Student society
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A '''student society''' or '''student organization''' is an [[organization]], operated by [[students]] at a [[university]], whose membership normally consists only of students. They are often affiliated with a university's [[students' union]]. Student societies often aim to facilitate a particular activity or promote a belief system, although some (explicitly) require nothing more than that a member is a (former) student. Some are not affiliated with a specific university and/or accept non-university students.
Typical examples are:
* [[Faculty (university)|Faculty]] society - uniting students from one university faculty.
* [[Study association]] - uniting students from all years in one study.
* [[Regional]] society - uniting students from the same region or hometown.
* [[Debate|Debating]] society - political debates.
* [[Film]] society - Often using lecture theatres to show films cheaply on campus.
* [[Hiking]] club - Organising trips.
* [[International student]] society - Introducing international students to one another.
* [[Music]] society - student ensembles.
* [[Civil Society]] - To encourage polite behaviour among future leaders.
* [[Science fiction]] society - Meeting to watch science fiction TV and films.
* [[Taekwondo]] society, [[Karate]] club - Meeting to learn [[martial arts]].
==Student societies by location==
===Belgium===
In [[Flanders]], student societies play a unique role in student life. Student societies there have traditionally been [[politics|politically]] active, and they played a significant part in the 1960s division of the [[Catholic University of Leuven]] into separate [[Flanders|Flemish]] and [[Wallonia|[Walloon]] universities.
A student society in Belgium is led by a ''praesidium''. The head of the praesidium (and the society) is the ''praeses''. Alternative spellings are ''presidium'' and ''preses''. For most positions, Dutch names are used nowadays.
Other positions include:
* ''Vice-praeses'': assists the praeses where needed.
* ''Quaestor'': takes care of the money.
* ''Ab-actis'': the secretary of the student organisation.
* ''Cantor'': Leads the [[cantus]]. <!-- Latin plural of 'cantus' is simply 'cantus', as it's a noun of the fourth declension -->
* ''Vertor'': Organises cultural activities.
* ''Scriptor'': Is responsible for creating a magazine.
* ''Bacchus'': Makes sure there is enough beer.
* ''Dominus morum'': Is responsible for keeping order at a [[cantus]].
Positions are flexible, and change to meet the needs of the student organisation.
Student societies used to be politically engaged, but are now more focused on organizing [[party|parties]], [[cantus]], and [[culture|cultural]] activities.
Student societies also exist at [[polytechnic]]s.
<!-- I assume that [[hogeschool]] is a half-translated Dutch term, but "high school" might have an altogether different meaning in the Netherlands. -->
New members go through an initiation ritual before becoming full members of a Belgian student society. A new member is called ''schacht'' and has to undergo a ''baptism''. The baptism is the first step to integration in the student society. The next (and last) step to becoming a full-fledged member is the ''ontgroening''. After the ''ontgroening'', one becomes a normal member or ''commilito'' of the organization, and can join the praesidium if one so chooses. Normal members are also referred to as ''anciens''.
See also:
[[Education in Belgium]]
===Canada===
The [[Alma Mater Society]] at [[Queen's University]] is the oldest such organization in [[Canada]], and currently the most extensive in regard to student involvement. It is currently a multi-million corporation employing over 500 students. The day-to-day operations of the AMS are overseen by the AMS Council which includes an annually elected three-person executive (the President, Vice-President (Operations) and Vice-President (University Affairs), selected as a slate), five commissioners who are each responsible for a specific aspect of student life, and three directors who are responsible for overseeing the AMS’ 14 corporate services.
===European-wide===
In Europe, there are several continent-wide student organisations fostering exchange among students of different [[Nationality|nationalities]] and [[cultures|Culture]], such as
* [[AEGEE]] (European Students Forum), trying to spread the [[European Idea]]
* [[AIESEC]] (worldwide student organisation)
* [[IAESTE]] (worldwide student organisation)
* [[ESN]] (Erasmus Student Network), promoting student mobility in Europe and beyond; present in over 200 universities / 28 countries; 35.000 member (by 04.2006)
* JADE
* [[Studentenforum im Tönissteiner Kreis]] e. V. (''Student Forum within the Tönissteiner Kreis'', a politically and confessionally independent, interdisciplinary student think tank fostering European and international cooperation)
* Bonding
with a different range of topics and activities.
There is also the [[National Unions of Students in Europe]], a representative student organisation at European level, notably within the [[Bologna process]].
===Germany===
In [[Germany]], student societies are wide-spread and various, though by lack of support from the universities (and by force of variety), generally do not boast many members. The most popular are the [[Studentenverbindung]]en; most of them are moderate and tolerant, although many are restricted to male or Christian members.
The counterpart to these more conservative organisations are left-wing and anti-fascist student organisations as [[Anti-Fa]] or [[Praxis]] (in Bavaria).
On many universities - although in many states not officially recognised - there are student representations, called '''AStA''' (Allgemeiner Studenten-Ausschuss), '''StuVe''' (Studentische Vertretung) or '''StuRa''' (Studentenrat).
