VU Amsterdam, the AUAS and the UvA have jointly decided to restore ties with student rowing association A.S.R. Nereus.
Over the past year and a half, the student association has worked intensively on bringing about a change in culture and improving social safety within the association. At this point those efforts provide the institutions with sufficient confidence to resume cooperation.
Lifting the sanctions is subject to the conditions that periodic consultations are continued and that Nereus continues to work on safeguarding and monitoring social safety within the association, and records this in its own multi-year plan. In the event of new serious incidents the institutions can jointly decide to take measures, such as again restricting support or limiting opportunities for promotion and recruitment on campus.
In 2024, following a serious incident, ties with the rowing association were severed. At that time, the Administrative Body Membership Grants for Nereus were withdrawn and the association was no longer permitted to promote itself or recruit new members through the university. In recent years, intensive consultations have taken place and progress in the necessary change in the association’s culture has been closely monitored with a view to restoring the relationship. On the basis of those consultations, the measures introduced and a protocol with assessment criteria developed by the institutions, it has now been decided to restore ties with the association subject to conditions.
Since the end of 2024, Nereus has been working on raising awareness, changing rules and values, changing members’ behaviour and influencing the association’s culture. Among other things, a Culture & Safety Committee has been established, confidential advisers have been better positioned and trained, policies and protocols have been revised, and the association has distanced itself from the ‘bras culture’. Through the ‘Gelijkspel’ programme new members are also informed about social and sexual safety, power dynamics and standards of conduct in dedicated workshops. This programme has now been structurally embedded within the association.
University students are entitled to a grant if they serve on the board of a recognised association. VU Amsterdam, AUAS and the UvA consider it important to support study associationsand student associations, including sports associations, because they play a key role in students’ social development, in forming friendships, learning from one another and gaining life experience.
Student associations are themselves responsible for the day-to-day running of the association and any sub-associations or fraternities/sororities (‘disputen’ in Dutch). Higher education institutions provide board grants so that students have the time and space to work for students’ interests and to develop valuable board skills during their studies. A board grant compensates students for the time and effort required for a board year and can help to limit any delay in their studies.