© JACOBS UNIVERSITY STUDENT NEWSPAPER

T h e J a z e tt e
VOL. II . Issue No. 1 Bremen, Wednesday, 6th of February 2019

SPRING CLEANING
by JON LIM, BCCB 2018
The world is a constant deluge of change, effervescent at one moment, ephemeral the other. My generation knows this best;
growing up with a cassette tape in one hand but a Spotify subscription in the other. When the time comes, we will be equipped
to adapt, because that is what we do best. Time must move forward, and we with it. How we adapt, though, is the question.

Recent Netflix series “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo” really applies in this case. In the words of The Atlantic, “The organizational
guru’s new Netflix series isn’t about judgement, decor, or the spectacle of mess. It’s about cultivating empathy for the things that
surround us.” To illustrate this, Marie Kondo has signature phrases that are prevalent throughout the show: “Does it spark joy?”
or “If it does not spark joy when you hold it, throw it away.” The things we hold aren’t the only things that spark joy, but also
the memories that possess and shape us. To feel that bliss when you have something on your mind - how rare and how beautiful
is that really?

Much like the clutter that accumulates in the homes Marie Kondo helps clean, clutter, too, fill our lives. This is sometimes
called baggage, but whatever it is, it has to be tidied up. Clutter may not always be staring at us right in the face. To take a hard
look at how you spend your day and what you spend your time thinking about, is how you find the clutter in your life. Once
found, the infamous question comes into play: “Does it spark joy?” Don’t think about it, because you shouldn’t have to. Perhaps
it’s a dream of one day becoming an actor that you’ve had your whole life, or finally getting the home you’ve always wanted
with a yard and three kids. Whatever it is, when you think of it, if it sparks joy, you should know. Honestly, that’s the easy part,
because the challenge is figuring out what to do with the things that don’t spark joy. You could simply throw it out, but it’ll
definitely come back like the mold in the corner. Alternatively, you can recycle. Channel those feelings into something else like
having a Bro-lentine’s Day, not thinking you’re probably going to be alone again for Valen- I mean, Single’s Awareness Day. Yet,
unfortunately, not all things can be recycled. We as people get attached and sometimes, we don’t want to change because we
don’t want to let go.

There’s no magic formula on how to let go. When it’s something that we hold dearly or have grown used to having, it becomes
etched into our skin, branding us. By no means, does this spark joy. In fact, it brings us to a frozen standstill like a numbing
blizzard. It may take days, weeks, or months, but one day you realise that what really makes you stronger is feeling free. Whether
it’s freed from memories that leave behind scars to remind you, or waking up and smiling as you cycle to class.

Literally any year of my life, if you had asked me what my favourite season was, I would have without any hesitation, said
winter. The snow, the cold air, the frost, it enveloped me and made me stronger. This year for the first time ever, my favourite
season is spring. Spring is the end of the healing process and the beginning of starting anew. Spring is the time to find the things
that spark joy to replace the clutter. Though we may say, thanks for the memories, even though they weren’t so great, spring
reminds us that a new story is ready to begin. I hope your new story sparks joy.

Image credits: Vincent Jerosch-Herold, IRPH 2018

02 THE BACKBONE
A First Year
Perspective
by PRANATHI PRASAD, BCCB 2021
8 years ago, 90 rubber duckies were thrown into the holes of
the Jakobshavn Glacier in the name of science. already formed group?
The platoon of wide-eyed bath toys were not native to the
western coast of Greenland, nor had they ever experienced
such an environment before their fateful mission. They they
were all tattooed with the same email address, and the words
‘experiment’ and ‘reward’. The 90 were united in their goal:
to make it to Baffin Bay and into the hands of a fisherman,
finally shedding light on how melting water moves through
the ice as the glacier makes its summer march.
Their durability in low temperatures and their buoyancy made
them perfect candidates, though they differed in shape, size,
and colour (no two rubber duckies should ever be assumed
to be identical). The origins of the ducks themselves, I as-
sume, varied as well; some had squeaked their first squeak in
China, some in the United Kingdom, and quite a few others
in Thailand. Nonetheless their true ability lay in teamwork;
one cannot underestimate the unmistakable nature of a
steadily approaching armada of ducks. Their friendly nature
was assured to evoke empathy among any fishermen they
came across. group, they won’t mind you’ve infiltrated their plans. Befriend
However, no matter how prepared a bath time companion
may be, a journey into the holes running through the Jakob-
shavn glacier is undoubtedly daunting. The holes, known as
moulins, are created by the meltwater flowing through the
ice, forming true precipices into the unknown. Some may
open up into crevasses of ice, while others may stretch to be
hundreds of meters deep, all the way to the bottom of the
Jakobshavn Glacier. Step III. At this point, you’ll realize they like hanging with you
As such, it is of no surprise that many ducks were expected
to be lost along the way in the intricate mazes of moulins.
But it was done nonetheless, for the sake of knowledge. The
rubber duckies were thrown into as many holes as possible,
in the hope that the meltwater would eventually carry some
out to the bay. The ones that are found would mark where
the melting ice reaches open water, whilst the ones lost would
give an indication of the where the meltwater likely doesn’t
flow out into the bay. worthwhile pursuit to find. At this point, you’re not an outsider,
This to me, is the crux of what it means to be a student.
Learning is as much a quest for what the answer is not, as it is
a quest for what the answer is. It can only be done by losing
some rubber duckies to the depths, whilst others find their
way. In other words, mistakes and successes are both essen-
tial, and only together can they form a legitimate answer. In
this sense, rights and wrongs should not be separated, as they
form the basis of all discoveries, learning, and understand-
ing. QR code below:
We are rubber ducks, eager to make rights and wrongs. The
glacier is all the knowledge we have yet to comprehend. Let
us take our place amongst the fellow duckies at Jacobs Uni-
versity. May we navigate the moulins together.
Dear Karen
your favorite soccer mom ready to
help you call the manager
Dear Karen, I haven’t been able to make any friends since
O-Week, and I’m worried I’m going to stay friendless.
Everyone already has their “squad”. How do I join an
– Tired Loner
Dear Loner,
Joining an already established squad can definitely feel
daunting, and might feel impossible, but that is far from the
truth! When you’re trying to make friends in a situation where
others already know each other, just remember this: their
already pre-existing relationships does not mean they don’t
want to meet you. So don’t make it too complicated - if you
think you won’t get along with a group, you’re probably less
likely to strike up a convo.
In fact, university is a place where relationships can be built
anytime, regardless if you’re joining a little later. So, try these
tips out:
Step I. Go to where the people are. Despite your nervousness,
that first “hello” and joining the lunch table conversation or
study session is completely natural thing, and goes a long way.
Hang around them, talk to them, & if you’ve picked the right
a couple you click with.
Step II. Spend more time with your new friends in other
activities. Don’t get discouraged when you don’t understand
their inside jokes. You’ll catch up in no time - before long,
you’ll be around for new inside jokes.
as much as you like hanging with them! You’ve added good
times to their life as much as they’ve added to yours.
Step IV. A great thing about friendships, or all relationships,
is that it’s a two-way street. Being trusted is also a chance for
you to share your story and trust them in return. Friendship is
***beautiful***.
Step V. Having solid people in your life is a blessing - and a
but part of the family in the best way possible. Appreciate their
input in your life! You never know, they may last past your 3
years here!
Love,
Karen
If you would like to ask a question anonymously, please scan the
03 ART SECTION