Other organisations include [[European Student Associations]] and the student organisations of the [[Germany|German]] [[political party|political parties]]
Yet, there are also politically and confessionally independent, interdisciplinary and not-for-profit student organisations. One of, if not the leading one in Germany is the [[Studentenforum im Tönissteiner Kreis]] e. V. (Student Forum within the Tönissteiner Kreis e. V.) that is part of a European and worldwide network of student organizations, the Politeia Community.
See also:
* [[Studentenverbindung]]
* [[Fraternities and sororities]]
===Ireland===
Student societies are widespread in Ireland's universities, with a wide range of activities catered for, including debating, role-play, gaming, faculty-based activities, performing arts, political activity etc. The range of support for societies varies from university to university, though all universities provide funding and facilities to some extent for societies.
A student society in Ireland is led by a committee or council. The head of the society and the committee is the ''Auditor'', a term first coined for the head of [[Trinity College Dublin|Trinity's]] [[College Historical Society]].
See Also:
* [[UCD Dramsoc]]
* [[Literary and Historical Society]]
* [[UCC Philosophical Society]]
* [[University College Dublin Symphony Orchestra]]
===Netherlands===
In the [[Netherlands]], there are different forms of student societies. Originally there was just the ''Corps'' (for [[corpus studiorosum]]), student bodies, founded in the early 19th century, as a part of the governing of the [[education]] on the [[universities]] and to give students the opportunity to develop themselves in all fields of life. On the wave of [[catholic emancipation]] starting in the 1890s, small groups of students, gathered around local [[priests]], split off from the [[liberal]], [[secular]] (in name anyway) corps fraternities to form their own societies focused on the [[catholic]] [[religion]]. This started the formation of many other religious societies in the different university cities. In the second half of the 20th century the Catholic split-offs formed an intercity-connection; the [[Aller Heiligen Convent]] and the focus on the religion was lost or abandoned.
These societies are now known as ''student associations'' in the Netherlands, aimed mostly at social relations and [[gezelligheid]]. Most of the corpora now reside in older buildings in the city center, retaining mostly a rather traditional and conservative image. These organizations offer students a wide range of sports, cultural activities ranging from all levels of sports like [[field hockey]], [[Rowing (sport)|rowing]] and [[Rugby football|rugby]] to extremes like [[kitesurfing]], [[glider]]-flying, all for student-friendly prices and development aid organisations and encouragement to start a new club of some sort at all times. especially
The 20th century also saw, especially in the 1960s, the formation of more independent societies at the universities itself, partly as a reaction against the elite status of the corps, abolishing [[hazing]] and religious links and some even opening up to non-students. These non-Corps student societies are known as ''study associations'' (aimed at extracurricular activities for students, such as study trips, lectures, parties or drinks) or are general associations, for sports, literature, arts, etc., founded at the university itself. typfout?
===Sweden===
Student leisure activities in Sweden are usually organised by the [[students' union]]s (''studentkårer'', ''studentkår'' in singular). Swedish student unions cover the whole area from arranging most of the big parties, cultural activities and sports event, to acting as an equivalent of [[trade union]] for the students so their voices can be heard regarding the content and forms of education. The union is usually divided in smaller parts called sections, ''sektioner'', according to what subjects of programs the students study. Student union membership is compulsory according to law, although many students never see another face of the students' union than that of the party organiser. Generally all kinds of smaller societies, political, religious or just dealing with different kinds of hobbies, are organised within the students' union rather than as separate units.
An exception to this are the two ancient universities in [[Uppsala University|Uppsala]] and [[Lund University|Lund]]. There, most activities except "trade union" issues are organised by the '''[[Nations at Swedish universities|student nations]]''', the oldest student societies in Sweden, now thirteen at each university. The Uppsala nations have a history stretching back to ca 1630–1640, and were likely formed under the influence of the ''[[Landsmannschaft]]en'' in existence at the northern German universities frequented by Swedish students. The nations in Lund were formed at the time of the foundation of the university (1666) or shortly thereafter. The nations take the names from the [[Provinces of Sweden|Swedish provinces]] from which they traditionally recruited their members, but do not always adhere to the strict practice of limiting membership according to those principles.
==International organizations==
*[[AIESEC|AIESEC - The International Platform for Young People to Discover and Develop their Potential]]
*[[Board of European Students of Technology|BEST - Board of European Students of Technology]]
*[[IAESTE|IAESTE - The International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience]]
*[[IAESTE India]]
*[[National Association of College and University Residence Halls|NACURH - National Association of College and University Residence Halls]]
*[[Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP)]]
*[[Colleges Against Cancer]]
*[[Secular Student Alliance]]
*[[Toronto Secular Alliance]]
*[[STAR Study Association RSM Erasmus University]]
*[[AEGEE|AEGEE - European Students Forum]]
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[http://rubas.890m.com Reformation Union of Bonafide Active Students]
== See also ==
* [[Student accommodation]]
[[Category:Student societies|*]]
[[nl:Studentenvereniging]]
[[fi:Opiskelijajärjestö]]