February 2014

the

Boomerang

February 2014

a University College Student Association Magazine

A College of Maximizers?

Alumnus Jeroen van Baar talks about being a UCU student and a maximizer and why his message matters to us.

By LOREN SNEL Cover illustration by LAURENCE HERFS

“I love

UCU,” says Jeroen as he seats himself down on a couch engulfed by the mess that is BarCo’s office. He has just chaired a debate in the bar after giving a lecture on his new book ‘De prestatiegeneratie’. “I feel so happy being here again. That debate after my talk was awesome. That’s what UCU is all about!”

Jeroen is a 2011 graduate. “I came to UCU because whilst I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do, I did know I wanted to be surrounded by motivated students.” As everyone at UCU has experienced the upsides of our college’s motivational environment, the downsides have also recently been discussed.

It wasn’t any different for Jeroen. “I didn’t detach myself from the pressure. I was a huge maximizer. I still am.”

A maximizer, a term Jeroen borrowed from psychologist Barry Schwartz, is someone who always strives to choose the best option. This perfectionism, which goes beyond healthy ambition, may also sound familiar to you. “Since there is so much to choose from at UCU, you can’t avoid rejecting some options. But if you’re trying to excel without knowing exactly how, closing the door on a possibility can be extremely difficult.” This is, as Jeroen experienced himself, what can make being a maximizer at UCU so stressful.

Jeroen suggests that the Dutch political discourse may play a significant role in the perfectionism he feels pervades his generation. “In Holland, the idea is that we should have a culture of excellence. But if you only measure excellence by academic success, income and status, the bits of mediocrity we all experience can become hard to deal with.” Jeroen feels it is wrong to present a Liberal Arts & Sciences education as the best option.

“People can reach their goals without attending UCU, too. This college should not be seen as the best, but as another way of doing something.”

Jeroen wrote a newspaper article that would eventually, after he finished his studies, turn into his book. “I started noticing something was off when I gradu-

PAGE 08

Solving Dutch Policy Issues: The National Think Tank

T

By JULIE ALBERS

he National Think Tank (De Nationale DenkTank) is a platform for young Dutch academics to let their voices be heard in business, science and the government. For last year’s edition no less than six UCU alumni were selected. What is the secret behind their success? “Working fulltime is an understatement.”

Twenty-five young people, still

in university or recently graduated, from a variety of backgrounds. A big, societal problem that is a tough nut to crack.

Four months, trainings from consultants, knowledge from experts. These are the ingredients of the annual Think Tank.

“I had a wonderful time participating in The Think Tank; I kept asking myself why it was already nearing its end,” Spencer Heijnen (25, class of 2011) says. The for-

P02 P05 P06 P07 P11

mer chair of ASIC gained experience in several fields of society, including a Masters in Oxford, but couldn’t wait to apply to The Think Tank.

Since its foundation in 2006, the concept has remained the same, but the topic changes each year. The Think Tank’s theme in 2013 was ‘Care for Health’ (‘Zorg voor Gezondheid’). The costs in the Dutch health care system are soaring through the roof and simultaneously, the pressure of understaffing collides with the aging society. So how can the system be improved in a sustainable way while patients stay independent for as long as possible?

Shortly before starting his PhD in Decision Neuroscience in Nijmegen, Jeroen van Baar (23, class of 2011) thought that it would be a good idea to “add a little socialism to the business-like Think Tank”. He soon found out that instead of fighting the system, “it was more of an interesting mix of perspectives”.

By combining the three pillars of government, science and business, the Think Tank tries to offer concrete solutions that can be implemented quite easily. It generates attention and stimulates public debate in all sectors.

The Think Tank also welcomes people without any previous affinity with the topic, as Ties van Dam’s participation (20, class of 2012) illustrates. Before the Think Tank he was mainly focusing on China and studied at University College London.

While researching four health sectors, the participants focused on the biggest issues with most room for improvement.

After redefining health – “not as the absence of disease but as resilience, the ability to adapt and self-manage” – they continued with the analytical phase, during which they interviewed 300 people.

“Our ideas range from very small, practical solutions to changes in the health care system that could affect millions,” Jeroen explains.

In the meantime, they had the chance to cooperate with health care hotshots from all over the country. TNO (the Netherlands’ biggest research institute), the Royal Dutch Society of Sci-

PAGE 05

the Boomerang | February 2014

02 The Bubble

Bossenbroek,

The Boers and Beer

By PIOTR DUDEK

N

ot often does one encounter people who are able to combine both their interests and feelings of patriotism in their work. Dr. Martin Bossenbroek, however, is one of them. In this interview he talks about his latest book “The Boer War” (“De Boerenoorlog”), for which he was awarded the Libris History Prize 2013 (Libris Geschiedenis Prijs). He reveals the hidden secrets of various historical researches and explains why observing individuals’ actions in history is so crucial.

“Your starting point is your own position” Asked about the topic of his master thesis, it takes a while before Dr. Bossenbroek answers: “The image of Napoleon III in the Netherlands, the sugar plantations on Martinique, and the way Bertolt Brecht was performed in the Netherlands.”

This first question already reveals Dr. Bossenbroek’s strong involvement with the history of his own country. He states that at the beginning of each historical research, “your starting point is your own position”. It has to be underlined that Dr. Bossenbroek is not “a one

UCUMUN 2014: Beyond My Expectations

By BENJAMIN ASANTE

trick pony”, as he describes himself.

“The first book I wrote was on Dutch colonialism. I soon expanded my field of interest to cultural identity of the Netherlands in the nineteenth century.

Afterwards, I transferred my attention to the post-war history of the Netherlands.

Specifically the fate of the war victims, who came back from the concentration camps, and the way they were received in their home country fascinated me,” Dr. Bossenbroek explains.

“In the latest publication about The Boer War there is also a Dutch connection, as the Boers were of Dutch origin. My book presents three perspectives – of the British, Dutch and Boers – on the war that took place in South Africa in the years 1899-1902”.

“One of the focuses of my work is to give the reader an idea about what the war means to the people experiencing it. Trying to tell the story of the war, with all its complexity and changing perspectives from British to Boer to Dutch, I decided to mix the personal stories of individuals with the enormous subject of the Boer War itself.”

In light of this strategy, Dr. Bossenbroek tried to find “omnipresent individuals, who were traveling, moving, having the experiences on both physical and emotional level.” An example was the 25-year-old aristocrat Winston Churchill, at the time craving for action and searching for a way to get into politics.

“This approach allowed me to look into individuals’ minds. That is what I like and fortunately my latest book is widely read, which means that this formula also appeals to the readers.”

Hugely impressed by all his research, I decided to ask Dr. Bossenbroek for the golden rule to start your own research. His response: “You should not make it more difficult than it is. Find the topic that interests you out of pure curiosity or anger. Good research comes out of conviction, out of commitment.

Investigate an issue that you would like to discuss over a beer!” His next research project is about the Cold War and its influence in the Netherlands.

D

uring the second weekend of February UCU Model United Nations took place. Campus welcomed about 85 students from countries all over the world, including Congo, Bahrain and Palestine. The organizing board deemed the educational aspect of the MUN experience important, hence the theme of the conference became “A Brave New World: Africa – It’s Time for Africa.”

Prof. Dr. Pronk, who has been active in leading the United Nations Mission in Sudan, opened the conference with a speech on the appropriate approaches to development in Africa. The discussion provided an insightful understanding of the UN development activities in Africa. He advocated the idea that development in Africa requires bilateral cooperation between African nations and their ‘Western’ counterparts. Pronk argued that the locus of the problem should not be put on ‘’what should be done’’, but on ‘’what should not be done’’.

In addition, UCU lecturer Dinasas Abdella shared her personal experience of Africa, speaking about her family and her current research on development issues. She put an emphasis on the relevance of cultural understanding within the context of ‘attempting’ to develop a local African community. The basic principle of principally knowing whom you are helping, before actualizing any plan, was the main advice Abdella conveyed to the delegates.

The committee sessions in Locke became the playground for passionate debates on issues relating to Africa, varying from water provisions to the conflict in Congo. The board had invited several

experts from the field to give the delegates a more technical understanding of policy making. The enriching information provided by the experts’ knowledge – who have worked in Africa for the UN as soldiers, policy-makers and scholars – “made drafting the MUN policy much more realistic,” according to a delegate from Science Po. The UN became even more realistic due to the presence of one delegate from Congo. Appolinaire Zagabe, who had travelled all the way from Goma, Congo, to attend the conference attributed to the discussions with his exceptional life experience. This definitely contributed to the board’s hopes of instituting an educational facet to the conference.

Despite the educationally orientated nature of the conference, the delegates, chairs and board also enjoyed themselves with some classic UCU-style partying in our bar.

The organizing board closed the weekend with hitting the ceremonial hammer on the speaker’s desk during the closing ceremony on Sunday. One of the board members stated that “we wished to bring UCU in touch with MUN delegates, and vice versa, under the umbrella of an educational conference on Africa. I think we succeeded in reaching our goal.”

