In previous years, anyone walking towards campus along the Limbopad on the first day of the Intro would be left with a stack of flyers in hand. And many of those flyers would end up in the trash or on the ground. “Such a waste,” says Karine van den Wildenberg of the Facility Management Center. Having all those flyers strewn on the ground no longer fits within the context of a sustainable campus, she believes. “Sustainability is an important key objective in the university’s Strategy 2030 and led to the creation of this policy in collaboration with the Go Green Office.”

According to Van den Wildenberg, organizers are taking the new policy seriously, including the Central Introduction Committee (CIC). Part of the process was contacting all parties involved, such as associations and companies, says Jochem Plegt of CIC. They had to get used to the idea, but there was also a lot of understanding. I thought there would be some backlash, but companies were eager to contribute ideas.”

Apples

One amusing example he points out is from Euflex, on Welcome Day, the Friday before the Intro. “They printed their logo on apples. If the goodies are eaten almost immediately, they’re sustainable, of course.” And sure enough, there is hardly a flyer in sight along the Limbopad on Monday morning. However, many first-year students’ arms are covered in stamps when they arrive at the Auditorium.

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While it is definitely discouraged to hand out items during the Intro, there are no concrete consequences attached to it, according to Van den Wildenberg. “But if we discover that people are not following the rules, we will address it with them.” However, she says it would be unrealistic to inspect everyone on the Limbopad. This is the first time these rules are in place for everyone, she adds. That is also why, earlier this year at the Career Expo, it was decided not to be too strict in enforcing them yet, because much of what would be handed out had already been ordered.

Fruit basket

Attention will be paid to the new rules during evaluations. “We ask what organizers did, how it went and whether they have any tips for others.” Plegt also stresses that the new policy is still in its early stages. “We should see what’s possible this year and all be a bit creative.”

Who knows, maybe the tradition of handing out stickers and flyers has made way for a new one, and next year’s Intro attendees should consider bringing a fruit basket to the Limbopad.