Academia Studentica
Academia Studentica is an international movement whose aim is the study of student folklore in all its forms and propagations. This involves collecting, preserving and publishing studentical traditions and its artifacts, writing articles, organizing cantus and other activities as well as exchange trips with other folklores (non-exhaustive list).
Academia Studentica also strives to build and maintain a computerized and physical library of existing works on student folklore.
It is an independant studentical organization and is not bound to geographical origin, religious or political beliefs, gender or sexuality.
Contents
History
In 2017 Jeroen Coenraerds v/o Cap'n decided to create an archive of Belgian student life; a place where one could go for information about student habits, objects, songs... in short, everything that had to do with student life. He drew a simple logo and Zirkel, and created a Facebook page where he regularly shared short articles in English and Dutch, but also pictures and short facts.
It was only a few days later when Dan Mazzotta v/o La Mite spontaneously offered to translate the articles into French as well. To make the appearance more attractive, Bert Hofmans v/o Canvas was called upon to give the logo and the Zirkel a sleeker look. When Robin Barthels v/o Thanos joined in, the foursome was complete and 10 December 2017 was chosen as the official founding date for Academia Studentica.
Initially, the focus was limited to the various expressions of Belgian student life, mainly Leuven and Brussels.
In the spring of 2018, Academia Studentica was contacted by the Société du Grand Clysopompe (SGC) to help organise the International Day of Colours. This online event made it clear that very interesting student cultures exist outside Belgium and Academia Studentica’s focus gradually broadened to all of Europe. When around this time the Musée Belge des Traditions Estudiantines (MBTE) contacted them to organise an exhibition and lectures on Flemish student life for their annual banquet, the need for better organisation became apparent.
Meetings were organised in café Delirium and Pitabar Santorini in Brussels, as well as in Brasserie Domus and pub Thomas Stapleton in Leuven. The general structure of the association was determined, as well as the conditions for membership. The colours were fixed on Black-Silver-Blue with gold percussion and an initial coat of arms was designed. However, this shield was soon adapted to a more modern and distinctive design. As a motto, “Sapere Aude” was chosen, which translates to “dare to know”.
The MBTE banquet made it clear that there was definitely a desire among the student population to get together. Therefore, as a trial, a first official activity was organised, which took place on Saturday 28 July 2018: the “Bokrijk Vadrouille”. A group of like-minded people came together in Bokrijk (an open-air museum near Genk (Belgium), with an extensive collection of historic buildings from all over Flanders depicting the history of rural life in different regions) to sing, drink and have a good time together. It was decided to organise an annual activity within a broadly conceived studentical framework. In addition, the International Day of Colours would also become an annual event.
In order to distinguish themselves at events and lectures, it was decided to also purchase couleur. For this purpose, an order was placed with Bitter Couleur in Austria in the form of caps, bands and tie pins. A less common model was chosen as the cap, namely a small cap with a short visor worn loosely on the back of the head.
In April 2019, Cap'n got in touch with Kasper Krawet v/o Pumba, one of the founders of BCS UJ. What started as an online exchange became a close friendship when Cap'n visited Krakow that summer and was warmly welcomed by Pumba and several BCS UJ members. They exchanged student artifacts and data, and stayed in touch.
That summer, as an official activity, a visit was paid to the parental home of Ernest Claes in Zichem (Belgium), where a guided tour was provided by Claes' childhood friend and president of the Ernest Claes Society, Jan Van Hemelrijck. A guided tour was also organised at the Averbode Abbey.
The board met later that summer and decided, as a result of the good contacts in Poland and other countries, to further extend their action radius. The statutes were completely rewritten and the possibility was created to establish a deanery in each country that can act quasi independently, under the supervision of a rectorate. When Pumba visited Belgium in September 2019, he was offered membership and the position of Dean, which he gladly accepted, leading to the establishment of the Polish deanery on 12 September 2019.
In December 2019, the first Couleur card of Academia Studentica was designed for the end-of-year celebrations, which was sent to several universities across Europe.
As of January 2020, a very intensive effort was made to archive and document the various collections of the members of Academia Studentica. Every week different pictures from this online collection are shared on our Facebook page, with a brief explanation. This gave rise to the idea of photographing the collections of external parties and sympathisers as well, thus creating an extensive digital museum. However, the global pandemic prevented this plan from being carried out immediately. Student life came under severe pressure and had to reinvent itself to a large extent by offering digital alternatives.
