Gaudia
Gaudia was an association for students and former students who are following or have followed higher and/or university education at an educational institution located in Leuven.
Contents
About
Gaudia is an association for students and former students who have studied at a college/university in Leuven.
Its motto is "In Amicitia Veritas (Est)" which freely translates as "in friendship lies the truth".
The club is based on 3 pillars:
- Aiming for a stylish student spirit, basing itself on the 'Clubcodex'.
- Aiming for and transferring knowledge of the (Flemish) studentical history, traditions and songs.
- A strong bond of friendship.
Gaudia is not tied to any political persuasion, nor to gender or region.
It also has an association for former members: the Old Students' Union (OSB) Geronticos.
History
Foundation
Although the Diana introduction course for novices mentions that Gaudia originated from Diana, only about 20% of Gaudia's founding members were also members of Diana.
At the end of the academic year 2002-2003, two teams ran for the elections of student circle Diana. When the arguments were decided in favour of one team, a temporary reconciliation took place and the two teams merged to form the Diana Praesidium. However, the opinions and ideals of these two groups clashed and caused disagreement, leading to internal conflicts and eventual separation. A part of this split-off group, supplemented by friends from various faculties and departments, youth work and even working people, came up with the idea of forming a new association. On the evening of 13 May 2003, Ganges was baptised, with Luc Steffens v/o Ayappan as its first Praeses. However, he resigned during the summer months and was succeeded by Bram Brams v/o Arbo.
At the end of the first semester of the academic year 2003-2004 Arbo was deposed and was given the title of honorary praeses. He was succeeded by his Vice-praeses, Paul Masier v/o Wulf. Arbo died in the summer of 2004 after a tragic fall. In his honour, the song Loch Lomon was still regularly sung in a very serene manner at the Gaudia cantuses.
The name Ganges was a reference to the river of the same name, which arises from a small source, and by the confluence of smaller rivers turns into a big wide stream, and finally flows into the sea. Like the river, the club brought together many individuals to form a greater whole and to spread this to the world.
Like Diana, Gaudia organised her club nights in the pool bar The Pocket.
During the 2004-2005 academic year, Hans Brinkhof v/o Tyl became Praeses of Gaudia for the first time. He would be succeeded by Dieter Oosterbaan v/o Strip.
In the academic year 2006-2007 Ruben Wiedijk v/o Balor took over the position of Praeses and the home base was moved to bar Celebrities. Due to poor communication between the praesidium and the owner of the club café (especially in relation to the conditions the club could enjoy), Celebrities was exchanged for the student bar Vagant during the summer holidays. For the first time, Gaudia also got a website. The slogan "In Amicitia Veritas (Est)", which means "In friendship lies the truth" was also introduced for the first time. It refers to one of the basic principles of the club, namely the mutual bond of friendship.
After Balor, the following seniors passed the revue: Frederik Janssen v/o Dolfke (2007-2008), Andey Airey v/o Flappy (2008-2009), Bernd Rams v/o Sik'o (2009-2010) and Hans Brinkhof v/o Tyl who took up the presidency for the second time in 2010-2011.
During the second semester of the academic year 2011-2012, just two weeks before the end of the club year, the student bar was closed down due to ongoing conflicts between InBev and the manager of the Vagant. Praeses Kjell Kooper v/o Rechtercorona decided not to look for a new club café for the year. The club spent the remaining club nights in café de Weerelt.
From Ganges to Gaudia
The 2012-2013 club year, under the leadership of Brecht Raymaekers v/o Zwandabeire, saw a large number of shanks and relatively few senior members. This new batch breathed new life into the club and also led to a new approach and eventually a new name. For them, fun was allowed to take precedence more, but without compromising on student traditions. The then board wondered what the actual meaning of the name Ganges was, since the true reason seemed to have been lost. The club nights then took place in the popular cafe Maxim'O.
Zwandabeire was forced to resign from his position in November due to a long period of rehabilitation after an operation, whereupon Hans Brinkhof v/o Tyl took up the Praeses sash for the third time in Gaudia's history.
