is seeping in. And with it, sentiments of anxiety and fear and confusion have infiltrated. I have been playing around with my mental state recently, just trying to be more attuned to my emotions and aware of what I am feeling and why. What keeps cropping up, in a word: guilt. I feel guilty for so many things these days, things that I had not associated such negativity with before COVID-19 struck. Going outside, seeing a friend (even at a distance), being unproductive, not going home, smoking, buying too much food, complaining, sleeping in, coughing, not replying to my friends’ messages, not doing my homework, ignoring my tutor, feeling sad, wearing my pyjamas all day… the list goes on but I will stop here because it gets a little disheartening.

Now that I’ve probably made you feel quite shit, it’s time for the uplifting and motivational paragraph of this editorial. I may be feeling more guilty about things that used to be the source of real happiness for me, but I am also being kinder and more patient with myself in the face of all of this. Allow yourself time, allow yourself to be unproductive and allow yourself to feel bad right now. These are not normal times and you are not expected (and you should not expect yourself) to behave as if they were. Kindness and patience for yourself and those around you are really important right now; if we can focus our energy on this, I have confidence that we can confront the guilt and negativity that are inevitable symptoms of a global pandemic and a worldwide crisis.

I’m sure you’ve heard every motivational slogan in the book by this point, so I will stop with that now. Just know you are not alone, and that just because everyone else is dealing with the same circumstances, it doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t be kind to yourself . I’m not sure why I have appointed myself emotional advisor to all of you - I am grossly unqualified - but if you only remember one thing (ok, maybe two): patience and kindness, my friends.

Yours always, Saskia Vrensen Editor-in-Chief

A puzzle, because I want the board to experience the so-called “puzzle-high” together.

Pick the best item on the DH menu and why?

A bamischijf, because you can put it on your lunchtime boterham. Lekker!

Valentina Esconjauregui - Secretary How do you like your coffee?

Colombian, home-brewed, with a cloud of milk, seven times a day!

How many hours of sleep do you need to get?

Averly

Ivan Ryan - SA

On a scale of 1 - 10 how Dutch is your accent?

Pick the best item on the DH menu and why?

When was the last time you fought someone?

Afra - Chair

On a scale of 1-10 how Dutch is your accent?

6.5

What activity would you pick for your board bonding and why?

A trip to the countryside where you just have each other's company, board games, and alcohol.

Pick the best item on the DH and why?

Do you write notes or type them?

In class I type notes so that I can keep up with the lecture (though it depends a little on the lecturer) and I write notes on readings because it's supposed to be better for memorizing things.

What is the best meal that you cook?

Actual meal would probably be risotto but I'm much better at baking than cooking (and I also enjoy baking much more).

Lieve van Waalkes - AAO

Borrsum

Do you write notes or type them?

What is the best vending machine snack?

Classico is the cheapest place to order from and the same guy delivers it everytime. 10/10 experience.

UCSA

KitKat for sure, don't ask me why but it's my go to snack for studying or in between classes.

What is the best meal that you cook?

Shepherd’s pie as a main and banana bread for dessert

-10 (but apparently I sound like I'm "from Het Gooi with a speech impediment" in Dutch!)

As someone who is half Indian, I have to go with Indian chicken Panini *chef kiss*

What is the best vending machine snack?

Type for sure! My handwriting is awful so after the first few sentences I'm usually not able to understand what I've written down..

An hour because I live in Wall :(

If you could only get Thuisbezorgd from one place for the rest of your life what would it be?

Tamar Goudsmit - AAO

As long as I have coffee in the morning, the number of hours doesn't matter :D

How long does it take you to walk from dining hall to your unit and back?

Depends on the class, typing normally though.

I miss you all. I miss seeing your faces on your way to 9AMs, I miss waving at you from across the quad, I miss grabbing drinks with you at the Bar (after deciding we were too lazy to go into town), I miss quick catch-ups with you and complaining about deadlines, I miss giving you congratulatory or comforting hugs, I miss partying with you and studying with you.

Janneke Boonstra - Chair

What is the best vending machine snack?

Those Bueno things are my forbidden fruit…

How many hours of sleep do you need to get?

Do you write notes or type them?

Dearest Campus (and beyond),

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A University College Student Association Magazine

I don't know if the rat in my unit counts, but that was two weeks ago.

Giant kaassoufles. It's the ultimate hungover or comfort food and those are the only times I go to DH.