The conference showed the multitude of international students that UCU is a place where education and debating are not mutually exclusive. During the weekend the international students enjoyed our campus and learned about issues concerning Africa through expertise and UN simulations. Hopefully, UCU was able to foster interest amongst the visitors in pursuing ‘A Brave New World’.

a University College Student Association Magazine

The Bubble 03

The Musical, Auditioning, and All That Jazz

By CELINE DOUET Illustration by GEKE DIJKSTRA

I The Recycling Problem

By VERA VAN ROSSUM

P

erhaps you have noticed the lack of plastic recycling bins in Dining Hall. Just when people started to get used to the idea of separating their Dining Hall waste, they disappeared. The reason: EcologiCo’s (formerly EWG) recycling trial last semester has failed. Again.

What went wrong? EcologiCo chair Mariana Apkarian explains.

“About 80% of the waste ‘recycled’ by students in Dining Hall was rejected by the recycling company as unable for re-usage,” says Mariana in retrospect. How different were the hopes of the then-EWG board last semester when they announced with great excitement the Recycling Week trial. This was the students’ chance to prove that they were in fact capable of separating their food waste properly.

Only the semester before had Dining Hall decided to give up on plastic recycling because the lack of useful material had prompted the collecting recycling company to stop coming. The old EWG board decided to make amends; surely with clear signs, students would separate their trash more carefully and campus’ plastic recycling bins would return.

Reality proved to be otherwise.

Even with better directions, lots of waste still ended up in the wrong bins. Common mistakes were for example people throwing greasy Panini wrappers in the paper bin or the aluminium top of yoghurt containers in the plastic bin. Both belong in the general waste.

“Some people even threw paper in the plastic bin,” says Mariana. This raises the question of whether the seeming inability of UCU students to recycle is due to ignorance about recycling, or apathy towards the issue at hand.

Mariana thinks it is a combination of both. “Perhaps there was a lack

ing for acting and singing roles, Chicago has proven to be one of the most popular musicals at UCU. Lieke van Tooren, chair of the musical team, explains the hardest part for the judges is “knowing that there were so many people that could have been potentially brilliant and you just didn’t get to see it when judging.”

However, all judges agreed that everyone auditioning performed at an extremely high level, making selection difficult. Even Britte de Groot, vocal coach, was impressed at just how well people could sing. All in all, the experience was wonderful and if you still don’t know what Chicago is about, prepare to be blown away by fabulous dances, singing and, of course, sexy underwear.

entered the BPA with the sort of rush you get from jumping off a 25 metre building in extreme sports. This was it. The day that every single aspiring UCU actor had been waiting for. Nerves thumping through my body as we all assembled in a circle facing the judges table. “Guys, I would like you to pick a mood and introduce yourself in that particular manner.”

Alright, think of something, quick. I strode forward, inhaled, and transformed into a hyperactive twelve year old on too much Redbull. “HELLO. MY. NAME IS. CELINE AND I. AM. VERY. HYPER.” Something in that instant made me forget about my nerves.

I was on a sugar high, intoxicated by drama. The rest of the audition was smoothly divided into acting and singing parts with a short oestrogen-releasing dance to “All That Jazz” in between.

We were to form groups of either two

or three. I paired up with a short brown haired girl and we began singing a cappella to “I like the daffodils”. Eventually all five groups sang in canon, walking around the room either whispering or bellowing passionately about daffodils, flowers, the grassy fields, and mountains.

In another highly amusing part of the audition, we were given slips of paper with a situation to act out. Ours was a mother wanting her daughter to come out of the closet for being gay.

Although, the daughter was actually homophobic and quite infuriated at her mother for thinking the contrary.

Other situations included pretending to wear florescent vibrating underwear while being aroused, having an animated pregnancy, and prancing about the room like a psychopath plotting their next kill.

With almost 50 people audition-

of communication from last semester’s board to the student body, but at the same time there was also a lack of participation from the students themselves. Numerous students are really excited about recycling, but others are not. There isn’t much we can do about that.”

Either way, judging by its now twofold failure, it is not likely that another recycling trial will take place anytime soon. So is that the end of campus recycling? Not quite. EcologiCo is currently working on a project to introduce recycling into units. Rather than seeking the cooperation of the entire student body in Dining Hall, this new project focuses only on the people who specifically sign up for it.

“With this new project we want to strike exactly the students who are actually interested in recycling,” says Mariana.

“Special recycling boxes will be distributed among the 36 units that signed up for the project last semester and we are working on composing a group of volunteers to pick up the separated waste from the units to recycle at the designated areas around campus.”

Mariana has great faith that this time EcologiCo’s recycling project will succeed. “We need to take baby steps in everything we are doing in order to make it work, and then see if we can go further.

You cannot quickly impose an idea on people. You need to give them time and space to get used to it.”

The Dining Hall chapter is closed for now. Perhaps with this new board’s fresh ideas, there is still hope for campus’ recycling competences.

Committee Corner: The Acquisition Team

By ROOS VAN OOSTERHOUT

Y

ou may have seen posters advertising “The A-Team” around campus, or heard about a recent deal with Bol.com that this very same team has arranged. But why do we have an Acquisition team and what do they do exactly?

“Our deals and sponsors are confidential, so I can’t say that much about them” says Clémentine Bouju, PR manager and Graphic Designer of the Acquisition team. Obtaining deals, sponsors or employment opportunities is one of the main objectives of The A-Team. The idea behind its formation came from Roald Klumpenaar, third year and current Chair and Luc Stultiens, the UCSA treasurer, in order to deal with an increasingly tight budget. Instead of cutting the budgets of committees, which could result in less events being organized, the Acquisition Team was formed to find sponsors and save money. This formation was not unusual; many other universities have Acquisition Teams who have similar objectives.

UCSA’s records even show that this new A-team, formed in 2013, is not the first on campus. In 2004, a comparable team was set up but did not last. The 2013 team is determined to make a difference and set a strong precedent.

While the new Acquisition Team might not be in the campus spotlight all the time, they are working hard behind the scenes to obtain sponsors. Emails have to be sent out, calls have to be made and, if the companies or foundations are interested, meetings are set up. At these meetings, the targeted companies foundations and educational institutions are given booklets that provide them with information about UCU and the benefits of striking a deal or supporting UCSA events. Of course, companies want to gain something in exchange for helping to fund the UCSA, and this comes in the form of exposure. Flyers and posters are created and posted by the A-team to promote companies and their logos. One example is the latest deal with the local pizzeria Il Forno, where UCSA members can get a discount on pizza, and in return the pizzeria is promoted on campus and the UCSA get money.

Despite the fact that the Acquisition Team is not as well known as some other teams or committees, the work that they do benefits all of us by helping avoid future budget cuts. So if you are aware of anyone willing to help fund the UCSA, you know who to contact!

the Boomerang | February 2014

04 The Bubble

Introducing:

UCU’s Fashion Team

A Musical

By MARIEL NAVARRO

T

his year, UCU is embracing a new approach to trends, clothing lines and catwalk shows. Set-up by Dorith Kool and Maartje, UCU is welcoming the Fashion Team. Perhaps contrary to our first impressions, the team will not be occupied with criticizing fashion choices of stars and UCU students alike, but is in fact involved in launching a new project linking the sometimes separate worlds of fashion and charity work. Both girls are incredibly enthusiastic and ambitious and have serious plans for this project.

The method is quite simple: they will collect all the old clothes they can get their hands on and use their creativity to give it a “second life”. How? They plan on transforming the old clothes and combining them into a new and original fashion line of their own. The end result will be exhibited at the end of the semester in the form of a catwalk show, where the clothes will be modeled and then auctioned off. Most of the money collected will go to charity, as is usual among other teams in college. However, planning such a magnificent event is not as easy as it may sound, and there will be weekly meetings during which the charity will be chosen, the auction method will be decided, promotion and PR techniques will be assessed and people from outside UCU will be invited.

Both girls are aware of the heavy work that lies ahead, but they could not be more enthusiastic about it.

One important question remains unanswered: how and why did they come up

with this idea? Dorith mentioned she had always wanted to find a way to combine charity and fashion. Her initial plan was to sell hand-made products crafted by charities, providing them with a consistent and continuous income. However, when Maartje introduced her to this specific idea of transforming old clothes into new clothes, with proceeds going to charity, she was incredibly excited and could not wait to get started on the project and to set it up on campus. In the end, as she pointed out: “fashion is more than just clothes”.

Since trendsetting is important in fashion and different styles of designers influence one another, it was impossible not to ask them more about their style and icon - and might even give us a clues as to the their inspirations for the collection. “Alexander McQueen and Vivian Vivienne Westwood”, Dorith replied, essentially because he is controversial and shocks the audiences while she defends culture, stands up against global warming and is not afraid to talk about the issues of today. With regards to their audience, UCU students, they defined our style as varied—from preppy to hippy, and influenced by a number of different decades including the 1920’s, 1970s and 1980’s. It appears pretty much anything goes.

Let us then prepare to witness a new, original and kind-hearted event at UCU. Something that emphasizes that fashion can, and should, be taken a bit more seriously.

Experience Profile: Diego Soligon

By EUGENIA MELISSEN FERRER

S

ome of you may know him as the guy who sang in the choir, while to others he might simply be the guy who sat in their physics class. One thing is for sure though: music plays a big role in Diego Soligon’s life. Not surprisingly, he is now part of the Dutch National Student Orchestra (Nederlands Studenten Orkest).

