The
Boomerang September 2019
The Introweek of UCU's Trias Politica by UCSA, ASC and CAR Boards UCSA
Introweek is hands down one of the most insane events we are ever going to have to organize as a board. We kid you not - we went through so much sweat and tears throughout the week that at one point it was difficult to distinguish what was what. We had moments when we never felt closer as a board, but we also had times where we were very close to biting each others' heads off. And that, dearest UCSA members, is an introduction to what Introweek was really like for us. To be completely honest with you, Introweek from our perspective, was an amazing and rewarding week but it was also not a week to be underestimated. Therefore, when the Boomerang approached us, we were more than happy to share with you some of our
"Something we quickly realized throughout the week was that events did not simply set themselves"
but rather the University Cleaning Student Association Board. Lastly, we cannot end this article without some iconic moments from the six of us from Introweek. Feel free to laugh or cry along with us! Starting off with Folke being so tired and delirious that at one point he walked into the shower with his Grandpa t-shirt on. You might think this was quite dumb, but he actually killed two birds with one stone because he managed to shower and clean his Grandpa shirt at the same time! Secondly, Reinier had a lot of iconic moments this week ranging from attempting to bribe his friends to take over his sober shift last minute, to travelling anywhere and everywhere o n
whole hour before Punn saved the day. Speaking of Punn saving the day, on Wednesday morning she needed to be saved from herself. She had a bit too much to drink the night before so right after the parent briefing she headed to the office to puke, not the best move, but at the end of the day we all learn from our mistakes somehow! Needless to say, these were not our board's best moments. But nevertheless, organizing Introweek was one of the most unforgettable and amazing experiences the six of us could've ever imagined it to be. We very much hope you enjoyed reading these funny anecdotes and enjoyed Introweek as a snippet into what your lives for the next 3 years at UCU will be like! University Cleaning Student Association Board out
ASC
First of all, the six of us did not go a single day without having the 'Draai boekoe' around (a pet name for a schedule that said exactly where we had to be at what time of the day). It was our bible, planning out our every minute, telling us at what time we had to wake up and when we should eat, although to be honest with you, some stuck to it more than others. Let's say that Folke almost missed a few parent briefings because the hangover hit him hard... Moreover, something we quickly realized throughout the week was that events did not simply set themselves up nor clean themselves up. We therefore came to the conclusion that, especially during introweek, we are not the University College Students Association Board,
campus with his red swapfiets bike and most frustratingly still not knowing the introweek dance!! Our lovely CAO Rhea has also had a couple of rough moments this week, one of the most memorable and confusing one for all of us to hear was when she cried about not getting her Pita Falafel from Chris' because her friend had gotten her the wrong order. Antoinet, the chair of this cleaning association, someone whom you would assume to be the most responsible of us all, managed to lose her keys and her phone at least five times per day resulting in the 'Find my iPhone' app being her best friend for the week. Sadly it became clear to us that this was not because Introweek was hectic, but because she just always loses everything. Lamarana also had the same panic of losing her phone during the festival clean up (classic) and panicked for a
Every day our agenda included at least one amazing introweek event, but luckily we weren't organising all of them, meaning that we could also actively participate in some of the most fun events of the week: remember the highly competitive teachers and ASC members that came third during sports day? This combination was brilliant as we did not only get the chance to show who we are and what we do, but we also actually had the space to get to know some of you better! Most of our events were collaborations with teachers and College Hall. They were such a big help in these events that we at times almost u
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Leaving home as a Minor
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Recapping Hurricane Irma
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UCU in East Africa
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Exchange as a stress relief from UCU
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A tribute to Minsk National Airport
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Bar Brawl on the Plastic Straws
Illustration Š Amu Endo
highlights of the week, but also some of our lowlights. At the end of the day, that is what makes us all human!
Experiencing introweek is different every single time. Most of us have, of course, experienced it as introweek kids, getting to know the ins and outs of campus, and meeting new people. Five out of six of our board members have also parented during an introweek. However, this year the six of us experienced introweek on a whole other level once again, organising academic events and helping out where necessary while wearing our beautiful light blue introweek t-shirts!
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The Boomerang | September 2019
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Some words from a graduate by Meike Eijsberg Let me start of by saying that most of you have no idea who I am, or what I'm doing. But that's okay! Because I know who you are. And what you are about to do. You're probably thinking: 'Oh look, another alumna trying to stay relevant.' Maybe.Although I was thrilled to write for our beloved Boomerang one last time, I am trying to move on. Therefore, in fear of sounding like an all-knowing guru, I won't use this article to reminisce on my time at UCU, nor to sum up all of its ups and downs. What I am going to do however, is mention some of that pretentious-sounding alumni wisdom. - To the first years and exchange students: relax! You just got here, so you have tons of time left to get to know people, figure out who you are, and what to do with your life. - To the second years: you've successfully passed your first year! The halfway mark is only one semester away, but you feel like you've been here for ages. You now have a well-prepared survival kit to take you through exam weeks, as well as some supportive friend groups. To the third years (and beyond): although you have a thesis lurking in the near future, make sure it doesn't consume all of your time. It's your final year after all! Cherish your friendships and take a day off every once in a while. I must admit, I had to wipe away a little tear when I wrote that. The truth is, when I graduated from UCU a few months ago, the obvious became clear quite soon. Upon bursting our
little bubble, things change. Most of you are probably not interested in hearing about these changes and would rather enjoy UCU in blissful ignorance. But some third years (and perhaps second years too) might be curious about life after UCU. Therefore, when asked to write this article, I had to think long and hard. What could I write in order to make it applicable for a larger audience? After all, everyone walks different paths after UCU. Masters, gap years, internships, etc… One alumnus' experience does not
Illustration © Sofie Ryan
even closely resemble that of another's. Nevertheless, I think most alumni would agree with the following five pieces of advice: 1. It will take a while before you're removed from the UCU students Facebook group. If you're prone to nostalgia, turn off the notifications. 2. Whether you'll be moving within Utrecht, a different European city, or to an entirely new
continent, everyone (eventually) leaves campus. This is strange and can take a strain on friendships that were once held together by sharing the same 0.05km. Make an effort to stay in contact with the people important to you. 3. Unless you're lucky, classes (or other responsibilities) are no longer 5 minutes away from your bed. Prepare to get up at least 30-45 minutes before the start of your day, because commuting is a real thing. 4. Wherever you might end up, you will never be fully alone. A week after I moved to a new city, I ran into various familiar faces: individuals that I knew from high school, internships, and UCU. Somehow, they all ended up in the same place as I did, but for different reasons. Bottom line: Don't worry about isolation! 5. This final one is a cliché, I know, but it's worth mentioning. And that is: you can take the kid out of UCU, but you can't take UCU out of the kid. The skills, knowledge and general work ethic you learn here, will forever be with you. USE IT! If you've had a great time at UCU, leaving sucks. But rest assured, you're all in the same boat. Together with a growing network of alumni, you will forever share the memories of introweek, Voltaire study sessions, Maarten Diederix waltzing into your unit, being crammed into the Auditorium to see SuperSticky, and, of course, those late nights at the bar. On that note: see you at the bar. Because, let's face it, alumni never really leave…
'Please Fill in Your Tutor Evaluation' by Kate Cammeraat
I would like to preface this rant *cough* I mean, opinion piece, by saying that I appreciate our college's feedback system. Coming from a high school where this was completely lacking, it was a breath of fresh air to be able to give extensive feedback on my courses at the end of every semester. I can see that our feedback is valued, through adjustments to existing courses and removal of others. Nevertheless, in the time that I have been here it has become apparent to me that the tutor system, an integral part of UCU, does not hold a place in the feedback rounds. In fact, I have only been given one chance so far to evaluate my tutor. This was in the middle of my first semester when, frankly, I hadn't been able to form an opinion yet. While some may argue that surviving UCU is possible without an adequate tutor, I beg to differ. Certainly, in first year, it was imperative that your tutor was there to guide your through the selection of courses and your major declaration. Most students also struggle at some point or another with the difficulties of campus life and a tutor should be there for those stumbles as well. Unfortunately, a tutor does not always fulfill those requirements. I have heard of plenty of experiences from fellow UCU'ers in which their tutor was more an obstacle than a helpful resource. Tutors not listening
to students' wishes to be enrolled in a course, and their failure to give a listening ear seem to occur all too often. A more fleshed out feedback system where students could evaluate their tutor every semester would be a start to solving this problem. One might argue that if there were persistent issues with your tutor, you can request a change. This process is hindered by the fact that you are required to meet with the head tutor to discuss any issues you may have. This option seems reserved as a drastic measure only. Even on UCU's website, they cite that they wish to provide continuity between you and your tutor. However, continuity does not aid those who have had persistent problems. Due to a noticeable lack of feedback there is also no improvement in troublesome relations. To optimise the planning of your education at UCU and happiness within the community it would be imperative that you could build a working relationship with your tutor. As it stands now, I think there is a disparity between a fully-fledged course evaluation and the complete lack thereof for the tutor system at this University College.
