The first of the two AID’s starts today. Photo: Roelof Kleis The first of the two summer AID programmes starts today. On the evening before the first Wageningen introduction week was due to start, the board was still working on changes to the programme in the light of to comply with the emergency ordinance in force from 10 August. During the introduction week, the ordinance permits only “small-scale gatherings organized by educational institutions, student sports or study association, focusing on education or sport’. Activities at the student societies’ club houses are not allowed to go ahead.
Because the AID was already planned along coronavirus-proof lines, it did not have to undergo a total makeover, says AID project leader Sjef Moling. ‘Of course, we have had to make the necessary adjustments to obey the new emergency ordinance.’ The visit to the student societies on day three (‘Let’s go SOOS-ial’) had to be changed into an online programme putting the student societies in the spotlight. ‘We already had that lined up as a back-up plan,’ says Moling.
Recruiting members
Other components such as AIDventure and Chat & Chill could not go ahead in the planned format, either. ‘We are working on thinking up a new component that conforms to the rules but also includes the student societies. There is consultation with the municipality and the safety region to see what scope the rules leave us, and how we can best guarantee compliance with the rules that apply to everyone (keeping a safe distance, washing hands, not shaking hands, and staying at home if you have symptoms) during the AID.’
We already had that lined up as a back-up plan
AID project leader Sjef Moling
Student societies have always played a big role in the AID – which is the moment for them to recruit new members. ‘This changes an awful lot for them, because the activities they were going to host are not allowed anymore,’ says Moling. ‘We are creating space both online and face-to-face where they can present themselves safely and where newly arriving students can obtain information about the societies. We are still working out the details but it will be like the info fair of other years, only with much more distance.’
Enforcers
Security guards from an external company will be hired to enforce the coronavirus measures, explains Jessie Beirnaert, chair of the AID board. These guards will keep any eye on people to make sure they maintain sufficient physical distancing and don’t shake hands. ‘It is so important that people adhere to that.’
The first of the two AIDs – the event was split in two to make keeping one and a half metres’ distance possible – starts at 11.00 and goes on until Sunday 16 August. The second AID starts on Tuesday 18 August and ends on Friday 21 August.