At 1.30pm, hundreds of Intro kids are expectantly waiting at the long tables set down in Forum. The seniors are quick to show them how things work, quickly resulting in the whole bunch slamming tables, half of the group singing ‘It’s quiet on the other side’, and many smaller groups chanting the evergreen ‘TeMa sucks’.

Precentor Stefan Schweren offers an in-depth explanation of the rules one more time before they start: Drink only when the senior says you can; remain seated; do not stand on benches. But as the Cantus progresses, more and more students couldn’t care less about the rules. As a result, the five thousand liters of Cantus beer meant for the Intro students end up not only in their mouths, but on the floor as well. The corresponding ‘penalty’ involves them being escorted off the Cantus premises for a while. Of course, for many participants, that’s the whole point.

Among the tappers and supervisors are many veterans, including Jammy Huiskens, who once studies Computer Science at TU/e and has never missed a Cantus here. Today, he is the bar supervisor. Did anything change over the years? “It’s in MetaForum now, that’s one thing that’s changed. I like it, it’s more convenient. But other than that it’s all pretty much the same. I’m sure the first song will be Io vivat followed by the Dutch national anthem Wilhelmus, and Beer here!” he says beforehand. It turns out he’s right.

Songs such as The Wild Rover, West Virginia, and the Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes are chanted with fervor. Even the foreign students try their best to sing along with songs entitled M’n fiets is gejat, for example.

In between songs, Executive Board member mr. Jo van Ham wishes all new students a great time and good luck in their academic career. As soon as the event’s done, all participants are hosed down by the fire department right away. This may have been the last cantus, or at least with this setup. From next year, alcoholic beverages will only be available to people aged 18 or over.