A University College Student Association Magazine
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forgot that very important things still had to happen right before (like making sure there was enough chocolate in every single room). However, in line with one of ASC's active goals for this year, namely ownership, we organised a completely new workshop: our Ownership Workshop. Laurens and Irene worked on the content and format of this workshop all summer, and they were both very happy to see that it worked out in the end. One of you even told us that that presentation totally saved your life. Well, that must be a great start to the academic year then!
"We already had to share our formal dinner wine with the teachers." Of course all of these events were great during the day, but one of the highlights of this introweek was definitely the predrinks we had in our newly renovated office after helping UCSA out with cleaning the formal dinner. As we came third in sports day, we won two bottles of prosecco, and they definitely made our office predrinks a lot more fun, especially since we already had to share our formal dinner wine with the teachers. Introweek made us bond probably as much as you guys bonded with your introweek families, and we are beyond excited for the rest of the year! A lot more fun things are still on their way! With love, Your Academic Student Council 2019-2020
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This introweek was a special one for us because it was the first time our board took part in the organisation of introweek in such an official manner. And suffice to say that this introweek was a blast for us! We are so grateful for the opportunity we got to be a part of a project of this scale, and are proud of what we managed to contribute to it. Our primary contributions this year were the two CAR events: the Campus Tour on Monday, and the Pubquiz on Saturday. Although both of these events had been done before, this was both the first time we took them on as CAR, and the first time we pursued them at this scale. In our opinion, and hopefully also yours, these events were a huge success. It was amazing to see everyone engage with the events we worked so hard on, and hearing some of the things you guys had to say about them was incredible! We attempted to make the Campus Tour a 'free space' for parents and kids to explore our campus with only minimal guidance or structure from us. We really hope most of you used this opportunity to start your busy and confusing Introweek with some knowledge of where the important places on Campus are. Furthermore we hope that some of the clues left you a little bit puzzled, yearning to solve them for that sweet, sweet candy! The CAR Pubquiz was bigger than ever this year, with so many people showing up that it was no longer possible to hold the Pubquiz in the bar like last year. Perhaps the prize of a neat tab in the bar for the following party did the trick? In
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any case we are incredibly glad so many of you showed up and tried as hard as you did to win the prizes! Here's hoping you remember some of the important lessons from the Pubquiz. (For example, seriously, please remember the UU emergency security phone number. Or at least save it in your phones. It's +31 30 253 4444). Introweek was an exhausting week for all of us, whether you were parenting, volunteering, participating, or organising, and every time you go through introweek is somehow even more draining than the last. But we absolutely loved every moment of it! It was lovely to see all of you arrive at UCU on Monday morning and have a quick chat, as well as helping you find your new units. Early morning meetings after party nights may have left us scrambling for caffeine, but we will cherish these memories forever.
"Yearning to solve them for that sweet, sweet candy!"
Lastly we want to thank the UCSA Board so incredibly much for their hard work on this introweek. It would not have been even close to the amazing week it was without their dedication to you guys! They were always there to help us when we needed something for our events, regardless of how tired, hungry, or busy they were. Vroom vroom, CAR Board 2019-2020
Leaving Home as a Minor by Michelle Verstraaten Picture this: you and some unit mates plan a risotto dinner together. You offer to do the groceries. You collect the rice, parmesan, shallots and then head for the alcohol aisle to grab a bottle of white wine … until you remember you're 17. The store won't sell you alcohol (even if you're not planning to get drunk, just wanting a nice Italian dish). That happened to me. We ended up making do with non-alcoholic white wine, which was not so much of a big deal, but being a minor does come with several other annoying limitations. Last fall break, I really wanted to visit Germany for a few days and practise my new language skills. I started looking around for modes of transportation, hostels, etc. and that's when I realized that many services are unavailable to under-18s without an adult companion. Since I had never travelled on my own before, I didn't know that yet. When I looked into hiring an Uber to get to a location with particularly inconvenient public transport links, I discovered you have to be 18 to create an Uber account. When I searched for hostels and Airbnb's in Germany and elsewhere, many of them stated that they would not
Illustration © Anne van Wendel
let minors stay without an accompanying adult or unless they were coming with a group that would occupy a whole dorm room. When I discovered Workaway. info, a website that connects you to hosts all around the world looking for volunteers to help with various projects lasting from a few days to months (usually for free accommodation and food) I was ecstatic – until I learned I would have to wait another year to take advantage of these opportunities for cultural enrichment, service and cheap stays. As a result, whenever I was planning a trip with friends, I had to pay extra attention to these things. Over the past year, I've heard of a number of 17-year-old international students who struggled to open a Dutch bank account. Depending on the bank, it was either downright impossible or required the presence of parents – which obviously poses a problem if they live abroad and cannot make it to Utrecht when their child
begins university. As a Dutch citizen, I had recently opened a 'jongerenrekening' ('youth account') which is linked to my parents' account and required their permission and presence to open. Other students continued using their bank account from their home country. Of course, all these rules are in place to protect children and young people, who are more vulnerable. And there are also advantages to being under 18. You get more discounts or even free entry to some museums, cultural activities and public services. People also find you more 'fascinating', somehow – especially if you've been homeschooled too (like me) – they want to hear your story. However, for a shy person like me, the unsolicited attention and being called 'a genius' is not always appreciated. So far, I've relished childhood and growing up and will enjoy the perks of being a minor for a little longer, all the while looking forward to the day in the coming winter when I officially become an adult.
