Right after the announcement of AEGEE-Zagreb as hosting local of the EPM 2017, the Comité Directeur announced AEGEE-Enschede as the hosting local for the Spring Agora 2017. Sounds familiar? Well, yes. The famous picture with participants of the Agora composing the word AEGEE in a green field was taken during Spring Agora Enschede 2012.
Why did you decide to apply?
Wietske: The last Agora AEGEE-Enschede organised was in 2012. I heard some amazing stories about this legendary Agora, but I was not a member of AEGEE yet, so unfortunately I missed this big event. Every statutory event again I enjoyed every part of it and I wanted to organise it. Tom had the same wish, organising an Agora, so we were discussing this idea for quite some time. We almost applied last year, but in the end decided not to do it due to several circumstances. This year, however, we had some very motivated members and we realised that if we wanted to organise another Agora in Enschede in a short period of time we had to act fast, because some of us are finishing their studies soon. So basically, it was now or somewhere far in the future.
What were you doing when the Comité Directeur delivered you the news?
Tom Simons (Chair of the Agora) and I were the ones responsible for the application, so we were also the ones the Comité Directeur delivered the news to. Tom was studying and working on his deadlines and I was watching a series in my bed when we received the mail. When we saw the e-mail we immediately called each other and we read the mail over the phone.
Please, present your local
AEGEE-Enschede is a local in the east of The Netherlands, with approximately 327 members. Every Tuesday and Thursday we have a social drink in our own pub Asterion and besides those social drink we have many other activities. Next year, besides organising the Agora, we also celebrate our sixth lustrum (30th anniversary), so it will be a busy and exciting year.
Who will be in the core team? Do you have already decide?
Unfortunately, we had some minor changes from the core team in our application, due to changes in people’s study plans, so we’re currently working on finalizing the team, but some members are already sure. Tom Simons will be the Main Organiser of the Agora and Anne-Fleur Karssing, Ralph Gerlings, Roel Smulders and I will be in the Core Team. Right after Agora Bergamo, we have a meeting with the Core Team to discuss the most important things and decide who will be responsible for what.
Tell us three things that make your local special.
Our pub Asterion. This is the place all our members meet every Tuesday and Thursday for our social drink. Our sixth lustrum, we will celebrate next year. And the diversity in members, which also ensures the diversity in our fraternities and sororities, but also yearclubs, committees and fellowships.
And now three things that make your city special.
Comparing Enschede to the other cities in the Netherlands with an AEGEE local, Enschede is the smallest city of all. However, it is located very close to Germany, which has lots of benefits. Besides that, Enschede has a beautiful university campus, which you will see during the Agora. And, if you wonder why people from Enschede only want to drink Grolsch beer, that is because the Grolsch brewery is located in Enschede as well.
Can you give us already some sneak peeks of what we will see once there?
Of course the university campus and some amazing aspects of our university! Furthermore, we will show you the building The Pakkerij, where the pubs of the four largest student associations of Enschede (including AEGEE-Enschede) are located and prepare yourself for lots of stroopwafels!
Written by Erika Bettin, AEGEE-Verona