To distinguish who is and isn’t 18 or older, the university uses of a two-colour system for wristbands during the introduction. That prevents confusion when getting drinks. But because of a miscommunication, both Radboud and HAN are using red wristbands next week – just for opposite age groups.

At Radboud, participants of the introduction 18 or older get a red wristband. At the HAN, introduction participants younger than 18 also get a red one. The institutions discovered the mistake last week. And ordering a new batch of bands, only days away from the introduction, is not an option anymore.

‘Very upsetting,’ called HAN introduction coordinator Esther Fintelman the mistake. ‘The HAN has been using red wristbands for underaged students and green wristbands for adult students for years. Radboud is switching its wristband colours every year.’

The two institutions had communicated beforehand, stresses Fintelman. ‘But somehow, something still went awry. We were under the impression that we had coordinated well with each other.’

Bands with chips

Can underaged participants at the HAN now easily get alcohol next week? It is not that dire, according to Dionne Aldus, Radboud’s introduction coordinator. ‘Our bands are Radboud red, so a bright red colour; the HAN wristbands are more of a fuchsia. We are also, just like last year, using wristbands with a chip that students can pay with.’ HAN wristbands do not have the latter.

‘During the day, you can easily see the difference,’ she explains further. ‘But in a dark pub, the bands are harder to distinguish at first glance. That’s inconvenient, yes.’

To be on the safe side, the HAN notified the pubs in the Molenstraat, where many of the introduction parties are taking place, of the mistake, so the bar staff will be alert. At the Radboud introduction festival, everyone is on high alert as well, assures Aldus. ‘Non-Radboud participants will receive a special wristband upon entering, for which they have to show identification.’

Just like the last two years, the introduction weeks of both Radboud and HAN are taking place during the same week this year. The Radboud Intro starts on the 20^th and lasts until the 28^th of August; HAN’s Open Up introduction week runs from Monday, the 22^nd, until Friday, the 27^th of August. To not make the same mistake next year, there will be an additional check before the bands are ordered, assures Fintelman.

Translated by Antonia Leise