During the academic year 2013-2014, Bram Gotink v/o Oudeis took over as Praeses and a quieter location was chosen, namely 't Vervolg. As few still felt a connection with the name Ganges, they started looking for a new name for the club. The name had to convey what the club stood for and also had to start with a "G" so that the Zirkel could be preserved on most Couleur articles. In the end, a praesidium meeting decided in favour of the name "Gaudia".
In 2014-2015, a woman stood at the helm of Gaudia for the first time, Jasmine De Becker v/o Kazoo. She was succeeded by Björn Courtoy v/o Bobo and the following year Jeroen Coenraerds v/o Cap'n took the reins. During this academic year, the "Cantus Virtutum" was organised for the first time; a convivial cantus accompanied by various musicians. They could count on several guitarists, a pianist, an accordionist and even someone who played the bagpipes.
During the academic year 2017-2018, there were heated discussions between the young board led by Brent Bruynseels v/o Venter and the old guard. Several actions and decisions of the board caused bad blood among the old guard. Because the Vice-Praeses did not agree with the decisions and behaviour of the board, he submitted his resignation. A further refusal to communicate by the board eventually led to a vote of no confidence from the old guard and several active members. Venter responded to this motion by resigning and his position was taken over by Ive Van Emmerick v/o Quisque until the end of the year. During the elections for the next academic year, tempers flared again and the Schachtenmeester was removed from his post after leaving the election without warning, upon which the Ab-Actis resigned with immediate effect. The Vice-Praeses who had resigned halfway through the second semester was reinstated in his position and the newly elected Schachtenmeester was immediately installed so that the rest of the election could be completed.
A dispute between the proprietor and InBev led to the permanent closure and demolition of 't Vervolg in the summer of 2018. Gaudia held its club nights during the 2018-2019 academic year in café De Metafoor in Parijsstraat under the leadership of Giel Dops v/o Gulliver. However, the club did not get permission to hang their club shield here and due to the lack of a separate room, the cantuses continued in the Verbondshuis, the permanent home of the KVHV-Leuven.
The following year, Robin Barthels v/o Thanos took over the leadership and most club nights took place in 't Archief. As the space also allowed it, the cantuses were also held here. Unfortunately, the global pandemic threw a spanner in the works, and from March 2020 onwards, most activities took place online. Arne Janse v/o Styx took over in 2020-2021 and organised several online activities in which even foreign students were involved ( such as a lecture by Italian Goliardi). Due to a declining engagement of the active members and an acute lack of new members, the active board was forced to take up board positions in 2021-2022 as well to keep the club running. This trend continued and in 2022 they considered to put the club on suspension.
Ironically, during the Dies Natalis on 13 May 2022, Gaudia would be laid to rest. At the end of the evening, however, pro-senior Cap'n stood up and decided to keep the club going for one more year, to at least celebrate its 20th anniversary with some pomp. He was soon joined by 4 other pro-seniors: Balor, Oudeis, Bobo and Tyl.
Together with some sympathisers, they bid farewell to their club during four activities and on 13 May 2023, Gaudia officially sang its swan song.
Colours
Gaudia's colours are Black-Red-Black with Silver percussion. These colours were chosen by the founders for two reasons:
- The colour combination was unique among the Leuven student clubs.
- The colours gave a nice appearance.
The coat of arms of Gaudia is a Flemish heraldic shield consisting of three large parts. At the top is a banner with the colours Black, Yellow and Blue. Black and Yellow refer to Flanders, where the society is active and Blue refers to the Sedes Sapientiae, the symbol of the KU Leuven.
The shield is further divided vertically into two fields. The left field consists of a yellow background surmounted by a black heraldic lion with red tongue and claws, with the founding year 2003 underneath. The right field is divided diagonally into the club's colours, with the Zirkel in silver upon it.
The Zirkel of Gaudia is formed in the same way as the monograms of most student associations that follow the Germanic colour-bearing traditions. The main part is composed of the letters V, C and F (Vivat, Crescat, Floreatque), followed by the first letter of the club's name. This main part is drawn in a single movement and is followed by an exclamation mark to emphasise the active role of the club.
Couleur
Praeses Sash
The Praeses sash is 2.10 metres long and 12 centimetres wide, and is divided into 3 coloured stripes (black - red - black). At the bottom it is held together by a silver embroidery and the ends are finished with silver fringes.