This orchestra is composed of students from all Dutch universities who are selected every year via auditions. The rehearsals started in the beginning of February and Diego has been touring the country for ten days. He performed in different concert halls every night – from Enschede to Maastricht and from Groningen to Rotterdam – with the grand finale in the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam.

After the concert tour in the Netherlands, the orchestra will travel to Riga to perform once more. The music pieces that have been selected for this tour were written by the composers Sjostakovitsj, Elgar and Kadar.

Diego started playing the violin when he was 10 and has never stopped since.

He studied at the conservatory in Italy, played with USKO (Utrechts Studenten Koor en Orkest) and participated in several music events like the classical campus concert.

What made Diego want to join the Dutch Student Orchestra? The answer is sim-

ple: as he had just graduated, a small time gap had opened up, in which he wanted to be part of an orchestra. After his ‘gap-month’, Diego plans to go in a completely different direction and do a Masters in physics.

Does it make him happy? Diego enthusiastically confirms, saying that it is “quite an experience.” It is also intense: “Students leave their studies for a whole month and rehearse every day for nine hours.” At the end of each day, a party helps them to blow off some steam.

Diego says that although he would definitely recommend it, it is also really intense and “not something everyone would be able to do.”. Better think twice before signing up!

Your understanding of Dutch is not really something to worry about if you want to participate, as there are several internationals that, like Diego, don’t speak the language. They all seem to get by, however; if you understand the language of music, you are fine. Diego also explains there are group accommodations and that during the tour he stays with several families. When asked about the food, his answer is vague: “Just normal Dutch food.” Probably still better than Dining Hall, I reckon.

To round things off, I inquire after Diego’s own musical preferences. These turn out to be pretty diverse: he mentions Bach, Barok and symphonic music, as well as classic rock and metal.

I believe it is a wonderful thing when people follow their passions. Diego is yet another example of the fact that it is possible to combine passions with academics!

Comic by LAURENCE HERFS

a University College Student Association Magazine

The NationalThink Tank (P01) CONTINUED ence, universities, health insurances companies… You name it, and this all with constant guidance from two consultants from McKinsey. “At time I found it hard to consciously enjoy the amazing setting you’re in,” Jeroen says.

Out of over 150 innovative solutions, ten final ones were presented in a report in December. A simple but potentially powerful fix is the Partial Deductible (Dutch: Gedeeltelijk Eigen Risico). When using health care, Dutch citizens pay the first €360 of the annual amount used, with the insurer covering the rest. Turning this into a 36% fee on the first €1000 spent – ensuring citizens will never pay more than €360 a year – stretches out the inhibiting effect that deductibles have on health care, namely that citizens spend all €360 regardless if they really need it. Another idea

is Phased Retirement, which according to Jeroen “should counter retirement shock”.

Half of the solutions are usually implemented. Although it is a fairly new concept, the continuously growing Think Tank-network is what might eventually make the biggest impact.

As well as its obvious usefulness for society, the Think Tank also offers its participants benefits in that it is a unique opportunity to develop themselves both professionally and mentally.

Jeroen realized that the main goal was perhaps “to unite a bunch of motivated students around a societal issue, hoping that fun initiatives would emerge.”

Why would policy makers and health care professionals listen to such a relatively inexperienced group? “Many

Local 05 people appreciate the input from someone with fresh energy. In return, they often forgive us our youthful redundancy of ambition and enthusiasm,” Ties smiles.

Spencer agrees: “In the end you realize that not your knowledge, but your selfless position constitutes the added value.”

Still, this does not explain the overrepresentation of UCU alumni in the Think Tank. According to Ties, however, this could be explained by the fact that the Think Tank environment is ideal for UCU’ers: the combination of striving for excellence, thinking outside the box, and working incredibly hard. “The

Think Tank proves that there are more opportunities for driven and like-minded people beyond UCU.” According to Spencer, the Think Tank

Waffles,

What the

and a UC Education

Has To Do

Nodding Disease

Dancing,

With Peace

A Day at University College Maastricht

A

s we stepped out of PNKY, a local Maastricht waffle chain rumoured to have the best Belgian waffles around, we were struck by the broad, cobbled streets and international atmosphere of this southern city, located only two hours away from Utrecht. Far closer to the Belgian and German borders than the next Dutch province, it is an ideal location for a college filled with students seeking an international experience.

The streets are a cacophony of different languages, have a surprisingly scarce amount of bikes, and are lined with architecture that reflects a more Belgian style.

In the midst of the surprisingly large city is the main building of the University College. Unlike UCU, UCM doesn’t have a “bubble.” The different faculties are spread out in historic locations across the city, and students find their own apartments between the city’s churches, squares and cafés. The main building, however, sits just inside the old city walls, right beside a tranquil, swan-filled park.

Students described the park as an ideal study spot in the summer. Similar to UCU, academics at UCM are focused on small class sizes and the exchange of cultural experiences.

Additionally, UCM is based around problembased learning.

While academics at UCM are fairly similar to what we’re used to at UCU, student life appears to be more divergent. Some committee options are available, but the lack of a bubble means that the extra-curricular focus is often within the city itself. Carmen Llaquet, a Spanish first-year student, said she chose Maastricht for the artistic feel of the city, reflected in its many galleries and diverse music

venues. Another first-year student, Lucia Fits-Marquez, expressed her enjoyment of the dynamic salsa scene that Maastricht has on offer. They’re also excited about the Carnival, festival celebrated in the Southern regions of the Netherlands, annually featuring parades, candy, and crazy costumes. The yellow, red, and green decorations were already up during our visit in preparation for the upcoming festivities.

Like UCM’s extra-curriculars, the student nightlife in Maastricht has a distinctly different flavour. While students at UCU often have trouble dragging themselves off campus, without their own bar, UCM students have more incentive to party in town. Carmen said that she feels clubs in Maastricht have a more Mediterranean feel with more dancing and international music than other parts of the country. According to Carmen, Maastricht is located in one of the more conservative regions of the Netherlands. Nevertheless, after passing through some popular student clubs, that definitely wasn’t our impression!

Even though students at UCM are more independent and in touch with the city than here at UCU, their sense of community within the college seems more varied. Although we quickly fell in love with the international atmosphere in Maastricht, the food, and the art galleries, we missed the comforts of our tight-knit bubble. Then again, crossing over the Maas and looking back at the historic centre of this national heritage site, we were happy we’d taken time to visit this unique, European melting pot.

By MADDIE MELTON & CELINE DOUET

I

By JULIE ALBERS

nspired by the Africa Day last year, I decided I was ready for the next step: ‘A Struggle for Peace’-congress. As, apparently, tradition now prescribes, rain was pouring down as I indulged myself in lectures, debates, and culture about the common theme of peace. Conclusion of the day: on further consideration, the number of countries currently in a state of peace is depressingly low.

What should have been the topnotch event, unfortunately ended with a slight feeling of disappointment. Lilianne Ploumen, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation engaged herself, together with three other prominent figures, in a debate about the relation between trade and development. Although not at all an unimportant issue, it soon became apparent that the speakers were dissatisfied with the badly formulated propositions, which consequently resulted in a discussion that was hard to follow. Luckily, the moderator was able to bring some humour into the debate by incorrectly summarising answers.

Fortunately, I didn’t have to be annoyed for too long. Chris Michel’s story about Central Africa, rich with raw materials but torn by continuous conflicts, deeply impressed me. The Flemish journalist, who has been living in Central Africa for 25 years, provided an astonishing enumeration of consequences of war for the local people. Spanning across Uganda, Sudan, the Central African Republic, and Congo, his story truly amounted to a crash course in conflict resolutions.

Describing it as if walking to

and UCU have three overlapping core elements: “An interdisciplinary group, ambition and a positive contribution to society.” In fairness, Jeroen adds a rather politically incorrect element to this eagerness: “UCU people like doing things that look good on their CV.”

The interdisciplinary experience is something they all stress. “During the first weeks I reluctantly admitted to myself that a humanities point of view can also be extremely valuable in analysing societal problems,” Jeroen says.

Despite the enormous effort the participants have to put in, the prevailing enthusiasm is what strikes me throughout all the interviews. “Actually, UCU should offer a Think Tank-like course,” Spencer ponders. “Honestly, I can’t think of anything more fun to do in your free time.”

work, Michel regularly accompanies rebel groups on old Soviet Union planes. Fragments from his documentaries showed us the controversial topics he tries to raise attention for: disowned former child soldiers; street kids in Kigali; the notorious nodding disease killing thousands of children which no one has any particular interest in. Fascinating, though heart-breaking at the same time.

SIB-Utrecht, the UN-related student association for international relations, was in charge of the congress. As I strolled around after lunch, nervous volunteers, amongst which were quite some UCUers, were trying their best to give directions to the hundreds of visitors.

After a debate about the role of women and men in inclusive democracies, I had anticipated to end this intense day tranquilly with the movie 10 Conditions of Love. Oh, how wrong was I! Amnesty International played a documentary about the Uyghur people, a Muslim minority in China whom the government constantly represses.

