A timeline of excesses at Utrecht associations.
1965 – The soot cap affair
A student from Tres Faciunt Collegium, a fraternity within the Utrechtsch Studenten Corps, died as a result of the so-called soot cap affair. During his initiation, he was given a soot hood, which was not treated with coal soot but with petroleum soot. The prospective member choked.
2002 – Taking cod liver oil and poop in the hair
Utrecht University has stopped subsidizing the student association Veritas after hazing rituals got out of hand. Students fainted, had shit smeared in their hair, had to take cod liver oil and were given effervescent tablets to make them foam at the mouth. According to a study by the university, there was mental and physical exhaustion.
2017 – Forced eating
During the initiation of the UVSV women’s corps, members were forced to eat and their vests were torn. A broadcast of the Rambam program suggested that the hazing had been much more serious. An investigation showed that it was less serious than expected, and that two minor violations were committed.
2018 – Misogynistic songs
Utrecht University stopped funding the Utrecht Earth Sciences Association (UAV). The reason is misogynistic songs that are sung during the association’s introduction weekend.
2018 – Email with racist and sexist comments
Unitas suspended a member after an internal email with “hurtful, racist and sexist comments.” The email was an invitation to a drink in which members were encouraged to “drink as much as the number of victims in the earthquake in Lombok.”
2022 – Misogynistic posts
Student association Veritas suspends members who were involved in a message full of misogynistic and other transgressive language. In the message from Jaarclub Bandolero that leaked, women are invariably referred to as ‘whores’ and the cultural change towards a more inclusive and open association is ridiculed.
2023 – Incident with stripper
The Utrecht Student Corps is controversial after an incident with a stripper, who is photographed in a vulnerable position. A leading member of the association shared that photo on Snapchat. Members involved in this were suspended for three months.