The Love Issue INDEX

PHOENIX ISSUE 2 | FEBRUARY 2018

The love issue INDEX

Letter of the editor BY LOLA SCHARRENBURG Index 2

Letter of the Editor 3 To: Albion From: Valerie Dear readers, the best locations in Utrecht for if you’re like me and want to go out Love is 4 Jullie zijn alle- As you might have noticed by all for a Valentine’s dinner, and we maal duizend the advertisements for perfumes, even set up a Battle of the Albi- lief xoxo mvg en chocolates, and fowers that are on Couples! Furthermore, we talk Tea Time 9 knuffels (want currently being broadcasted, Val- about polyamory with alum Isa- die zijn fjn) entine’s Day is around the corner. beau Jensen, and in our Tea Time Now, the opinions on this ‘holiday’ with Aaron Griffth, we discuss Word of the Board 12 differ greatly, ranging from “if-my- how relationships can be infu- To: Anne partner-doesn’t-show-up-on-my- enced by the language that you’re From: Baukje doorstep-with-a-bunch-of-roses- speaking. Showcase 13 I’m-going-to-break-up-with-them” Ik vind je lief to “why-does-the-universe-need- Whatever your view on Valen- genoeg om je to-remind-me-that-I’m-single” or tine’s Day might be, I hope you Bookshelf 14 niet te knuffelen. “no-way-I’m-joining-this-capital- will enjoy the second Phoenix of ist-construct-designed-to-make- this year and if anything, be kind me-spend-money”. Personally, I’m to yourself on the 14th. Oh, and Don’t Get Me Started 16 To: Dinthe at “I’m-not-sure-why-we-should- don’t forget to check whether any- From: Baukje have-a-special-day-for-this-but- one left you a message in our Val- it-makes-a-great-excuse-for-hav- entine’s messages section! Culture Corner 17 Je bent mijn al- ing-fancy-dinner”. lerliefste vriend- Love, inte # Anyway, Valentine’s Day surely Humans of Albion 19 makes a fun theme for an issue Lola van Scharrenburg of Phoenix. We’ve taken the top- Editor in Chief To: Niki ic a bit more broadly, making this Albioneers Abroad 20 From: Bo issue about love in all its shapes To: Minthe and sizes. We explore different From: Anoniem Are u a lit major types of sexualities, show you To: Floris Q&Alumni 22 bc u lit me up Fijne Valentijns- From: Chrystel bby To: Lola To: Chrystel, dag! $ From: Job Thijs, Jesse, Groetjes aan Lieve Flip, je Minor Market 24 Lotte, Pauw, Thijs! % bent de beste To: Sandra Lieve Lola, Geke, + Merel I<3U #NVTB opa die ik me From: Baukje je doet het From: Minthe kan wensen ^ Battle of the Albion Koppels 25 geweldig Je bent net zo en brengt de You’re my fa- To: Dreamteam belangrijk voor Phoenix naar vorite people to From: Just Mon- Treat Yo’self 27 me als mijn een hoger be socially awk- ika To: Baukje, Din- vitale organen niveau ward with. the & Anne * Every day, I From: Sandra To: Hanka imagine a future To: Alessandra) From: where I can be Jullie zijn altijd From: -xxo- ur with you. In my m’n #1 baes secret admirer ( Are u from hand is a pen ^*()_+#$ To: Pauw Vos Apeldoorn that will write a hvj $ wjnmk / From: Je bent lief, hihi cuz ur poem off me and a-doorn-able you KAKAA! bye #HappyThoughts

2 3 LOVE IS LOVE LOVE ove. It is something that’s different for everyone. Nowadays we live in a world where love is experienced in Do you think that you being bi- What about your boyfriend, how many different ways. Love between sexual helps him with accept- did he respond? VALENTINE’S DAY SPECIAL L family and friends, love you feel for ing that people can be some- He kind of saw it coming. We had your pet, that one book you used to read as a thing other than heterosexual? talked about the fact that I wasn’t kid, the band you’ve seen at least fve times, I think it does. It shows him that it sure whether I was heterosexual or the list goes on. Love can, of course, be ro- is normal because I am not that bisexual. And then one day I was like FEATURING INTERVIEWS mantic as well. Your frst crush, your high special to him. I am just his sister. “Okay, I am sure: I am bisexual”. And “ school sweetheart, and the person you will he was okay with it. Our relationship be spending the rest of your life with. Every- What were your friends’ re- did not change. one has a set of people they’ve loved roman- sponses when you came out? ON LOVE You can’t tically (unless they’re aromantic, of course) To my friends, it was just easy Do you have any tips for people and everyone is different, so naturally for all coming out. I just said “Oh, by the who might think they’re bisexual these people love is different. We would like way, I am also attracted to girls. on how to tell their relatives and to take you on a short journey through sev- So now I am going to be saying friends? IN ALL FORMS eral different sexualities and the way these ‘you look hot’”. Well, some of my That depends [on your situation]. If control people experience or do not experience ro- friends thought I was making a it would be a big deal to your family, mantic love. Enjoy! joke. I told them that I was serious you should tell them in a way you’ve Tess Masselink in and they were okay with it. thought through and make sure you converstation with Els- So, Els, what does being bisexual mean to know what you are going to say. If beth Smalbrugge, an you? What’s changed now that you’re they don’t care, just tell them casu- 18-year-old frst-year who you To me, it means being able to fall in love with both at university? ally. student who identifes women and men, and being sexually attracted to The people here are super ac- as bisexual, and Wel- both women and men. cepting. They don’t judge who moed Tevel, a 19-year- you are. old frst year who identi- How and when did you fnd out you were bi- fes as asexual. fall in love sexual? Why do you think that is? It’s a cliché answer: I think I have always known. I think that if you go to university, Vincent Potman in When sexuality really hits is when you start to you choose a specifc study which conversation with Mees become a teenager and sex is fascinating and already shows that you have more Roelofs, a 20-year-old you realise it is a ‘thing’. I was about ffteen when in common with the people who second-year student with... I decided “Okay, I’m now going to live like a bi- chose the same study and the who identifes as trans- sexual person and going to allow myself to be same city. I think that then people gender, and Sam van attracted to women as well”. are generally more accepting of der Wal, a 28-year-old who you are because you have second-year student What do you mean, “allow myself”? the same interests. who identifes as non-bi- Before that, I just focussed on boys and men. nary. Girls were friends and your mom and grandma. Do you ever get annoying re- Not people I was looking at in a sexual way. marks or questions about be- Photography by Laurel ing bisexual? Sanders, What was it like, coming out to your friends Yes. I have been in a heterosex- excluding Sam’s photo. and family? ual relationship for almost four I have not actually come out to my parents. My years, and I came out during the brothers know. My little brother was totally fne relationship. Some people were with it. He was the frst I told, from my family. He like “wait, how would you know? was okay with it. With my older brother, it was You have never kissed a girl, you a little scary, because he sometimes he can be have never done anything with a a little homophobic. But just for himself, when girl,” but that’s not necessary. You someone suggests that he is gay, he gets very can be attracted to someone and defensive. With other people, it is not really a not do anything with them. 4 problem [for him]. 5

Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? T hou art more lovely and more temperate: Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May, And summer’s lease hath all too short a date; Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines, And often is his gold complexion dimm'd; And every fair from fair sometime declines, By chance or nature’s changing course untrimm'd; But thy eternal summer shall not fade, Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow’st; Nor shall death brag thou wander’st in his shade, When in eternal lines to time thou grow’st: So long as men can breathe or eyes can see, So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.