Nadia - Secretary

How do you like your coffee?

Blacker than black, in large quantities for the real caffeine rush.

They're criminally underrated but I love a Balisto.

Gina Meimann - AAO

How do you like your coffee?

Black. And I'm fully one of those people that takes pride in this. We are badass and superior, my taste buds know no pain.

What is the best vending machine snack?

Chips. Because they come ice cold. Who eats ice cold chips?

Do you write notes or type them?

I'm fully that person who writes notes in extensive calligraphy. For like one lesson.

Have given up on notes.

from one place for the rest of your life what would it be?

Snackbar Antalya for the late night goods.

On a scale of 1-10 how Dutch is your accent?

I'm hoping a 2, but probably a 5.

Max - Treasurer

How long does it take you to walk What is the best vending machine from dining hall to your unit and back? snack?

Too long, I'll bike like Reinier.

Chocochino.

If you could only get Thuisbezorgd

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10 QUIET BUBBLE

The Boomerang | April 2020

This article continues on page 9F

On a scale of 1-10 how Dutch is your accent?

10.

What activity would you pick for your board bonding and why?

Go out to make memories.

What is the best meal that you cook?

Kibbeling .

Renée - CAO

How do you like your coffee?

You’d make me a lot happier with a cup of tea…

If you could only get Thuisbezorgd from one place for the rest of your life what would it be?

Definitely some old school snackbar like Cafetaria Galgenwaard; I just need someone to deliver my fries or snacks at 2am. For dinner I am willing to walk somewhere.

On a scale of 1-10 how Dutch is your

accent?

Probably Chris.

I would like to think around a 3 but I know that's a lie and it’s higher.

What activity would you pick for your board bonding and why?

I would want to go on a road trip, but with a small van so we’d all fit in the same space. There is something about being in a car together, listening to music, that I really like.

Juliette - CAO

How do you like your coffee?

I like my coffee with oat milk.

On a scale of 1-10 how Dutch is your accent?

Aysu says 5, I would say more like a 3.

Loïs - CAO

How do you like your coffee?

Iced and black.

When was the last time you fought someone?

The last time i saw my sister, so about 4 months ago.

On a scale of 1-10 how Dutch is your When was the last time you fought accent? someone?

5.

I used to box when I was 16 and sometimes we had to fight. Does that count?

What activity would you pick for your board bonding and why?

If you could only get Thuisbezorgd Mario kart tournament, because I am very from one place for the rest of your life good and like to show off my skills. Also it’s funny what would it be? when people get road rage.

The Importance of Stories for the Human Condition A Meditation in Times of Crises

“Fantasy remains a human right” – J. R. R. Tolkien Yes, indeed! Even when we have reached the highest buildings, the fastest cars, the best, the greatest. There will always be room for someone to tell you a story. To write a piece of music or a poem about love or any other fundamental human feeling. I believe the same applies for times of crises. Throughout my life the situations where people would suddenly ask for a story to be told were the ones of either momentary peace, or points of utter low. Now, what we have with Covid-19 is by far not that situation of war where there are almost daily bombings. Nevertheless the severity of our condition differs per individual, and does so quite significantly. And still, both in my head as well as circle of friends and acquaintances, I see the need for stories, in any form possible. Why? We need fantasies in our life; not because we could not bear the coldness of naked nature otherwise, but, as Death in one of Terry Pratchett’s novels has pointed out: “Humans need fantasy to be human. To be the place where the falling angel meets the rising ape”. From human being then emerges human doing, which in its

purest form, is again, telling a story. Be it through music, writing, a poem, designing a building, drawing, or even something like cooking – we can and always will share our world with others through the narration of stories. Most stories though are essentially little lies, at least in the case of fictive narration or songs about them.

But strangely enough we are morie than willing to believe them, if only just for a moment.

In and through history, some of them, the most magical, the most symbolic, would become myths, and out of those then could – and would - emerge whole mythologies for all kinds of cultures!

“But myths can also be seen as the assumptions, revelations and metaphors upon which our own beliefs are based”. Stories about the stars, the moon, the celestial beings, certain emotional experiences shared and understood by most if not all… A collection depicting distant notions and ideas about the human condition and the world, about psychic elements which are commonly experienced and those which are especially emphasized in this particular time and space. “In this sense, myths are really the basic truths of our lives.” Those little lies mentioned earlier turn eventually into bigger lies telling stories about seemingly immortal concepts such as duty, moral, mercy, justice. And are those not indeed some basic truths of human life, passing the test of time now for millennia?