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The Boomerang | September 2019
BUBBLE UCU in East Africa Found in the Mail
Today is a Saturday. I took the little key from Baba Babu and walked down to Longido Post Office to check for the parcel of books my dad sent almost a month ago. I'm leaving tomorrow, so today was my last chance. The post office is closed on weekends, but I walked round the side to the 85 green metal boxes in the wall and inserted the key in to number 75. It stuck. A woman was wiping the inside of a window in the house backing onto the post office. I gestured to her for some help, and she came outside with a young girl clasping her leg. After she had tried the key for a few minutes, and called her husband to come out and do the same, she said she would call the postmaster. I didn't want to trouble them on their Saturday off, but she told me not to worry. Ten minutes later, a car pulled up and a round faced man hailed to me from the window. It was Ally, who also managed the tourist office where we booked a hike. He joked about my struggle with the door, and pulled four post sacks off the back seat. As the helpful family watched on, he counted each and every letter out of the window and into my hands, until he concluded that none of the recent post was for me. I was bid to take the pile to the office, where another, younger Ally had just arrived on a bike and unlocked the door. Little Ally had also been one of our guides during the hike to Mount Longido's summit. Within 20 minutes, my key and I had multiplied into a party of six, four bags of mail, and no parcel from home. In the office, Big Ally asked me to sort the post into the boxes for him while he instructed Little Ally how to change No 75's lock. I gladly obliged. I looked down at the first brown envelope in my hand and read 'Mr. Mukani, P.O Box 475, Loliondo-Longido'. I looked back at the 85 holes in the wall. After consulting Big Ally, he explained that it was an address for Namanga, and they often got confused. Indeed, they must have been very confused: Loliondo is a town over 400km drive from here, and Namanga wasn't even mentioned on the envelope! He would drive it there with the others tomorrow. The next one
read, 'Director, P.O Box 84, Longido', satisfied, I reached for box number 84. Halfway down, Big Ally caught my wrist, 'ahh, that one's mine, pop it in number 1'. This went on as I moved through the pile, 'um that 64 should be 47', 'ahh, this one I will take back to Arusha on Monday'. I was amazed. My first thought, 'no wonder my parcel never arrived!', was shortly followed by a great admiration for Big Ally's wealth of knowledge and lack of frustration at the consistently wrongly addressed mail. Without him, no one would have received a letter. After finishing, I was eager to return to Mama's as I knew she would wonder where I had got to. But, Big Ally was dying for me to meet his daughter, Aila, who is the same age as I. We drove the short distance to his house and he ushered me in. After showing me to the pristine sitting room, he ran out on an errand and instructed me to 'make friends, take selfies, exchange contacts!'. The encounter was more than a little awkward, but I sipped cold, sweet orange juice out of a tiny crystal glass and tried to make easy conservation with Aila. Eventually, more than two hours after setting out, I returned to Mama's with a new key and no mail. I don't consider it a wasted trip. Although my package didn't make it, everyone's letter that landed in Longido, was forwarded to the correct address. Furthermore, the broken lock on Baba's post box was fixed within an hour of discovery‌ on a Saturday. Finally, and most importantly, everyone I met did everything they could to help me reach a solution. Not only that, but they insisted on treating me with limitless hospitality and warmth. Sometimes I have found the 'pole pole' pace here frustrating, but I'm beginning to see how fundamental it is to take things slowly. People have an understanding that things take time and, with this understanding, time is approached in a different way: everyone's got some. Although I lost my post in the mail, I found a new appreciation for living on Tanzanian-time.
by Betsy Middleton
Agony Aunt Dear Agony Aunt, I appear to have lost all my shoes and people keep eating my food in the middle of the night. What should I do? Dear Reader, I am sorry to hear that you live with thieves. Remember, even Luna Lovegood had all her shoes stolen, so it happens to the best of us. My advice would be to avidly keep an eye on all the feet of campus in case you can locate them, but until then enjoy the freedom of barefoot life (like our Ms. Lovegood, Jesus, Gandhi, Paul McCartney‌ you might find Enlightenment). For saving your food, I'd advise to keep what you can in your bedroom and for what you can't (inspired by a brilliant past UCU confession) commit revenge through a deterrent‌by spiking the most stolen product with hot chilis. (Not laxatives, as your Agony Aunt doesn't condone violence. But that's up to you). Dear Agony Aunt, I'm not sure if this is just a UCU thing or a general thing, but it's happened to me that several times a guy will pursue you or flirt and hint that he likes you, and then once something happens, he completely ignores you or makes out with girls in front of you. And it's not like I want a relationship or anything nor do I hint at that, or anything, but it sucks to like a guy and to have to constantly see him around on campus. I guess I just want to understand what goes on in the guy's head, like why do you act this way? Dear Reader, I can tell you that this is most definitely a general thing and not just at UCU. But on our small campus island these general things are intensified, as are the emotions they cause. People who act this way are generally pursuing someone for one reason only... So, as it can be hard to identify this 'thinking-with-your-nether-organs' to begin with, the best thing to do to not get hurt is go into it with the same mindset as them. Casual relationships can be great, as long as you can be sure you're both on the same page, which always takes time. Therefore, there is no harm in being wary to begin with until you can be sure they care for you. You can still be a warm, open person even with this more careful mindset, and often come out with a more secure relationship or friendship like this, without getting hurt. Also anyone that ignores or purposefully tries to make you jealous is not worth your brainpower. Sadly we cannot change people, but there are plenty of amazing people out there to concentrate your joy and attention on. Just be thankful you found out their true colours sooner rather than later. In need of advice? Keep a close eye on The Boomerang Facebook page.
A University College Student Association Magazine
How would you feel about a hyena petting zoo?
Illustration Š Iris Beijer
Science usually tries to reduce the world to theories through which it can be analyzed and studied meticulously. Although in humanities and social sciences these theories also exist, the way they are applied is very different. They use the social component to make sense of the theories, therefore, people form an integral part o f these disciplines. Something I vividly
remember from high school is that if you were doing humanities, it was as if you weren't doing anything. It was therefore always looked down upon. Coming to UCU and actually taking some courses within these disciplines, I realized how complex it can actually be. This idea was only reinforced through the East Africa program where social sciences and humanities were the core disciplines being studied. As a science student, I have to admit that not everything that we learned and looked at in the course was particularly interesting to me. What I did find fascinating however, was studying and analyzing the stereotypes that
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the west, or in this case I, have of 'Africa'. Obviously, there were moments of frustration. I distinctly remember Gerard van de Ree offering to give a voluntary reflective journal writing session in Sinya, Tanzania. If you look at a map, you will see that Sinya is the 'far far away' from our bedtime stories, and perhaps the most remote place I have ever been to. We were sleeping next to the famous 'Hyena Mountain' (I came up with that, you are welcome Sinya), a hotspot for hyenas. You could hear them crying all night and they would allegedly walk through our campsite. It was a low point for everybody, it was intense- bucket showers on week three-and to be very honest, I was a bit fed up with the reflective sessions offered by Gerard at that moment. I did not want to sit in a circle, share my thoughts, and to be quite frank, I also didn't think that it was adding anything useful to our learning experience. In hindsight, however, these reflective sessions were actually very valuable because it was a way to process everything that we were experiencing. Something which in science is never done, to ask how you feel about something, was shaping my thoughts on what we were actually learning there and what the point of the course actually was. So, in reality, Gerard's contribution was much more valuable than I had initially thought. Although I may agree that the course should be more science oriented, I think that it was one of the most valuable experiences that I have had in my life (I love clichĂŠs) and I would definitely do it all over again if I had the chance. It was one of the most LA&S courses at UCU that I could have taken as a science student.