wiliam shakespeare So, Sam, you are genderqueer, what, exactly So, you used to date a man, and you’re lesbi- does that mean? an, how does that tie into it? I prefer non-binary, I used to go by genderqueer. We broke up in October, last October. Basical- For me, it’s kind of like I’m not a man or a woman ly, we’d been together for like ten years, going and I’m something...whatever. on eleven years, and it was a different thing be- TEA TIME WITH cause he was asexual. There is still an emotional Did you always know you were non-binary or connection, I guess, even if there isn’t a romantic was there a moment or occurrence that can or sexual connection. It’s…it’s easier, after ten be seen as the turning point? years, I guess. I didn’t always know, because obviously non-binary has received more attention in general in What, then, do you seek in a relationship? the past decade, I guess. But looking back on Someone asexual? AARON GRIFFITH a lot of things… I remember, when I was a kid, No, I…see, you can’t control who you fall in love when I was going through puberty (so like a real- with, but not being ace myself, I would prefer not ly long time ago, way back in the early 00’s) my to, but also, I’m into polyamory, so even if I fall mom used to have these parties, right? These in love with someone ace, who knows who else It was a cold, harsh winter day and it was Tupperware parties, you know, but for kids cloth- I might date? our frst time witnessing the lovely city of ing, and we’d get to pick some clothing, and I’d Utrecht covered in a blanket of snow. Peo- go for boy’s clothing, but I wasn’t a boy and I’d ple were bundled up in scarfs, hats and frst cut my hair around then. I used to have real- whatever they could fnd in their closet to ly long hair, and strangers would be like: “Young These are but some of the ways people can love face the winter weather. As we roamed the man, would like to do this and that?” and I’d be each other. It shows that love is universal, but streets we left a long trail of footprints all like “I’m not a boy” but also kind of like “I’m not also a deeply personal thing. With Valentine’s the way to the house of one of our beloved a girl”. So, looking back, it sort of makes sense, Day right around the corner love is in the air, and teachers, Aaron Griffth. He opened the door I guess. you have but to breathe it in. Yes, feel your ver- for us and made us a warm cup of tea. After sion of it and worry not, because, at the heart of we were no longer shaking from the cold, it So it came along gradually? it, Love is Love. was time to start the interview. Yeah, I think it was fve or six years ago – obviously with the internet, and there just being a lot more info available, at a certain point I was like “hey, I might not be a woman but I might be…not Interview by Indie Reijnierse & Laurel Sanders be anything?” Photography by Laurel Sanders Written by Indie Reijnierse How do you defne this “not anything”? Yeah, see that’s a really diffcult question, because with new information like there is now, Where are you from? Where did you live before Have you always wanted to also taking into effect that I am a lesbian, there is “Pennsylvania. East coast becoming to the Netherlands? become a teacher? a long-standing tradition of lesbians and gender tween New York and Wash- “I lived in Austria for about 8 “I didn’t really know what I want- nonconformity and not relating to the gender you ington DC. People say where I years during my PhD. I went ed to do. I was a math major in are assigned at birth but also not being men. come from is really cloudy, but to Austria on an exchange pro- college actually.” I never really noticed it. I mean gramme for a year. I lived with When did you come out? compared to here it’s sort of a an Austrian guy and an Italian Sensing our surprise, he ex- As what? summery wonderland.” guy. The Austrian guy’s sister plained it was an accident. Af- came to visit once and that is ter we shared our laughs about So, I suppose the non-binary came before the Is there anything you have now my wife. That’s how these this, he continued. lesbian? noticed that’s different here things sometimes happen. The Well, I frst thought I was bisexual for a very long from what you were used to age-old story. Then I came “No, but really. In the US you time. I realized that in my second year of high in America? back to Chicago – where I was just go to college and then school, so when I was like 13-ish. I came out to “Well yeah, I was struck - at studying - and I fnished my P.D. during your second year you some of my friends and then six years ago I real- least in Austria - by the politics. I went back to Austria after that, decide what you want to study, ized that I was non-binary and I came out to peo- The far-right politics is on the got married and then we lived and I took a bunch of random ple. Then somewhere in between, I came out as rise across Europe and the US, in Australia for 6 months, and courses my frst year. Then in bi to my mom – I’m not out to my family because but I was surprised that the far- then we lived in Austria for the my second year, I took up an- they are not…very open about things, I guess. right party was still calling itself next 7 or 8 years. I fnished my other bunch of random cours- And last year I realized that I was a lesbian. a social party. That was very PhD. In 2006 and started a re- es. At the end of the year, I had strange to me because in the search project at the University to declare what I was going to Has being non-binary impacted your sexuali- US even the most liberal par- of Vienna and while I was there, study, and I was like ‘Hmm, well ty, and if so, how? ty would almost never refer to a position opened up at the uni- now what? Well, I took a bunch No, being non-binary hasn’t impacted my sex- themselves as social, because versity. I started teaching and of math courses and I’m good uality, but I do think my sexuality has ties to my social means socialist, and so- doing research there and then at that. I guess I’ll do that.’ I kept gender identity. Maybe, sort of? I don’t know for cialist means communist, and that was running out, and then doing that and I just majored in sure. It’s complicated, man. communist means bad.” a position opened here in 2014 math. At the same time, I knew and that’s when I came here.” 8 9 I liked language, so I took tons have to do something that’s fun no problem with that.” German. We add that we think changing what lan- and tons of language courses. and for some people that really guage you speak with someone might impact the I took Greek, Latin, German, is studying and for me mostly You don’t get sick of a song? relationship you have with them, as speaking a dif- Japanese, Hebrew, because I that, but not all the time. I have “Eventually. It might take weeks. ferent language may result in you having a slightly was interested where English to do other stuff sometimes too. My old roommate would say - different personality. He adds: came from. That got me inter- So yeah, I was a fairly active as soon as it was on repeat – ested in historical linguistics. student with academics, but ‘Aaron didn’t we just hear this?’ “That could be as well. That if your personality is Then in my fourth year of col- also other things.” And I’d be like ‘Yeah’ but to me, slightly different - if you change what language you lege, there was some girl from that wouldn’t matter. If I liked speak with each other - somehow the relationship Romania who was better in her a song I could listen to it for a is suddenly different. I remember seeing that at the frst year of studies than I was week or longer but then when intensive German school I went to. The frst week- in my third year in math, and I “I didn’t really know I was done, I was done. I’d still end you’re there it’s normal, you speak English. thought: ‘You know what? She like the piece but wouldn’t want Then on Sunday evening they introduce the lan- should be doing mathematics. what I wanted to do. to listen to it, and then the mood guage pledge, and suddenly you pledge that you’re I shouldn’t be doing mathemat- would strike me again months only going to speak German from that point. Some ics, I’m going to do something I was a math major or years later.” of the people there have never had German be- else.’ I even took some of the fore, and they’re very, very quiet, because there’s standardized tests you have to in college actually.” Aaron also tells us he loves nothing they can say. Then for the rest of us, we’re take to go study in mathemat- Is there something we playing games. struggling because we’re not used to speaking ics, and by the time I was tak- wouldn’t expect from you as “I love board games, card German, so there’s a lot of silence. Sometimes re- ing them, I was like ‘You know a teacher? games, that sort of thing, or lationships start during the course of the 7 weeks sian, Old Church Slavic, Tocharian. Although what? I’m not going to do this.’ “Probably. It’s hard to say. I even computer games, but and I wonder, what happens when it’s over? Sud- Tocharian I never did very well with. So, I applied to grad schools think there’s a tendency for stu- there’s not that much time for denly you start speaking English and you’re like for linguistics instead.” dents not to view their teachers that anymore.” ‘I’m not sure if I actually like this person, or I do, but Do you have a favourite tale or folklore as humans. I think everything not like this.’ There is something to that. There’s from those languages, one that’s not very What were you like as a stu- that hints at a person that’s not What kind of computer a reason why summer romances sometimes re- well known? dent? only a teacher is unexpected games? main summer romances, because out of the con- “Well, I always liked the story, but I never “Well, I was studious. I mean, for most students. For us as “Usually strategy games, I play text, it doesn’t work. Or if you’re abroad and you took to the language, Tocharian. It was a sto- you don’t usually go on if you teachers, we were students a little Age of Empires, although see a Dutch person, you’re like ‘Hey!’ and then you ry telling of how often Buddha can appear in don’t enjoy it. I took a lot of once, so we understand that I tend not to like real-time, I tend talk to them and you’re like: ‘This person is a jerk!’ a world. Imagine that the world was covered classes, because I could do you also have lives. I don’t think to like turn-based. Because, But you’re still friendly, because you’re two Dutch with water and there was a huge turtle that it and I wanted to learn more. students can imagine what it is frankly, then I can take a break, people in a foreign country. Yeah, context matters. would come and put his head up above water In my frst semester, I took the that we do. I mean that neutral- where with real-time I’m like ‘Uh That’s just how it works. Sometimes you realize it once every 100 years, and imagine there was normal load and then I added ly, it’s a fact.” really, again?’ I can’t click fast when you’re still abroad and sometimes you don’t. on this huge ocean a ring, foating around. a little bit more, and I added a enough...” Live and learn.” Imagine that one of these times that he would little bit more until I was taking Nonetheless, we do discover put his head up, he happened to put his head a little too much at some point, some things we fnd interesting Or if you’re abroad and you up through the ring. As often as that might oc- but I took as many classes as about Aaron. For example, he cur, that’s how often a Buddha might appear I could, because I wanted to tells us he sings bass in a choir. see a Dutch person, you’re in the world. It’s a bizarre story, but I thought it get in as much as possible. I’d was fascinating. Of course, translating some- do my homework until 11 or 12 “I sang in choirs all over the like ‘Hey!’ and you talk to thing like this from a foreign language is rath- and then I would visit everyone place, in Boston, Chicago and er diffcult and as I said, I never really did well else in their dorm rooms, things I sing in one here. I found a them and you’re like, ‘This with the language, but I liked that story for like that. One of my roommates random choir here by walking some odd reason. There are plenty of inter- called me the doctor, because around. I saw a sign that said: person is a jerk!’ esting stories in Celtic or Old English and Old I’d go on my rounds every eve- ‘Do you wanna sing?’ And I was Norse as well.” ning. I was fairly active on cam- like ‘Yeah’ so I joined a choir. It’s pus, I would do various things. tiny, only about 12 people or so, You mentioned you took a bunch of courses in Naturally, we were amazed that he has stud- “When I was going on inter- but that’s okay for me. I don’t different languages, do you consider yourself a ied so many languages, upon which Aaron views for grad school, one of mind. I always enjoyed music.” polyglot? replies: the people interviewing me “Not really, because most of them are dead lan- said something to the effect of What kind of music? guages.” “Well, you have to, because the idea with ‘Ahh yes, ‘fun,’ that’s sort of an “I have a weakness for bad 80’s During the interview, we touched these Indo-European languages is that all undergraduate phenomenon’ rock, but good 80’s rock too. upon the topic of whether lan- Does that make a difference? these languages are related. If you go back, and I remember thinking ‘Well My tastes vary. From classi- guage has an effect on your “Well, I would assume that normally when you talk maybe 6, 7 or 8 thousand years they’re the that’s a terrible thing to say.’ cal choral to anything that I’ve personality. Aaron shares with about a polyglot you think of being able to speak. same language. If you want to fgure out what Because it shouldn’t just be heard that is kind of catchy. I’ll us that he believes your per- Whereas with dead languages, eh.” that language was, you have to study all these about studying. go follow it and I’ll see where sonality changes a little when different languages and fgure out how they “Plus, I had fun as a graduate YouTube leads me in the chain you cannot express yourself Latin and Greek for example? changed. I ended up specializing in Celtic, so student. Perhaps I should’ve and I’ll be like ‘Oh okay, I’ll try fully, and that that is frequently “Yeah, Latin, Greek, Sanskrit, the older Indo-Eu- I do the same thing on a smaller scale in Celt- had less fun, and have been this one’ or ‘Oh nope, that’s not the case when you are learning ropean languages. I was really interested in In- ic, but that’s essentially the same. a bit more studious. But you good.’ I can also put it on repeat a second or third language. He do-European. That meant things like Latin, Greek, for an hour and a half or 2 hours tells us that his in-laws think he Sanskrit, Hittite (the ancient language of Anatolia), 10 and that’s fne with me, I have is a little politer when speaking Avestan (the ancient language of Iran), Old Per- 11 Why Celtic? “Hmm well, that was also an accident. I was doing Indo-European and I was an exchange schol- Word of the ar at the time. At Harvard one of the professors SHOWCASE there said ‘Well, if you want to do Indo-European BY KAI BIJNEN you should take Old Irish because you should Board know that.’ So I did, and that same semester I BY JUSTINE HOOGSTRATEN Hi! My name is Kai and I draw things that make me happy. It’s something I always put a lot of was also taking a course on the Indo-European love into, and I want to share that feeling with other people :-) verb, and I said ‘I need a topic for a paper’, and “Whenever I get gloomy at the state of the he said ‘Why don’t you talk about the Old Irish world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heath- imperfect endings of the verb.’ So I did. I had row Airport. It seems to me that love is every- to learn all of the history of the Irish language. I where. Often it is not particularly dignifed or read the standard books on that and eventually newsworthy, but it’s always there. Fathers and handed in the paper and it was a terrible, terrible sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and paper, but his comment was: ‘Well at least you wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends. If you tried.’ Somehow, I kept studying Old Irish, it’s just look for it, I’ve got a sneaky feeling that love one of those things. For some reason, I thought actually is all around.” Old Irish was great and it’s hard to say why, but This is the start of one of my favourite movies I liked the language and never quite got away and a truer statement has never been made. from it.” Love is all around us. Whether you’re single and ready to famingle or happy in a relationship, there are so many more kinds of love to be I lived with an Austrian guy and an found in this world. Love for friends, for example. I am lucky to have a circle of close friends Italian guy. The Austrian guy’s sis- who always manage to cheer me up when it’s needed, even when we are too busy to regu- ter came to visit once and that is larly see each other in person. Of course, I also have a love for all my Albion friends, who show now my wife. me that a year on the Albion board is worth it, even when it can be tough. Heck, I even love those people who are just outside your circle of After looking at the clock, we realised we had friends and you only have a conversation with been talking for 2 hours. If we wanted to make it once in a while; a shout out to them. back home in the stormy weather, we had to bring I also bear a big love for my family. You can- an end to this wonderful interview and brave the not choose family, so I’m lucky to have one winter weather for the last time that day. Aaron, that is pretty alright. I have parents who always thanks again for the wonderful conversation and welcome me at “thuisthuis” with free food and the hospitality! working internet. I have two sisters who are pretty annoying, but I guess I love them anyway because they are my sisters. I still have three out of four grandparents, whom you start to appreciate a lot more once you notice that they are starting to grow older and older, and you realise they are not going to be around for- ever. And yes, I have to admit I can even appreciate those aunts and uncles who ask you about your love life and give you vacant stares when you try to explain that you don’t intend to become a teacher and studying English is actually quite fun (“but everyone already speaks English, so why would you study English”, is anyone with me?) Last of all, a big shout out to Albion, of course. I joined this community three-and-a-half years ago and I feel as welcome now as I did back then. Albion has changed and evolved as the people at its heart have changed and evolved, but what connects Albioneers, namely a love for the English-speaking world, never changes. Look around you and you’ll fnd that love presents itself in many forms in your life. Apologies if this column has been a bit cheesy, but hey, isn’t cheesy the whole defnition of 12 Valentine’s Day? 13 book. At frst, I thought it was a cause I haven’t read much by everyone I want them to be bit boring, but I pulled through him, maybe some excerpts but happy; in real life too. More for BY NINA VAN DER VOORT & TESS MASSELINK it and it really touched me. I nothing big. I had someone them than in literature actually. understood why it was a good else in mind but I can’t remem- book – you kind of feel that ber anymore. It’s just that I don’t Do you have a favourite book it’s going to go wrong and that really care. There are so many of all time? they’re not in a healthy relation- authors, and I read them when ship. Another favourite is Twee I read them, or not. This is a hard one. It might be Vrouwen by Harry Mulisch. It’s The Secret History, so much about love between two wom- Is there one book that you re- happens in that one. Ender’s en, kind of fatalistic as well. ally want to read? Game was also really lovely; I don’t read much romance, Kafka on the Shore is also one BOOKSHELF WITH ROBIN though – when it’s just too much Zen was one of those books, of my all-time favourites. centred around two people I but that’s just because you new issue, a new Secret History, Ender’s Game. distance from it. But the book don’t fnd it that interesting. Like hear a lot of great things and If you were stranded on a de- bookshelf. This time The last one is Science Fiction has to resonate with me. For in the Marriage Plot there’s also it makes you want to read that. serted island, what one book Tess and I luckily did which I don’t usually like, but it example, when I read The Se- a third person who’s off to India But I remember I was in a book- would you have with you and A not have to travel far: was great. I like the great myths cret History for the frst time – with a totally different perspec- store once in Amsterdam, and I why? we sat down to talk about as well. and with On the Road as well - tive, so it’s more interesting. was so overwhelmed by all the books with fellow freshman I felt trapped: it made me want books and I knew I would never The SAS Survival Guide! No, I Robin van den Brule in lovely Do you have a favourite clas- to go travel and go wild. In The Do you have a favourite read them. I guess you kind of don’t think that counts. I think it Utrecht. sic? Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, poem? have to do with what you’ve got, would be a collection of short it takes you along on the stream so I’ll just read it when I read it. stories maybe. My Greek My- What is your favourite book I think On the Road (Jack Ker- of thought and that’s also really I’m not sure if it’s an English thology book would be really that you’ve read recently? ouac) is a favourite, but I think good. favourite poem. There’s this Do you have an OTP? cool because it has lots of sto- people will probably hate me if poem by Toon Tellegen which I ries but it’s also something I I’m reading Zen and the Art of I say I really love it. I have so Do you have a favourite ro- really love: it’s from De Aanzet I don’t think so, no. I mean, could reread until I die. Though, Motorcycle Maintenance (by many favourites, it’s diffcult to mance? tot een Web, “in een trein, in de probably there are so many I actually think I would take po- Robert M. Pirsig) right now, choose. I also like Catcher in nacht”. I came across it when I people that you want to be ems. which is really cool. It’s a sto- the Rye, and The World Ac- I read The Marriage Plot last was listening to the radio, and happy. Like in Twee Vrouwen ry about being on the road cording to Garp was also really summer, which is a book writ- this came on and I just couldn’t (SPOILER ALERT), the ex-hus- You said you liked Greek my- and making a motorcycle trip cool. Oh, 1984 was terrible but ten from the perspective of a girl forget it, and it has been with band shoots one of them, which thology; do you have a fa- through the USA. It’s quite phi- lovely. I really like Lord of the who’s madly in love, and wild me ever since. is really sad and they were hap- vourite myth? losophical, and kind of a con- Flies as well. So I guess those about English Victorian writers. py and then their happiness just trast with this other book I read, are my favourites. It’s about her going to college Do you have a most-read au- ends so quickly. I think for I really like the Oresteia, be- The Traveling Cat Chronicles by and growing older and not get- thor? cause it’s so tragic. It’s about Hiro Arikawa. It’s a really lovely Is there something that ting a PhD and meeting this guy Agamemnon’s return and then book from the perspective of a makes a book good accord- and falling in love with him, but There are a few contenders, I he gets killed after Troy. But I cat and it’s kind of sad but also ing to you? he’s manically depressed. It’s a think. I‘ve read quite a lot from also spent a lot of time reading really cute. He’s a stray who heavy topic, but a really good Hella Haasse, but also Don- the Odyssey, so that’s kind of a is adopted by someone in his na Tartt – I’ve read The Secret favourite as well. neighbourhood, and then they History two or three times, and go on adventures together and “I think you always Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Sa- Do you have a favourite char- travel through Japan. It’s really linger too. Catcher and Twee acter? Or is there a character nice because it’s not really diff- have parts of your- Vrouwen are kind of my comfort you can really relate to? cult to read, it’s quite okay. books: something you come self in common with back to because it’s a nice read, There are no favourite charac- What is your favourite and it makes you happy, like ters. I think you always have genre? some characters” comfort food. They’re quite thin parts of yourself in common with as well, so I read those a lot. I some characters; if you don’t, I don’t really have one I think love Donna Tartt, and Mulisch then it’s probably a reaction to – I read all kinds of different For example, what I really like as well. But not one particular that character. As a young girl, genres. I guess I try to read about On the Road but also author that immediately comes I really felt connected to Mathil- books that are on my “want to about The Secret History (Don- to mind. da, from Roald Dahl. Just the read” list. It contains mostly na Tartt) is that it draws me in; feeling of loneliness and not ft- classics because I come across I think that’s the most import- Is there one author that you ting in. those titles so often that I just ant. It’s also kind of why I start- haven’t read yet but really want to read them. I really like ed studying English: because want to? Favourite book within the coming of age books, though. reading a book from an aca- LGBTQ+-spectrum? Like Norwegian Wood and oth- demic point of view is so dif- Where should I start? I think I er books by Murakami, The ferent. You have to keep your should say James Joyce be- Twee Vrouwen, but also, there’s

