With a reputation for being elite, Delftsch Studenten Corps (DSC) is the oldest student fraternity in Delft, established in 1848.
DSC has been based at Phoenixstraat 30 since 1878. Their previous three buildings were destroyed in fires, hence the name of the property, and their logo, the phoenix. The street was named after the building, and not vice versa. “In the 19th century, DSC was the only embodiment of students at TU Delft, almost every student was a member. Its board took a role quite similar to the present role of the Student Council,” said president, Matthias Perdeck.
DSC is divided into year groups, with girls and boys separate, and verticalen, the structure whereby one group from each academic year are connected. There are around 1,900 members, with a 60:40 male-to-female ratio, and about 50 international members. “Some 100 years ago, studying at university was only possible for the happy few. Being the only fraternity in Delft during its first half a century, DSC therefore used to have an elite image. Nowadays, it’s not the only fraternity anymore and just as accessible as any other,” said Perdeck. Indeed, the late Prince Friso was a member.
There are 24 clubs that do a range of different things, from sports to music. A number of these are open to non-members, and compete at a high level: the aero club for gliding, rugby club, and LAGA, the rowing club to name a few.
The nightclub, Lorre, next door to the fraternity house is owned and run by DSC. Open three days a week to all students, not just members, Lorre often hosts international nights.
In the past, DSC has appeared in the media with reports of a tough and often humiliating initiation period. Does this still happen? Perdeck is clear: “No. This media attention was due to an incident eight years ago. It gave reason to totally reforming the initiation time, in order that the main goal would be kept clear. That goal has always been and should always be meeting fellow members and learning about the fraternity.”
You can only join DSC at OWEE. “People join for a lot of reasons, not just to make new friends, but to join a team, live in a fraternity house, as well as having a fun way to spend their student days,” explained Perdeck. In fact there are around 190 houses shared by DSC members around Delft.
For more information about DSC, their website.
In this series we’ll be meeting TU Delft’s student fraternities. These fraternities are called gezelligheidsverenigingen in Dutch, which translates as ‘social clubs’, but in fact they’re far more than that. If you’d like to suggest a fraternity for us to cover, please email us at deltainternational@tudelft.nl.
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