Paul van der Heijden opens new international ‘common room’
On 20 October, Rector Magnificus and President of the Executive Board, Professor Paul van der Heijden, opened the new international common room in the Regens Collegii. The opening was performed in traditional style with the cutting of a ribbon.
- Dutch students also welcome
- The common room is now located on the ground floor of Regens Collegii, the building next door to Plexus, where the original common room - mainly for international students - was housed. Although the common room has an international atmosphere, and English is the main language spoken, it is not specifically a 'common room for international students': Dutch students are more than welcome. The room is primarily used by ISN (the International Students Network). This organisation has two branches: i, that stands for integration and r, the abbreviation for representation. ISN-i's aim is to integrate Dutch and international students by bringing them together as much as possible; ISN-r represents the international students.
- Paul van der Heijden in an animated discussion with the students. Acting Director of ICS, Jeroen ’t Hart, was also present, as was Vice-President International, Dr Robert Coelen.
- Different rules
- After the opening, Van der Heijden spent some time talking with the students, covering such topics as freedom of expression and the role played by Geert Wilders and his Party for Freedom (PVV). He also asked students what things were still on their wish list. There seem to be two main items. The rules on exams differ per faculty. This is something students have difficulty with: they think they know the rules and then a different rule applies elsewhere. And it is tougher than you would think to bring these things into line. 'Now you have an idea how difficult my job is,' was Van der Heijden's comment.
- English, please!
- The other problem is that not all University information on internet is in English. 'At first, it's fine, but once you've clicked one or two levels further, you suddenly find yourself on a Dutch-language page,' one of the students explained, although they did stress that the situation is better in Leiden than in many other universities. Nonetheless, ISN-r is now producing its own magazine Vox Discipulorum, ‘to fill the English language gap,' according to the article on the front page. The title of the article says it all: English please!
- Left: Giedre Lesmaitytė, chairman of ISN-r; in the centre: Geraldine O’Connor, English-speaking student psychologist.
- Wednesday night drinks
- Frank Abe Nijenhuis, third-year medical student, and Giedre Lesmaitytė, Lithuanian master's student of European Union Studies, are chairmen of ISN-i andISN-r, respectively. Both branches organise a wide range of activities in order to achieve their aim. ISN-i, for example, has set up a mentor programme for international students and the Language exchange programme, whereby a Dutch student and an international student help one another with their respective languages. The Wednesday night drinks get-together in Einstein is always popular, with non-students as well as students.
- Cooking nights
- ISN-r organises film evenings and cooking nights, as well as the annual Cultural Festival in June in the garden of Rapenburg 70. Lesmaitytė: ‘Our activities are aimed at representing different cultures. We try to make life in Leiden easier for international students by helping them deal with different problems they come across. We also organise academic debates in which we learn more about one another's cultures. These evenings are very popular, so this new larger common room is very welcome.'
- ISN-I with chairman Frank Abe Nijenhuis on the right
- Library
- ‘We also invite Dutch students to come and tell us about their work placement, study programme or other international experience. And, of course, we also want to learn more about Dutch culture.' Lesmaitytė wants to set up a small library in the common room with publications about different cultures; Dutch people and Dutch culture will occupy a key place. Van der Heijden presented the library with a copy of The Bastion of Liberty by Willem Otterspeer. Lesmaitytė: ‘We are very pleased with the Rector's present.'
Outside the times when special activities are being held, the common room is open on weekdays from 15.00 to 19.00 hrs.