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UCU in East Africa Discovering Through Dfference During the past three months, I found myself in contexts and situations I could never imagine myself to be in; I often mentioned how things felt unreal. This also led to me going through all of the emotions I'm capable of experiencing. It turns out that it was in those challenging instances of being surrounded by extreme difference that I was capable of learning the most about myself. When you are placed in challenging situations you slowly begin to discover your own limits, but you also learn about the personal mechanisms you can use to extend them. Frankly, I learnt much more about myself than anything else during the program and that's the most amazing part. I expected to learn a lot in terms of academic knowledge from the field-course and the internship experience, and I did. But for me, the special value of the program primarily lies in how it gives you the opportunity to get a clearer view on who you are as a person, and that's powerful. Now when I think of the past three months, the time spent during the program feels like a dream.
by Jana Dimitrova
by Mark van der Boor
"The Fundamental Questions" by Corey Wright UCU East Africa 2019 is complete. Another great year. More amazing students. More reflections. More learning. For the past month, I've been reviewing students' reflection journals (one of the assignments of the field course). Reviewing them is definitely a highlight of my job! They always remind me why I do what I do and why I feel so fortunate to be part of a program like this. As always, students' reflections exhibit the breadth of learning associated with all the program's topics, including critical development studies, postcolonialism, globalization, political economy, international development theory, development policies, community development methods, and so on. Their reflections make clear how they wrestled with the many politics, conflicts, conundrums and social struggles we confronted in all the diverse places we visited, from the well-to-do corporate offices in Nairobi, to the most impoverished homes in the city's informal settlements, to the highly contentious, conservation landscapes of Amboseli, to the dryland ecosystems and indigenous territories of Maasailand in Tanzania, to the diversified agricultural lands of Mount Meru, the
lively fish markets and value chains of Bagamoyo, and the world heritage sites of Zanzibar. Beyond all of the above, their reflections also demonstrate the more personal, transformative learning they achieved. This is a key focus of the UCU EA program – of 'decolonizing the western mind', as Stephen Ellis (2011) likes to frame it. So many of the journal entries illustrate the disjunctures and disorientations that students faced throughout their daily engagements. They confronted tough questions about difference and diversity. They questioned their own assumptions, prejudices and biases, interrogating their own privilege, positionality and (white) fragility. Arguably, these reflections and subsequent transformations are what the UCU East Africa program is really all about. Put aside all the above-mentioned development theory and issues. For me, the UCU East Africa program is about fundamental questions, including as 'Who am I?', 'What prejudices and biases do I bring to my experiences?', 'How do I become more 'mindful?' (Thomas, 2006) as well as critically reflective questions, 'How do I change?' and, most importantly, 'How do I build better relations in today's world?' This is what matters most. And for this reason, I'm grateful to all those who participated this year. Thank you! You've inspired me, and you've given me hope. I can't wait to see the new adventures you embark on and the changes you make to our communities and our world.
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BAR BRAWL
Should plastic straws even be banned? I know what you're thinking- I'm a monster who wants to kill all the turtles. Every single one of them. Truth be told, I don't want the world to drown in a sea of plastic, and I think turtles are cute creatures that definitely don't deserve to die.
Illustration Š Sandra van der Meer
This might come as a shock to you, but some people depend on plastic straws, literally. There are thousands of people across the globe who suffer from disabilities (such as cerebral palsy) that make it difficult to use their arms to eat or drink. So, whenever they go out for a nice dinner with their friends and/or family, they tend to rely on plastic straws to help them drink whatever liquid (soup included). Yes, there are alternatives to plastic straws. Metal straws are an amazing concept, the only problem is they are not malleable. This makes it pretty much impossible for immobilised people to use them. Same goes for paper straws, and if the quality isn't great, they'll melt in whatever warm liquid they're submerged in. Look, all I'm trying to say is that until some sort of biodegradable material can be used to make malleable straws, plastic straws should still be available to those who need it. It isn't fair to make people completely dependent on others to (literally) spoon feed them whenever they go out. Yes, it's amazing that governments are recognising the environmental harm to single use plastics and are actually taking measures to resolve this. But before we jump the gun and ban utensils, take a moment to think of how these laws can affect individuals who struggle to make their needs and voices heard.
by Rafaella Karadsheh
The Boomerang | September 2019
Why plastic straws need to be banned ASAP Plastic straws are destroying our planet. Often designed for single use, they're tossed away without a second thought, left to rot in landfills. Having spent time on beach cleanups, I've seen firsthand that plastic straws almost always made up the largest volume of refuse collected. The majority of them also had chunks broken away, most of which appeared to be bite marks. Fish aren't the smartest of animals, and they d e f i nitely don't understand the dangers of eating plastic. Whether we choose to recycle our straws or throw them away in a normal bin, there's always a chance they'll end up in the ocean because rubbish often isn't securely contained. Because small fish eat straws, and then are consumed by even larger fish, and eventually humans, this poses not just a danger to our environment but also to our own health. It takes about 500 years for straws to break down, so what's the point in using them just once, and ruining our planet? Even if all plastic straws were to be recycled, dangerous fumes would be produced which would still end up polluting our atmosphere. Yes, some people with medical conditions do require the use of straws when drinking, but that doesn't mean they need to use plastic! Metal straws are a fantastic alternative, as they can easily be cleaned and can be reused thousands of times. Paper straws are another great substitute, as they break down significantly faster than plastic ones. Even if plastic straws aren't banned in the near future, most of us don't even require their use! Since when did sipping directly from a cup become an impossible task? If you care about the environment (even just slightly) you too should be concerned about our ridiculous infatuation with plastic. All I'm saying is that if plastic straws don't get banned, just ask to not have one in your next drink. It's the little things we can all do which may stop the decimation of our only planet.
