The orientation market in the Goffertpark is coming up! Over four days first-year students will get the chance to learn about student life in Nijmegen. They can also play sports with their introduction group for an hour. Everything else will be done online.

After Mark Rutte announced at his last press conference that physical activities during orientation weeks were only possible in small groups, organiser Dionne Aldus was able to change the programme of our orientation week one more time.

The orientation market in the Goffertpark will now last for four days instead of one. 1,000 to 1,500 first-year students are welcome to join us in the park each day, from Sunday to Wednesday, although the actual turnout is expected to be lower. “Most students are probably in quarantine, especially international students. Anyone with symptoms should also stay home. And some students might feel like it is too far away for them to travel for a programme that only lasts a few hours.

First-year students can explore the stalls of the associations in small groups by walking along a one-way 800 metre route. Each stall can have three people present, who can speak with three people at a time. There will be no stages or catering this year.

Playing football

After the orientation market, the mentor groups will go to one of the four sports fields at the Sports Centre. “Each group is given one hour to try out three to five sports,” says Aldus.

Of course, the necessary coronavirus measures will also be in place. In order to keep the number of groups coming into contact with each other as low as possible, each field has its own entrance and exit routes as well as its own bicycle parking area. Upon arrival, participants must disinfect their hands. There are taps and a toilet, but the changing rooms of the Sports Centre will remain closed.

You can play a round of soccer, but only with your own mentoring group. “We want to avoid mixing groups,” says Aldus. “We know who is assigned to each group. That way we know who to contact in case anyone tests positive for the coronavirus afterwards. However, if everyone obeys the rules, this should not be necessary.”

No picnics

After the hour of sports, the physical part of the orientation market is over. “Then it is time for everyone to go home as the rest of the orientation week will be held online. There will be no other in-person meetings outside of this activity. However, small degree programmes can meet in one of the lecture halls where the student advisor can provide some more information,” says Aldus.

Anything to do with camaraderie, such as events organised by orientation committees and associations, had to be removed from the programme. “Mentor groups will not even be allowed to have a picnic in the park,” says Aldus. “It is disappointing but everyone’s health is our priority.”

‘The municipality will be inspecting the market’

The coronavirus measures will be enforced during the orientation market and on the sports day. “The municipality will be inspecting the market,” says Aldus. “But if we honour what we promised in the permit application, there will be no issues. So please do not go and sit on each other’s laps! (laughs). There will also be supervision in the city centre and on the Waalstrand,” says Aldus.

Record

Has the orientation week programme now been finalised? “If it were up to me, it would be,” says Aldus. “But if something crazy happens in the Netherlands — for example at another orientation week — our permit can still be revoked, even halfway through the week itself.”

Nevertheless, more students than ever signed up for the orientation week. On Monday morning the total number of participants was 4,091, which is well above last year’s 3,400 participants.