The Iconography of the Post-USSR Amnesiopolis

& Wes Anderson’s Color Palette
pictures and words by LIAM LI, IRPH 2018

German Historian Eli Rubin coined a term to describe a
contemporary urban phenomenon - “amnesiopolis.” Eli
explored whether the urban space transformed by authoritarian
regime policies had severed the ties of individuals clinging to
the narratives of their old life. With the etymological origins
of “amnesia” and “metropolis”, “Amnesiopolis” refers to
the large prefabricated housing projects under the German
Democratic Republic (GDR) regime.
The GDR tried to construct brand new socialist settlements,
divorced of any connections to the pre-socialist past. In
addition, the construction of a new city out of nothing, using
repeating, identical buildings, created a new urban panopticon.
It gave the Stasi the power to observe with absolute authority.
This gave rise to a new social reality that rested on the absence
of the past as well as the prospect of the future. Hence
“Amnesiopolis.”
I have always enjoyed taking pictures of architecture because
of the static beauty these historical subjects present. It is
fascinating to explore the multiple superpositions of time
sedimented from many different eras. Architecture is essentially
an iconography for the elapse of time, the change of an era.
I always strive to combine different streams of creative
influences to construct an iconography of my own. It serves to
defy the existing boundaries, to formulate a personal rhetoric,
how I want to evoke emotion in other people. This can be
perfectly summarized by paraphrasing a quote by Virginia
Woolf: “To appreciate any art is to disarm yourself with all the
preconceived ideas materialized and imposed, for nothing can
be more fatal than being guided by the preferences of others
in a matter so personal.”

This was what I was thinking of when I first walked through

the city of Bratislava in Slovakia. As part of the Habsburg
Empire, the city center bears a quintessential square marked by
baroque and rococo flamboyance that is noticed in cities such
as Vienna and Prague. However, as soon as you step out of the
Old Town, you will encounter a swift shift of landscape as the
grey and chunky prefabricated buildings emerge.
 04 THE LATE SCHÖNEBECKER

JSC: DARE TO STAND OUT!

by HELENA HAMDAN, IEM 2020 & LARA KÖNIG, PSYCH 2019

The Jacobs Startup Competition (JSC) is one of the biggest student-led startup competitions in Germany and organized to
allow international student entrepreneurs to compete against each other. The three triangles in our logo provide our foundation
and mission: We allow striving startup founders access to Mentorship, Network and Resources at every state of our competition
- be it through inspiring online articles, webinars, or individual mentoring. Prizes at JSC include monetary as well as non-material
awards such as incubator programs that will assist students in making their business a reality. With our motto “Dare to Stand
Out”, we encourage students from every part of the world to share and pursue their exceptional business ideas.

Chosen teams are asked to prepare a well-detailed executive summary including their value proposition, marketing strategy and
finance planning. The JSC mentors - experienced startup founders and professionals - evaluate all applications and determine
the 10 finalists that will attend the final event of the Jacobs Startup Competition 2019.

On the second day, our carefully selected jury members, company representatives and venture capitalists arrive. This is your
chance to fill our conference hall to interact with interested founders, students and guests from near and far. You’ll have a chance
to hear elevator pitches giving Bremen-based entrepreneurs a chance to show their skills, the show begins. The ten teams take
over the stage and attempt to convince the jury in their five-minute pitch, followed by a Question & Answer session. Last but
not least, an inspiring keynote speaker tells us their own story about the struggles and wonders of the startup world, before the
day ends with a festive awards ceremony.

Our organizing team consists of 30 committed students from 16 different countries. Every year we receive more than 150
applications with participants scattered around the entire globe, showing that our immense diversity pays off. We always aim to
grow, improve, and thrive. We reach out and stay in touch with our community of participants and partners. Join us on March
16th, 2019, and Dare to Stand Out!

Find more information here: http://www.jacobs-startup.com/

Contact us at: contact@jacobs-startup.com
Tickets: https://jsc19.eventbrite.com

If you would like your club activities or events announced in the newspaper, please email:
s.park@jacobs-university.de with the desired content and an image of the event’s advertisement.