What can we do with this train of thought? How can it help us in times of crises? Maybe, let us put it like this: after this short meditation, why should we not go back to telling stories to each other about the stars that we observe(d) today, about past experiences which make us smile, laugh, or cry. Why not make it a habit to re-narrate old established fascinations of mankind, or create news ones about the situation we are

currently in.

“Stories can conquer fear, you know. They can make the heart bigger.” “It's like Tolstoy said.

Happiness is an allegory, unhappiness a story”.

Ridicule it. Colour it. Make it magical, even. It does not matter, because a story is a story and as such will always be able to touch us there were so only so few things can – where we will feel most human. Tell those little lies which transform life into being human. After all, Fantasy indeed remains a human right.

A Tribute to Mark Rutte My family has a classic line every time the Netherlands goes through a crisis. Most of my family leans fairly left-wing; needless to say, they haven’t been fans of the right-wing, VVD-led governments that this country has had the last ten years. Yet they’ve been saying this line for an equal amount of time. The line? “You know, I’d never vote for him, but Rutte has been handling this crisis really well.”

Oh, Mark. Our Prime Minister for almost ten years now. A humble man who has never quit his side-job as a high school teacher. The kind of person who shakes someone’s hand right after announcing that no one should shake hands anymore. The kind of person who wears the same casual hoodie every time he goes out in public in order to seem like one of the ‘normals’.

The kind of person to lose his train of thought in the middle of a debate, to then desperately call out for his assistant to remind him of the line.

The most remarkable thing about Mark is how incredibly unremarkable he is. This often works in Mark’s favour, politically - he has a problematic tendency to ‘laugh away’ serious problems with his politics and governance so that he never loses face. But it also instills a sense of normalcy in people. Some of Mark’s most viral moments worldwide is when he seems like a normal, decent man. He once cycled to an appointment with the king, then parked and locked his bike in front of the palace. ‘Someone’ took a picture. Of course it went viral.

WORLD

by Sam de Visser

Mark’s normalcy very much seems like a carefully orchestrated political campaign plan. Look at your Prime Minister being human! How normal! As a Dutch person, it can often get tiring. I don’t agree with Mark’s politics at all and it’s exhausting to see someone so obviously present themselves as being a certain way. But what’s refreshing about Mark and his attitudes is that they actually don’t change. Not even in crisis times.

Mark has made a fair amount of mistakes with the current crisis. The aforementioned handshaking incident, organising a messy press conference that left many people confused, perhaps waiting far too long to close Dutch schools. But regular Joe Mark admits to all of this. He admitted the press conference was messy and should’ve been done better. He admitted he let his own opinion get in the way of closing the schools, and that he should’ve done it earlier.

Mark visited a supermarket and publicly (and of course, virally) announced that “we can poop for ten more years!”.

In a time where some governments use the state of emergency to kill off democracy, Mark addresses his people and just tells us if he’s made a mistake. He consistently concedes to experts’ opinions, telling us he doesn’t know any better than we do. Even though one might think strong leadership is necessary right now, Mark has shown nothing but humility. He stands in sharp contrast with a Trump, or a Bolsonaro, or even a Merkel or Macron. Mark hasn’t ‘declared war’

I must conclude that for me, my Christian faith drives me in times like these, gives me hope and strength and puts a smile on my face. But it also is my faith which resonated deeply with Tolkien’s idea – some might even call it realization.

It is because of it that I want to include the full quote of his here as an ending to my meditation: “Fantasy can, of course, be carried to excess. It can be ill done. It can be put to evil uses. It may even delude the minds out of which it came. But of what human thing in this fallen world is that not true?

Men have conceived not only of elves, but they have imagined gods, and worshiped them, even worshiped those most deformed by their authors own evil. But they have made false gods out of other materials: their nations, their banners, their monies; even their sciences and their social and economic theories have demanded human sacrifice.

Fantasy remains a human right: we make in our measure and in our derivative mode, because we are made: and not only made, but made in the image and likeness of a Maker.”

- J.R.R. Tolkien (1947)

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on anything. Mark is honest with us: we’re in a pickle. It’s gonna take effort to get out of it, and we need to push through.

