Activism: What you can do next to your studies?

While you were enjoying the Kick-In you have probably seen that there is a lot to do at the University and in Enschede. You have probably also seen the numerous associations the University has.

I would highly recommend joining one (or more) of these associations, whether it is a sport, culture, study, or student association, it does not matter, you will definitely have lots of fun at one of these associations. Next to having fun, you can also become an active member of such an association. As an active member, you will organize activities and/or help out at activities or behind the scenes. Doing this is a really enjoyable way to spend some of your free time and it lets you develop yourself in ways that are different from your studies and you will get experiences you would never have thought of! You will develop your social skills and improve your teamwork skills, and along the way you will make some good friends!

At Inter-Actief we also have a lot of active members in different committees. Almost all of our activities are organized by a committee, this can be as small as a game night or as big as the Kick-IT camp, you name it! The camp itself was organized by a committee, and many other committees have helped during the camp, either by organizing an activity or by helping behind the scenes like the EROes and bartenders. These activities all exist thanks to the effort of all our amazing active members. If after reading this you think that this is something for you, or if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to talk to the officer of Internal affairs (or any other board member), you can find us in the Inter-Actief room or you can send an email to internal@inter-actief.net!

Next to the camp, there are lots of other (recurring) activities organized by Inter-Actief. For example, every Tuesday there is a drink where you can hang out with your friends and fellow students while enjoying a nice beverage and maybe some games. Another activity that is organized every half a year is the LAN party. The LAN party is a weekend-long event where you will play games the entire weekend. There is always a competition with games based around a theme where you can even win some prizes. We hope to see you at one of the many activities Inter-Actief has during the year, maybe one organized by you!

Internal Affairs

The Officer of Internal Affairs is the first point of contact if you want to become active at an association. This board function best relates to an HR manager in companies. The Officer of Internal Affairs focuses on the wellbeing of the association and its members. If members are not happy, this affects not only the current year, but years to come as these members most likely will not become active in the future. The Officer of Internal Affairs is also the one that can help you guide you through your activism path throughout an association. If you want to know more, keep an eye out for the committee markets or visit the Inter-Actief room.

Associations

Enschede has many sport associations ranging from ‘normal’ sports like football and field hockey to special sports like under water hockey and Quidditch. Several student associations exist, including 4 large ones in the Pakkerij in the city centre. Culture associations include associations for specific countries (Indian, Pakistani, etc.) and associations related to arts like cabaret and dance associations. Last, but not least, every study has an associated study assocation that can help to address study-related issues, gives discount on study books (the discount in the first year is often more than the total amount of membership that is to be paid throughout your time in Enschede) and help you in connecting with other students that follow the same study as you.