Rebiya Kadeer’s life was portrayed – an advocate of her people’s human rights, but a nightmare for China. Even while living in exile in the US, she is able to continue her struggle. Though her oldlady-stubbornness caused some giggles among the audience, she was faced with the most terrible dilemma: bend to the regime that has arbitrarily imprisoned her children in China, or keep fighting?

The organization made a clever move to soothe visitors by ending the day with a cabaret show by Jan Jaap van der Wal, a famous Dutch comedian. While his witty jokes lifted some of the heavy atmosphere, the overarching onerous feeling remained. As I went home, with my slightly depressed head still dazzling with all the information, my fingers were itching to actually do something about all this injustice. So, on a higher note, let’s hope the world will be a little more peaceful when SIB organizes its next conference.

theBoomerang Boomerang | November 2013 the February 2014

06 Global

Kraków, “The Florence Of The North”

By LAETITIA BOON

U

NESCO’s City of literature, European capital of culture in 2000, centre of German occupation during WWII... Kraków has so much richness to offer! Ever since the seventh century onwards, Kraków has been Poland’s second largest city. It is also the country’s royal city (even though the monarchy ended in 1795) and a centre of culture, arts and economics. Best visited between March and June, this is the perfect time to start planning a trip.

The essential first stop of any tourist in Kraków is the Wawel Castle, which was built in the fourteenth century with an addition made in the Rennaissance style. It now serves as a national symbol and art museum, in which you can even see a da Vinci painting.

Close by is the Wawel Cathedral, which is a mix of Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque styles and is definitely worth a look. It is said that both Wawel buildings were built on top of the lair of a dragon that was slain by Krakus, the founder of the city. Statues of the dragon – which even breathes fire (!)– can be found in the cathedral and in front of the dragon’s lair.

If you really like art, the Museum of Contemporary Art is also well worth the detour. It has works from Polish and international artists of the last two decades.

Next, if you want to revisit history, hop over to the museum dedicated to World War Two that is in Oskar Schindler’s old enamel factory. It includes a permanent exhibition, in which you can see his study as it was in the 1940s. Along the same lines, consider taking a half-day trip to Auschwitz-Birkenau and its museum.

Hungry after a morning of admiring the baroque architecture and strolling in the city’s many parks? Try a bajgle (the ancestor of the bagel) – either with poppy seeds, salt, sesam seeds or cheese – from one of the street vendors in the Old Town, the historic center of Kraków.

If you want to eat even more traditional food, buy some oscypki, which is smoked cottage cheese. And while you enjoy this delicious dish, make sure take some time to walk around the city center and enjoy the winding streets and huge main square.

Another place to walk through if you are fond of discovering neighbourhoods is the majoritarily Jewish Kazimierz district. It is full of synagogues and churches, has an ethnographic museum, and was the site of most of the filming for Spielberg’s “Schindler’s List”. Not to be forgotten, it is also where you will find most of the nightlife.

And if you feel that it is too crowded with tourists, head east to the Nowa Huta district for some socialist realism architecture and some communist history. Don’t worry about your hurtful feet – there is a cheap tram and bus public transport system!

Sochi: The Pinnacle of Putin’s Homophobia?

I

By OMAR NUR-NATHOO

n 1936, the Winter Olympics were opened

by Adolf Hitler, a man who led his nation on a genocidal rampage throughout Europe, targeting, among others, homosexuals. Propel yourself sixty-six years into the future - into the 2002 Winter Olympics - which was opened by George W. Bush. Between George “Dubya” and his father, America armed and funded what is now the exceedingly homophobic Taliban, before developing incredulously cosy relations with dictatorial (and equally homophobic) ethnarchs in Saudi Arabia. Obviously not a single right-minded person would suggest that these human rights violations are remotely comparable, however Sochi 2014 will be far from the first Winter Olympics to be hosted by a nation with less-than-savoury attitudes toward human rights.

Russia seems to have drawn the ire of the world. With Hollande, Merkel, Cameron and Obama boycotting Putin’s forty-billion euro Winter Olympics, and the attendance of Dutch dignitaries, King Willem-Alexander and Prime Minister Mark Rutte noted by some commentators as an attempt to salvage what had been a tempestuous ‘year of friendship’ between Russia and the Netherlands. The stem of this indignation can undoubtedly be traced

to the signing of Yelena Mizulina’s amendment to Article 5 of the federal law ‘On Protection of children from information harmful to their health and development’. Moreover, it is not merely ire this has drawn, but also ridicule. Whether it was Canada’s bobsledding advert, the images of ridiculous bathroom signs circulating the twittersphere, or Google celebrating LGBT rights on the day of the opening ceremony, the event has clearly been regarded with contemptuous disdain.

However, proponents of Putin have argued that, in lieu of open discourse, there has been a propensity across progressive countries to hyperbolise the extent of Russia’s policy to prohibit the “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations among minors”.

Technically, homosexuality is still legal in Russia. Nonetheless this fails to detract from the ominous homophobia that looms above the national consciousness of Russian society. Studies conducted that revealed three-quarters of Russians support anti-gay legislation seem to offer an inescapable democratic legitimacy that underpin the new laws. Laws that, according to Human Rights Watch, have support-

ed, legitimised and strengthened homophobic attitudes. We can see this has become manifest in the vile actions of vigilante group, ‘Occupy Paedophilia’, who actively, and with impunity, subjugate “suspected paedophiles” (all of whom just happen to be members of the LGBT community) to the most abominable forms of humiliation and torture.

The point here is that this tendency to falsely equate homosexuality with abhorrent acts of a sexual nature, such as paedophilia and bestiality, is not solely limited to Russia. One need only look as far as the recent debates in America and the United Kingdom to realise that this is an attitude that continues to pervade the whole world.

So whilst the Sochi games are a time to shine a light upon the oppressive attitudes that are so prevalent in Russia, the greatest impact of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics would not merely be to scold Russia, nor to condemn homophobia, but to excoriate discrimination in all its forms - whether it be the demonisation of a race, gender, sexual orientation, or social class.

Goodbye, Lenin!

V

ladimir Putin’s plan to re-establish the Soviet Union has hit a problem with Ukraine.

For over three months now Ukrainians have been protesting against the pro-Russian government and in favour of the EU. Although the knot of the conflict is tightening every day, the Ukrainian people will never become Soviet citizens again.

Ukraine is a state where drunk drivers blame victims for getting hit, where middle schoolers pay bribes and rural hospitals lack even the basic tools for public access. It is a country where policemen rape women and throw their bodies in the lake and where the president is a twice-convicted felon.

Located geographically between Russia and the European Union, Ukraine hangs in a limbo of political indecision as to the course of the country. A majority of the population is seeking European integration while the rest stands for falling back into the Customs Union, a neo-USSR under Russia’s patronage. After 22 years of independence, Ukraine’s process of desovietization is still incomplete.

On November 21, 2013 pro-Russian president Viktor Yanukovych refused to sign an agreement guaranteeing association of Ukraine with the European Union. The treaty should have put Ukraine on a track towards becoming an EU member state within ten to twenty years.

Frustrated with the government’s policies, people gathered at the Maidan, the capital’s main square. By November 24th some hundred thou-

sand people were protesting.

Afraid of rebellion and looking up to Putin’s methods of political coordination, the president ordered the police to crack down the protests. The result was an unprecedented level of violence against the few protestors on the square, on the night of November 30. This in turn sparked a wave of even more massive demonstrations attended by 500,000 people who, by now, were protesting directly against the government and the thuggish police brutality.

Despite the continuing civil unrest and violent collisions of protestors with the “Berkut” special forces, it is safe to say that the Euromaidan has been unsuccessful in its attempts to bring down the government. The three opposition leaders, including exboxer Vitaly Klitschko, request the Maidan to refrain from seizing government offices, but at the same time have shown incompetence in regulating the issue in a peaceful way.

In spite of the prime minister’s resignation on January 28th, the Ukrainian parliament still hasn’t adopted a new Constitution

allowing it to limit the president’s power and enforce the EU treaty.

With the political stalemate going on as long as it has, the country’s future looks as uncertain as ever.

Optimistic scenarios include the peaceful forming of a new parliamentary majority while the pessimists claim that the country could be split in half, with the East being economically and politically occupied by Russia. With Yanukovych unwilling to abandon his multibillion dollar residency, there is a high chance he will do anything to keep his position.

However, despite the outcome of the political conflict, Yanukovych has lost. Even if the president prevails, the people have made clear that they are no longer willing to live by Soviet means.

When the Lenin monument was taken down by the protestors, with it fell Ukraine’s Soviet disposition.

Troubled as it may be in every imaginable sphere, Ukraine is Europe.

By MARIEL NAVARRO & MIKE KHOKJLOVYCH

a University College Student Association Magazine

Opinion 07

The Contemporary Neurosis and the Occasional Need to Disconnect

By DOMINIC STEPHEN

T

o paraphrase the words of a close friend, we are often most predisposed to talk about our immediate environment. And the environment of UCU is undoubtedly quite immediate, quite present. It is an ever-relevant and timeless issue that I wish to raise, and also an elaboration and reflection on an article ‘Shut Up’, written by me a few editions ago.

