Academic Corporations
Academic Corporations
Few Words
Academic corporation (student corporation) – an association of students and graduates of universities with certain goals, ideals and the desire for self-improvement. External signs of affiliation are usually a cap (the so-called cap), a sash (the so-called band) and a monogram (the so-called compasses). Caps and bands usually wear three colors (German: Couleur). Colors with specific symbolism identify a given corporation.
The first Polish students associated themselves in academic corporations in the West in the 17th century, where Polish noble youth went to study. Over time, this “fashion” was transferred to Poland, but as a result of the partitions it took on a different meaning. In most cases, Poles studied at the universities of the partitioning powers, and the association was aimed at protecting the native language and culture. The oldest Polish student corporations were Polonia, founded in 1816 in Wrocław, and the twin Polonia, founded in 1818 in Berlin.
Large and significant corporations were established in the tradition of Philomaths and Filaretes. In this spirit, the Polonia Convention was established in Dorpat in 1828 and continues to operate in Sopot to this day.
In the following years, many other corporations were established (e.g. Arkonia, Welecja, Lechicja, Lutyko-Wenedya, Sarmatia, Jagiellonia), but their greatest development took place in the interwar period, when the young Polish state was taking shape. This process was abruptly interrupted by the Second World War, during which many corporators died. Until 1989, the activities of Polish academic corporations were prohibited.
After the establishment of the Third Polish Republic, the process of reactivation of many pre-war student corporations began with the active participation of their pre-war members and the creation of completely new associations.