When Facebook stopped supporting articles later that year, we decided to develop a website. This gradually grew into an extensive project in which not only an introduction and contact details of our association could be found, but which also housed our ever-growing digital archive and various articles. Academia Studentica also responded to the demand for digital events and hosted lectures for various associations.
Furthermore, new members were recruited in Belgium, Italy, Poland and France who were taught how to operate within the association based on a mentor system.
Finally, more than a year later, on 1 February 2021, the website was officially launched, providing an introduction to Academia Studentica and the digital collection; followed by a Wiki on 25 March, where all existing and future articles could be published in a user-friendly way.
At the start of the academic year, it was decided to meet again in November. Given the escalating situation in Belgium concerning the pandemic, it was decided to do this on a small scale with only the members of Academia Studentica and a handful of invited guests. After a few brewery visits, an evening of sea shanties was held in the lounge above bar KFK Hope in Brussels.
Contact Information
Colours
The colours of Academia Studentica are Black-Silver-Blue with Gold details.
Black and silver symbolize the main aspects of student life.
Silver symbolizes the daily student life: the studying, colleges and exams.
Black stand for the nightly student life: going out, camaraderie and laughter.
Blue is the main colour and stands for loyalty, strength and truth.
The Monogram (also referred to as “Zirkel”) is built out of the letters V-C-F standing for “Vivat, Crescat, Floreat” (tr.: Live, Grow, Flourish) and the initials of the association, “AS”. It is drawn in a single stroke and followed by an exclamation mark.
The blason of Academia Studentica is a heraldic shield diagonally divided in two fields by a band in the colors of the association.
The upper field is in Blue with upon it the monogram of Academia Studentica in Gold.
The lower field is Black with upon it Apollo’s Lyre in Gold and a student’s baton in Brown with a laurel wreath in Green hanging from it.
Couleur
Academia Studentica has different forms of couleur. They are only worn by initiated members (Licensus and Doctor)
Band
A band as worn by a Licensus is 1,50 meters long (it can be adapted to the wearer) and 27 millimeters wide. It is divided into 3 stripes (Black-Silver-Blue) with golden details. It is held together by a golden Bandknopf, with the colours of AS with the motto «Sapere Aude» engraved above, and the name of the member below. It is worn over the shirt and tie, but underneath the vest.
A Doctor's band is the same as a Licensus' band, but with the addition of a golden slider with the Zirkel engraved at the front, and at the back the motto, name of the member and year of promotion.
A Doctor Honoris Causa can wear a Licensus band, but with the title «Honoris Causa» embroidered upon it.
Cap
The cap is a small model of the type Hinterhauptcouleur. Its sides are in the colours of the association (Black-Silver-Blue). The top is in the main color of the association (Blue) with the Zirkel embroidered upon it in Gold.
Zipfel
At Academia Studentica there are multiple types of Zipfels in use:
- Bierzipfel: This model is 27 millimeters wide. It is exchanged on special occasions, for example at the installation of a new Dean or Rector, or when a member is initiated or attains a doctorate. It is the member being promoted or installed who receives the Bierzipf.
- Weinzipfel: This model is 13 millimeters wide. It is exchanged between members of the association or with people from outside the association as a token of friendship.
- Sektzipfel: This model is 8 millimeters wide and is only worn by women.
- Chargenzipfel: This model is also 13 millimeters wide, but has multiple metal paltes. They are exchanged on special occasions such as a foundation, a lustrum celebration,... between multiple members.
Tie pin
A small golden pin in the colours of Academia Studentica.
Organization
Academia Studentica is governed by a rectorate of 4 individuals:
A Deanery can be established per country. These are governed by a Dean who can appoint members to assist him/her in the day-to-day management.
One can become a candidate by simple applying with any member of Academia Studentica who then recommends the candidate to the praesidium. After a positive vote, he/she wil become a probationary member, referred to as "Studax".
Every Studax is guided by an initiated member, who acts as a patronus. A Studax can acquire full initiation by contributing their knowledge to the association by completing a thesis commissioned by their patronus which is approved by the Praesidium.
An initiated member who has completed his/her thesis is referred to as a "Licensus". They have a duty to represent the association and to search for new candidates, guide a Studax in their thesis to attain initiation and keep contributing sources and articles to the association. They are expected to be present at meetings (either physically or through digital channels). They also earn the right to wear the couleur of the association.
If a Licensus contributes significantly to the association either by publishing at least 5 articles, or by adding sources and other artefacts to the collection they earn the title of "Doctor". They can add a golden slider to their band with the coat of arms which is engraved with their name and year of promotion.