by Ivan Ryan
A University College Student Association Magazine
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The Reality of the Border by Saskia Vrensen
Written in May 2019, after flying back to Mexico from McAllen, Texas. I may be a law major, but the last law class I took was six months ago. It was an international law class and the only thing I really remember from it is what happens when a private vessel commits a crime in national waters, then moves to international waters (a high-speed chase is what happens I think). I also may have lived in Mexico for the last five months, but my Spanish leaves a lot to be desired. I will not go into all of my linguistic blunders, as there are far too many. So why am I the best legal advisor that Honduran, El Salvadorian, Guatemalan and Nicaraguan asylum seekers have access to upon entering the US legally? Why did I find myself giving advice about deportation documents, court dates, and re-registering of court location? I should not be the best and only chance asylum seekers have at understanding their legal proceedings. When I was in McAllen, a border town in Texas that is home to a large ICE centre and is the point of legal entry for thousands of asylum seekers every week, I helped out at the bus station from which most asylum seekers continue their jour-
"The process is tightly wrapped in layers upon layers of red tape"
neys into the US. Some of the questions I was asked were: 'Do you have any clothes for my two-day-old baby before we get on the bus?' 'Do I have to go to court?' 'I came here with my grandson but they took him from me because I am not his parent. Where is he?' 'Please help, I don't understand a single word in these documents or on my bus tickets.' 'I came here with my nineteen-year-old son but they took him. Can you help me find him?' I certainly couldn't answer any of these questions, and neither could the volunteers who work at the bus station every day. All of us were far from experts regarding the legal process that the immigrants were facing, mostly because the process is tightly wrapped in layers upon layers of red tape. This red tape is difficult to figure out even if you can read English, and is even more difficult to communicate to someone who is confused, tired, and just wants some food and a bed. An example of this red tape is that if immigrants don't know the specific address that they will be living at (either they don't yet have an apartment , or their relatives have not given them these details yet), they will be registered for court in a Texan border town, likely many, many miles from where they will actually be living. This means they are expected to return to the border for their court date, which is a completely unrealistic expectation. The only way to re-register your location is via a lawyer, which many asylum seekers cannot afford. This
means that an immigrant either doesn't even realise they are registered incorrectly, or if they do, they cannot afford to fix it. Both scenarios end in deportation. This isn't happening in only one small town in Texas. In bus stations across the border, people with and without help are getting deported. Parents who have already been deported once will certainly be deported again, this time along with the children they brought with them. Asylum applicants who fail to turn up to court due to a variety of reasons - most of them stemming from a misunderstanding of their documents that are only written in English - will be deported. And applicants who just don't have a strong case, because they cannot afford a lawyer or because they cannot communicate in English the way they can in Spanish (if at all) will be deported.
"People with and without help are getting deported" So what is the point? Why allow asylum seekers in if they are set up to fail? It breaks my heart that so many families made this tortuous journey, spent all of their money, were locked in ice-cold rooms for weeks, had all their belongings taken from them, only to be deported because of a misunderstanding of how the process works. It is an unnecessarily cruel system, of which too many people have fallen victim to.
The Amazon Crisis by Jill Roeleveld
This year alone, there have been approximately 90.000 fires in the Amazon Rainforest. According to the World Wide Fund for Nature, 20% of its density has already been lost. This is, of course, concerning for a number of reasons. First of all, 10% of our entire planet's wildlife calls the Amazon home. Probably more, considering approximately one new species is discovered in its depths every three days. On top of that, 30 million people live in the Amazon, who are dependent on the forest for their livelihoods. And that is not all – roughly 100 billion tonnes of carbon are locked up in its plants and trees, making it vitally important in global efforts to tackle climate change. Knowing all of this, it is astonishing how long it took people to pick up on the crisis. Perhaps the news stations across the globe were slow to mention these fires because fires occurring in the Amazon is nothing new; in fact, it is the biggest deforestation front in the world. But the intensity with which these fires have been raging, and the sheer amount of them, is new. One of the probable
causes for this is the fact that the rainforest, in its people go. Outpours of outrage on social media natural state, is dense, dark and wet. However, are a good way to call attention to the crisis, but due to deforestation, sunlight is able to pene- it does not put out the fires. If you truly want to trate, which causes dryness and higher tempera- help the Amazon, there are several further steps tures. Thus, the Amazon is ever more vulnerable you can take, such as donation, signing petitions to fires and this makes them infinitely harder to and educating yourself about the crisis. put out, especially since the Brazil government cut back on funding. This, too, is considered a Thankfully, it is not all doom and gloom. As cause for the increase in fires. of last week, according to The lack of protection of the the BBC, seven South Amer"Outpours of outrage on region, as by decree of Presiican countries have agreed to social media are a good dent Bolsonaro of Brazil, has take up measures to protect encouraged cattle farmers to way to call attention to the the Amazon river basin. The clear vast pieces of land. purpose of this pact is to crisis, but it does not put set up a disaster response out the fires" Fortunately, today, you network and satellite moniwill notice that the crisis toring. They are also planning facing the Amazon has engulfed news sites and to work on reforestation, which in combination our social feeds. Many people are pouring out with a decrease in rainforest destruction, will give concern, sadness and anger over the images and the Amazon the chance to regrow and recover. news surrounding the Amazon rainforest and Nature has the ability to bounce back when given its lack of protection. Raising awareness is defi- the chance. All we have to do is help give it that nitely a good first step but that is as far as most chance.
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The Boomerang | September 2019
WORLD
A Neighborly Perspective on the Ebola Crisis by Maya Homsy King
Although we have ceased to hear about it as much, simply because it's old news, the Ebola virus has continued to spread with nightmarish efficiency in the eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Every day, during the 7:30 am Ebola task force meeting, the WHO representative would give an update of the situation across the border: 'As of the 7th of September, there are 23 new confirmed cases from the following health zones: 4 in Beni, 2 in Butembo, 4 in Kalunguta, 2 in Katwa...Two probable cases were announced on the 5th of September, which brings the total number to 111. 10 new deaths have been reported over the last three days. This brings the total number of cases to 3,079, deaths to 2,064, and survivors to 922'. There is a nationwide hotline distributed to at-risk communities, and people are instructed to text if any community member is suffering from a high fever, unexplained bleeding, or if an unexplained death occurs. When these alerts were received, personnel from the organization I was interning with had to go and investigate.
This instance was a perfect example of how this outbreak has become so much more than a disease in the DRC: it has turned communities against health workers, and has spread suspicion, fear, and distrust. If not handled
"Because dead bodies are highly infectious, we had to take a sample at the funeral"
extremely delicately, coming to a funeral wearing full protective equipment, and handling a dead body could easily result in terrible rumors, spread out of fear. Even when speaking to the woman's neighbors, one man became very agitated, asking 'what will you do for me? I carried the body, we washed the body.' We could do nothing but promise we would communicate the lab results to them, and speak transparently about the purpose of our visit. Fortunately, a day later the results were negative, but we had no choice but to plant that seed of doubt in the community, creating fear of the dreadful disease they had all been hearing about for months on end.
S
When you read about disease epidemics in the news, or for class, it is horrifying yes, but so often it is reduced to numbers and statistics. Although we don't have Ebola in Uganda right now thanks to the vigilance of the response teams, the horror in the DRC is ongoing, and the extent of the human suffering is unimaginable. People are told over and over to let go of their traditions regarding caring for the sick and dying, to not touch their loved ones, to let them be buried by health workers covered from head to toe. This is absolutely necessary for preventing transmission, but it is easy to see why people have such a hard time obeying it.
