The New University (NU) will restart this summer. The Chancellor has announced that several lectures will be organised during this period. In the fall, normal lessons will recommence.

Thank you for your patience.

A research group at the IDES (Institute for Demography and Sociology) has collected and processed demographical data of all Dutch speaking micronations. In light of the idea for a central registry (called ‘Remi’) of unique persons participating in the Dutch microsector, this might be a useful exercise. In absolute numbers, there are currently 35 formal citizens participating in the Dutch Sector, whereof 22 (62,9%) are currently active (=in the last month).

Of all unique persons participating in the Dutch sector … are uniquely active in:

• RoF: 0.486 (=48,6%)
• UnP: 0.119
• BAT: 0.348
• ARA: 0.048

(RoF: Republic of Flanders; UnP: United Provinces; KoB: Kingdom of Batavia; GDA: Grand Duchy of Aragon)

When only taking into account active citizens (=those who have already communicated in January, 2008):

• RoF: 0.409
• UnP: 0.189
• KoB: 0.326
• GDA: 0.076

The idea to create such a Remi rose when discussing the modalities of a future Union of Dutch Micronations. The Remi would be especially useful to allocate the seats each members state may fill in the Union Parliament (=supranational legislative institute). This should be based on the Remi-statistics above, as they properly weigh factors like multiple citizenship.

Would the Parliament of the Union consist of 750 seats, they should be allocated as follows:

• Flanders: 307
• Batavia: 244
• United Provinces: 142
• Aragon: 57

Or, when not recognizing the semi-autonomous Aragon as a separate member state:

• Flanders: 307
• Batavian Commonwealth: 301
• United Provinces: 142

Note that no single member state has a absolute majority, which is a good thing.
Methodology:

When a unique person (=one macronational person) holds citizenship in but one nation, he contributes 1,00 to said nation. If one is citizen in two nations, he contributes 0,5 to both nations. When one unique person holds citizenship in three nations, he contributes 0,33 (1/3) to those three nations. If one holds four citizenships, he contributes 0,25 to each nation.

Notes:

The Batavian Commonwealth consists of the Kingdom of Batavia and the semi-autonomous region of Aragon. The latter wants to behave as an independent actor on the international scene, but this idea is not yet generally accepted.

Sources:

• Citizens list Flanders
• Census United Provinces, 2008
• Citizens groups of Batavia and Aragon
• M. MATTIASSEN, ‘Verantwoord omgaan met meerburgerschap’, lecture at NU, October 27, 2007.

It’s awfully quiet on the university premises at the moment, but colleges will restart soon. The programmed courses promise to be very interesting, indeed. Particularly ‘International Politics since 2004′, given by the esteemed T. Heynderickx.

Speaking about finances, I’m considering to give up our digital platform (enNU) as it is very expensive (1875 Kruys per month) and not much used by professors and students. I have asked our Board of Directors for advice on the issue.

See you in classes!

The December examinations are passed and the NU did it for the first time: giving out a credit or proof of succeeding for a course.

The first student to receive such credit was T. Heynderickx for the course ‘History of Mayo’. He obtained a result of 14/20.

Congratulations to the student.

The 1st Academic Council was opened on November 27, 2007. The following persons were present: Chancellor Mateo D. Mattiassen, Professors Thomas Heynderickx and Gert Geens.

Decisions:

• The course ‘Contemporary History of Batavia’ will be discontinued.
• The course ‘International Politics’ shall be extended with another term.
• Agreement on the distribution of credit points.
• Composition of the B.A. in Political Science.
• The following courses will be taught in the second term (February ‘08): History of Flanders II (G. Geens), Electoral Studies (M.D. Mattiassen) and International Politics since ‘04 (T. Heynderickx).

Session closed on December 13, 2007.