14 15 Don’t Even Get Me Started this book on my to-read list, An- THE MOUNTAIN BETWEEN US gels in America. It’s about gay BY VINCENT POTMAN C U L T U R E “It isn’t the Mountain people in the US. It’s a play I’ve been really wanting to see, but that’s the problem…” BY VINCENT POTMAN I have the text now so I’m going to read that. Valentine’s Day: Even CORNER The rather original idea of mixing romance with a gritty survival adventure, starring Kate Winslet and Idris Elba, Do you have a recommenda- roused my interest. It is a recipe that should, by all rights, tion for your fellow students? Cupid thinks it’s stupid have led to me being glued to the screen, but The Moun- contained within a day, it is the ALICE ISN’T DEAD tain Between Us lost me early on, somehow failing in ev- I think it’s more a recommen- cliché nature of it that can teach ery other aspect but its casting. Indeed, even Elba and dation to also do things that “…he can’t exact- you about real romance. This Winslet’s talent can’t save this one from crashing: it isn’t are not related to books, like go is not to say that real romance the mountain that’s the problem, it’s the terrible script. to plays and museums. I think ly work his magic cannot be cliché or cheesy, be- BY NANNE VEEKE It starts off fne, as I’m more than willing to suspend my doing that enriches the expe- cause it can, but rather to point disbelief for the starting premise of Alex Martin (Wins- rience of reading as well. You when things aren’t out that most romantic gestures he podcast Alice Isn’t Dead, let), an inquisitive journalist about to get married, and might get references better and truly romantic…” are romantic because they are from the creators of the popular Ben Bass (Elba), a straight-laced neurosurgeon on his it’s fun. I really like the plays by 1) genuine and 2) unexpected. T podcast Welcome to Night Vale, way to a critical surgery, both being stuck at Salt Lake Toneelgroep Amsterdam, es- Ahh, Valentine’s day, the most While an act on Valentine’s day sits high on my list of favourite City Airport, deciding to convince a charter pilot to take pecially those by Ivo van der romantic day of the year, right? can be genuine, it is not unex- things from 2017. It’s different from a them across the mountain range despite the impending Hoeven: they’re very raw ad- The day where Cupid fres off pected. “regular” podcast in the sense that Al- storm. Beau Bridges, the pilot, agrees to the offer and aptations of Shakespeare and his bow more times than he can See, after high school, it real- ice Isn’t Dead feels more like an audio- takes along his trusty Labrador for the trip. The expect- always very well translated, re- count, new couples everywhere ly rather loses its shine. It be- book, rather than a talk-show. The story ed crash, which is rather tame, occurs not due to the ally emotional and rough and I to be found! While the last is cer- comes just another obligation, revolves around Keisha, a truck-driver, storm, but the pilot having a heart attack. An interesting really like that. Also, read the tainly true, the other two state- a very commercialized one at who is on the search for her missing way to start off what is going to be a battle against the classics – like The Odyssey, for ments don’t hold up too well; it that. Doing something on Val- wife Alice. On her journey, she encoun- elements, and in hindsight the frst sign that The Moun- example, or The Illiad and other is not the most romantic day of entine’s day is anything but ters many eerie things, towns, and con- tain doesn’t grasp how to build up the stakes. The two Greek Myths. I think that’s my the year, and Cupid doesn’t lift spontaneous; a rose on Valen- spiracies with people who appear to be action scenes that closely follow the crash only confrm fnal answer. They’re really nice a fnger to get these people to- tine’s day is just another rose quite abnormal. Could the mystery sur- it. These two scenes, however, do introduce a clash of short stories, and I kind of grew gether. I mean, he can’t exactly on Valentine’s day. Yes, it’s a rounding the disappearance of her wife ideologies – of Alex and her gut feelings and Ben and his up in that world. work his magic when things ar- nice gesture but it is expected, be part of something bigger? rationale – which is honestly underutilized. There is also en’t truly romantic, now can he? while a rose on any other day It took me a little while to get used to the interplay of blame and guilt, with Alex having been “What do you mean not roman- is truly a surprise! This is be- the format, as it really feels like the main the one to suggest this stunt in the frst place, which only tic, are you one of them blokes cause there is no real romantic character is blurting out all her thoughts features briefy and then gets left behind with the plane who believes that romance is sentiment fueling the day, not to an audio recorder while she is on the when they start trekking down the mountain. It is here dead?” Yes, on Valentine’s day like there is on an anniversa- road. You get used to it very quickly and the movie starts the dive from which it never recovers: it is. Let me explain. ry, for example. Romance on I fnd it refreshing to have a different sort prioritizing the romance and letting it carry the surviv- Valentine’s day is a fad that Valentine’s day is you adhering of narrative; it adds to the suspense be- al aspect when it should have clearly been the other works rather well up until high to society’s timetable – or Cu- cause Keisha sometimes has to get out way around. Instead of a cold and realistic survival that school because, well, pre-teen pid’s, for that matter – not your of her truck and come back, later on, to leads to a growing bond, an eventual romance, we are and teenage romance don’t own. See, Cupid adores real tell us what has happened. The plot was given a schmaltzy romance. It turns what was meant to exactly have the highest of ex- sentiment (it’s what he uses to very engaging and kept me on the edge be a cold and unforgiving landscape against which they pectations. This is no surprise make his arrows) and sponta- of my seat whenever I sat down to listen struggle into just scenery: largely irrelevant slush that since, you know, you have neity, well, that’s what makes to it. The emotions of the characters feel only functions to further the romance. This is not to say to start somewhere, and Val- that bow of his twang. So, if you so real and you really get dragged into that the mountain range is not given its due because entine’s day is as good an in- want to be really romantic, sur- their state of mind. There are now two it is with breathtaking cinematography, but it only adds troduction as any. It’s an ego prise that person not with some seasons with each 10 episodes available beauty and lacks some much-needed tension. The dia- boost for the pretty faces and Valentine’s Chocolates, but that are each roughly 20 to 25 minutes, logue, however, is where it really falls apart, being stilted a chance for those lower on with something just as sweet on and there will be a season three in 2018 beyond measure, almost solely focused on shoehorning the social rungs, who – if they a random day. for which I cannot wait! I am curious to the two together, and ignoring how two people thrown do not succeed – can at least see how this mystery will unfold itself together by terrible circumstance ought to act. This all say they tried. Cheesy poetry further and I will be talking about this culminates in the terrible fnal act, which is just wish-ful- is written, awkward advances podcast for a long time to come. If you flment at its worst at the cost of the plot. are made, and it also keeps are a fan of strange happenings, eerie The Mountain Between Us could have been great, only alive the rather nifty idea of the things, and conspiracies I would highly it failed spectacularly on all fronts. It is not satisfying for Secret Admirer, a chance for recommend you check out this podcast those looking for a good survival story, or for the saps some mystique. It is, as you’ve on the Night Vale website (nightvalepre- looking for a good romance because it is too cheesy and now no doubt gathered, cliché sent.com) as I have nothing bad to say can’t be taken seriously in any capacity. Indeed, its only and contrived. And that is okay, about this amazing podcast that capti- saving graces are the great nature shots, the fact that because it not only is largely vated me in every way. Winslet and Elba are good enough to make this thing somewhat palatable, and a character to root for: the 16 dog. As I said, it isn’t the mountain that’s the problem. 17 25 YEARS OF RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE BY TESS MASSELINK BREATHE: “A heart-warming Biopic” Who hasn’t heard of the band eo about refugees, which ftted HUMANS OF ALBION Rage Against The Machine? If RATM’s many political state- BY VINCENT POTMAN you haven’t, it’s time to change ments in their music. This was that. Rage Against The Machine a good introduction to the con- (RATM) isn’t making new music cert: it provided a bit of aware- anymore, but the band still has ness for the audience, which is Out of all the movies I’ve seen in 2017, Breathe, many fans all around the world. what the original RATM would manages to warm my heart unconditionally. RATM was a funk and rap met- have done. Since the band There is no grand evil plot, no villain to over- al group from the United States. played the entire self-titled al- come; it’s just people being people, bringing out 25 years ago they brought out bum, the show started with the the best in each other. It’s 1958, and 28 year old their self-titled debut album, killer tracks ‘Bombtrack’ and Robin Cavendish (Andrew Garfeld), a relative- which was an instant hit. ‘Killing In The Name’, sung by ly successful tea broker and husband of Diana Now, the Netherlands and Bel- David Achter de Molen. Be- Cavendish (Claire Foy) gets polio while in Ken- gium have their share of heavy ing a John Coffey fan, it was ya, which paralyzes him from the neck down, a bands as well. Musicians known amazing seeing David on stage respirator doing his breathing for him. It’s a shock from certain bands came to the again. He gave it his all and to everyone and he’s given only three months to idea to form a Rage Against the audience went bonkers. live, or once back in England, at most a year. He The Machine cover band in Bonkers, in this case, means is depressed and fatalistically insists that Diana pull the plug. His wife, who has not long ago giv- CULTURE CORNER en birth to their son, Jonathan, is having none of it. In 1959, with Robin in a somewhat less fatalistic frame of mind and Diana as resolute as ever, COCO BY NINA VAN DER VOORT they decide that the hospital is actively making A young boy wants to be a musician in a family things worse, which results in him living with his where music is banished, and on his journey to wife and young son in a countryside house. This becoming a singer/songwriter like his idol Ernes- is against the advice of the doctors, who do not to de la Cruz, he fnds himself wandering through give him long to live outside of the hospital walls. the Land of the Dead, desperate to fnd a way to The rest of the movie, a tribute to his life, is how become a musician. he and Diana set out to prove them wrong, even- The storyline itself was enjoyable, to say the best; tually not just fghting for only his beneft. it was good, but not as amazing and gripping as A beautiful story, which is beautifully acted. The honour of the 25 year jubilee of multiple moshpits and even a expected. However, it still remained a beautiful whole cast is phenomenal, but Claire Foy and RATM’s debut album. 25 Years circlepit. With this, David had story about music mixed with the importance of Andrew Garfeld really shine as their chemistry is of RATM consisted of De Sta- set the standard for the entire family. The characters and the dynamic between a pleasure to watch. It’s two people staying alive at drummer Tim van Delft and concert. All of the singers had them was wonderful. From the boastful, proud by enjoying the little things for all that they are, bassist Jop van Summeren and great chemistry with the rest of Ernesto de la Cruz to the humble, loving Húgo who refuse to let adversity get the best of them, The Brotherhood Foundation the band and the audience. It and of course the adorable Miguel with his fun- and who bring out the best in each other. Yes, guitarist Tom Sikkers as instru- was obvious that everyone was ny sidekick Dante. But what really amazed me frst time producer Andrew Serkis, in tandem with mentalists. The cover band had enjoying the show immensely. about the movie was the animation. The images Jonathan Cavendish, manages to really bring to multiple singers, which was a The album ends with the song BY SVEN VERHOEVEN in the movie were astounding; it had beautifully life the charming and delightful moments their really cool idea. The singers ‘Freedom’, but the audience bright colours, such as green, orange and pink. personal dedication to living created. took turns in singing the various was pleasantly surprised when Buy yourself that big box These colours also perfectly ft in with “Dias de Indeed, Breathe knows when to be serious, songs from the album, which the band started one last, extra of chocolates or send that los Muertos”, or “Day of the Dead”. The anima- when to be funny, and when to be sweet. It’s a they played in its entirety. The song: ‘Guerrilla Radio’. This gorgeous bouquet of red tion was truly out of this world. The pictures were heartwarming biopic that really does their fght singers were David Achter De was the heavy fnal song of the roses to your own address. very detailed to the point where it almost looked justice, showing how a debilitating sickness such Molen (John Coffey), Roy Smo- concert, which really drew ev- Why? Because you deserve it. real. Something I also absolutely loved about as polio, which these days is thankfully no lon- lenaars (Memphis Maniacs), eryone in for a few last minutes The one person you’re this movie was the portrayal of Mexican culture, ger a threat due to the vaccine, but back then Marco Roelofs (Heideroosjes), of moshing and singing along at always stuck with is yourself. more specifcally Dias de Los Muertos. It gives was all but a death sentence, can be overcome Jeroen Camerlynck (Fleddy the top of their lungs. So you better get along a clear explanation about how it’s celebrated, in with love, determination, and a quick mind. If you Melculy) and Caroline Westen- In short: it was an amazing and make the best of it. such a way that it’s nicely incorporated into the want something that really moves you but also dorp (The Charm The Fury). night full of heavy music and Love yourself, because you’re story, while also showing the importance of the lift up your spirits, then I cannot recommend this The concert started with a vid- cool people! the only person who can holiday. enough. truly make you happy. Simply All in all, it was a heart-warming, enjoyable story be your own Valentine this year! about music, family and a good representation And remember, in the words of Mexican culture, told through beautiful anima- of RuPaul, “if you can’t love tion, perfect for everyone to enjoy. Therefore, it yourself, how in the hell are you deserves a good 4 out of 5 stars. gonna love somebody else?”