The significance of securing a regular dose of space, peace, and quiet can often be forgotten, hurriedly pushed aside and replaced by more tangible and immediate concerns. More importantly, the widely-held assumption that extroversion roughly equates to greater intelligence and thus emotional or social ‘success’ has led to the unfounded belief that those who often enjoy their own company ‘lack confidence’ or ‘still have to come out of their shell’; these kinds of people are sometimes alienated and derisorily labelled as ‘loners’, ‘geeks’ or ‘shy’. We inundate our agendas and timetables with activities, meetings, and events, providing little time to be alone and amongst our own silence – as if solitude

was something to be averted and feared, rather than a deep breath of fresh air, and an opportunity to unravel the knotted threads accumulated in our minds over the past few days. But these overlooked, yet invaluable considerations can be, with the aid of social alarm bells and environmental reminders, brought to the forefront of our attention for the best; and I can think of few alarm bells more rousing than the first week of a new semester at UCU. We should remember that aloneness does not equal loneliness.

The undeniable addictive distractions of Facebook and Instagram draw us in to such a degree that we actually feel proud after having finally decided to log out and direct our attention to more rewarding activities. But while the Newsfeed may be out of sight, it is perhaps not entirely out of our minds – a friend’s holiday photos from Indonesia are impressive, the foodporn that litters Instagram is superfluous, and the party to which we clicked ‘Attend’ is soon enough that we should probably start to think about a haircut or new shoes. An echo is left in our socially predisposed minds, an incessant fuzz of concern for how good others’ pub-

temporary phenomenon of cyber-narcissism; our sense of Self is undergoing a strange and unhealthy metamorphosis, a type of egotism never before witnessed.

ignorance provides then we should see all understanding, however humbling it may be, as a positive result of these personal reflections.

Amongst the time-demands of schoolwork and the allure of an addictive online social utopia, the space needed for this elevating insight can be hard to find.

And although each of us is bound by our own obsessions and dispositions, some prove less beneficial to our social, psychological and, dare I say, spiritual health than others. So - wake up earlier than most, and enjoy the liberating space of silence and solitude before the crashing of bedroom doors signals the start of the busy day; take a walk, breathe; make yourself a meal – it is a crafted creation, not just functional fuel. In the name of moderation, I believe that time spent alone is not necessarily time spent feeling lonely; that the transient orgasm of online applause should rarely be chosen over the raw emotions of authentic life-experience; and that independent thought cannot be a realistic expectation if we pay so little heed to ourselves as independent people. Disconnect for a while, and be free from the overstimulation that has become a way of life for the majority of us. There may be no Wi-Fi at a park bench or on a quiet bicycle ride through the forest, but you’re bound to find a better connection.

“In order to understand the world, one has to turn away from it on occasion”

French philosopher and writer Albert Camus said that “In order to understand the world, one has to turn away from it on occasion”. I wonder whether Camus’ philosophy can equally apply to understanding the Self in our hyper-social context. I wonder whether the need to understand and, more importantly, to love others must first come from the understanding and the love of oneself. Admittedly, this understanding is not gained through a trivial dialogue with ourselves so much as through a sobering selfconfrontation of deep-seated personal truths. But, nonetheless, if we are suspicious of the bliss that

1) There are 7 billion people in the world, of which 1 billion receive a card, and you still have never bloody got one yourself. (Although, yes, I would burn the bastard/punch him off a cliff) 2) Love notes are immediately discarded, (get it?! I can’t stop laughing. I am so alone.) resulting in gigantic piles of waste.

3) Charles, The Duke of Orleans, sent the first Valentines-Day card ever to his wife. Whilst being imprisoned in the Tower of London for twentyfour years, he would cry night after night into the moonlight for his wife who was having an affair. Well, prob-

ably - twenty-four years is a long time.

4) 75% of all suicides are attributable to relationship problems.

5) The vast majority of roses sent to gooey eyed loved up bunnies in the United States are imported, which results in unnecessary transport pollution for the sake of a couple of over-priced flowers that decay as quickly as the delusion of love itself.

6) Saint Valentine, the Martyr of the holiday, was beheaded on the 14th February for secretly performing marriage ceremonies. Now I love secrecy and scandal as much as the next person, but beheading never has, and never will be, romantic.

lic lives seem to be compared to ours. We are then effectively never alone, since even on the rare occasion that we secure space for ourselves, social networking has left such an imprint on our thoughts that we cannot help but feel interconnected and reachable wherever we go.

Understood from the opposite side, not only are we more concerned with the lives of others, but our attention is gradually being turned increasingly inwards.

With the ‘Like’ button on Facebook seen as some sort of barometer of social success, we are becoming adept at self-advertisement; through the ability to ‘Remove tag’ from unflattering photos of ourselves we can effectively manipulate our entire story, further perfecting our outward image. We learn to craft ourselves for public display; one might say that we prostitute our true selves for a fleeting moment of self-confidence and affirmation.

The balance between our online and real lives is slowly changing, and with this shift we opt instead to commit more to a meta-life, rather than cope with the beauties and the beasts of genuine life experience. Our dependence on social networks may be contributing to a con-

7) 40% of people think Valentines Day is for stupid idiots. Fact.

8) If your relationship is deteriorating, (34% of marriages end in divorce) I highly doubt that 24 hours of stolen words and mass produced chocolates are going to fix that.

9) Everyone dies eventually.

10) In 1990 a water company had to recall 160 million bottles of water as they contained dangerous carcogenics. Just as well we were busy drinking champagne.

11) On the 14th of February there is a higher-than-usual chance that you’ll become a parent. That one night of love soon

becomes a life-long commitment. Oops.

You did it again and now you have a baby.

12) According to a recent poll, one in ten American adults admit to feeling lonely, depressed, and unwanted on Valentines Day. Those poor American adults.

13) On February 14th 1929, seven gang members were gunned down in Chicago in what is now famously called the Saint Valentine’s Day Massacre.

It was the bloodiest example of gang violence during the prohibition era.

14) No one loves you on any other day of the year either.

Boomerang| |February November2014 2013 thethe Boomerang

08 Special feature A College Of Maximizers?

(P01) CONTINUED ated from UCU and visited a huge Career Fair in Amsterdam. Based on my resume and grade lists, I got to wear a golden lanyard instead of the ordinary orange one.” Labeled as a high potential, Jeroen was invited to have a chat with big firms such as McKinsey & Company and KLM.

Around that time Jeroen participated in a consultancy training course at Bain & Company. “We were in the boardroom of the Rembrandt Tower and I felt as if I was on top of the world.”

Yet he realized that being a consultant would not be his destiny. A couple of his friends did. “If the consultancy profession suits you, that’s of course perfectly fine. But some people find themselves working way too hard at a firm whose famous name once attracted them.”

When asked if he has minimized his maximizing by now, Jeroen says: “Well, I didn’t become a consultant. Instead, I’ll be doing a PhD in neuroscience in Nijmegen.” He laughs and adds: “That may not sound so modest, but doing a PhD is not considered to be an excellent choice in my environment.”

Jeroen does believe that there is a way out for maximizers. “Try to settle for something and be content with it. If you maximize, there is always a better option.” This doesn’t mean that the solution is to lie down on the job, but rather to stay humble in our urge to achieve. “I liked the conclusion of the debate in the bar,” says Jeroen, pointing at the ceiling, “UCU students shouldn’t try to achieve being the best, but ought to try being the best they can be and to help improve society.”

In March, Jeroen will give a speech at the Socrates Award.

This award is given annually to the best Dutch high school student – the one with the highest GPA, that is. It seems ironic for Jeroen to attend an event focused on rewarding excellence. “No, trust me, it will be fun. I’ll them to not go for the money. I’ll tell them about noblesse oblige!”

DE PRESTATIEGEN ERATIE Een pleidooi vo or middelmatig heid THE GENERATIO N OF OVERACHIE VERS A plea for medio crity (Atlas Contact) In his book, Jero en van Baar atte mpts to explain where his eagerness to excel comes from. He does not merely as sess himself, but his en tire generation.

Fr om high potentials to the hipsters of Am sterdam: they al l play a role. Why do es ever yone want to reach the top?

In his plea, he discus ses parents, ‘exc ellent’ studies, relations hips, career fairs , the well-educated an d less well-educa ted, Facebook, the Cculture and the inconvenient truth. Th e book offers so me welcome reflect ion for all the tw entysomething’s of to day.

Source: prestatie generatie.nl

Why Aren’t Girls Getting Any On Campus?

Sex: from a female perspective

By LILLIAN DAM BRACIA

T

he winter calls for warmth, so getting that dose of “Sex and the City” during the Christmas break, all cuddly and cozy on my bed, was more than a must. Once started I had to be careful to not get too Carrie’d away; I paused to puke out all of the emotional garbage I had seen on screen. For those of you fortunate ones, who have not watched the show, “Sex and the City” entails the life of four successful New Yorkers in their thirties who face ups and downs in their love lives. As you might guess, it can get very cheesy and can be as mind numbing as a ‘chick flick’. Nonetheless, while watching it I could not help but think of my personal life in the last three semesters at UC and eventually yes, sex. That’s right: sex. Wait a sec, or may I say: SEX where did you go? For us poor souls constituting the sad, sad 65% of the females on

campus, and not to forget to mention the gay males who I am also guessing are not getting any or not often enough, I wonder where did the sex go? The point is, the lack of males on campus and the busy lives of UCU students makes sex a scarcity for some of us.

