Visiting F.D.L. Gibalaux: 'Becoming passionate about your study association'
The current and future board of F.D.L. Gibalaux, the study association of the French language and culture programme, talk about the association, the change of board, their experiences and plans.
We visited F.D.L. Gibalaux during an interesting period: the board of the study association will change in September. The hoc tempore (current) board will hand over the baton to the future tempore (future) board.
Number of members: 48
Board 2018-2019: Sanne (chairman), Michelle van der Velden (secretary), Paras Dadra (treasurer) and Maral Kazikan (assessor activities).
Board 2019-2020: Joyce van Zwet (chairman), Lindsay Keyenberg (secretary), Marcel Beentjes (treasurer), Myrthe Galle (assessor internal) and Bart Bussink (assessor external).
‘Les Vestes Rapides’
The current Gibalaux board, nicknamed 'Les Vestes Rapides': the fast jackets. Named after the 90s jackets they bought on a study trip to Antwerp.
We asked the current board how the Leiden association got its name. Sanne, the current chairman, tells us that they came up with this name in 1993, when the former association of the study programme had fallen apart and a new one was founded: ‘They had to come up with a name and a bicycle race to the south of France was set up. That summer, the winning group stranded in the town of Gibalaux, near the Spanish border. The hamlet, which only had a small wine farm, didn’t even exist on the map that now hangs in the association’s boardroom.'
What it's like to run a study association? ‘We really were a fun board, that’s what everybody tells us," Sanne says, laughing. ‘I think that some boards can get into a rut, because you’re working towards the end of the year. But we had fun all the way to the end.’ Assessor activities Maral says: 'The four of us are very close, so we always have fun together. One tip: be friends with each other before you become board members together.’ Michelle and Paras add that it’s also important to be open to new things, and also to build a good relationship with other boards.
In addition to the annual wine tasting and the first-year weekend, the current board is particularly enthusiastic about a new activity that they have introduced in the past year: the salon drink, a monthly drink with a French touch. A guest speaker introduces a theme, after which there is room for discussion. ‘The salon drink has a bit of an 18th century style: it is an intellectual get-together, but it should also be fun,' Sanne explains.
Passionate about the association
The future board will replace the current board in September to keep Gibalaux running. Why do they choose to run the study association? ‘In recent years, we have all been active in activities and committees,' says Joyce, the future chairman, 'This will cause you to become really passionate about your association'. Future secretary Lindsay agrees with Joyce: 'Last year I had responsibilities within the travel committee. Soon I will be able to carry out similar tasks for the entire association.’
They have already planned some new activities. ‘We are going to, for example, change things up when it comes to the big trip’, says Myrthe, assessor internal. 'Previously, Paris was the fixed destination, but this year maybe it won't be. That's all I can tell you!'
Marcel, who is preparing for his role as treasurer, explains that they will be organising more educational activities: 'This way we would like to reach the international French-speaking students more. If we allow the French language to be more present in our activities, they will become more involved in Leiden's associations.'
In order to win over the new first-year students, preparations for the EL CID are in full swing. ‘During the Faculty block we will create something unique,' says Myrthe. The new board wants to attract the first-year students with, among other things, a new acquisition committee. According to future assessor external Bart, the aim is to inform students about where on the labour market they might end up with their French language and culture skills: 'This way, we will also show them what students will be able to do with their degrees in the future.’
According to Marcel, the Leiden study programme really distinguishes itself from that of other universities. ‘The programme has a cross-border nature, with, for example, French-speaking countries in Africa being discussed during lectures.’ 'When attending the programme, students can visit these areas. You can study in France using a scholarship, but you can also go to Canada for a few months,' says Myrthe. According to Joyce, studying abroad is a great experience, 'and the best way to learn your trade!
Toasted sandwiches and team building
The study association ends the year by eating toasted sandwiches and a survival activity in a polder near Amsterdam. One of the members of Gibalaux explains: 'We wanted to end the year by doing something playful and something big. We can all get dirty here and it stimulates team building: if you fall, you have to help each other get back up.' And that fits in well with this year's motto: fraternité, brotherhood and sisterhood.
In the series Visiting... we take a look behind the scenes at the study associations of the Faculty of Humanities. Are you a member of a study association? Read all about the study associations of our faculty on this page.
Image: Simone Both & Wide Vijselaar
Text: Simone Both & Wide Vijselaar