18 19 ALBIONEERS

From Hull With(out) Love ABROADLove on the Emerald Island Unless you are leaving a sig- Looking forward to a year with- attachment before leaving for What is love? You might think to boys might be false. During the means, how it differs from place nifcant other behind when it is out attachments, she was set nine months seemed like an know a solid answer to this eter- orientation days we had to sit to place and from person to time to start your time abroad, on enjoying the single life, and utterly ludicrous idea. Unfortu- nal question, I certainly thought through multiple lectures and person, and I truly recommend love is probably not one of the made the most of our nights nately, love had a different idea, I did until I went abroad to Ire- talks about sexual consent. A everyone to experience this for things you spend a lot of time out in the surprisingly lively and it was at a festival three land and realised what I knew weird but funny video explained themselves. worrying about when thinking city of Hull. One Friday night, weeks before my boat left that I of love was merely relevant to sexual consent through drink- of the coming adventure. Love, she took a guy home, with no met a guy who crawled into my my own country. After sever- ing tea (try to look it up, it’s BY ANNEMIEK BLAAUWGEERS however, has the irksome ten- further intentions than to have heart as well as my tent. Both al encounters with Irish boys really interesting!) before an dency of throwing itself at you a good time before going their of us fully anticipated contact to I concluded they were polite, extensive list of numbers and when you least expect it; this separate ways again. Said guy, die down naturally as soon as I to put it one way. While Dutch organisations to contact in case has become increasingly ap- however, turned out to be sig- left, but instead I am currently boys have the strong tenden- something bad happens was parent during my time here in nifcantly more interesting than looking forward to his second cy to grope our behinds and go presented. A popular nightline Hull, where my friends and I she initially thought. Now, three visit here. straight for a kiss after buying was set up and run by students, seem to have landed in situa- months in, he is a regular visitor From unexpectedly having to us a single drink, the Irish gen- which I soon realised is abso- tions that resemble the plot of at our halls; they have offcially miss someone to begrudging- uinely try to talk to you, despite lutely necessary with the way a romantic comedy or soap op- started dating, and I must admit ly having to admit your moth- being absolutely pissed. This Irish students go out and get era. they are adorable together. er may have been right in her nice change of scene allowed out-of-the-charts drunk all the If you’re single, someone will As for me, love was about as predictions, love has surprised me to refect on our own dating time. The fact all this exists and inevitably say something along far from my mind as it could be all of us here in cold Northern culture. is heavily discussed around the lines of “don’t fall in love in the months before leaving. England. It may not be on your So what is love? Meeting peo- campus suggests that perhaps whilst you’re there!” before you I had been happily single ever mind, but never underestimate ple from countries across the the Irish boys – or girls for that leave. If you’re anything like since starting university, and it: nobody expects the Spanish globe (newsfash: the earth matter – are not as polite as I Fiona, another exchange stu- forming any sort of Inq- uhm, love. isn’t fat) during my exchange had frst thought. dent from the Netherlands, you provided some interesting in- Perhaps another reason for all will roll your eyes at them and BY LEA DOKTER sights. In Spain love is ex- the campaigns about consent reply: “as if.” Unfortunately, the pressed through big attitudes, is the Irish government itself UK is home to some very en- in Italy boys literally fght over (don’t worry, you won’t have to ticing characters, and especial- it, in Germany the word is rare- pull out your tin foil hat for this ly those that wear fashionable ly used, and in India love is not one). I was shocked to discover glasses seem to possess the always voluntarily. that abortion is still illegal in the talent of stealing the hearts of Yet despite these different no- green country. I will not linger those who thought their moth- tions of love, it exists every- on this subject, however, as it ers were completely misguid- where. A German friend fell is highly controversial – even ed when they assumed their head over heels for a local here in the Netherlands. daughters would fall in love boy, while a fresh French-Indi- Anyway, I meant to write a feel- abroad. To complicate matters, an couple became a hot top- good piece about international the British - according to our ob- ic amongst the international love. Going abroad for an ex- servations - seem to prefer act- students. I became infatuated tended period of time teaching in a way that suggests they with an American guy and have es you about many subjects, have the emotional range of the been wooed by an Englishman. even those you would expect Queen’s teaspoon, even when ‘Love transcends all borders’ al- the least. Just by observing the they have previously admitted ways sounded like a cliché love international students interact to having feelings for you. quote to me – which it is – but I with each other, the internation- One of my closest friends here, now realise it is absolutely true. als interact with the Irish, or the an exchange student from Ire- As I am writing about all things Irish interact with each other, I land, came here still dealing love abroad, I realise one of my have learned a great deal about with a recent break-up. earlier statements about Irish what dating, sexuality, and love