This isn’t an article about any of Mark’s policies or opinions. This is purely about the way Mark presents himself right now. Because no matter what Mark has done in the past or will do in the future, right now I feel listened to. I’ve never felt taken more seriously as a citizen by a politician than I am right now, purely because I know that my Prime Minister is handling this like anyone else would. He’s been put in an unfamiliar situation, yet forced to lead an entire country. I can tell he barely knows what he’s doing, because he’s so honest about it. And that, in return, makes me confident in Mark.

Thing is, this is kind of what Mark is known for. In crisis times, he’s brutally honest with his people, but also shows steadfastness and resolve. I read an article in the Dutch Volkskrant, arguing that with this crisis Mark has truly become Father State. The spokesperson for all Dutch people. Call me a right-wing sellout, call me one of the sheeple, but I’m inclined to agree.

This country needs someone like Mark.

With hairdressers closed, Mark’s hair is getting longer. “How are you planning to cut your hair?” a journalist asked him. And Mark gave an answer any of us could give. He’s thinking of calling his hairdresser and asking him for instructions, so he can do it himself. Then he made a joke about shaving his head… how very normal.

Illustration © Sofie Ryan

We are derived from our rights to see our friends, our beloved, our partner, our family maybe even – what are we left with in these times of viral crises, in the left alone space of our mind, in soliloquy with ourselves? I sat down to think, and see what the ocean depths of my mind (or someone else above?) could tell me about this situation the human world is in. What is it that we are still blessed with? If so much from the outside world is stripped away from us, what do we still long for, and what would that tell us about the human condition? But then I stumbled upon a certain quote:

by Elior I. Dagwood

A University College Student Association Magazine

Daniel’s Delectable Discussions

by Daniel Kamenkovitch No Hitler without Stalin. The gross distortion of how those two historic figures are perceived today is absurd. Whereas everyone agrees on the obvious fact that Hitler was an embodiment of evil, he remains a topic non grata; but Stalin’s position is still discussed. Why? Russia was one of the “victorious powers”. Did Stalin not provide Hitler with material for war? Hypocritical. Mao didn’t order people to their deaths in the same way that Hitler did; we could conclude that Mao’s famine deaths were not genocide - in contrast, arguably, to Stalin’s Holodomor in the Ukraine, the terrorfamine described by journalist and historian Anne Applebaum in Red Famine. The status quo of our school education is fraught - in various countries.

It should be changed to tackle this distortion in how history is taught. Ask your international friends, compare your educational backgrounds. How was it tackled in your/their school?

12 PUZZLES BY LOGICO

The Boomerang | April 2020

Freshman

¬ENVIRONMENT EPIDEMIOLOGY EVALUATION EVOLUTION FACTOR FLUE FRANCE HEALTH HISTOGRAM HOSPITAL HYPOTHESIS IMMUNITY INFECTION INTENSIVECARE MEDICINE MILITARY MORTALITY MUTATION

ZOOM DOODLES

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NETHERLANDS OBSERVATION PANDEMIC POPULATION PROPORTION QUARANTINE RATE RATIO SARS SPAIN STATISTICS TEMPERATURE TOILETPAPER TRUMP USA WHO ZOONOSES

Doodles © Alina Katz, Anna Rechvan, Inès Camino, Iris Beijer, Malachi Shapiro, Mathilde Serre, Rafaella Karadsheh, Sofie Ryan

ANTIBIOTICS ANTIBODY ASSOCIATION ATTACK BACTERIA BAT CARDIOVASCULAR CARRIER CASE CENSUS CHINA CLUSTER CONTACT CORONAVIRUS DETERMINANT DISEASE DISTRIBUTION DOCTORS

A University College Student Association Magazine

Junior

Sophomore

ANTIBIOTICS ANTIBODY ASSOCIATION ATTACK BACTERIA BAT CARDIOVASCULAR CARRIER CASE CENSUS CHINA CLUSTER CONTACT CORONAVIRUS COUGH COVID DETERMINANT DISEASE DISTRIBUTION DOCTORS ENVIRONMENT

EPIDEMIOLOGY EVALUATION EVOLUTION FACTOR FLUE FRANCE GERMANY GRAPH HEALTH HISTOGRAM HOSPITAL HOST HYPOTHESIS IMMUNITY INFECTION INTENSIVECARE ITALY MEDICINE MILITARY MORTALITY MUTATION NETHERLANDS OBESITY