As a single girl and with the experience of being surrounded by other single girls about 90% of the time, I noticed how sex is a big topic amongst females at UC. I remember walking into Dining Hall last semester and overhearing a friend saying how she misses the feeling of a guy lying on top of her. Funnily enough, Carrie mentions exact same thing during season four. As I joined in, the conversation was followed by the usual “me too’s”, “when was the last time?” and several frustrated statements to another hopeless ending.

Like Carrie and her girlfriends, girls at UC do seem to have love lives with their own ups and downs in relation to that myste-

rious romantic person. However, with the female dominant ratio, a typical scenario such as two to five other girls going for the same guy is not a rarity. Many have said to feel discouraged and less appreciated by the opposite sex at some point whilst at UCU. Keep in mind that these two to five other girls going through the love race are not just ‘any’ girls. Often they tend to be just as beautiful, smart and interesting as you are, if not more so. From the vast amount of gorgeous and intelligent females, UCU is known inside and out to be a haven for heterosexual males’ boost of confidence and ego when it comes to sex. Scores: boys - 1, girls - 0.

One might ask, what are the steps that lead people to commit the act of sex? The first one is easy: physical attraction. A boy and girl (or whichever combination you prefer) see each other, endorphins take hold, alcohol might be added to speed up the process and boom, and

you have found a fusion. Now, when attraction on the social or intellectual level is added to the first step, sex not only becomes more rare, but more complicated.

Actually, my mistake, actually having sex is never complicated, although the situation leading to the act tends to be. This is because it always ends up bringing inevitable questions to our minds like what ‘that’ meant not only towards him/her but for yourself too. Things such as, “does she/ he like me?” or “hope she/he doesn’t think it’s anything too serious” usually come up.

Sex with mixed feelings has the potential to cause pain. The moment one decides to let go of their intimacy for someone they are not sure about, the way he/she feels towards it can feel dangerously exhilarating. Having a ‘fling’ at UCU can be especially appealing, taking into account our busy schedules with classes, assignments, committee meetings, off campus activities, jobs etc. As exciting as they can be, they are at the same time complicated on campus due to the smaller number of students and the proximity of living and studying space. You are bound to meet that guy or girl from your one night stand after last night’s party, sitting across from you in Voltaire, standing next to you in the DH queue or on your way to class. Unavoidable. Awkward. Embarrassing.

Given that at UCU everything is in your face at all times, including your love life, and that based on our student ratio single girls do not have too many options of partners while guys have plenty, a conclusion to the sex situation at UCU is that straight males are more likely, if they want to, to have ‘flings’ more often in comparison to straight females. Quite frankly, the majority of females and the competition amongst them for a partner leaves more possibilities for guys to have sex. While UCU girls struggle to obtain that one boy’s attention, males, on the other hand, may feel no pressure since they are left with a handful of options. The truth is, if she is not interested, another one likely will be.

As a guy friend once told me “it is just so easy that after a while it is not even exciting.” The fact that becoming involved with someone is something that happens so easily and fast in UCU students’ lives leads one to be less keen to look for ‘something more’, aware that there is a high chance for a third person to come in between. As mentioned before, sex gets tricky when emotions are involved. For some, blocking sexual and emotional intimacy has become a way of avoiding feelings from being hurt while for others staying ‘up all night to get lucky’ in the bar continues being more of an option - with boys definitely “getting lucky” more often than girls.

a University College Student Association Magazine

UC Style 09

Breaking Rocks; From Studying at UCU To Your Own Fashion Brand

By SANNE VAN DER STEEG & ISABELLE VAN DER VEGT In 2013, Max Klijnstra, a UCU alumnus from 2012, co-founded Breaking Rocks, an online fashion start-up known for its colourful sweaters, which now has thousands of dedicated followers and costumers from all over the world. In December, we went to visit Max in Amsterdam to find out more about Breaking Rocks, and exactly how he managed it…

At the time of writing, Breaking Rocks has 35 sales points all over Europe and over 80,000 Facebook followers, with people all over the world visiting their website and ordering their “crazy comfortable” sweaters. But how exactly did Breaking Rocks transform from just an idea to an existing, promising fashion brand? According to Max, there was already an existing demand for these types of sweaters, only no one had managed to successfully make use of that fact. Once Max and co-founder Milan Daniels had discovered this demand, they set about testing designs and sharing them on their Facebook page; within one week the page had 3,000 likes and the designs had generated a lot reaction. Not all of the reactions were positive however, with people denouncing the sweaters as ugly. Nevertheless, following the old adage of “there is no such thing as bad publicity”, even the negative reactions helped to increase exposure and getting the word out. Now, people no longer dare to say the sweaters are ugly, as any ugly aspects of the jumpers are instead seen to be ironic, with irony perhaps being a defining feature of the very 21st century ‘hipster’ trend. Max and Daniel soon started producing the sweaters, of which the initial 750 were sold out in a month. Since then, it has only been onwards and upwards.

While the basic design concept of Breaking Rocks sweaters is that they are fully digitally printed, there is also an entire process dedicated to deciding on the

exact image, colours and design realization of the sweaters. The Breaking Rocks design phase is an interactive process, which involves approaching and working with freelance designers, who will come up with a potential design based on ideas from the Breaking Rocks team. Currently, being a small team means that Breaking Rocks does not have the time to create the designs themselves, and instead they give a clear brief to the designers and tweak what they come up with. No single designer is used repeatedly, and each piece has a different look, yet the collection remains coherent because Breaking Rocks has a clear vision of what they want.

For many online-orientated stores, avid involvement in social media is almost a given, and Breaking Rocks is certainly no exception, with their Facebook page being the springboard from which the company was able to grow and develop. Different forms of social media, including Facebook, Polyvore and Pinterest, are all crucial for Breaking Rocks.

This is mainly due to the exposure and instant feedback it allows and encourages. Online competitions on their Facebook page during which fans could vote for a t-shirt design by sharing them, gave Breaking Rocks an indication of what design would work, as well as generating a lot of marketing and free publicity. Enabling customised advertisements on Facebook also led to explosive growth and an additional 12,000 Facebook Likes in just one week. Collaboration with blogs also forms an important part of their on-

able to follow a variety of different career paths, becoming an entrepreneur and starting your own business is still a relatively rare career option amongst students. Perhaps a future in the field of entrepreneurship should be considered more seriously by UCU students, as Max, who majored in geography and psychology, and completed a minor in entrepreneurship, believes that whilst UCU may not be ideal for the “hard” skills needed for entrepreneurship, UCU does enable the development of various “soft” skills that are vital in the field. Such “soft” skills include the ability to successfully work in a team, and to work with all kinds of different people from different backgrounds, and countries. The ability to write well, communicate clearly, and to prepare and deliver presentations confidently are skills that are vital to ensure success in entrepreneurship and are skills that UCU develops and enhances. An international outlook is also key in the entrepreneurial world, and according to Max, UCU is particularly adept at emphasising and encouraging this international perspective.

So what is next for Breaking Rocks? Primarily, the aim is to continue producing well-known “crazy comfortable” sweaters and running a successful online enterprise. But, ideally, Breaking Rocks would like to become the Black Milk (an online shop specializing in brightly printed leggings) of sweaters and currently Breaking Rocks is also focusing on growth and expansion outside of the Netherlands, a response to the fact that 75% of interest is internationally based. In

Street Style

line marketing strategy and working with blogs such as Lovely by Lucy and Lookbook can often lead to a whole new set of potential customers. Breaking Rocks also pursued such collaboration with UCU’s very own Rachel Ecclestone!

Whilst UCU offers a broad Bachelor’s degree from which students are

order to do this, they are currently working on establishing a warehouse in the United States that would enable 1-2 day shipping and allow them a chance at successfully entering this transnational market. It therefore appears that Breaking Rocks have only just begun to make their imprint on the fashion world, and the future for Breaking Rocks looks increasing bright. As for parting words of wisdom and advice when it comes to start-ups, Max has three key suggestions. Firstly, put something out there, it will probably be bad at first, but experience, of any kind, will help. Secondly, even though it can be difficult, have faith that eventually the dots will connect. Last but not least, put in the hours and hard work, it will be and should be exhausting but nothing will materialize without some good old-fashioned intensive labour.

By MEIKE BARTLEMA

Tell us what you’re wearing.

A mustard jumper from Cos, a skirt from a second hand store in Brussels, a bag that is actually my Mum’s, a pair of burgundy brogues from a second hand store in Amsterdam, woolly tights from Flying Tiger and a coat from a second hand store in Berlin – which I’m really proud of because it was only €15!

So it’s safe to say you like second hand stores?

Yes – I like that the clothes are cheap and there are unique items.

It’s great when you have to search for good things; it’s so satisfying to find something nice in between a bunch of rubbish items. Also it’s nice to reuse clothes because it feels better for the environment.

Do you dress according to any style inspiration?

