Resource blogger Geert feels sorry for the newly arriving first-years. ‘The reality is not the problem. The problem is that people pretend it’s all fine.’
Dear soon-to-be first-year students, I feel extremely sorry for you. People don’t seem too concerned about you, so let me be the one to say it: the way university life is going to start for you is not nice at all.
Prime Minister Mark Rutte, minister Hugo de Jonge and the media concentrated on the hazing rituals, which are strictly forbidden this year. In one of my WhatsApp groups, the press conference was quickly followed by a message saying ‘The AID has been called off.’ Which is not true, of course: the AID will go on, in an adapted form. Activities ‘of an informative nature’ run by study and sports associations are allowed.
But the Wageningen introduction weeks, more than those in many other university towns, revolve around the social student societies, which organize much of the introduction by providing meals, hosting parties and keeping their doors open to all AID participants throughout the AID. None of these ‘general’ student societies’ activities are allowed, which takes the soul out of the AID. I understand only too well the statement on WhatsApp that the AID has in fact been called off.
After the introduction days, courses start. My brand-new flatmate who is starting on a degree programme in September will have a total of eight hours of face-to-face teaching. Normally he would be on campus for 40 hours a week. But now the rest of his university week will be spent online.
There was something in WUR’s Instagram story about ‘facts and fables’ about online education. One of the propositions in the interactive poll was: ‘The quality of online education is lower than that of classroom education.’ I confidently clicked on ‘true’. Up came the answer: ‘False. Online education is different but our students have positive experiences with the switch to online. There are pros and cons to both.’
Now, I am normally all in favour of the optimism that oozes from WUR’s social media channels, but this was a bit too much for me. Am I the only one who thinks it is simply not true? Don’t get me wrong: I support the decision to impose restrictions because of the risks of infection. Coronavirus forces us to organize an adapted form of the AID, and only to hold a very limited number of classes on campus. That reality is not the problem. The problem is that people pretend it’s all fine.’
So, dear incoming first-years, I will tell you: your first experience of student life is a false start and it will be a struggle to start off like this. Nevertheless, for you too, in the long run these will be the best days of your life. Come and join us – at a metre and a half’s distance – and we’ll still have a good time.
Geert van Zandbrink is a BSc student of Economics and Policy who blogs for Resource about Wageningen student life.