OBSERVATION PANDEMIC POPULATION PROPORTION QUARANTINE RANDOM RATE RATIO RISK SAMPLE SARS SNEEZE SOAP SPAIN STATISTICS TEMPERATURE TOILETPAPER TREND TRUMP USA VEHICLE WHO ZOONOSES

ANTIBIOTICS ANTIBODY ASSOCIATION ATTACK BACTERIA BAT CARDIOVASCULAR CARRIER CASE CENSUS CHINA CLUSTER CONTACT CORONAVIRUS COUGH COVID DETERMINANT

DISEASE DISTRIBUTION DOCTORS ENVIRONMENT EPIDEMIOLOGY EVALUATION EVOLUTION FACTOR FLUE FRANCE GERMANY GRAPH HEALTH HISTOGRAM HOSPITAL HOST HYPOTHESIS IMMUNITY

INFECTION INTENSIVECARE ITALY MEDICINE MILITARY MORTALITY MUTATION NETHERLANDS OBESITY OBSERVATION PANDEMIC POPULATION PROPORTION QUARANTINE RANDOM RATE RATIO

RISK SAMPLE SARS SNEEZE SOAP SPAIN STATISTICS TEMPERATURE TOILETPAPER TREND TRUMP USA VEHICLE WHO ZOONOSES

Daydreaming Doodles We have all suddenly been handed an abundance of free time; for some, this is a blessing and for some this is a curse. Either way, we reached out to all of the bored doodlers out there, so they could show us how they are filling time, for your perusing pleasure.

14 WORLD

The Boomerang | April 2020

A University College Student Association Magazine

by Sam de Visser

by Betsy Middleton timeline stretching into your screen. You can race along it back in time with your mouse, hopping from one continent to the next and clicking on nodes which take you to pictures and information about certain objects, their place of origin, and the era they come from. The graphics are really well done and the museum is brimming with interesting artifacts (the ethics of which are pretty questionable... but I’ll save that debate for another article.

Or, you could just watch James Acaster on Netflix).

In a number of countries, largely in Asia, wearing masks is a common practice during flu season, when you are ill, or have allergies. It is also used by immunocompromised people with chronic conditions around the world to protect them- s e l v e s .

Now with the global pandemic, use has skyrocketed. Countries in which you don’t see masks normally, like Slovakia, have issued decrees that wearing them in public is obligatory and have jumpstarted mass production. Yet other countries, such as the Netherlands, actively warn against wearing them. The science is inconclu-

sive, difficult to understand and often not based on coronaviruses.

Some studies do show that mask use is effective to protect you or others, but also show low rates of effectiveness and issues associated with improper use. Medical practitioners also have different philosophies; some swear by their general use whereas others insist they are only effective in a medical setting. From the COVID-19 pandemic we can see that some countries with widespread mask usage, such as Taiwan, have managed to flatten the curve, but it’s hard to generalize based on that.

Typically, masks help to prevent transmitting particles from a sneeze/cough/ breath to others. More so than to prevent others from transmitting particles to you. This point is most important to me as a young person outside of the risk groups. It’s not about protecting yourself, it’s about protecting others. Yes, it’s better not to go to crowded areas at all, but people have to do groceries, go to work or fulfill other obliga-

The first time I watched Spirited Away (Hayao Miyazaki, 2001) was three years ago and I did not understand a thing. I’m not a fan of anime, and I’ll never be one, but that’s not because of some prejudiced hatred for t h i s format I don’t know and the people who are into said format - I think it’s mostly because I don’t understand a thing that’s going on. The fact that I couldn’t follow the plot of this animated children’s movie made me ask two questions: am I an idiot? Or am I just racist? Consequently, I kind of underrated Spirited Away after my first watch and pushed it aside for a while.

Three years later, upon learning that Spirited Away had been added

to Netflix, I sat down to rewatch it out of quarantine-induced boredom. And I still didn’t understand, but this time I didn’t mind as much.

Because this time I just kind of went with it and it made the experience a whole lot better for it.

I don’t want to spoil too much, although the scene is quite famous and the movie quite old, but about two-thirds in, there’s a scene in which the main character Chihiro goes on a literal journey. And the movie just kind of… stops.

It’s nothing but hand-drawn landscapes, quiet music and silent contemplation.

It doesn’t really fit into what we’ve seen before, because this movie is quite high energy, but somehow it doesn’t feel out of place either.

It kind of solidifies how much escapism Spirited Away provides.