20 21 BY NURAI MERTENS speaking there. I thought ‘That’s me! It’s so cool there’s a foundation for this!’ I contacted the foundation and told them I’d like to work for them in some way, but they told me they were plan- ning on stopping. So I took over the foundation Q & Alumni with and became chair. I had been on committees and boards before, so I did have experience in the feld. I had the chance to decide the direction I wanted to take with the foundation, and I decided to focus mainly on advocacy of rights, which is what I did for students when I was on the VIDIUS board. The previous board had done a lot of community building the frst six years, ISABEAU JENSEN which meant that the foundation had a big group of supporters: there was a Facebook of nearly Isabeau Jensen is 24 years old, and or let them make the choice they want 600 members at the time. I fgured “that part is she’s quite a recent graduate. She to make. This is the ‘technical’ side of it. going well, I want to fght for rights.” This meant got her degree in 2016, and she’s cur- Polyamory also rests on the statement reading up on the operation of mortgages and rently fnishing up a master’s degree that people aren’t property. Mostly, it’s rent and whatnot, which isn’t my thing at all. I in linguistics with a neuro scientifc about making connections that feel right found some people who were interested in this focus. Isabeau is also chair of the to you, and to stop focusing on the dif- stuff as well. At the end of the day, much of it is Polyamory Foundation Netherlands. ference between friendship and roman- lectures and interviews and the like. I like being tic relationships. This is what’s always able to choose the direction the foundation was Why did you decide to study En- personally appealed to me. going to take. As chair, I have the power to say glish? In polyamory, there’s a word for the feel- what our next step will be. ing you get when your partner is dating is also a focus, but realistically that will I started studying Psychology frst, but someone else, the feeling of wanting What motivated you to attend the lecture? be a few years down the road since then I quit because I became ill. When I them to be happy and not feeling bad the current cabinet is so Christian. We was better, I realized I wasn’t very inter- about them dating someone else. Many When I was in my frst year of English, I had a boyfriend. did have an elaborate plan prepared, ested in Psychology anymore. I wanted people have a hard time with this be- After we’d been together for two years and were living but it will have to wait. There’s anoth- to do something that I was good at and cause the frst emotion they think of together, I fell in love with Felix, my current partner. I told er chance in four years! And there are found interesting as well, so I decided to in these situations is jealousy, while in my boyfriend at the time, and when he asked me, “Does plenty of things we can accomplish on study a language, and I picked English. polyamorous relationships the feeling that mean you like me any less?”, we started talking about a more local level – in some cities, it’s has positive connotations. When Fe- the feelings involved and possible scenarios where this possible to rent a home with multiple Could you explain the concept of lix comes home from a date at night, I would work. It sounds easy now, but it really wasn’t, at people. Utrecht isn’t one of those cities polyamory for those who don’t know want to know how it was and I’m happy all. There was a lot of talking, pain and thinking involved, yet, but that’s one of the things we can yet? when he had a good time, in the way I especially thinking about the relationship structure you’re try to change. would be happy for a friend if they’d had currently in and one you actually believe in yourself. In Polyamory translates to ‘multiple loves’. a great time on a date. Only here, it’s the end, we fgured it out and it’s only then that I discov- What kind of reactions do you get Within polyamory there are a lot of dif- my boyfriend. ered there was already a word for it and not something from other people? ferent types: some people call them- Polyamory operates from the idea that we had invented ourselves. “Look at me!” I thought, and selves polyamorous and they mean it’s important to think about the kind of then I found out there was this whole community and all Face to face, the reactions are pretty that they fall in love with multiple people relationship you want instead of going this literature on the subject. That’s when I started going okay. People are mostly curious – there and seek connections with these peo- with monogamy as the default. This in- to lectures with Felix. At a certain point, things between are many questions about my sex life. ple; some people are in a three-person volves not assuming that jealousy is the me and my ex ended and Felix and I decided we didn’t On the internet – and especially as romantic relationship; some people logical emotion. Jealousy is, in a way, a want to be in a monogamous relationship just because of chair of the foundation – it’s hell. A lot of have two partners and that’s it. Every- logical and natural emotion, otherwise, that. This was more than three years ago. the comments are ingrained with sex- thing comes down to the question: are we wouldn’t all experience it. But you ism, which makes you realize that part you hierarchical or not? Which means: can also wonder whether that feeling is What kind of stuff do you do with the foundation? of monogamy holds onto the image of do you have a partner and some sep- your partner’s responsibility or your re- men wanting women for themselves. arate loose contacts besides that, or sponsibility to fgure out what it is that’s We have people all over the country who organize drinks, Many comments are both heteronor- do you have multiple contacts that are making you feel like that, and what am which means there are drinks somewhere in the country mative and sexist. “You’re just a slut”, equal in their relationship to you. Then I going to do change that? Communica- almost every week – from Leeuwarden to Zeeland, from or “you’re just a sex addict” are com- there’s the distinction between open or tion is key in that, as it is key in every Amsterdam to Limburg (though not much in Limburg, to ments I hear a lot. Many say it’s cheat- closed relationships: do you have any kind of relationship. be honest – still quite Christian). There are a lot of sup- ing, which is incorrect because the rules casual contacts besides your partner, port groups, a lot of community building. My main job is we’ve made within our relationship say or do you have relationships in the way Can you tell me a bit about your work contact with the press, which has been huge the past it’s okay. There’s a lot of homophobia as you would with monogamous relation- at Foundation Polyamory Nether- few months. We’d like to start building fles with informa- well. When I tell people I’m in a relationships. There’s also the discussion of the land? tion that can help people with a polyamorous relationship with both Richard and Felix (Rich- identity vs. choice – to be honest, I don’t ship. Things like how to get a mortgage, what bank you ard and Felix are both pansexual/bisex- think it makes much of a difference. You I went to a lecture on polyamory, and can use, how to handle custody if you have a child, stuff ual as well), sometimes people say that should let people either be who they are, someone from the foundation was like that. It’s completely new territory, we’re the ones who they are just gay, as if that would be are fguring this out for the frst time. Engaging politicians wrong. 22 23 BY NINA VAN DER VOORT & LAUREL SANDERS MINOR&master MARKET BATTLE OF THE Cultuur, communicatie en Jeugdliteratuur BY MARLON SCHOTEL mediastudies ALBION KOPPELS BY CHRYSTEL PHILIPSEN Hi! My name is Marlon and I’m busy getting my There are quite a few couples here at Al- master’s degree in Jeugdliteratuur (Children’s lit- bion, and for this very special Valentine’s Last year, I fgured out that English literature was erature) at Tilburg University. This master track is issue we’ve decided to talk to two of them not in my future and I decided to look further. In part of the department of Kunst en cultuurstudies so we could fnd out who the absolute best block two I followed the course ‘Adapting to the and is taught in Dutch. Most of the primary read- couple is here at Albion. The lucky contest- Novel’. This course sparked my interest in differ- ings are Dutch texts, but don’t worry: Harry Potter ers? Minthe Woudstra and Thijs Grootveld ent forms of media. Since I was already in my is an often used as example in loads of the sec- vs. Vera Aalbers and Robin Bal. For this second year, I decided not to quit English and ondary texts. article we asked our candidates a series pick out a minor that suited my interest in media. Literature students should all agree that reading of questions about the other person in the Eventually, I stumbled upon the minor Cultuur, is hugely important, and not only to master a lan- relationship, to fnd out how much they Communicatie en Mediastudies. guage or to enjoy. I loved studying English and I know about each other. The couple that I have now taken two out of the four courses. am a real #TeamLit supporter, but in my master’s gets the most questions right or agrees on The frst course that I took was Cultuur, Commu- I wanted to learn more about the effects and im- the most things, wins. So… which is the nicatie en Nieuwe Media and to be honest, I was portance of reading, instead of only zooming in best couple of Albion? disappointed. We had assignments every week on texts. I have learnt a lot from analysing adult and I thought the course was really dull. How- literature, but I wanted to know more about what ever, I really enjoyed our fnal assignment. For exactly we learn from books in terms of person- the fnal assignment, you could make an online al development and skills. The perfect combina- magazine, a short flm, a paper, a presentation, tion of these two aspects, text-based and read- MINTHE AND THIJS etc. There were no requirements for the format er-based, is the Master Jeugdliteratuur in Tilburg. How did you meet? and your topic had to be related to culture and This is a one-year long Master and consists of new media. I decided to make a short flm about the following courses: Het kind als lezer, Theore- Minthe: “At Albion. There’s some debate about that. I the representation of women in action movies. tische en historische refectie op jeugdliteratuur, think Ikea was the frst time I saw him, and then at a It was a lot of fun and discussions that are rele- Jeugdliteratuur in internationaal perspectief, Life game night. And the Ikea thing was a hide-and-seek Favourite TV show? vant nowadays are being discussed. The theory writing, and Grensverkeer: Jeugdliteratuur en an- from Albion, but I think the frst time we actually spoke might have been boring, but all in all the course dere cultuuruitingen. Apart from these modules, was at the game night.” Minthe: “Friday Night Lights.” was quite enjoyable. you also follow two courses in research skills (I The second course I took is called Pop mu- chose Hermeneutical Research of Discourse and Thijs: “We met through Albion. I think the frst time we Thijs: “That’s a tough one, she has a lot. Her sic, Pop culture and Media. This course is re- Visual Image, and Research Interview and Nar- met was an activity in my frst year; Ikea Hide-and- favourite TV show… It’s probably something ally amazing. During the lectures, you will learn rative AnalysisI), and a self-study module, intern- Seek. We played hide-and-seek at Ikea which was like How I Met Your Mother.” about the history of music from the 1950’s up to ship or relevant courses from another department amazing, and I think that was the frst time we offcial- the 2000’s. For half of the lectures, you will lis- or at a different university. ly met and then at a game night at Albion, later. Those Eye colour? ten to the music of a particular genre, and the Especially the module Het kind als lezer answered were the two frst times that we really met.” professor is really cool. You learn how particu- my questions on why reading is important. My Minthe: “Well he always says brown but I lar music genres come into existence and a bit personal interest within this subject lies with em- Thing they really like about themselves? think it’s more green.” about the subcultures that come with it. During pathy, identifcation and theory of mind, and I in- the seminars, you will learn about the infuence tend on writing my thesis on these phenomena. Minthe: “His interest in music.” Thijs: “Oh wow. It’s brown.” of music on the human brain and the social func- The feld of youth literature is incredibly small, es- tions of music. pecially in Holland. You’ll be familiar with all the Thijs: “Tough question… One thing that she re- Are they a coffee or tea person? Long story short: it is a really cool course and I Big Names within a few weeks. You also learn ally likes about herself is that she’s so much into would recommend it to anyone who loves music. that the feld is often under-appreciated, not taken photography.” Minthe: Tea. In block 3 you will follow the course Subcultures seriously and that it struggles with its status. But and in block 4 Nieuwe Media Filosofe. I have no more importantly: you learn that children’s and What would they order at De Stadsgenoot? Thijs: Tea. idea what I can expect from these courses, but youth literature is in no way a lesser branch of I’m sure the courses will not disappoint. literature than adult literature is. Minthe: “Usually he picks coke or beer… Cider, Apple One place they would love to travel to? Social sciences courses are quite different from It takes some getting used to to spend your train Bandit.” the regular English courses. Seminars are a lot ride from Utrecht to Tilburg reading picture books, Minthe: “I think we both want to go every- more interactive. People are actually interested Jip and Janneke or Een brief voor de koning, but Thijs: “She would probably pick like cider or beer be- where. Like New Zealand maybe? Iceland, in the topics and participate in discussions with- to me it gives an incredible feeling of satisfaction cause she has to.” but I’ve already been there. I would say ev- out being forced by a teacher. Also, everybody to be engaged with the effects and importance of erywhere.” actually does their homework which is weird. reading day in and day out. Pineapple on pizza: Yes or no? If you like flm, music and pop culture then look Lastly, it’s a small course with only two professors Thijs: “There’s a lot of places… Let’s go with no further: this is the minor for you ;) and, this year, only 7 other students. With a BA Minthe: “No. I hope no.” Las Vegas.” in English you can enter this master’s without a 24 pre-master’s. Thijs: “I’m not entirely sure, I’d go with yes.” 25 Did they like you immediately, or was it more of a process? FINAL SCORE Minthe: “Gradually.” Thijs: “There was an early interest, but then the 9/16 Treat Yo’Self: Utrecht Style rest was gradual I think.” BY JASMIJN OOMS What would they order at De Stadsgenoot?

