Founded only in 2016, PPE at VU amsterdam's John Stuart Mill College is a comparatively young programme which by proxy makes its respective study association even younger to boot. Kallioppe, now being run by its sixth board, has had to leap multiple hurdles to emerge as a fully-fledged Dutch(-style) study association. Starting without even a board room, little by little, complicated by the fact that international members of the association weren’t always familiar with the Dutch system, and hampered by a year and a half without on-campus education and events, the association has grown to become the nexus of fourth floor social life. Now with the introduction of the member’s room that position will be cemented for years to come. As Kallioppe’s external officer, Hesther Schakenraad, puts it: “The member’s room will further increase social cohesion within PPE by offering students a place to relax and socialise right after their classes. We also expect turnout for our borrels and other events to be higher now that we can simply hold them on the fourth floor, which will hopefully increase membership and cause current members to renew. Furthermore, with the member’s room as clear ‘social area’ on the fourth floor, the study area will be much more tranquil and can be fully dedicated to its primary purpose; studying”
At the grand opening of the member room, the dean of John Stuart Mill College, Roland Luttens, remarked: “I hope this rebranding of the room will truly make it a space for the community. On bachelor-taster days I give prospective students multiple reasons to study PPE, along with the studying abroad and interdisciplinary aspect, I also stress the sense of community. This exclusive member’s room will contribute tremendously towards that feeling of community. And now that we have this room, I have one request for you all: Use it. Be here, socialise, engage, be part of the PPE community.”
Kallioppe’s president, Isabel Rodríguez Digón, said in her speech: “This space is for all of us to share something together and to get more out of Kallioppe. This space will unite us more on the fourth floor, as even the staff is here now. We wanted to personalise this room to better represent what we do and who we are, for all of you. Thank you to all the members of the board and other helpers who put in the hours to make this happen. And most of all thank you to Kallioppe’s committees and members for making our association awesome and making this possible, this is for you!”