As the start of the new academic year already feels way behind us, you’ve probably met the 57th board or want to make a good impression on them. But who is the person behind the board member? A little get-to-know of these seven, as they call themselves, capable, humble and charismatic people.
Lucas Erkens, president
Hi! My name is Lucas, fourth year "Econometrie" student and currently living next to Blaak. I love playing sports (always down for a game of squash) and like to take my time to cook a nice meal when I'm not in a rush. I'm really looking forward to this year. I hope to see you all on campus and/or in the office for a cup of coffee!
What's your hometown and what is your favourite place there?
Originally, I'm from Almere. There's a soccer field right next to my old school, where we used to play sports/hangout till late at night on warm summer days; it's one of the places I have the best memories of.
What is your most embarrassing childhood story?
I was showing off my karate "skills" to my friends in primary school by "performing" a high-kick, only to injure my knee in front of the gym class.
What was your most memorable moment during a lecture on campus?
The confused looks in my friends' and my eyes when mister Heij raced through the Intro Statistics course with the speed of light.
Why did you become a board member?
I've always enjoyed doing committees at FAECTOR; it's been the ideal start of my student life. I hope that we, as the 57th board, can provide that same basis for the current and new econometric students. I look forward to meeting you all and to bringing FAECTOR to an even higher level together
Melissa de Nie, educational officer
Hi everyone! My name is Melissa and I am 21 years old. Currently I am still in the fourth year of my studies, finishing the bachelor squared programme as we speak. Last fall I spent five months in Zürich, Switzerland on exchange where hiking and skiing were my favorite pastimes. I’m always up for a chat, going for a drink or any other activity and I am very excited to meet all of you during my board year!
What's your hometown and what is your favourite place there?
My hometown is called Maasland, which lies not too far from Rotterdam. Coincidentally, it also organizes a festival called ‘HomeTown’. My favourite place there is probably my parents’ house since that’s where I grew up and where I get to see my family.
What is your most embarrassing childhood story?
When I was very young one of my older sisters had this fairy wand that I liked. Apparently, one day I hit my sister with it around her eyebrow which caused her to need stitches. She still holds this over my head to this day.
What was your most memorable moment during a lecture on campus?
Nothing too specific. Heij telling everyone in the first block repeatedly that if you don’t like studying econometrics at that point, you might as well switch studies. Anne Boring having way too much energy at 9am lectures while I’m just trying my hardest not to fall asleep in the morning.
Why did you become a board member?
I became an active member at FAECTOR halfway through the first year of my studies when I became a part of the Event Committee. Through this I immediately met loads of people and made tons of new friends from all years and study programmes. The inviting and friendly ambiance I experienced at FAECTOR events made me want to stick around, so much even that I got excited to spend an entire year in the office.
Dirkje Tutuarima, marketing & innovation officer
Haiiii! My name is Dirkje Tutuarima and I'm 21 years old. I'm currently in my third year of the dutch econometrics programme and right now writing my thesis in Quantitative Finance. In my free time I like playing field hockey and sailing :)
What's your hometown and what is your favourite place there?
My home town is Rotterdam and I grew up in Kralingen, so very close to the campus! My favourite place here is the Witte de withstraat, it's full of cafes and bars combining all cultures.
What is your most embarrassing childhood story?
When I was around 5 or 6 I accidentally gave one of my friends a black eye and she had to go to hospital, whoeps
What was your most memorable moment during a lecture on campus?
Having the giggle with my friends, because one of them almost tripped over the lecturer.
Why did you become a board member?
To enjoy more of my student life! I wanted to do a gap year next year anyways and I think being a board member at FAECTOR has the best combination of social, career and educational events.
Leon Verweij, career officer
Hi! My name is Leon Verweij and I am 21 years old. I am now in the last year of my bachelor's and busy writing my thesis and starting with my board year. Besides studying, I like to hang out with friends and just enjoy life.
What's your hometown and what is your favourite place there?
My hometown is IJsselstein, a small study located near the southwest of Utrecht. I have lived there almost whole my life, and I see it as the perfect place to grow up as a kid. My favourite place is just the city centre. I really enjoy sitting on the terraces and seeing many people I know.
What is your most embarrassing childhood story?
In the past, I used to sleepwalk quite frequently, which resulted in several embarrassing moments. I, of course, do not remember much of these moments, but from what I have heard, I wanted to leave the house once in my pyjamas with my duvet in my hands.
What was your most memorable moment during a lecture on campus?
There is not one most memorable moment, but the moments I remember the most are when we had a lecture very early in the morning, and we were all very brak from the evening before, especially with the Eerstejaarscommissie. Always in the morning, after a night out, we discussed all the juices and showed embarrassing pictures and videos of each other.
