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Scientific Catholic Students Union Unitas Rheinfranken at Duesseldorf University (Heinrich-Heine-Universitaet)

What do you think we are? We are a group of catholic male students, yes, that's correct: catholic students, who joined a union founded already 150 years ago. Perhaps you can compare this union with a fraternity: Not only that we address each other as brothers (Bundesbruder), but we also assist each other in our studies as well as in our private lives.

In the course of the last century many unions were founded, both under religious or national political aspects. These foundations were (and still are) called Verbindungen. They organised students' life at the university and beyond. Some of them are duelling fraternities, either obligatory or optional. The fraternities with a religious background are principally non-duelling.

What do they all have in common? It'snot only that the members of them study at universities and polytechnics, but also that they try to find a base to communicate and to organise their private and academic life. As a result of this it aims at a lifelong friendship i.e. it does not finish at the end of the stdies but continues wherever you are. Those who have finished their exams remain in the union as so-called „Old boys“.

The basis of all Verbindungen is the local group, with its distinct name, colours and habits. These local groups organised in national associations provide all members with a nationwide network of acquaintances and friends. It has the added advantage that students who change the university will quickly know some people on their new campus.

Our group, the Unitas Rheinfranken, is a member of the Unitas-Verband, a corporation of about 46 catholic groups (Vereine) all over Germany, but also in Prague and Karaganda (Kazakhstan). They stick to some old traditions like monograms, scientific sessions, certain rites and drinking songs, and they still drink beer (which is some kind of German basic food, after all).

The Unitas-Verband is one of the oldest German fraternities still in existence. It was founded in 1855 by some students of theology, opened for students from all faculties in 1887 and was banned by the Nazis in 1938. It was refounded in 1947 and thrived ever since. Female groups were incorporated in 1998 which was some kind of a revolution for a male-only-union.. The Unitas Rheinfranken as a typical group at Duesseldorf was founded in 1921. It was suspended from 1928 onwards. In 1957 it was refounded by some energetic old boys who took over for the foundation period the status of active students.

Our priciples are:

meaning a life according to the moral principles of the catholic church, civil courage, truthfulness, and reliability; scientific eagerness, concentration on one´s studies and a thorough general education; trustworthy friendship, which supports a lifelong brotherhood of mutual assistance and understanding.

These principles can be seen in action at our reunions, be it scientific sessions, club festivities or „Kneipen“ (a peculiar German ritual developed around having fun, singing and drinking beer together). Furthermore, on nationwide events of the Unitas-Verband like the general assembly (Generalversammlung) we meet with friends from all ends of the republic and discuss general and union-relevant problems. In 1998, the 121st Generalversammlung took place in Duesseldorf, the place where also the first one was held in 1860.

Our program centres on the scientific sessions, at which either an active student, an old boy or an external person give a lecture about any topic they like. The following discussion is also part of this meeting.

Another aspect of our academic life is the participation in religious events.

We are students from all faculties studying the subjects offered at our university, e.g. medecine, economics, mathematics, Latin, biology and law. We aim at having as different a membership as possible because that promotes the principle of scientia at its best.

If you are ever thinking of studying at the Heinrich-Heine-Universitaet or at any other academic institutions in Duesseldorf, if you are male and (preferably) catholic, then don´t hesitate to contact us via e-mail or by calling one of the phone numbers listed here (don't forget your international access code and the country code for Germany (49) and leave out the first 0). We are looking forward to meeting you.