Friday the 19th of September Rob van der Vaart, Dean of UCU, officially opened the academic year at the Fall Convocation. Key-note speaker was Aleid Wolfsen, Mayor of Utrecht.

In his speech mr. Wolfsen drew parallels between University College and immunities, patches of land which belonged to the church and existed from the Middle Ages until the Napoleonic period. Monasteries and cathedrals had sovereign power over these immunities, and they were protected from the world outside by special laws. As the church was the main locus of scientific research and academic knowledge, the immunities developed into powerful centers of knowledge.

Mr. Wolfsen attributed similar qualities to University College, but also signaled the importance of contact with the world beyond the gate. He mentioned instances of community service occurring on campus, and suggested strategies for further strengthening of these projects, as well as the connection between the college and the city of Utrecht.

Rob van der Vaart, dean of UCU

Aleid Wolfsen, mayor of Utrecht

Yvonne van Rooy, president of the executive board of Utrecht University

Fall Convocation with Mayor Aleid Wolfsen || Friday, 19 September || UCU Auditorium, 13:30

Whether this is your first year at UCU or you’re a repeat offender, please allow PoliticsCo, UCSA, and College Hall to welcome you to a new academic year! In cooperation with the 10th anniversary Team, PoliticsCo will host this Fall convocation. We will present you with an introductory address by the new Dean of UCU on how a UCU education can meaningfully contribute to the world around us, and a key-note speech by the Mayor of Utrecht, Mr. Aleid Wolfsen. Come learn about and discuss the role of UCU within the community of Utrecht. A reception will follow the ceremony.

Due to limited space, those who would like to come must sign up by sending an email to UCSA.PoliticsCo@uu.nl.

Ask not what your city can do for you, but what you can do for your city!

PoliticsCo is a UCSA committee. For information about their activities visit the website: www.ucsa-politics.com.