Why did you become a board member?
Since the Eerstejaarscommissie, I already had the idea of joining the board some time. Later, this idea turned into something I really wanted. I really look forward to, on the one hand, the serious part where we as the board have the responsibility of the whole association, but on the other hand all the fun activities and parties.
Daan Derksen, secretary
Hi! My name is Daan Derksen, 21 years old and I’m currently in the final stretch of BSc Squared. I played basketball my whole childhood, but I’m currently more into fitness and cycling. If you’re lucky you can even catch me in a rowing boat!
What's your hometown and what is your favourite place there?
I’m from Bemmel and if you’ve never heard of it (really?), it is a very small town in the east of The Netherlands, close to Nijmegen. My favourite place there is the area between the river ‘De Waal’ and the dikes. Nice and quiet and a lot to explore!
What is your most embarrassing childhood story?
I have a lot of embarrassing childhood stories, but often they boil down to this. I see a challenge, weigh the pros and the cons against each other, decide there are definitely more cons and try it anyways. This usually ends in exactly the result you would expect and the scars and bruises on my legs are the happy memories.
What was your most memorable moment during a lecture on campus?
Due to we all know what, I have barely been to a lecture in the past two and a half years, so it would have to be in my freshman year. I do recall that once a guy in a monkey suit entered a lecture of Heij and assisted in an example. I don’t remember what the example was or why the monkey was needed, but I do remember Heij was just as surprised as us.
Why did you become a board member?
I want to make the best version of myself and blah blah blah. I thought to myself, when I’m done studying I have all the time in the world to work and start a ‘huisje-boompje-beestje’, so let’s make the most out of my time studying here in Rotterdam. In my opinion, a board year is the icing on the studentlife-cake. To actually be able to learn a lot, gain a lot of experience and meet so many new people is something I really look forward to!
Diede Verkaik, treasurer
Hi everyone, my name is Diede Verkaik, and I will be the treasurer of the 57th board of FAECTOR. I'm 21 years old and in my fourth year of econometrics.
What's your hometown and what is your favourite place there?
My hometown is Noordhoek. This is a very, very small village in Brabant near Zevenbergen and Roosendaal. My favourite place here is, next to my own house, my best friend's house. Here I drank a lot of beers and bottles of Hugo, and next to that, we still hang out there, watch movies and do sleepovers.
What is your most embarrassing childhood story?
Once I was bored in the playground during an event, so I thought that it was a very good idea to go walk around on a 'wipkip' (zo'n ding met vier stoeltjes). That went very well, until I called my mom and all her friends to look at me walking around on a wipkip. I fell off in front of everyone and broke my wrist very badly. Luckily that was all and I've never been on a wipkip again.
What was your most memorable moment during a lecture on campus?
To be honest, before covid came, I slept during almost every lecture, so I probably was doing that during all the fun and memorable moments…
Why did you become a board member?
For this, I got two reasons. First, after four years of studying and four committies at FAECTOR it was time for something new! Second, some of my close friends have been board members for the past two years. They made me very excited about the job and wanted to do the same. Luckily this worked out, and now I am very much looking forward to the upcoming year!
Jelle Schouten, commercial officer
Hi! My name is Jelle Schouten and I’m 21 years old. In the summer of 2018 I started at the EUR and I hope the finish my Bachelor’s degree in the upcoming weeks. All you need to know about me, is that I’m a big fan of all sports and that, in my eyes, Darts should be an event at the Olympics.
What's your hometown and what is your favourite place there?
My hometown is Nieuwerkerk aan den Ijssel, which is a small place close to Rotterdam. My favourite place in Nieuwerkerk is probably the garden at my parents’ house or ‘De Bron’, which is the football field, where I spent most of my spare time at.
What is your most embarrassing childhood story?
Once I cycled with my mum while she was doing her weekly run. At some point I decided that it was a good idea to try and go downhill with my eyes closed, which resulted in a concussion, memory loss and a broken bike, but luckily I did no harm to tree I bumped into.
What was your most memorable moment during a lecture on campus?
It could be my first lecture of Heij, where he tried to scare us off with his famous ‘Take a look to the person on your right and on your left’ story. But later I found out he stole this from a movie, so next to this one it would be the one where we got the notes of our very first exam that year. Suddenly everybody got nervous and a minute later 50% of us were really happy and the other 50% was really sad. I was in one of the groups, that’s all I’ll say.
Why did you become a board member?
I had a call the other day with my serious future life and he told me to enjoy the student life as long as possible. Later he added that besides doing something fun, I should also try to learn some things that aren’t written in a textbook. So I took his advice. Hopefully he’s right.