ETV chooses a new Honorary Chair: ‘Pushing the boundaries is part of being young and studying’

Four-and-a-half years after retiring you now become the Honorary Chair of the Electrotechnische Vereeniging study society (ETV, Electrical Engineering Society), after having worked for TU Delft for more than 40 years as a property manager. How do you feel?

“It was a real surprise. That evening my wife insisted I dress up but I did not understand why so did not do so. Then the doorbell rang and the entire Board was there with the Beadle and a trumpet player. The latter played the ETV song. I was speechless. I was already an honorary member – the only one who was not a full professor. You are an Honorary Chair for the rest of your life. When my predecessor, Professor De Kroes, passed away a couple of years ago, I assumed that another full professor would succeed him.”

The ETV sent us a long list of what you have done for the Faculty, the study association and for TU Delft as a whole as a property manager. These ranged from making climate improvements to arranging anniversary stunts. If you look back, what did you enjoy the most?

“The Faculty was chosen for a pilot in waste separation. This was really new at the time. We separated everything: batteries, paper etc. After that I helped roll out the Academisch Afval Apart (Academic Waste Apart, Eds) project. Later on, I was responsible for asbestos at TU Delft. I listed all the asbestos there was and had it removed before Architecture and the Built Environment was rehoused in the former main building, and arranged the asbestos removal during the demolition of the old Architecture and the Built Environment building (after the fire in 2008, Eds.). I went there every day for one-and-a-half years to check on progress. It was a wonderful project.

Immediately after the fire, the teaching was done in tents. I still remember that Wytze Patijn, then the Dean of Architecture and the Built Environment, at first said ‘the first thing we will open is the Bouw pub’ and I asked him why. He had clearly seen that people had lost something and needed something to help them talk to each other. That is all aside from the memories I have with the ETV.”

‘It is nice if you can help each other’

The ETV says that you are someone who brought about connections and made large projects possible. How did you do this?

“When I first started working with the ETV, I asked my supervisor how I should approach them. ‘Give them space, and let them drink alcohol so that they can experience what drinking can do’, he said. ‘TU Delft is there to learn.’ So that’s how I handled it.

I will never forget the ETV’s 90th anniversary when they asked me if they could play Tetris on the exterior façade as part of their celebrations. We sealed the windows and placed lamps 10 rooms wide on 15 floors. For two weeks the staff members could not look outside and I was not allowed to explain why.

The day came in November, the weekend of my birthday. The students played Tetris from their computers and all of Delft could see it. I could see it from my house. I had a party that evening and when the white wine was finished, I went to the students to ask if they could lend me a box. Before leaving they projected a message to my wife saying ‘Corrie, the white wine is on the way’.”

You worked at TU Delft for decades. What did you see change most during that time?

“The relationship between the academic and the support staff. When I started in 1973, you pretty much had to get out of the elevator if a professor wanted to enter. The departmental councils emerged in this time (TU Delft became more democratic, Eds.). This changed the relationship with the professors. And now even a non-professor can become the Honorary Chair of the ETV!

Apart from that, I was responsible for one building for years. There are now more building clusters for which the Facility Managers are responsible. I wonder if this is good for their relationship with the building and its occupants.”

How are you intending to fulfil your Honorary Chair role?

“Well in reality it is an honorary position. But I do want to work on the relationship with the facility management as what students want to do can never be done without the building and the facilities in it. It is nice if you can help each other. Study associations are not a problem. Pushing the boundaries is part of being young and studying.”