Groninger Studentencorps Vindicat atque Polit

The Groninger Studenten Corps Vindicat atque Polit (Latin for Uphold and Refine (lit. vindicates-and-polishes)) is the oldest Dutch student association and was founded on February the 4th, 1815 as a reaction to attacks on students from local citizens. The first rector of the senate was B.J. Winter. With nearly 2500 members Vindicat is the second largest student organization in Groningen, a city in the north of The Netherlands.

Vindicat building at Grote Markt 27 in Groningen.

Vindicat's society building has a prominent place at the central square of Groningen and is called Mutua Fides (Mutual Trust or Confidence). Its current building is relatively new and was completed in 2014 as part of a large redevelopment in the city centre.[1] The old building was demolished in the same year. In 2005, a copy of the old Mutua Fides has been built in the miniature city Madurodam.[2]

Notable (former) members

Princess Christina of the Netherlands

Prince Maurits of Orange-Nassau, van Vollenhoven

Prince Bernhard of Orange-Nassau, van Vollenhoven

Wim Duisenberg

Controversy

Vindicat has been involved in numerous incidents which have reached national news broadcasts. Most notable: in 1997 a hazing incident caused the death of 18-year-old Reinout Pfeiffer.[3] This led to new rules and guidelines with respect to hazing-related alcohol usage and reporting of incidents.

In 2016 the Dutch Minister of Education Jet Bussemaker called the response from the University of Groningen to another hazing incident : "completely insufficient".[4] Which resulted in a short-lived proposal to completely ban all hazing activities for all student societies in Groningen.[5] In the evaluation a committee instituted by the University of Groningen called for 'large cultural changes'.

After further accusations of disorderly behaviour in a restaurant Vindicat's yearly subsidy from the University of Groningen was temporary suspended in September 2017.[6]

In March 2020, during the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic, 900 members of Vindicat travelled to northern Italy for a ski vacation. During the trip the governmental covid travel safety advice changed to 'only if necessary'. The large perceived corona risk motivated the Party for Freedom to ask questions in the House of Representatives.[7] The students had to return earlier after the trip received widespread national attention.[8]

Images of Vindicat and Mutua Fides
  • Main entrance of the old building, demolished in 2014
  • Cover of an 1854 Vindicat students' song book

References
  1. "Grote markt oostzijde".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. "Corps houdt het netjes in maquette". De Volkskrant. 2 November 2004. Retrieved 11 March 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. "Vader van student die overleed na veel drank: Ik koester geen enkele rancune". Trouw. Retrieved 11 March 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. NRC Handelsblad https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2016/09/28/minister-wil-fellere-reactie-rug-op-incidenten-bij-studentenvereniging-a1523853. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. "Landelijke Kamer van Verenigingen: Ontgroeningsverbod gaat te ver".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. "Background: The reasons why Gronings studentbody Vindicat is under fire". Nu.nl. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
  7. https://www.pvv.nl/in-de-media/interviews/75-fj-related/harm-beertema/10135-pvv-vragen-over-vindicat-met-900-leden-op-wintersport-naar-italie-ondanks-coronavirus.html. Retrieved 11 March 2022. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  8. "Background: GGD takes measures for return of 900 Vindicat members from Italy". Nu.nl. Retrieved 5 March 2020.

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