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Co-Chair
Taya Kolmanovich
My name is Taya. My hobbies are writing, mostly short stories, and making music. I loooove jazz music and neo-soul. I chose philosophy because everything else didn’t seem fruitful enough on a personal level. I didn’t just want a degree but I wanted to study something that would benefit me for my whole life. Besides, a degree is not usually why people study philosophy :)
I chose to be on the board because I really love the community that Icarus has created, and the openness it has towards all people, and all convictions.
Fedja Spruit
Whats up my name is Fedja. I'm 21 years old and I'm a third-year philosophy student, philosophy enthusiast, high school coach and I live in the east of Amsterdam. I chose philosophy because I had this idea of myself that I was ‘deep’ or spiritually ahead of my fellow high-school peers. Now, in my final year, I realise how little I knew and still know, and I also placed my pride in ‘knowing’ all these theories and names on a lower pedestal. I have come to love philosophy, as a bachelor or as a free-time activity, as something more along the lines of an experience, something that overcomes you where the only thing you can do is just swim between vague, constant fading in-and-out horizons in a super cool sea. I don't really know what the ‘use’ is yet, but I enjoy being here.
EXTERNUS
Hey, Wassup, Hello
My name is Rodrigo Muñoz Cárdenas, and I am the externus for the wonderful philosophy association here at the VU: Icarus.
I was born 21 years ago in the wonderful and sunny country of Mexico, in a city called Querétaro. I lived there in the same house my whole life and had the same group of friends since I was 6 years old (Querétaro isn’t a small town, it was just a coincidence), so I took the opportunity to study philosophy far away in a wonderful yet not so sunny place here in Amsterdam.
I chose philosophy because I want to be a teacher and I think learning about knowledge and thinking is a very fun way to become a teacher for anything. Once here, I decided to be in the board because I love interacting with people more than anything in the world; so this was a great way of meeting wonderful individuals and building a community with my fellow students.
I’d say my favourite philosopher is probably Ludwig Wittgenstein, his works are a very fun and puzzling read.
Rodrigo Muñoz Cárdenas
SECRETARY
Vaida
Roman-Zbîrcea
My name is Vaida, and I am from Romania. I chose philosophy because I have always been drawn to difficult questions, dramatic ideas, and the kind of discussions that make you rethink your entire life a little bit.
Outside of philosophy, I love writing, especially poetry and screenplays for future film projects. I am also passionate about theatre, film, and gaming, so a lot of my interests revolve around well fleshed out stories and characters.
I am excited to be part of Icarus because I love the idea of philosophy becoming more than just something we study, but also something that creates community, conversation, and fun.
TREASURER
Yo yo yo, Icarus people. My name is Rinus, I am 23 summers old, and my ancestral homeland is the Caribbean island of Curaçao. Before I started philosophy I was studying medicine here at the VU; side note I’m still studying medicine; another side note ain’t no way I could ever study at the UvA, Gryphons stay up! Anyways, medicine bored me, and being the curious gremlin that I am, I wanted to learn more so I applied for philosophy, only to figure out that no amount of studying could cure my curiosity. Why, did I apply for the board? I was curious. One of my hobbies is stamp collecting. One of the songs I enjoy a lot is American Idiot by Green day, but don’t get it twisted I am the number one Bad Bunny glazer at the VU. My favourite philosopher might be Hildegard, her writings are so epic and over the top, that it reminds me of Dante’s inferno. I must leave now, since I am over the word count that was allocated to me for this intro. See ya!
Rinus Huijsen