Recapping Hurricane Irma by Tanya Balani In 2017 I had the life-changing experience of going through the category 5 hurricane Irma. My tiny island of Sint Maarten was destroyed in its wake and I recall every hour feeling never-ending. How do you adequately prepare for such a thing? In such a time, nothing besides family seemed to be of any importance. The slow build-up of winds and bands of rain were nerve-wracking, but soon enough we were in what seemed like the worst part of the storm. From seeing the winds rip plywood off of windows and gusts causing satellite dishes to fly through the air like paper, to feeling the pressure in the house change as the roof flew off, it is definitely not something anyone should have to go through. Every thud and whistle of wind was frightening as we sat in the dark trying to comfort one another. We were stuck for twelve hours in the unknown; absolutely no clue what to expect the next minute, hour or week. Stepping outside for the first time, we saw that what we once knew as our tranquil neigh-
borhood was in pieces. Concrete walls that once provided shelter to our friends and family were now crumbled to the ground. If there was no structural damage to the buildings, there was water damage that ruined homes in a different manner. Then came the second disaster of looting all around the island, which only made the idea of recovery seem farther away. It took two days to be able to let our extended family know that we were okay. We later found out that the media had already begun covering the most catastrophic parts of the aftermath, fueling everyone's instinct to assume the worst. We went weeks without water and electricity, which was a humbling experience to say the least. Nothing could compare to the level of destruction I witnessed once we were finally able to drive around the island. The only thing I could think was 'how are we going to recover from this?'. Every tiny effort counted, and I truly learned to appreciate the value of helpful neighbors in this trying time. From having daily
potlucks in the dark, managing to cook whatever we could, to helping each other clear up the debris from our properties, it made getting through the aftermath significantly easier. It is now two years later, and I couldn't be prouder to say that my island is doing extremely well. Businesses are rebuilding, tourists are visiting and most importantly, the local culture is thriving. The nightmare that we experienced did not dampen our spirits, and we are in the swift process of coming back better than ever. While this is the case for Sint Maarten, unfortunately the same cannot be said for the Bahamas. Having recently gone through a category 5 hurricane Dorian for three whole days, the residents on Grand Bahama Island and the Abaco Islands could use any sort of aid they can get. I hope that reading about the first-hand experience of such a catastrophic natural disaster from a fellow UCU student will encourage you to donate any amount you can to the Bahamian Red Cross, helping them recover quickly from this calamity.
Illustration Š Iris Beijer
I interned in the global health security division of the Infectious Diseases Institute in Uganda over the summer, and found myself becoming increasingly drawn into matters of the Ebola crisis. Uganda, being one of the closest neighboring countries to the high-risk zones in the DRC, has been in full emergency response mode for over a year since the outbreak was declared in August 2018. During my internship, I was sent to a field office in Northern Uganda very close to the border with the DRC and was able to see what being in p mode actually meant.
I was able to go with the emergency response team to the field on a day where we received a message saying a young mother had suddenly died at her home. Because dead bodies are highly infectious, we had to take a sample at the funeral. The ceremony was in a small church surrounded by eucalyptus and banana trees, and people were milling in and outside, some wailing, others downcast, and others acting like it was a day like any other. My colleagues donned their coveralls, face shields, rubber boots and two pairs of latex gloves, and went to the casket to take a swab from the deceased's mouth. I stood in the crowd of mourners and watched as my white-suited colleagues did their job, noticing how alive this smooth-faced young woman looked, lying there surrounded by her community, and how unnerving this whole situation felt.
A University College Student Association Magazine
Dearest Campus, I hope that the first weeks of this Fall 2019 academic semester have treated you all well. I hope that they have been busy in the best way, that you have managed to find some down time and that you are figuring out all over again how life in this strange little microcosm works. As for myself, the last few weeks have been as full of difficulties as they have been excitement. I have already managed to skip a class for no good reason (I wasn't even hungover). I have already managed to leave my entire board waiting for a board picture that never ended up happening because I wasn't even on campus (they are to receive apologetic cookies). I have already managed to eat instant noodles at least eight times as my lunch (due to a complete lack of energy and gastronomic inspiration). These anecdotes are not intended to depress you, I promise. All that I am trying to illustrate is that the beginning of a new year at UCU represents so much positivity, but it also can be difficult. Embrace these difficulties, because there will be many. However, the way I see it is that if I must encounter bad things along with the good here at UCU, then I feel grateful. So far, the good times have overwhelmingly outnumbered the bad, and as our parents always told us, you need to experience some bad things in order to appreciate the good. And so, may this semester be fun and light and exciting, but may it also be difficult! I hope you enjoy your classes and your friends and everything else that this campus offers you. I also hope that you tackle your difficulties in the best way that you can. And if you need help, I and my entire board are always here (and if you feel like writing about things, we wholeheartedly support that too, of course). This semester is already well on its way and The Boomerang is very pumped. I'd like to thank Maya, Rafaella, Ivan, Iris, Julia and ArtĂśm for all of their hard work this edition and their enthusiasm for this year. I'd also like to thank all of our writers and illustrators who filled this edition with their words and their art.
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How going on exchange can help you destress from UCU by Vera Visser
Disclaimer: this may not be relevant for/ applicable to everyone Last semester I went on exchange to Canberra, Australia. Despite it being quite scary and trying at first, it turned out to be the semester I enjoyed the most in my entire UCU career. I am currently in my 5thsemester and I am missing exchange so much. As all of you know, UCU is stressful both academically and socially. We all struggle to find a balance between our social lives and finishing our assignments. Sometimes it can be so overwhelming that we are on the brink of giving up. If you are in your first year or second year right now and you are really considering going on exchange (I am not going to force the people who really don't want to or can't go), do it! I have to be honest, all the preparation work, worry about having to go live in a place you have never been before and having to make friends all over again, is difficult. But in the end, it is all worth it. You started university away from your parents, from your homes and moved onto an unknown campus already, so why can't you do that again!? I was quite lucky with the university I went to. My courses were quite chill, in the sense that they were not as intense as the UCU courses, but very interesting. The things I learned have even helped me figure out what I want to write my thesis about. It is important to find a place and a university that really
suits you and your interest because that way you will enjoy your academia. There will be many other exchange students from all around the world who will go to the destination you might be thinking about. They are all in the same boat, so making friends is not so difficult. If you have the opportunity to travel, take it! I believe an exchange semester is not only important for academia, as you grow in a different way, but also to experience another culture and to understand why that culture may be different from your own. UCU in itself is already an open-minded university and with the opportunity of going on exchange, you can use this to become even more openminded. I learned a lot from being abroad by myself. It opened up my mind about everything. I have gained more self-confidence, and can now question things without the feeling of being criticized and feel that I have a better understanding of the world. It is a great way to step out from the UCU bubble. At least for me, being stuck in that bubble for 6 semesters straight would have definitely given me a headache. I have to be honest that I am feeling a little homesick for Australia now that I am back in Utrecht. It will be difficult to come back to UCU after having experienced something so big and different. But I think that is a good thing as it means that you feel ready for the world outside of UCU, outside of the bubble.