After a few quick Google searches, I discovered that the mythology of the fictional world that Spirited Away takes place in, and the creatures that

inhabit it is very much rooted in Japanese folklore. That’s probably one of the reasons I just can’t seem to get this movie, because I don’t know much, if anything, about Japanese folklore, nor do I have a particular interest in it. But I also don’t really mind, because it makes this film just one weird and wonderful scene after another. The animation is so colourful, so lively and so pretty that I don’t really mind not having a clue what’s going on.

It almost felt like a child’s imagination, because many of the things that happen in this movie feel like they adhere to the logic of a different world. The character designs are brimming with personality. The music sets the perfect otherworldly atmosphere. Watching Spirited Away truly does feel as if you’re on a journey, cheesy as it may sound.

I feel like Spirited Away is largely about discovery and imagination. It is very much a look into another world that we cannot possibly comprehend, which is maybe something we all desperately need in these disease-riddled times.

I know this movie is supposed to be a classic, but I’ve still seen too many people dismiss it purely for being anime. Give it a chance, even though you may need a Wikipedia summary with it. I know it won’t take me three years until my next rewatch, at least.

There Will be No 'After-Corona'

by Doenja van der Veen

Right before COVID-19 regulations, someone asked me for advice on wearing a facemask for their airplane journey. This surprised me for two reasons: apparently I seemed like someone who could give advice on anything at all but also because around here wearing surgical masks isn’t really common practice. In fact this is one of the more contentious debates to arise from the COVID-19 epidemic: do facial coverings actually help?

Illustration © Betsy Middleton

Illustration © Iris Beijer

Number 3: British Museum Virtual Tour For those less inclined towards the arts and with a head for History, the British Museum has a platform for virtual tours. Unlike most of the online-exhibitions on offer, the platform is very slick and they don’t try to pretend you’re ‘actually there’ by taking you through a GoogleMap-esque version of the floor plan, which is Number 2: Free Nightly Operas always a disappointing substitute for the real Streamed by The Metropolitan Opera thing. Instead, the website takes the form of a

Mask Off?

Usually I don’t really try to make these columns too topical as I kinda like just writing about whatever I want. But apparently we’re in the midst of this global pandemic thing and I felt obligated to make it at least a little topical. So I started thinking about the social isolation, all the being inside and everything shutting down, and I wanted to try and find something to distract ourselves from that reality.

Illustration © Sandra van der Meer

Number 1: Free Weekly Plays Streamed by the National Theatre As of Thursday 2nd April, London’s National Theatre is streaming a new play from their archive on YouTube every week. The programme kicked off with a sixties gangster comedy of errors: One Man, Two Guvnors, starring James Cordon, as he was before he was engulfed and made boring by late-night American TV. His hilarious slapstick performance was a refreshing change from the string of Hugh Grant movies I’ve binged over the past two weeks. The rest of the ensemble were also fantastic and the script is first class. The shows on offer over the next few weeks include the National Theatre’s adaptations of Jane Eyre, Treasure Island,and Twelfth Night. So exchange your sweats for a clean shirt, turn down the lights, and pour yourself and your quarantine gang a nice glass of wine. Corona can’t stop you enjoying a swish night at your home theatre.

House Is your social distancing void of decadence and drama? Look no further. The Met Opera House has begun a free streaming service of its Live in HD series. Each day, a different opera is streamed for 24 hours, and every Monday a series of resources from the Met’s archives are made available to provide background on the operas that are offered that week. The world famous, life-size sets, detailed costumes and huge casts remain an impressive spectacle, even through the grimy screen of your Macbook. Fill your speakers with one of Romani’s massive chorus numbers, or the famous aria from Carmen, and suddenly your stuffy bedroom will feel that little bit larger. I had great fun howling along with Verdi’s Lady Macbeth last Sunday.

10/10 would recommend it as a way to let off some quarantine-steam.

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Important Opinions on Important Movies

What’s the Buzz with Bets This whole Corona-crapshoot needn’t stop you from quenching your cultural thirst. Don’t kill your last few brain cells with another episode of Friends; here are three of my top online platforms for soaking in some high-class entertainment.

WORLD

tions. It’s often argued that it is nonsense to wear facemasks unless you’re sick, but how does that hold up against a virus where so many people are asymptomatic? I worry about this especially seeing how many people don’t follow social distancing. You don’t need access to a surgical mask, a homemade one or a bandana works as well. This applies especially in countries where there is a shortage of masks, or where people participate in price gouging.

