Information AboutStudentenverbindung |
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ORGANIZATION corporation house of the K.St.V. Arminia Bonn at Bonn ( 1900 – today)]] A corporation in Germany, Austria, Switzerland or elsewhere in Europe consists of the ''active'' students, who study any academic subject at a University , and the already graduated ''Alte Herren'' (Elder Gentlemen or alumni) /''Hohe Damen'' (High Ladies) that have once been active in the corporation. The active students usually reside in the , some kind of small dorm for the members of the corporation which also has common rooms for festivities. One of the many benefits of joining a corporation is the especially low pricing of the often rich rooms. Some argue that corporations actively try to get new members through these low-priced rooms who they then socialize to their traditions. The corporation is mostly financed by the ''Alte Herren''. The latter are said to also take care of the students' careers, helping them in their subjects of study and in other areas of life, up to organizing good jobs and opportunities after graduation. In turn, the active students when becoming ''Alte Herren'' finance and help the then-actives. This alleged networking is seen as problematic by other students and most Students' Union s. Corporations are organized under umbrella organisations; for example there is the Wingolfsbund (WB), the Cartellverband Der Katholischen Deutschen Studentenverbindungen (CV), the Kartellverband Katholischer Studentenvereine (KV), Weinheimer Senioren-Convent (WSC), the Süddeutsche Kartell (SK), the Coburger Convent (CC), the Deutsche Burschenschaft (DB), the Verband Der Vereine Deutscher Studenten (VVDSt) or the Kösener Senioren-Convents-Verband (KSCV). The term ''Phillister'', in contrast to ''Couleuriker'', is used for people who are not member of a Studentenverbindung and therefore not used to the students' traditions. Originally the term was used for all non-students. ''Couleuriker'' comes from the French word ''couleur'' (color), and is a term for members of all kinds of Studentenverbindungen due to the fact that normally members of Studentenverbindungen wear a ribbon (Farbenband) in the colors of their Studentenverbindung to show their affiliation. HISTORY The vast majority of the current corporations were founded in the early to mid-, as does their tradition. This includes ideals of , and in some cases . Almost all corporations have a tendency towards . , and also play a big role in many corporations. Prominent items in corporations' tradition is the in (see ) and the Fest. During the early 20th century many ''Burschenschaften'' expelled their Jewish members. However, despite the enormous pressure brought to bear on the Studentenverbindungen in the years following the Nazi seizure of power (1933), many resolutely refused to expel Jewish members since to have done so would have been inimical to their founding ideals, and the values they continue to extol today. ''Catholic corporations'' and other Christian corporations, originating from the mid of the 19th century, have been founded as a countermovement to ''Burschenschaften'' and ''Corps''. They strictly refuse as unethical. Their s are () , and (catholic corporations) or other principles like ''Wingolfsbund'''s (Gr.) "Δί ένός πάντα" - "Di henos panta!" (all through christ). TRADITION One part of the tradition is the , which is a ritualized , but without the possibility for anyone to win. Unlike earlier times nowadays the chance of light injuries is smaller however still common. Typical injuries include facial scars. Fatal or serious injuries are nearly impossible. The fencing is seen as a of fighting for the corporation and for their ideals. Many student societies do not permit their members to fence though. Catholic and other Christian fraternities for instance, have been founded to antagonize . However, they share some part of other formal traditions of the Corps and Burschenschaften. The traditional symbols ('''') corporation members wear -coloured caps and ribbons- are seldom seen today at universities. THE MOST COMMON KINDS OF ''STUDENTENVERBINDUNGEN'' Despite a wide variety of ''Studentenverbindungen'', certain kinds are prevalent; the most common types are: ''Caption: wc=wearing couleur; nc=not wearing couleur; pf=practicing academic fencing; fo=academic fencing optional; nf=not practicing academic fencing Uncommon, but influential are the academical-technical engineering clubs ("Akademischer Verein") of the ''Hütte'' and ''Miltenberg-Wernigeroder Ring''; the "Hütte" is the publisher of one of the major Engineering compendiums in Germany. 1 ARE CORPORATIONS , , ? Most of the corporations consist of men only, fewer corporations are mixed-gender, and there are some corporations which consist of women only. In Austria , it is common for a men-only fraternity to sponsor a women-only sorority taking the same name with the prefix "''Nova''" ( Latin for "New"). In Germany, there are also instances of fraternities helping fledgling sororities. Some of the traditional orientations as well as misbehaviour of a minority of the corporations regularly leads to prejudices about all of them being right-wing and chauvinist. The vast majority of the corporations see themselves as liberal and tolerant, whereas others are described rightly as ''deutschtümelnd'' (). This includes supporting the idea of a greater Germany including all German speaking territories, such as Austria or . For example, the party ranks of the right wing to a large proportion consist of members of such corporations (whereas members of Catholic corporations are strongly represented within the or the ). Most corporations, like , en and en allow members with any skin colour, nationality and religion. Christian corporations may be restricted to a specific confession or Christian belief. Many Burschenschaften restrict membership to people from German heritage. Alleged connections between corporations and right-wing organisations are a constant issue for many (left-wing) s and organisations in Germany and Austria. SEE ALSO Fraternities
Umbrella organizations of fraternities
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