When I was younger I’d look to the catwalk for inspiration but now it’s too boring. I like to look around me for ideas and so I find inspiration from people on the street or from my friends.

the Boomerang | February 2014

10 Colosseum Woody Allen: Separating Personal Life and Film

“If he fails to win an Oscar, it could be a sign that Hollywood is turning against him”

By GRACE HARDMAN

O

ver the past few months, Hollywood director Woody Allen has experienced a dramatic increase in his publicity. He has appeared on the front page of the New York Times, monopolised the columns of journalists and his Wikipedia page has even been protected from editing indefinitely. This attention, however, has not been related to his famously light-hearted and comedic films. Instead, a twenty-year feud between Woody Allen and his ex-wife Mia Farrow has reached a frustrating climax, and reached the headlines.

During the 1990s, Allen was accused of allegedly molesting his young adopted daughter, Dylan, whilst married to Mia Farrow. During the trial, Dylan’s babysitters recalled Allen’s inappropriate behaviour, something that his ex-wife supported. Farrow has been relentless in her accusations, taking Dylan to the paediatrician in her youth and having her speak in court up until the age of 27. However, this has raised many questions and speculations. Farrow began her fight against Allen after he left her for another woman and there has been little evidence to suggest that the sexual abuse took place. Some people have even suggested Dylan is merely being used as a piece in a game between two lovers entwined in bitterness.

Having said that, there is some concrete evidence. Before he stood trial, Woody Allen had been visiting a psychiatrist in connection with inappropriate behaviour: the babysitter had been explicitly told not to leave the child and Allen alone. On the 8th February Allen defended himself, writing in the New York Times, “Of course, I did not molest Dylan. I loved her and hope one day she will grasp how she has been cheated out of having a loving father and exploited by a mother more interested in her own festering anger than her daughter’s well-being”. Allen believes that, out of bitterness, her mother had indoctrinated Dylan at the vulnerable age of 7.

For a lover of his films, Annie Hall and Midnight in Paris are arguably contemporary classics. A complicated conflict

A

re you environmentally conscious? Do you secretly glimpse at food labels to ensure that what you are eating is healthy?

Or do you simply care about getting fed even when there’s a food shortage? Well, insects might just be the next item on your menu.

Nutritious, easy to produce and less burdensome to the environment, these crunchy little animals could well be ‘the food of the future’.

Recently there has been increasing discussions about the potential advantages of, simply put, eating bugs. Around a third of the people in the world include insects as a regular part of their diet. Should the remaining two thirds follow their example?

Insects provide a more sustainable and efficient source of protein than any other meat that people eat. With the world population rising, our meat consumption is estimated to soar up by 50% by 2050. This is just one of the subtle hints which suggest we should be looking for more sustainable means of satisfying the impending demand.

Cows have to be fed four times more food to produce one unit of edible mass than crickets; there is a much higher portion of energy lost in the process of sustaining cattle. Additionally, although exact numbers

emerges between the audience, director, morality and art. Should the work of artists be separate from their personal lives? Is this even possible in a globalised world drowning in social media? In this case, it is difficult to say. The evidence made public is contradictory and unclear; it is impossible for us to say whether the accusations are true. This is clearly an issue shared by Hollywood. It is unclear whether Woody Allen will receive an Oscar award for his film Blue Jasmine. If he fails to win, it could be a sign that Hollywood is turning against him. On the other hand, winning an Oscar would be equally controversial.

It is strange to think that people still wear Hugo Boss, the designer of the Nazi uniform, and listen to the Sex Pistols despite Sid Vicious’ involvement in his girlfriends’ death. In the past, communication was less advanced and popularity could continue to develop without the public knowing an artist’s unpleasant past. Why must Coco Chanel, a supporter of Hitler, remain the world’s most famous fashion designer, and Nigella Lawson be shunned for drug abuse? The answer is simple, the modern world, where morality is important and we are investors, has placed the ordinary people in power.

Allen is an influential figure in the movie industry, and has been nominated for 24 Academy Awards throughout his career. Although the films themselves in terms of plot and actors do not reflect Allen’s personal life, they do support him financially and in terms of publicity. His daughter has spoken out to say, “For so long, Woody Allen’s acceptance silenced me. It felt like a personal rebuke, like the awards and accolades were to tell me to shut up and go away.”

This is indeed the central problem. We may be able to separate Allen from his personal life, however, if the allegations are true, it would be shameful that the abuser should thrive while the victim suffers. Allen’s case could possibly be a metaphor for domestic abuse as a whole, where social acceptance and positive reputation of the abuser has prevented the victim from telling the truth. Even though Allen’s case remains speculative, we should be aware that even the most talented amongst us might have a dark past. Their work may be great, but supporting them means disregarding the suffering of others. Guilty or not, Allen’s reputation has certainly, and rightfully, been damaged.

An Alternative?

By ALEXANDRA BARANCOVA vary, studies estimate that cows account for as much as 20% of our greenhouse gas emissions. Cutting down on cattle and introducing insect farms could reduce our ecological footprint.

When comparing the nutritional values of a portion of crickets against a portion of minced meat, we find that crickets contain a higher percentage of protein and a lower percentage of fat; so yes, one could (perhaps oversimplifying) say that they are “healthier”.

Why then, have we not switched to eating locusts for lunch or worms for dinner?

It seems like the logical next step, especially as people increasingly seem to search for eco-friendly options and low-fat or high protein alternatives. Speaking from a Western perspective, people are generally willing to drink skimmed milk to limit their fat intake or subsist on a diet of several eggs a day to increase the proportion of proteins in their diet – but very few will munch on crickets to achieve the same effect.

The UN, EU and particularly the Dutch government have begun to encourage the consumption of insects for their obvious advantages. What is left to conquer is our attitude towards eating these little things that many people find rather repulsive.

Primarily it is a question of perception, custom and culture – you may have travelled abroad only to discover stalls with rich selections of deep-fried grass-hoppers, termites, locusts, worm, larvae, ant eggs, crickets…. But with our current mindset, this may seem slightly misplaced on the Sunday morning market in Utrecht.

With increasing exposure to insects as a viable alternative, our attitudes may gradually be subject to change as they have repeatedly done in the past. Eating raw fish was once too looked upon with disgust in Europe – and now we can’t seem to get enough sushi. It will inevitably take a while before we have all-youcan-eat running insect restaurants, but it could well be the next trend.

If you’re a keen and eager trendsetter, you may consider spicing up the menu or surprising your next dinner date; with a swift Google search you’ll find that it is in fact very easy to harvest your very own crickets at home!

(Nearly) everybody likes chocolate, that’s a fact. Therefore, here is a very quick and easy dessert suitable for any unit dinner or meal with friends! Brownies are often eaten in France with crème anglaise, but vanilla yoghurt will also do in our case. The final touch consists of a few raspberries to give an impression of healthiness. Let’s get going!

-130g unsalted butter -130g best dark chocolate -60g plain flour -30g cocoa powder -3 eggs -180g golden caster sugar (Lichte Basterdsuiker in Albert Heijn)

Cut the butter and chocolate into small cubes and melt over medium heat in a saucepan, stirring occasionally to avoid the mixture sticking to the pan. Alternatively, use a bowl covered with cling film and put in the microwave for 2 minutes.

Leave the melted mixture to cool. Meanwhile, position a shelf in your small student oven and set the temperature to 180°C (or gas 4). Also, cut out a square of baking parchment paper to line the base of a shallow 20cm square tin.

Tip the flour and cocoa powder into a sieve held over a bowl and tap the sieve so they run through together, getting rid of any lumps. Break your eggs into a bowl and add the golden caster sugar. Whisk with an electric mixer (or with a manual whisk if you feel brave enough) until the mixture looks thick and creamy. This may take a few minutes, so be patient. You will know it’s ready when the mixture becomes pale and about double its original volume.

Pour the cooled chocolate mixture over the egg mixture and gently fold together with a spatula. The idea is to mix them without losing any air, so be gentle, you don’t want to ruin that mixing work you just did! Add the cocoa and flour and fold in until the mixture looks fudgy. Pour it into the tin, gently ease into the corners and paddle the spatula from side to side across the top to level it. Put in the oven and cook for 25min until the top has a papery crust and the sides are just beginning to come away from the tin. Finally, cut the brownies into squares and place on plates, adding a few raspberries, a little icing sugar and the vanilla yoghurt.

This dessert is even better when warm!

Enjoy! Cxx

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a University College Student Association Magazine

Colosseum 11

5 Budget Flight Destinations For Your Spring Break

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aybe you don’t yet know where Spring Break is going to take you, or maybe you do. Whichever may be the case, one universal truth will always hold: the cheaper, the better. So here’s a list of five airline destinations that are not only cheap to reach, but where you might find that the price tags of life’s essentials - such as food and, of course, beer – are incredibly favourable.

1.

Kraków – Embedded in the heart of the lush green Planty, brimming with medieval charm, lies the historical centre of Kraków, the best-preserved town in Poland. From one of Europe’s finest squares that is its beating heart, to the immensely popular Renaissance palace that is Wawel Castle and World War II relics such as nearby situated Auschwitz, to its vibrant café scene, restaurants and night-life, in Kraków the hotand-happening go hand in hand with the obdurate past. Don’t forget to have a traditional meal for next to nothing at a milk bar.