WHO recently released a statement on this point, going back on it’s earlier advice, and now are suggesting masks may be effective. It seems that the western world is now catching up, in a sense, to the practices already widespread in many countries. But it’s not like we’ve never done it; facial coverings used by non-medical staff to stop disease spread were popular in Europe during the Spanish flu. Ironically, 8 years after it became common use in China for the pneumonic plague. I encourage you to do your own reading about this, and not to dismiss mask wearing outright as an extreme or paranoid practice. Like wearing latex gloves, washing your hands and keeping a 1.5 meter distance, it is simply another layer of protection.

Only a few months ago this world was unimaginable: More than half of humanity under some form of a lockdown, the busiest streets abandoned, borders closed and the air is suddenly clean. In a matter of weeks, this virus travelled along the arteries of global capitalism. It brought the entire machine, the finely tuned and hyper efficient supply-chains, to a screeching halt from Albuquerque to Zagreb.

That there might be a global pandemic was something many - or at least some - experts had predicted, but this situation, with half of humanity in a lockdown, was unthinkable – we lacked the imagination to even ponder such a world. Maybe it was this inability that initially drove people like Boris Johnson and Mark Rutte to speak of herd immunity, since this is the fastest way into a future that is a continuation of pre-corona life – an imaginable future.

There seems to be a pervasive sense on a political, cultural and personal level that we are all trying to fast-forward until the end of this, move the clock forward a few months to when this is over and everything goes back to normal.

Governments are anxious to re-open societies, and to restart the economy – and if it wouldn’t put the stability of the healthcare system at

risk, that would be understandable. For many, it may seem like a blood sacrifice to honour the holy and sacred market – but even reopening society would probably lead to nothing more than an overrun healthcare system. Millions of sick people aren’t good for the economy. But the truth is, we are most likely running headfirst into an economic depression that makes ‘08 look like a cakewalk and might even have more impact than any of the enormous disasters of the 20th century. We have no model for what a post-corona world will look like. Our knowledge-making is based on experience, but we have never been here - nothing in the past comes close to this. This is not the Great Depression, WWII or the 1918 flu. No event has ever affected so many in such a globalised and interlinked world.

We do not know how long the virus will be haunting humanity, we do not know in what ways, or how long, an economy can survive on life support, how severely social fabrics will be shredded, we do not know if more governments will follow Hungary deeper down the authoritarian rabbit hole, we do not know what it does to a culture if everyone is locked in their houses for months…we simply do not know.

by Gideon Frey

The Philosopher Mark Fisher once wrote that “emancipatory politics must always destroy the appearance of a ‘natural order’, must reveal what is presented as necessary and inevitable to be a mere contingency, just as it must make what was previously deemed impossible seem attainable”. Corona has shown that a different world is possible. This is why naïve utopians, like me, point out that while crises amplify our many problems, they give way to a world where we can avert and be resilient to climate change, to push for more equality, less global misery in the name of profit, and all that jazz. But we do not know what that will look like; we truly are on uncharted territory and our most important tool – political imagination – has been dulled by decades where no coherent alternative to the status quo could be formulated.

The post-corona world will be a different kind of beast – and not just different, but from our point in history, we cannot fully start to imagine how different. All we desperately want is to return to normal, but once corona is over and we can hug all our friends again we might realise that, for better or for worse, we can never fully go back to normal.

16 QUARANTINE QUERIES

The Boomerang | April 2020

est "What’s the weird on thing you’ve done Zoom?"

“I had sex ” – Averly

“The teacher ca lling out studen ts who were pickin g their nose”

– Kars

“Chain smoke ” – Aysu

“Fuck w atching watch b Zoom I just ir – Simonds”

adly)” g requests (b n so g in y la “P – Stan

“HIIT workouts ” – Vedika

y nose” “Got a blood – Juliette

ait no wn” tea at i yself on’t put th m e “Mad t’s lame d Sam – tha

“Met my professor's cute doggo” – Vanessa

THE BOOMERANG BOARD Saskia Vrensen | Editor-in-Chief Maya Homsy King| Managing Editor Ivan Ryan | Executive Editor Stanley Ward | Executive Editor Artöm Obenko | Creative Director – Layout & Design Iris Beijer | Creative Director – Art Julia Silveira | PR Manager

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