A.L.S.V. Quintus

A.L.S.V. Quintus (Algemene Leidse Studentenvereniging Quintus) is a mixed student social association in the Dutch university city of Leiden. It is one of the larger Leiden student associations and is a member of the student umbrella organisation Aller Heiligen Convent. The association was founded on 18 January 1979 at the Snouck Hurgronjehuis of the Leiden University Fund, following the EL CID week of 1978. It was named Quintus (Latin for 'fifth') because it was to become the fifth student social association in Leiden. Quintus was the first association in Leiden to admit not only university students but also students from universities of applied sciences (hbo). Its pillars are pluriformity, tolerance, and self-reliance. The association has a large sociëteit (clubhouse) located in the former telephone exchange in Leiden's city centre, between the Boommarkt and Breestraat. It has a compulsory introduction period (Kennismakingstijd, KMT) which since 2002 no longer has the character of an initiation, followed by a familiarisation period (VAP) with the disputen. The association publishes a periodical called Quintessence, while its alumni association publishes Antikwariaat. The association's colours are burgundy red and gold; the sociëteit's colours are azure blue and gold. Its coat of arms includes Hugin and Munin, the two ravens of Odin from Norse mythology, symbolising members who each go their own way but return each evening to Quintus to share experiences and 'wisdom'. Many activities and rooms in the sociëteit refer to the ravens, such as the Raevenzaal, the Raevenuesse (Gala), and the server hosting the website, called 'Hugin'. Quintus grew rapidly: after the 1979 EL CID week 250 new members joined, bringing the total to 570; by 1990 it had over 1,400 members.

A.L.S.V. Quintus was founded on 18 January 1979 at the Snouck Hurgronjehuis of the Leiden University Fund on the Rapenburg. The initiative followed the EL CID week of 1978, when members of L.V.V.S. Augustinus and LSV Minerva met with board members of the Plaatselijke Kamer van Verenigingen Leiden and the El Cid committee to lay the basis for a new student association. There was an urgent need for a new student social association to accommodate the growing number of students. The new association was to be low-threshold and offer its members maximum facilities for self-development, keeping staff to a minimum. It was also to play an active role in Leiden society where possible. The brand (fire) and the temporary relocation of Augustinus's Sociëteit Eigen Huis in January 1978 had shown that it was possible to find a temporary new sociëteit in Leiden. The then abactis of the Commissie voor het Eigen Huis and subsequently fire/construction coordinator became the initiator of the founding. It was not intended to be a splinter group of another association, so a completely new structure was chosen. The name Quintus (Latin for 'fifth') was chosen because it would be the fifth student social association in Leiden. The founding took place with support from the University, the municipality of Leiden, and a number of alumni of the former Leidsch Studenten Corps. The association was open not only to students of Leiden University but also to hbo students, making it the first association in Leiden to allow that. The motto of the Snouck Hurgronje family, 'medio tutissimus ibis', has been associated with Quintus ever since. In the early years, founding proved different from actually building and governing. After some personnel changes and struggles, the first board that would set the actual founding in motion was formed after a month and a half. In a very short time a complete association structure had to be set up, regulations drawn up, and a cadre established. At the same time a search began for its own sociëteit and the necessary finances. Unlike Minerva and Augustinus, which had year clubs, Quintus established disputen to remove the distinction between older and first-year students. The disputen form an important reception system for members, and the aim is that all members belong to a dispuut. Disputen can differ greatly; in some respects they are sometimes interchangeable. Initially, mixed disputen were formed at the founding in 1979. On 4 April the first and to date oldest men's dispuut Olympus was founded, followed by the women's dispuut Galopines on 22 April. This caused quite a stir because some believed that only mixed disputen had a place within Quintus. The first sociëteit of Quintus was located on the corner of the Korte Mare and the Oude Singel in the former Catholic Military Home. Quintus received a structure with a board (association) and a Commissie Sociëteit Quintus (order, building and operation). Above these came two foundations: Stichting de Houhamer (building), named after the gable stones in the building at Oude Singel 72, and Stichting Exploitatie Sociëteit Quintus. For the necessary expertise, a number of experts were recruited for these foundation boards: Mr. Hugo Weiland (bank director), Leen Bijkerk (registered accountant), Bob C. van Beek (architect), and Ad C. van Noort sr (entrepreneur). Besides the then owner of the military home (Vereniging ten Behoeve van RK Militairen te Leiden), director Joos Swinkels of Bavaria also played a huge role in the acquisition and realisation. After the EL CID week of 1979, in which 250 new members registered, the total number of members reached 570. The ALSV grew rapidly, and by 1990 Quintus had over 1,400 members. In response to Quintus's growth, a steadfast minority within the Leidse Vereniging Voor Jongeren Augustinus gradually changed course there and... [text truncated]

• 2002

  The compulsory Kennismakingstijd (KMT) no longer has the character of an initiation.

• 1990

  Quintus has over 1,400 members.

• 1979

  On 18 January, A.L.S.V. Quintus is founded at the Snouck Hurgronjehuis of the Leiden University Fund on the Rapenburg.

• 1979

  On 4 April, the first and oldest men's dispuut Olympus is founded, followed by the women's dispuut Galopines on 22 April.

• 1979

  After the EL CID week, 250 new members register, bringing the total to 570.

• 1978

  After the EL CID week, members of L.V.V.S. Augustinus and LSV Minerva meet with board members of the Plaatselijke Kamer van Verenigingen Leiden and the El Cid committee to lay the basis for a new student association.

Open, pluriform student association with a focus on self-development and tolerance.

1. 1A.L.S.V. Quintus - Algemene Studentenvereniging Leidenalsvquintus.nl
2. 2ALSV Quintus - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3A.L.S.V. Quintus - Wikipedianl.wikipedia.org