Vera: “I think he would order beer.” Many students stay true to a pasta-pesto din- VERA AND ROBIN ner or their – ahem – ‘love’ of instant noodles, Robin: “A dry white wine.” but sometimes Uncle Duo gives out a partic- How did you meet? ularly steep loan, and your taste-buds yearn Eye colour? for something less sodium-based. These are Vera: “We frst met on the matching day of this the moments where you truly thrive, and here course.” Vera: “Brown.” are some great places where you can treat yourself, whether you’ve had a good or bad Robin: “On the matching day of this study, and to Robin: “Blue.” day. be specifc we were seated next to each other by Marcelle Cole in the Riddles class.” Instock - Vleutenseweg 382 Umami - Oudegracht 74 Sirtaki - Servetstraat 1 (next Thing they really like about themselves? $$ $$ to the Dom) Pineapple on pizza: Yes or no? $ Not only does this restaurant All Utrecht-situated sushi-lov- Vera: “No.” Vera: “That he can laugh at himself.” have a mean croissant-pineap- ers do not know what good su- Truly I haven’t eaten any oth- ple French toast, eating here shi tastes like until they have er Greek food, but I never Robin: “She’s indifferent. I’m going to go with in- Robin: “One thing that she really likes about her- will also give you an extra feel- eaten here. Though their su- need to try anything else than different. I think she’d be okay with it, but she self is her lifestyles, which concerns veganism.” good vibe, as their meals are shi-menu is small, the intense from Sirtaki. Their portions are doesn’t usually order it.” made with food that is thrown tastes and favours are really huge, full of greens and when Favourite TV show? away after only having been1 unimaginably tasty, and as a you don’t feel like sitting down One place they would love to travel to? day in the supermarkets, di- result, this restaurant is always to eat, across the street, their Vera: “How I Met Your Mother.” rectly battling food-waste. On busy; so make sure you make kitchen gives award-winning Vera: “I think maybe somewhere in England.” Saturdays, there is live music, a reservation before going! meals to go as well. and the menu always changes Shave off some euro’s by eat- Robin: “Iceland. Or Japan or Australia. But I’m Robin: “American Horror Story, I dare say. Or to lovely meals in sync with the ing the ‘Early Dinner’ between going to go with Iceland.” Stranger Things. season (plus they always have 16:30 and 17:30 and enjoy your vegetarian/vegan options!). All-You-Can-Eat extravaganza! Did they like you immediately, or was it more Are they a coffee or tea person? of a process? Ān-Ān Saigon Streetfood - Spekuk - Drieharingenstraat De Kleine Parade - Drieharin- Voorstraat 23 10-12 genstraat 2 Vera: “Coffee, defnitely.” Vera: “I think he liked me immediately.” $$ $$ $$ Robin: “Tea, defnitely.” Robin: “It wasn’t immediately for her. I know that If you never had the means (or If you’re looking to spice up So I suggest that you don’t ac- she tried to keep her distance while we were dat- desire) to go to the likes of Viet- your life, go eat spicy, intense tually have dinner at this restau- ing but she didn’t manage to.” nam, this restaurant is perfect Indonesian rice-bowls of Ra- rant. Why? Because you need to tempt your palate with some- mes (literally translated to “ev- to save your bucks and appetite thing new to grab onto! Viet- erything mixed together”). This for their desserts. They serve a namese meals are overall very is the kind of restaurant where wonderful platter of tapas-like FINAL SCORE green, fresh and delicious, and you’ll eat your food teary-eyed desserts that I still sometimes ĀnĀn puts their rich favours because it’s so spicy, but it’s so have dessert-hungry dreams into small Asian dishes suitable good you can’t stop eating. about. If you have enough for all diets. nerve, have some McDonalds, 12/16 and then come to this stylish establishment and only order desserts. You won’t be proud, And the winner is… but you will be satisfed beyond It seems like both couples know each other belief. fairly well. However, Vera and Robin seemed to know one another just a bit better and win the battle. Congratulations to both couples, seems like everyone is a perfect match.

26 27 COLOFON CALENDAR February 15th AcCie event Editor in Chief 20th Symposium about Brexit Lola van Scharrenburg 21st Biercantus 22nd CarrièreNacht Secretary 26th Gala: Oscars Party Nanne Veeke 27th Ice skating 28th Pub Quiz Editors March Nurai Mertens, Nanne Veeke 6th Karaoke 7-8th SUDS one act festival Photography 10th Ouderdag Laurel Sanders, Tess Masselink 13th KB info night Monthly Drinks Graphic designer 14th Drifting (party) Emma Wasser

Content writers As you all might know, every year SUDS aims to set up several theatre related activities for Vincent Potman, Tess Masselink, Nina van de the students of Albion and beyond. Our next venture onto the stage will take place short- Voort, Indie Reijnierse & Nanne Veeke ly, namely: our One Act Festival. A series of 4 short plays with a group a different actors will be performed, all in one night! We have a true range of different plays for you, so all tastes Special thanks can be appeased. There’s the dramatic plays The Crab and Crucify Your Mind, and both of Aaron Grifftith, Alessandra Polimeno, Annemiek these gems were written and directed by your and our own Jasmijn Ooms! Another Albioneer, Blaauwgeers, Chrystel Phillipsen, Elsbeth Isolde van Gog, wrote the hilariously brilliant Donnie D’s Mixtape (director: yours truly), and Smalbrugge, Isabeau Jensen, Jasmijn Ooms, our other comedy, called the Bi-Muda Trian- gle, was written/directed by a team of amazing Justine Hoogstraten, Kai Bijnen, Kerstin Riel, Lea SUDS alumns: Anastasios Galanis and Inés Gallego Landín. Join us these amazing nights Dokter, Marlon Schotel, Mees Roelofs, Minthe of theatre on March 7th and 8th! Tickets available at the till or by mailing to Woudstra, Robin Bal, Robin den Brule, Sam van [email protected]. der Wal, Sven Verouden, Thijs Grootveld, Vera

BY28 KERSTIN RIEL Aalbers en Welmoed Tevel.