For the first time, international students will join the ‘regular’ OWee. Is this reflected in the number of registrations for the associations? And which association had the most registrations this year? This article lists some of the figures.
Students at the OWee. (Photo: Owee)
In total, 870 international students signed up for the introduction week. Of these, about 65 were members of the associations surveyed. This year, several associations consciously thought about an internationals policy.
DSC has set a quota of 10 international students to make sure that they will be able to integrate well. In total, 440 registered. Jansbrug too set a quota. “We knew that this would be the first year in which more international students would register than previously,” explains Vice-President Charlie Wolters. “That’s why we thought about a maximum number in advance.” Ultimately, seven out of a total of 107 registrations came from international students.
Difference
Some associations see nothing of the new group of OWee attendees. The smaller associations in particular have had little contact with the extra students. Nova, Wolbodo and VGSD did not receive any visitors during the OWee.
A handful of international students signed up at other associations. “We saw many international students come by,” says CSR secretary, Mirte Golverdingen. “In the end, one person signed up.”
The sports clubs were popular among the internationals. More international students came to the Proteus-Eretes rowing club than in previous years. Twenty of them, out of 275 new members, have become members. The volleyball club, Punch, received 12 registrations from internationals. “This is comparable to previous years,” says housing commissioner Mitchel Elbertse.
Drawing lots
Just like last year, Laga beat the rest in terms of the total number of registrations – 484 students wanted to become members of the rowing club. There was not enough space for everyone so lots had to be drawn. The association ultimately admitted 250 students. Proteus too had more registrations than places. Of the 373 students who signed up, 275 became members. That is more than last year. “Last year we accepted 250 people,” says Ilse van Milaan, Tour Rowing Commissioner at Proteus. “But we want to grow our club and that’s why we have increased the membership this year.”
Growth
With 55 new members, CSR had a larger in-flow of new members than last year. Broach too was satisfied with an above average number of registrations at 22. The Jazz association, Groover, had a record number of 99 new registrants, continuing the association’s increasing popularity over the last few years. “I suspect that this growth is because people are less willing to join the larger associations, given that they are being featured in the news negatively,” is Groover member Lars Hoogland’s explanation. “I think this is why people are going for cultural or sports associations.”
Mirjam van der Ploeg / Stagiaire
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