Why shopping second-hand fashion is better for the planet (and your student budget) usually come with heavily discounted price tags. With the likes of Depop, you can still get your hands on trendy, branded pieces for just a fraction of the price – you could always sell your old clothes for some extra cash too! The best part is that these purchases won't directly fund the fast fashion industry or its exploitative practices. Charity shopping allows you to direct your money where you want it and support a good cause of your choice. Shopping second-hand is admittedly somewhat of a treasure hunt. You can leave plenty of stores empty-handed and then strike gold with a designer piece. It's moments like these that make the entire trip worth it. When you frequent your local vintage stores, you also get a creative eye for finding pieces you can transform. Shopping second-hand encourages you to learn new textile skills so you can maintain and upcycle your wardrobe. Whether you're a convert or not, second-hand fashion is on the rise, and for good reason! It can often feel like fast fashion is only ever going to get faster, but the second-hand market is putting this to the test. According to Thredup's annual fashion resale report, the second-hand industry is thriving. In fact, it has grown 21 times faster than apparel retail in the last three years. The resale market is currently expected to overtake the apparel market, meaning it is diverting revenue from the fast fashion industry. This sends a huge message to brands that customers want radical, sustainable initiative. #SecondHandSeptember is just one of the many ways second-hand shopping is becoming a true force for change in the fashion industry.
by Melissa Watt
Illustration Š Summer Gadd
With #SecondHandSeptember in full swing, over 60,000 Brits have pledged to say no And on that note, let us celebrate this new to new clothes academic year and relish all of the challenges it for 30 days. The will bring us! campaign, run by international Yours always, charity Oxfam, poses a sustainSaskia Vrensen able challenge to Editor-in-Chief the current throwaway epidemic. It also comes at a critical time in our environmental crisis, to which the fast fashion industry is a notorious contributor. But why, more than ever, should we be incorporating more hand-me-downs and vintage garments into our wardrobes? Shopping second-hand is ultimately the most sustainable way to shop because you're giving a new lease of life to a pre-loved garment. This prevents unloved clothing from going to waste. Currently, 11 million items of clothing end up in a landfill every week. Here, they'll likely take hundreds of years to decompose, outliving us all. The mass production of clothes also places a huge strain on the earth's resources. Up to 10,000 litres of water are needed to produce just one pair of jeans. Opting for second-hand greatly eases this pressure on our planet and its people. Another huge selling point is its affordability: second-hand clothes
10 ARTS&CULTURE
The Boomerang | September 2019
Stan's music Illustration © TJ Querio
Mercury in Retrograde: Top 5 tracks from the best Mercury Prize nominated artists by Stanley Ward The U.K isn't all Brexit chaos, Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (yes, that is his real name) and entrenched class systems. It's also home to both vibrant popular and underground music scenes. While music awards are usually superficial, arbitrary, and allow Beck's spectacularly bland 'Colours' to be named record of the year (I'm looking at you, the Grammy Awards) the UK's Mercury Prize is generally considered to be pretty respectable in its aim to shine a light on the most interesting and groundbreaking developments outside the UK's mainstream. And so, for your listening pleasure, in no particular order, I present my top 5 picks from this year's Mercury Prize shortlist. Honorary Mention. 'Love It If We Made It' - The 1975
Dickens was given an 808 he would probably make trap bangers not unlike these. Twisted string samples overlay distorted kicks and bass until a choral section fades in, as the drums kick out and slowthai's force becomes pleading. The vulnerability, rawness, and lyrical detail of this track sets it apart in the competitive world of UK grime. 4. 'Speedway' - BLACK MIDI It's difficult to pick just one track from this record, because the whole sprawling thing is so diverse. One track does not encompass the album's scope. However, I was most attracted to Speedway mainly because of the understated vocals and its careful push/pull composition. Like on the rest of their debut Schlagenheim, there is a constant sense of chaos, combined with entrancing rhythmic and melodic motifs. BLACK MIDI are one of the most interesting 'experimental' and relevant 'rock' bands around (they refer to themselves as 'math punk') and worth exploring.
This one gets an honourable mention for being the only song from the 1975 I actually enjoy, from the only record they've made that doesn't make me slip into a coma of mediocrity while vomit drips out my mouth. Does the production sound like a lot of other 1975 songs? Yes. Does the electric vocal delivery and genuinely insightful and 3. 'Don't Beat the Girl out of My Boy' politically charged lyrics make up for it? Also Anna Calvi yes. It's some good pop that pulls fewer punches than most bands with this high a profile. Before planning this article, I'd never listened to Anna Calvi. I wish I had. From her album 5. 'Northampton's Child' - slowthai 'Hunter,' 'Don't Beat the Girl out of My Boy' is more triumphant and epic in its production, but From his astonishingly realised debut still retains the moody sense of rebellion that 'Nothing Great About Britain' slowthai delivers runs through the whole record. The drums are accounts of working class struggles with equal simplistic but heavy, the synths moody, and the measures of anger and melancholy. If Charles guitar solo short but welcome. I look forward
to exploring Anna Calvi's back catalogue. You should too. 2. 'Too Real' - FONTAINES D.C. During the sessions recording the band's debut 'Dogrel', producer Dan Carey would insist each time the band recorded a new take, that the previous be permanently erased, so there was only ever one version of each song. In the world of professional recording, where multiple takes are usually compiled together, this is pretty rare. It leads to a real feeling of intensity, especially on 'Too Real' where the guitars tremble violently and the drums and bass refuse to relent. It would be unfair to compare FONTAINES D.C. to any other Irish band, but in the guitar work on this track it's hard to not hear 'Bullet the Blue Sky', although maybe that's just me. The spoken word-esque verses are dynamic and entrancing, and the choruses are explosive. Is it too real for you? Probably not. 1. 'Venom' - Little Simz From my favorite hip hop record of the summer, 'GREY Area' is intense in its feeling, lyrics, production, and scope. It's the kind of record that stops you in it tracks, and Venom, for me, is its centerpiece. The most intense and unyielding track on the record, tremolo strings replace the old school sampled grooves from the previous tracks. Venom sounds like the future, but a future where Little Simz is in charge. The more I write about this album, the more I take away from it, so just listen to it, will ya.
Recipe: Spinach Stew with Boiled Plantains One of the dishes I love to eat when I'm back home in Ghana is kontomire, a stew made from leaves of the cocoyam (or taro) plant. These leaves are widely consumed in several (sub)tropical areas of the world, including West Africa, South Asia, Oceania and Hawaii. Since I haven't yet been able to get my hands on the leaves here, I make do with spinach, another tasty green. The recipe below serves 2. Ingredients: ● 3 plantains ('cooking bananas' / 'bakbananen' - can be found in supermarkets such as Jumbo and Plus) ● 400g spinach leaves ● 1 small onion ● 1 tomato ● 2 eggs ● Salt & chili pepper/sambal to taste Directions: 1. To peel the plantains, cut off both ends, score the long ridges, and then peel off the strip from each side. Cut lengthwise and crosswise to produce 4 pieces each. Boil in salted water for about 10 minutes or until each is soft and easily pierced with a fork. Boil the eggs in the same pan. 2. In the meantime, chop the onion and tomato and fry in a little hot oil until soft. 3. Wash and roughly chop the spinach and add to the pan until wilted. 4. Season with salt and chili pepper/sambal. 5. When cooked, drain the plantains and serve with the spinach stew and a boiled egg.