2.

Prague – Czech Republic’s capital has a similar blend of history and vivacity to Kraków, but with a more arty twist, as illustrated by its myriad of art galleries as well as its grand diversity of architecture styles established by well over 1100 years of history. It has its very own spacious castle-on-a-hill, as well as the Charles Bridge which provides you with beautiful views of the city sprawling along the river. Also: some of Europe’s best beer!

3.

Seville – One of the hottest cities in Europe, those looking for a tan might feel themselves drawn to Seville’s painting-like Plaza de España, with a possibility to cool off close at hand in the marvellous Maria-Luisa Park. For a couple of euros you’ve got yourself some delicious tapas in almost every bar, and those of you sniffing for culture will be amazed by the Moroccan influences expressed in amongst others one of Spain’s finest places.

Rietveld Was A UCU’er

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ust outside our gate lies an architectural masterpiece undiscovered by most, but worth the visit regardless.

We walk or bike past this place every day. Still nobody seems to notice, let alone know anything about it. It is quite an attraction, a house made out of unusual white cubes with primary colored lines in them. At the door is a little latch marked “groceries” used in former times: people upstairs in the house talked through a tube to the milkman downstairs, and manually opened the latch so he could deliver his groceries.

When I asked the Boomerang writers about this place, only one person knew what I was talking about, while nobody had ever been inside.

And if even our very own Colosseum writers don’t know… No, really, it is worth the visit. As it is even on the route to Albert Heijn, every campus bubble-er should stop by some time: it is the Rietveld-Schröder house.

Built by Gerrit Rietveld, famous amongst other things for the chair he designed, the house was meant as an experiment to create a radically different building style – different from anything else previously built. And although this happened way back in 1924, it still looks modern today. Just glance at the other side of the street for comparison. There you see a dark, heavy looking brick row of houses, built in the same year. Equally excessive green roof tiles, green painted windowpanes, completely symmetrical and with the same design running all the way down the street. This stands in stark contrast with the smooth, clean texture of the puttied surfaces of Rietveld’s design, accompanied by geometrical forms like a round pole supporting a balcony and the flat, rectangular roof.

Rietveld’s revolutionary style originated from his idea to reinvent the concept of space. As a member of the De Stijl group of

Volcano Choir -Paradiso

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By DOMINIC STEPHEN

here are few experiences more stirring than those of simple pleasures: a hearty breakfast, fresh air, good conversation and live music. The evening of the concert, held at Amsterdam’s Paradiso, was cold and biting, snapping at anyone who braved the outdoors.

I had some rough expectations: understanding that the lead singer of Volcano Choir - Justin Vernon – was also the front man of alternative-rock-folk-electronic-baroque pop band Bon Iver, I had some preconceived ideas in mind. After the supporting act

By FLEUR ZANTVOORT

artists, he felt that people had lost contact with the area around them.

Both inside and outside, they should come back in touch with this space.

As a result, some of the steel rods supporting the house are for the in- and outside of the house, where there is a half a meter indent for a window. At the same time, some windows aren’t just built into a wall, but into a corner of the house. Previously this was impossible, as brick walls were always used to support a building. Now, Rietveld reckoned, people inside the house could be in contact with nature whilst still being inside, enjoying the comfort and coziness of a home without estranging themselves from the rest of the world.

The most compelling part of the house is upstairs. Besides reinventing space, Rietveld’s ideal was that the whole house should be as practical to use as possible, avoiding any unnecessary bits. Before the war Dutch housing laws required that each room be clearly divided and surrounded by four walls. At the municipalities’ office, Rietveld regis-

Rue Royal, who had some expressive ups and some repetitive downs, the main act of the evening came on. They were a varied, humble bunch: Justin with his shaggy hair and crumpled shirt, the noticeably older guitarist with a head of silvery slicked-back locks, and the synth-player with his retro and psychedelic baseball cap. No diamonds, thongs, leather or spliffs – maybe something for the somewhat reckless pseudo singer-celebrity Miss Cyrus to take note of, eh Miley? The backdrop was simple – a large canvas with the band’s most recent album cover – Repave – painted and papier-mâchéd on top, lit from below.

The music began.

Justin Vernon led the band from a stylised podium behind which he hid his microphones, vocoders and array of synths and sounds. He addressed the loyal fans in-

4.

Porto – The sea-swept city of Porto is a fascinating mingle of narrow streets, crumbling buildings and remnants of many ages of splendour. The city breathes a South-American atmosphere, and its dashes of colour and twisting river make for a romantic background to optimally explore the city: by boat. Allow yourself to be taken away by the lively Portuguese culture and its sublime (sea)food and accompanying wines.

5.

Budapest – Yet another city cradling a river, Budapest – with, on the one side, hilly Buda and the plains of Pest on the other – is so much more than that. Underneath its vibrant food- and drink-loving culture, cloaked by its daring, mostly end-of-the-century, architecture lies a solemn sense of past tragedies. The appeal of its world-famous bathhouses has drawn people for centuries, and it is said to be one of the best cures for the hangover you’re pretty likely to attract.

tered the first floor as an attic, and was allowed to leave the whole first floor of the house as one big room.

This way, the attic can be used as a living room during daytime. When night falls, huge wooden panels can be drawn from three corners all the way to the center of the room, and the couches can be transformed into beds (yes, these were the world’s first sleeping couches).

The bathroom is used as a hallway between two parts of the room, but can be transformed by moving another panel across the hallway, giving it two walls.

Besides the house itself, some of Rietveld’s famous furniture can be found on display, used

by Mrs. Schröder, the owner of the house until her death in 1985. Here, the same idea of reinventing the use of space can be found. In fact, although today many know Rietveld just for his house, he never really considered himself an architect, as his original occupation was being a furniture craftsman. I looked at a desk tactfully nailed against the wall, accompanied by a chair made

cluding actions to lyrics - “dancing on your footsteps”, “there’s still a hole in your heart” – in the band’s performance, which was more akin to a spiritual LSD-infused musical lecture than a show of talent and creativity. The show continued, with additional unreleased songs, a Thank You to the fans and gradually more vibrant and dynamic lighting. The set ended with ‘Woods’, a track of overlapping wailing vocal harmonies, calculated electronic distortions, and the eventual introduction of brazen and driving drums. The record might usually invoke feelings of anguish or elation set against images of sunsets and snow-covered plains; the live performance, however, was something much more intense, profound and spine-chillingly brilliant. The drums grew and the lights glared, as did Justin’s howling, crying, and shouting. The crescendo finally

solely of three panels shaped in a zshape. The first thing to pop into my mind was IKEA, although actually, this is probably where the Swedes find inspiration for our bedframes and lamps. The residence is just his craftsmanship reapplied, not in benches and wardrobes, but in a building. It is too bad Mr. Rietveld wasn’t around at the time, but if he had been, he would surely have fitted into the interdisciplinary Liberal Arts and Sciences attitude just around the corner.

I just wish I could come up with a better excuse that there is no picture accompanying this article, than having forgotten my camera.

But if, as the saying goes, a picture says more than a thousand words, then I wonder what will happen if you simply go and see for yourself.

The Rietveld-Schröder house is open Wednesday through Sunday, at 11:00, 12:00, 14:00, 15:00, or 16:00 with guided tours. Reservations are obligatory.

By ROBERT VAN SCHAIK

ended with him, the main contributor to this beautiful orgy of sound - inspired by whoknows-what – lying on the floor prostrate, worshipping his band mates.

There are few experiences more stirring than those of simple pleasures. As I joined the astounded audience in applause, my mouth had become dry and I felt that intangible “something”, reserved exclusively for live musical experiences – a sort of bottled up, outlet-deprived ensemble of simultaneous emotion - crying, laughing and shouting; or the electrified music itself grabbing you by the soul and waking you vigorously from your dazed stupor.

I left the venue with ringing in my ears, and allowed the frostbitten darkness to swallow me back up.

12

Karel Prochazka, 2nd year – I didn’t have sex

Marco Bouketsidis-Skourtelis, 2nd year - She queefed.

Erik Trompetter, 2nd year – Valentine’s day is just a day to reflect on all your (bad) dates from the last year.

Hayden Ryan, exchange student – One year, I ate so much candy I puked.

Mikki Korodimou, 2nd year – My boyfriend gave me an empty cereal bar wrapper that said “happy day” on it.

Grace Hardman, 1st year – I got detention for sending the whole school Valentines cards.

Sander Hintzen, 2nd year – I got dumped.

Jessa Evans, 1st year – I was in a play on Valentine’s day and my boyfriend left before even saying hello.

Haris Kalic, 2nd year - Valentines day is pointless

Boomerang Board Spring ‘14 Editor-in-Chief: Sanne van der Steeg Managing Director: Laura Boerboom Executive Editor & Secretary: Meera Rajasooriar Executive Editor & Treasurer: Julie Albers Managing Editor: Omar Nur-Nathoo Art & Layout Director: Lucas Koppen

Editors Sanne van der Steeg Laura Boerboom Julie Albers Meera Rajasooriar Omar Nur-Nathoo Vera van Rossum Céline Douet Ester Rudhart Clem Boujo Ivo Dimitrov Vivian van Weperen Jordan Yule