On the Praeses sashthe Gaudia coat of arms is embroidered (10,5 centimetres high and 9 centimetres wide) at 23 centimetres from the shoulder seam, in the direction of the stripes and it does not state a name or function.
The Praeses sash is worn over the right shoulder above the coat, with the shield on the chest. For the occasions when the Praeses sash is worn, the same rules apply as for the Club band (see below and the Clubcodex).
Former members who have been Praeses are entitled to wear a copy of the Praeses sash mentioning the year (academic year) of their presidency; a so-called pro-senior sash. The year indication may be made in six-digit 'XXXX-XX' or eight-digit 'XXXX-XXXX' version, contrary to what the Clubcodex prescribes (only the six-digit version). These so-called pro-senior sashes are often finished with gold fringes.
Clublint
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The Club band is 1.20 metres long by 27 millimetres wide (this can be adjusted to suit the wearer if required) and is in the club's colours.
It is worn on top or underneath the jacket, as determined by the Praeses. The senior members wear the club band over the right shoulder, the Novices over the left shoulder. The Schachtenmeester, when in office, wears two club bands: one over the right and one over the left shoulder. When not in office, he wears only a Club band over the right shoulder.
The club may bestow an honorary band on the honorary praeses, a commilito honoris causa and, for exceptional merit, on a commilito or alumnus. Oak leaves are embroidered in silver on an honorary band, with or without the motto.
The Club band must be worn at the regular meetings, as well as at all the meetings, demonstrations, parties, balls, etc. organized by the club or in which they participate.
All hazed members of the club may purchase a Bandknopf and attach it to the Club band. The name, club name and Gaudia slogan will be inscribed on it. This bandknot is silver coloured and finished in the colours of the club.
Bierpet
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What is called a Club Cap in the Clubcodex is called a "bierpet" at Gaudia. This is to distinguish it from the Club Cap of Gaudia (see below).
The Bierpet has three stripes in the club colours as a border and the main colour as a background. On the bottom, the Zirkel of the club is embroidered in silver.
The Bierpet is worn on the back of the head.
At the club table, the bierpet is never removed.
When a corona member gets a tempus and leaves the club table, he puts his bierpet on his glass.
An ex-praeses is allowed to wear a bierpet with a silver embroidered oak leaf.
A member may only wear/purchase this bierpet if he has been baptised and hazed at Gaudia.
Club cap
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Every commilito of Gaudia is entitled to wear a club cap from the moment he/she is baptized at Gaudia.
The cap is of the Verbondspet model, and is made of black with a red and black border and a black short visor. The Zirkel is also embroidered in silver on the top of this cap. No decorations may be applied to this cap, except:
- Faculty Symbols :
- Pair of compasses: all exact sciences
- Sun: all human sciences
- Rod of Asclepius: all medical sciences
- Eventual exceptions may be allowed.
- Year stars :
- a silver star for each year as a non-hazed novice.
- a gold star for each year as an active commilito.
- Function symbols :
- a gold crown for each year as Praeses of the club.
- a silver crown for each year as Schachtenmeester of the club.
- a golden feather for each year as Ab-actis of the club.
- gold keys for each year as Quaestor of the club.
- shaking hands for each year as Vice-Praeses of the club.
Zipfels
Bier- ,Wein- and Sektzipfels are Couleur items that are an expression of a special studentical kinship between the commilitones that exchange them. The distinction between the three types of Zipfels is the following:
- Bierzipfels are wide and long. These are exchanged only between a novice and the official godfather or godmother of that novice.
- Weinzipfels are narrower and shorter. They are exchanged among commilitones, but are - in principle - only meant to be worn by male commilitones.
- Sektzipfels are slightly smaller still. They are exchanged among commilitones, but are only intended to be worn by female commilitones. Due to the high cost of these Sektzipfels and the accompanying brooches to wear them, female members of Gaudia may also wear Weinzipfels.
The following rules apply at Gaudia:
- Commilitones (both students and former students) of Gaudia exchange Wein- and/or Sektzipfels among themselves unless it is an exchange between a novice and godfather/-mother.
- Commilitones of Gaudia who wish to exchange Zipfels with commilitones of another club exchange Wein and/or Sektzipfels.