Illustration © Tara Sitindjak
by Michelle Verstraaten
A University College Student Association Magazine
A tribute to Minsk National Airport by Sam de Visser
Illustration Š TJ Querio
The last few years, two of my best friends and I have travelled around quite a bit in the former Soviet Union. We partly do this because it's cheap; not only the region itself, but also getting there. This is because of a loophole in the aviation industry called 'Belavia': the national airline of, of all places, Belarus. Despite its free meals, decent flight service and relative comfort, Belavia is incredibly cheap. Why, you ask? Because every single Belavia aeroplane has to make a stop at Belarus' National Airport. Every. Single. One. If you sign up for Belavia, you sign up for a layover in Minsk. The result of this brilliant policy is that my friends and I have spent hours wandering through this strange, strange airport. Our first time, we felt deeply uncomfortable. We had just nearly gotten deported (long story) and finally managed to find the transit zone after I had an unimpressive stare-down with a border patrol guard who did not like my insurance policy. A quintessentially Soviet, depressing, windowless hallway led to the airport, which was, at first glance a slightly less depressing hallway whose copious amounts of duty-free alcohol and souvenir stores seemed to scream "THIS IS A SMALL SECONDWORLD AIRPORT, WELCOME". After some quick exploration, we discovered that Minsk National Airport consisted of a hallway, a larger room that contained two gates and a hallway, a larger room that contained two gates and a hallway, and finally, a larger room that contained two gates and a hallway. That sounds repetitive because it is. Airport Minsk is literally just identical hallways with trashy souvenir shops, identical rooms filled with napping Belarusians waiting for their flights and a single Burger King. A Burger King that we loved dearly, as it was the only recog-
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The Inconspicuous Wadi by Willem Grootook
nisable Western place in the airport. Our Last Beacon of the West, our guiding light into the Faraway Eastern Lands of the Strange Alphabets. When we returned for another layover a year later, Airport Minsk had almost become familiar to us. The repetitive hallways, TVs playing military propaganda and multitude of 'TRANSFER TO RUSSIAN FEDERATION THIS WAY'-signs felt like a nice way to ease us back into our newest adventure. As we ate our 'Wings of Big King Big' (don't ask) at the Burger King and watched a World of Tanks-themed Belavia plane take off (don't ask), it struck me how familiar such a strange and alien place can become. Don't get me wrong, Airport Minsk is a giant joke, an incomprehensible fever dream of armed guards, duty-free cheap alcohol, TRANSFER TO RUSSIAN FEDERATION and identical hallways, but it almost started to feel like we were in on the joke. Airport Minsk, intimidating at first, had become fun to us now. At first I was a little hesitant to write an article about a feverish marblecoloured authoritarian airport that is obsessed with military exercises, World of Tanks and making sure every hallway and room looks exactly the same. After all, it does seem like a bit of an unnecessary travel flex. But while it's easy to dismiss places that look boring or even straight-up depressing as exactly that, it's also just as easy to try and find some joy inside them. My friends and I made Airport Minsk into the massive joke that it actually is, despite all its intimidation tactics and stupidity. So I guess that's the little life lesson to learn from this article: next time you're stuck somewhere for a few hours, try to find some joy somewhere. It's there, as long as you put in some effort.
This is a story about a very specific kind of ditch. Actually, it is a story about a lot more than just a very specific ditch, but I'll come back to that later. First of all, I am fully aware that the topic of this article probably does not appear on the 'things I actually want to read' list, but please stick with me for a second. Let me introduce the protagonist of this story, the wadi. The term wadi is, like all good technical terms, a very arbitrary abbreviation. The abbreviation stands for Water Afvoer Drainage Infiltratie (Water Discharge Drainage Infiltration) and fits perfectly into the Dutch tradition of forcing long and meaningful sentences into very short and cryptic abbreviations. A wadi is a shallow ditch in the ground that is designed to temporarily hold rainwater and promote its infiltration into the ground. I will not go into the specifics of why this is important, but it boils down to promoting slow and gradual infiltration of water, instead of fast and sudden discharge that could cause problems like flooding. However, it is not the function of the wadi that is of interest here. What makes the wadi so interesting is the fact that it is extremely common, yet largely unknown by the public. The wadi can serve as an example for many other ideas and techniques used in everyday landscapes that remain largely unknown. These elements of urban design make up what I think is one of the most underrated and unknown aspects of Dutch society: the intense degree of organization and planning of the environment that we live in. Every crossing, bike path, bridge or green area probably has a specific purpose, and was implemented in a predetermined manner. A plethora of examples for this can be found in the design of bike lanes. For example, you often see bike lanes curve away from the road they are parallel to when they are about to cross a road with cars. The additional distance between the parallel road and the bicycle path provides more space for the turning car, and results in better sightlines for both the cars and the cyclists. Another example are the curbs that are built into Dutch roads. Their height, width, shape and colour are carefully chosen to guide the traffic and to protect vulnerable road users, like international students on bikes. These are just a few examples of situations where a great deal of planning and research went into something that looks rather ordinary for the user. I believe that the intense organization of our urban environment plays a big role in making Dutch cities feel Dutch. This feeling of things just working, of things flowing smoothly, but also our perceived safety when we are traversing this environment. With 'unorganized' land rapidly disappearing from our everyday environment, it is important to realise that areas with a similar degree of organization are hard to find, even on a global scale. A network of inconspicuous and carefully designed features paired with a carefully mapped and managed landscape make the Netherlands one of the least 'random' nations in the world when it comes to physical environment. Consider this next time you are cycling around Utrecht, and let this perspective shine a different light on things that we otherwise consider 'everyday'.
12 QUAD QUERIES
The Boomerang | September 2019
week
Who is your intro crush?
'Geoffrey' – Allan
'My introw
eek son' - Jari
'My car' -Tijmen a nd Joa
'Reinier and my right hand' -Julian
ryone's
eve , but I think d n ie fr y o b a 'I have ffrey' crush is Geo -Esmee
'Doritos' -Vedika
'She's my introweek crush' –Guilia
'I can't sa y' -Vale
e a few' 'I've had quit – Michele
THE BOOMERANG BOARD Saskia Vrensen | Editor-in-Chief Maya Homsy King| Managing Editor Ivan Ryan | Executive Editor Rafaella Karadsheh| Executive Editor Artöm Obenko | Creative Director – Layout & Design Iris Beijer | Creative Director – Art Julia Silveira | PR Manager
Boomerang uses wind energy printers The Boomerang is a periodical newspaper. It comes out eight times a year.