I am Stephan van Pelt, and I study the bachelor’s Cognitive Science and Artificial Intelligence. I am now in my second year, and I am still really enjoying my study. This year, I am the commissioner of the Party Committee, which organizes parties and cantusses to connect Flow members with each other!
At the End-of-Year Party last year, I was talking to some people, including the commissioner of the Party Committee at the time, who said "This would suit you so well!" and that last year’s members would join the Committee if I would apply to be commissioner. I knew I still wanted to be active in Flow after my year in the Weekend Committee, so when I heard from three people that they'd be excited to see me as their commissioner, I decided to go for it!
So you were elected, almost?
Exactly, you could definitely say that!
As for now, the Halloween Party was kind of similar. We just chose a theme and sub-theme to get people in dressed-up in outfits. Since the committee has nine members this year, it is harder to cooperate. I need to manage all of them at the same time, which can be a difficult task. However, that does mean that we can distribute the tasks better and also have the option to be even more ambitious than in previous years! For the upcoming events, you might see some changes. That will become apparent at the free activity we will be organizing next semester as well, so stay tuned for that!
I'm very curious! What about the other activities?
Other than that, we are mostly staying on course. We are organizing some Flow classics like the Sintercantus and the Flow & Co. Cantus which we are of course keeping the same. Perhaps you will notice a difference in the scale, though!
It is very funny that sometimes you do not even realize you are with a very big group. We had some bondings and I had an amazing time. I really like hanging out with my committee! We had some shifting around in the committee due to some members who struggled with time constraints, but luckily we were able to find some very incredible people to substitute for their places.
To be honest, we have a very active group. Our members consist of a lot of people who had already been in the Party Committee in previous years, including as commissioner. The experience they have is incredibly valuable. That helps me as a new commissioner too. There is just a very nice atmosphere and, with our new members, I'm sure it will be even better
This is your first year as commissioner and your second year as an active member. What has your experience been like at Flow so far?
I did not start out planning to be so active at Flow, but a friend of mine recommended me to join, so I became a member in my first year at university. Then I joined the Cocktail Workshop, where I met some people asking me if I wanted to become an active member, and I ended up liking the sound of that. So I joined a committee that felt like a good introduction to Flow, which was the Weekend Committee for me. In hindsight, it was incredibly worth it. I really learned a lot and that was also the reason for me to become a commissioner this year!
I think on a more personal level, I would like to develop my leadership skills, while managing such a big group of amazing people and organizing cool events. After my studies, I also hope to pursue leadership positions, so I am really excited that I am able to get some practice in for myself at Flow! That is something for me personally that I am really passionate about. I also evaluate my strengths and weaknesses as a commissioner with my board buddy and it is great to have some support there for self-growth! I am striving to be a better commissioner at the end of the year compared to who I was when I started.
I think “the Hangover” would be fitting. Not only does it of course overlap with the theme of the committee, but it resembles a pub golf bonding we had with our committee quite well: drinking maybe a bit too much, while remembering only a fraction of the evening.
I would have to say an "All Time Flow" party, where all previous members of Flow are invited! There must be cheap drinks, and it must be held at a special location. Usually, we organize events at Klein Café Van Horen Zeggen or Café de Boekanier, because these are the bars where Flow members are most active. Instead, I think I would look for a unique environment that is a contrast from the kind of atmosphere of where we typically organize parties. Preferably somewhere where our members would not often go; perhaps even outside of Tilburg! A bigger party setting, more people, more advertising.
I am very interested in hearing from Flow’s first board, for example! It has been quite a while since they have been active, and it would be really cool to bring different generations of Flow together in this way.
