History of the BuFaK WiSo/WiWi

Kai Horge Oppermann

Round of introductions

• Name
• University
• Completed BuFaKs
• Expectations/questions

Then & now

• from 40 to up to 300 participants
• from 2 to up to 5 days
• from the sports hall to the hotel

Evolution from get-together to all-round carefree package

• paid meals
• walking buses
• buffet
• train tickets
• free parties
• free T-shirts (existed in the past)
• Participant bags
• videos
• evening programme
• wristbands
• Emergency mobile phone
• Wake-up service
  • -> meanwhile very high expectations, but this was not always a matter of course

Professionalisation

• BuFaK Council
• BuFaK logo
• Wiki
• Minutes
• Fixed meeting chair
• Minimum number of workshops
• External workshop leaders
• Merch
• Documentation
• Confetti tool for voting

And otherwise...

• Kai chats from the sewing box
• lots of crazy anecdotes: BuFaKis are a very special breed of people
• Discussion about alcohol at a BuFaK
  • it should also be fun
  • this creates special connections/networking/friendships
• big differences in support from the university
  • in the past, some universities have given the entire School a day off to make room for the BuFaK (Nuremberg, Ansbach)
    • -> exception, not the rule
• Kai recommends organising a BuFaK to everyone
  • You learn a lot about and for yourself
  • it pushes you to your limits -> you grow beyond them
• Traditions can be questioned, but it is important to have traditions in itself
  • Bufka
  • somersault
  • Bear hunt

Herbal workshop

• created in Karlsruhe
• BuFaK tradition
• actually exclusively word of mouth propaganda
  • only the people who deserved it got there
• always took place after the party (between 3 and 4 o'clock)
• the new herb masters are breaking with such traditions a little
• therefore more participants
  • it takes much longer now

the rule of absolute silence is difficult to enforce