Our new President of the Executive Board Jan Mengelers has taken up his new position last Tuesday. The day before he was probably still part of a carnival 'polonaise’ wearing his ludicrous cleanroom outfit - “Another day at the office boys, ha-haa!” Back at TU/e, Jan was unpleasantly surprised by the grim faces at the Financial and Economic Affairs Service, and gathered them at the window for a bright outlook: “The parking lot does look outdated, doesn’t it?”.

Next week’s headline will probably read ‘Hoofdgebouw assessment required to pay for parking lot refurbishment’. Those working at the Hoofdgebouw can access the building for free 37 days a year, but every additional day will bring in 6.36 euros for every 24 hours. Allegedly, it’s in order to pay for the refurbishment of the parking lots. Or, well, actually the measure is meant to reduce the crowds in the Hoofdgebouw.

Then, Jan will make one of his famous coffee tours around MetaForum. He’ll take a careful look at the flexworking crowds that have fled the Hoofdgebouw, but are now having a hard time fighting for studying and working space with students. Lost in thought, Jan thinks back to TNO, the ‘gezellige’ carnival polonaises, and the upcoming capacity problems in Flux.

One week later, Cursor headlines ‘Library fees necessary to pay for expansion Flux’. Students will receive a four-day free pass to the MetaForum library, but every additional day will bring in 2.43 euros per 6 hours. All this in order to pay for the expansion of Flux. Or, well, actually, the measure is meant to reduce the crowds in MetaForum.

Anyway, back to last Tuesday: the start of Jan’s ‘Tour de TU/e’. Jan might have noticed the small ‘parking frustrations’ note next to the entrance gates, but maybe he merely noticed the dynamite growth figures and the new TU/e buildings. Anyhow, let’s hope he refrained from dancing the polonaise considering his recent ‘Captain Hindsight policy’. All the best at the new job, Jan!