The decision to strike these events from the spring calendar has been made jointly by the organizations in question in collaboration with the TU/e's central crisis team. The latter has let it be known, through spokesperson Ivo Jongsma, that the university believes the risk of infection is too great to allow large numbers of people to congregate on the campus - even though it will be another two months before these events are due to take place, which means that for now at least, they are not subject to the ban on major events up to and including June 1st.

The annual Hajraa Outdoor Tournament running from June 12th through 14th had reached its limit on participants, “including waiting list,” explains Jesse Hulleman, president of the organizing committee. He refers to the decision as “unfortunate, but given the current crisis we have no other choice; everyone's health comes first.”

No joke

Within the association, distinct question marks had been hanging over the event for some time now, according to Hulleman, while the event itself had largely been organized. A week ago, Student Sports Centre director Wim Koch, who is liaising closely with the TU/e crisis team, provided clarity. “On April 1st of all days, so ironic,” says Hulleman. “But, of course, I knew it wasn't a joke.”

It wasn't a pleasant message, responds Koch when asked but, as far as he is concerned, it was a message without a grain of doubt. “It simply wouldn't be responsible to bring people from all over Europe together on the campus so soon after June 1st; who knows the scope of the infection this would be opening the door to. As TU/e, and as a young board of a sports association, you simply don't want to be responsible for a possible new outbreak. Everyone is taking a very realistic view of the situation, fortunately.”

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To minimize any additional financial burden the associations may be suffering, Koch advises that it is always sensible to reach a decision about planned events as early as possible. One event about which just such a decision must shortly be taken is the annual open tournament hosted by tennis association Fellenoord, in early July. “We are going to see what April brings and make a decision at the end of the month.”

Financial leeway

According to Koch, student sports federation ESSF is now taking stock of the problems the Eindhoven-based student sport clubs are running into, “whether they might be getting into difficulties and need assistance, financial or otherwise. In principle, the associations are independent, which means, among other things, they must build up their own reserves - and Hajraa for one has been doing a good job of that over the years. But it's really the smaller associations who may have less leeway, they are the ones we are going to take a good look at now.”

The Student Sports Centre closed its doors and sports grounds on March 11th. Koch ventures - “with the knowledge I now have” - to make no pronouncements about when he expects to be able to re-open the sports facilities. “For the time being, caution must be our watchword, I think. Having said that, next week we will be looking ahead: imagine that at some stage in the not too distant future we can start up again, how will we ensure that we do so safely for everyone?” With the utmost caution, he adds, “I hope that in the summer, say in July, August, we can start doing something again on a very modest scale. But we are taking our cue from the guidelines issued by RIVM and our own crisis team and will continue to do so.”

Hajraa is still keen to look at whether rescheduling its 42nd Outdoor Tournament is an option “and whether later this year we can perhaps host a successful edition after all,” says Hulleman. “If not, we will have to pull the plug and next year, once again, we'll give it our all.”

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Intro scenarios

Another large upcoming event on the campus is the Intro for new students, mid-August. Co-organizer Jeanette Schoumacher hopes that before this month is out a decision can be taken about the event and the form it might take. “So many federations, associations and other parties are involved in the Intro; everyone is keen to know where they stand.”

This coming Tuesday the Central Introduction Committee will be putting to TU/e's Academic Board (whose members include Rector Frank Baaijens, Dean Lex Lemmens and Dean Paul Koenraad of the Bachelor College and the Honors Academy respectively, and ESA director Patrick Groothuis) three detailed scenarios. This follows brainstorming sessions with, among others, the federations representing TU/e's associations, which, as Schoumacher explains, together with their members have considered the possibilities offered by the various options.

As to what exactly these scenarios involve, she prefers to say nothing as yet. What she doesn't hide, however, are her own personal doubts about holding an Intro in its tried and trusted form: “Looking at the situation as it is now, I can hardly imagine that in mid-August we will be out on the Flux field with a crowd of four thousand.” But, as she also says, “Come what may, the Intro will be held; we want people to have the opportunity to get to know our university, one way or another. And so we are thinking, first and foremost, in terms of possibilities and solutions, which may be online.”

According to Schoumacher, other Dutch universities are similarly undecided about their introduction periods. “Everyone is still inclined to wait and see what Mark Rutte, the Prime Minister, will say on April 21st.”

MomenTUm

The organizers of TU/e’s biggest annual celebration MomenTUm, on September 25th, are provisionally working with “Plan A”, confirms co-organizer Liesbeth Castelijns when asked. “At the moment we are starting up everything for the normal version. But at the same time, together with events agency Artishock, we are indeed considering the ‘what if’ scenario; not very specifically as yet, but some ideas have been suggested.” Castelijns hopes that the form MomenTUm will take becomes clear before the summer.

The wait is over at least for the Golden Carpet Festival hosted by study association Japie, which would have been held for the third time in June, and the event Fantasy Court run by the Knights of the Kitchen Table. Music festival Plugged, run by study association CHEOPS, has been postponed from June 4th to September 17th of this year. For the rest, rowing association Thêta has already canceled some public events, including its triathlon in June.