Drop: ‘We are a group of friends that exploded’

Instead of suits and ties, there are skateboards and fire extinguishers in the photo. Drop’s Board explicitly chose an informal atmosphere. “We do not want the board, committees or members to look any different from each other,” explains Carmen Zaky, the person responsible for Media and Communications. Her treasurer and co-Board member Debby Bogaard, says that the student association feels like ‘one big family’.

Can you tell us about your Board photo?

Carmen: “We went nuts after our DROPin, a kind of first years weekend. We do not do any initiations, and we are in our own comfy clothes so as not to give a feeling of hierarchy.”

What do you most enjoy about being on the Board?

Debby: “For me it’s the social contact and having fun. Doing nice things with the Board and with a lot of different people in the association.”

Carmen: “For years, as a member, I took for granted that everything was fun and well organised. Now I know that there is a lot more happening behind the scenes than I ever knew.”

How much time do you spend on Drop?

Carmen: “We have a weekly Board meeting and there are drinks every Monday evening. You don’t need to be there as a Board member every week but it’s nice so we are there all the time.”

Debby: “Apart from that, you spend about eight hours a week working through the to-do list.”

Carmen: “And every Board member manages about three committees. On top of that, we have a special anniversary this year so it’s even busier. I work at least three days and four evenings a week on Drop. And we also need to study.”

For years, as a member, I took for granted that everything was fun and well organised

Talking about the anniversary, how will you celebrate it?

Carmen: “We will have a gala. We only do this for every fifth year so some members look forward to it for five years. During the Dies week there is an art exhibition spread around three Drop student houses that have played an important role in the association. And there will be a nude calendar.”

What are you most proud about?

Debby: “I would say that we are a group of friends that exploded so we are not only focused on board sports, but also on having fun. It is nice to know just about everybody in the association so it feels like one big family.”

Carmen: “Drop was the start of many groups of friends that are still firm friends outside Drop. When Drop started 15 years ago, this was one of the written goals. I am proud that this is still the case in the association.”

Is there anything that few people know about Drop?

Carmen: “People from outside are often welcome at Drop. The drinks are always open and you can always join the activities along with a Drop member. You sometimes learn only after a couple of years that someone that you often see at Drop events is not a member at all. It’s nice that you don’t need to be a member to enjoy the things that we organise.”

• Read also part 1 of this series: ‘The Olympics are really upping the enthusiasm for competition rowing’