What does a fraternity or sorority cost?
This Intreeweek, prospective students are getting to know Amsterdam’s more than 60 student associations. But what do you actually pay for such an association? Folia compared the costs of three student associations.
“Warning: a loan costs money.” For lenders, it is an obligatory slogan in advertisements, meant to make consumers aware of the risks. Isn’t that something for student associations too? “Warning: Making friends costs money.” In the quest for fun, drinks, a place to live, love and friends for life (in no particular order), the finances of a student association can sometimes fall by the wayside.
It would be nice to have some insight into the costs involved. Of course, these can vary from year to year and partly depend on what each person wants to spend on associations. But to give you an idea, Folia lists the finances of three student associations: a large one (A.S.C/A.V.S.V, the combination of fraternities/sororities called ‘The corps’, 2,700 members), a medium-sized one (student association Unitas, over 500 members) and a small one (student rugby club Ascrum, 150 to 200 members). What does it cost to be an annual member of these Amsterdam student associations?
The hazing
Usually, there is an association hazing first, followed by a fraternity/sorority hazing. Not every fraternity or sorority uses such a period, or is equally clear about it, but from the A.S.C/A.V.S.V it is known that prospective members have to pay a maximum of 650 euros to participate in this. At Unitas, you pay at least 100 euros, while Ascrum has no formal hazing at all.
Those amounts still do not include clothing costs. Many societies are bastions of tradition, and thus require their prospective members to show up in a certain outfit right from the hazing on. At the A.S.C/A.V.S.V, for instance, you need a decent tailcoat costing at least 200 euros. This is not normally required at Unitas and Ascrum, but as with corps, you are expected at these societies to purchase a jacket, shirts and shoes, for the remainder of your membership. At Ascrum, of course, a rugby outfit is added to that, for which you pay around 100 euros on average.
Also pay for your date
If a gala is coming up, a tailcoat (worth 200 euros) is needed, also for Unitas members. The gala itself, usually at a fairytale location with dinner and overnight stay, usually costs around 150 euros person. However, it is common to pay for your date as well, which in practice brings you to around 300 euros.
Events and activities within associations are often pricey anyway. Especially the anniversary trip - for many members the icing on the cake of their student days. For Unitas and A.S.C/ A.V.S.V students, this event, which celebrates the five-year anniversary of the association by means of a trip to a special location, often costs around 1,200 euros. This includes accommodation, flight and activities.
The annual ski trip - also something members usually look forward to - can also run into costs: estimates range from around 600 to 1,200 euros, depending on chosen accommodation, ski pass, ski gear, food and drinks. Nuance is that the cost can still remain relatively low because it is a group trip. Rugby Association Ascrum does not organise these activities in principle, but does do an annual trip of around 500 euros, a weekend on Ameland of 200 euros and a first-year weekend of 50 euros.
Mandatory nature
Other activities, such as a boat trip on King’s Day, mother-son day, father-son day, Friends From the Past day, et cetera, we have factored into the fraternity/sorority fees. For Unitas these come to 600-1200 euros, for the corps 1200-1800 a year. Although these activities are compulsory in any case, you will not want to miss them - especially as a freshman.
Of course, what you can’t escape at all with these clubs is: beer costs. You don’t have to worry about running out of lager at the A.S.C. and Unitas, but there is something in return. At the corps, you pay around 900 euros a year for this on average, at Unitas 720 euros - depending on the current market price.
Another fixed expense is the membership fee. You pay this to both your association and your fraternity. To start with the latter: at A.S.C/A.V.S.V. this is often included in the fraternity fee, at Unitas and Ascrum, on the other hand, you pay it separately, for 240 and 200 euros a year respectively. Finally, to your association, you pay 75 euros a year at the corps and 125 euros at Unitas.
Bottom line
It should come as no surprise, but gradually the following picture emerges: the bigger the association, the more you pay. At the bottom of the line, the costs look as follows: 5,750 euros for the corps, 4,610 for Unitas and 1,125 for Ascrum per year. Again, these are rough estimates; costs can vary widely. Moreover, being a member of an association can sometimes make it easier for a student to find housing or a job, for instance, and the price of beer at a student association is often much less than in a bar, which also distorts things somewhat.
Still, as a prospective student it is always good to remember this slogan: “Warning: Making friends costs money!”. Make it your motto.
Below is the entire calculation.
A.S.C/A.V.S.V
Hazing period
Fraternity hazing: max. 500 euros
Contribution/beer costs
Annual amount fraternity costs first year: 1200-1800 euro
Annual beer fee first year: approx. 900 euro
Annual contribution ASC/AVSV: 75 euro.
Activities/events
Gala: approx. 300 euro
Five-yearly lustrum: min. 800-1200 euro
Annual ski trip: around 1200 euro
Clothing
Purchase of tailcoat during hazing: min. 200 euro
Obligatory jacket: max. 20 euro
Formal shirts: min. 20 euros
Fraternity tie: around 15 euros
Formal shoes: min. 20 euros
Unitas
Hazing period
Fraternity hazing: min. 100 euros
Contribution/beer money
Fraternity annual fee first year: 600-1200 euro
Contribution fraternity: 240 euro
Beer money fraternity: 720 euro
Annual contribution Unitas: 125 euro
Activities/events
Gala: about 300 euro
Five-year lustrum: min. 1200 euro
Annual ski trip: around 600-900 euro
Clothing
Tailcoat for gala: around 200 euro
Obligatory jacket: max. 20 euro
Formal shirts: min. 20 euros
Fraternity tie: around 15 euros
Formal shoes: min. 20 euros
Ascrum
Contribution/beer money
Annual contribution: 200 euro
Activities/events
Annual trip: 500 euro
Annual tournament on Ameland: 200 euro
Freshmen weekend: approx. 50 euros
Clothing
Obligatory acket: max. 20 euro
Formal shirts: min. 20 euros
Fraternity tie: approx. 15 euros
Formal shoes: min. 20 euros
Rugby outfit: approx. 100 euros