- When exchanging zipfels, there are a few things to bear in mind:
- The Zipfel you give away has the colours of the recipient's club, but in reverse order.
- The Zipfel you give away has the monogram of the giver's club engraved on the front of the centre plate.
- The Zipfel that you give away has a dedication engraved on the back of the centre plate, which always follows the structure of three lines of text:
- Name of giver (v. Club name) Z!
- Name of recipient (former club name) Z!
- Date of the exchange
- The rules for exchanging Zipfels between a novice and its godfather/-mother:
- Novices and their godfathers/-mothers are not obliged to exchange Zipfels.
- The novice receives a Bierzipfel from its godfather/-mother.
- The godfather/-mother receives a Weinzipfel from its novice.
- In principle, the godfather/-mother pays for the Weinzipfel he/she receives from the novice. Of course, other arrangements can be made.
- Exchanging is always done at a club meeting. The Zipfels are placed in each other's full glass and are drunk ad fundum. The Zipfel is fished out of the glass between the teeth to complete the exchange.
The received Zipfels are hung on a Zipfelhalter, which can be clipped to the waistband or the pint. Ladies may wear a special 'Sektzipfelhalter' (a brooch) to which they can attach their Sektzipfel.
Band buttons
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All Gaudia members can purchase and apply a Band button with buttonhole in their club band. This Band button is silver and usually has the name, club name and club slogan engraved on it. It is not used on the Praeses sash or on a pro-senior sash.
Song
Text: Hans Brinkhof v/o Tyl, 2003
Melody: Zeeroverslied
- In ’t Leuvense vloeiden onze levens tesaam
en Ganges da werd onze thuis
’t Maakt niemand uit al vanwaar men kwaam
nu vrezen we proffen nog buis
- Chorus
- ’t Zuipen is ons aangeboren,
- ’t Brabantse bier is ons bloed
- En niks dat ons kan bekoren,
- gelijk dat Gaudia dat doet
- En zijn we moe van ’t lange studeren
we grijpen ons pet en ons lint
We gaan wederom onze kelen smeren
en zijn immer goe gezind
- En is het uit met het lange studeren
vertrek uit ’t goei studentenoord
Da zal ons toch ook nimmer deren
met Gaudia gaat ’t feest altijd voort
List of Seniors
| Year | Senior |
|---|---|
| 2003 - 2004 | Luc Steffens v/o Ayappan (Resigned shortly after the foundation.) Bram Brams v/o Arbo (Dismissed and replaced by his vice-praeses.) Paul Masier v/o Wulf |
| 2004 - 2005 | Hans Brinkhof v/o Tyl (Uylenspiegel) |
| 2005 - 2006 | Dieter Oosterbaan v/o Strip |
| 2006 - 2007 | Ruben Wiedijk v/o Balor |
| 2007 - 2008 | Frederik Janssen v/o Dolfke |
| 2008 - 2009 | Andey Airey v/o Flappy |
| 2009 - 2010 | Bernd Rams v/o Siko |
| 2010 - 2011 | Hans Brinkhof v/o Tyl (Uylenspiegel) |
| 2011 - 2012 | Kjell Kooper v/o Rechtercorona |
| 2012 - 2013 | Brecht Raymaekers v/o Zwandabeire (Resigned in November.) Hans Brinkhof v/o Tyl (Uylenspiegel) |
| 2013 - 2014 | Bram Gotink v/o Oudeis |
| 2014 - 2015 | Jasmine De Becker v/o Kazoo |
| 2015 - 2016 | Björn Courtoy v/o Bobo |
| 2016 - 2017 | Jeroen Coenraerds v/o Cap'n |
| 2017 - 2018 | Brent Bruynseels v/o Venter (Resigned after a Motion) Ive Van Emmerick v/o Quisque |
| 2018 - 2019 | Giel Dops v/o Gulliver |
| 2019 - 2020 | Robin Barthels v/o Thanos |
| 2020 - 2021 | Arne Janse v/o Styx |
| 2021 - 2022 | Arne Janse v/o Styx |
| 2022 - 2023 | Jeroen Coenraerds v/o Cap'n |
Sources
- Hans Brinkhof v/o Tyl
- Schachtencursus Gaudia
- http://gaudia.be/ (2018)
