Join the founding generation
A Corps doesn't come into being on its own – it lives through people willing to build something new together. For our founding, we're looking for motivated academics who share our ideals of stylish, close-knit fellowship and want to help shape it from day one.
Whether as a Fuchs taking your first steps in Corps life, or in some other way: if you want to combine tradition, community and responsibility, you're exactly right here. Just get in touch – we'd love to meet you.
Foxes, Corps brothers, inactive members and old gentlemen
The usual path within the Corps begins with admission as a 'Fuchs' (fox, i.e. a new member). You become a full 'Bursch', then an inactive member, and later an 'Alter Herr' (old gentleman/alumnus).
This path is also visible in the colours worn: as a Fuchs, i.e. a probationary member, you wear the Fuchsenband. Once a Fuchs has mastered every challenge of the probationary period, the three-coloured Corps ribbon is awarded after one semester.
If you would like to learn more about what each of these stages actually means, take a look at the magazine "CORPS Spezial" — the chapter "Lebensbund" (bond for life), starting on page 34, explains it all in detail.
There are also other forms of membership — for instance if someone is unable to fence, or for various reasons cannot reach every milestone of the usual Corps career.
having earned it nonetheless
Anyone who cannot reach one of the necessary milestones of the Corps career need not forgo membership for that reason: those who have rendered special service to the Corps — through outstanding achievements, exceptional commitment, or tireless dedication to the community — can nonetheless be awarded the Corps ribbon. As a bearer of the Corps ribbon, you may wear the Corps' colours as a bow on your lapel.
If the missed obligations are fulfilled later, the full colours and the rights that come with them can still be awarded.
friend of the fraternity
Anyone who can neither fence nor find the time to be visibly involved in the Corps, but who nevertheless maintains a close friendship with the Corps, can be granted the status of an official friend of the Corps as a so-called 'Konkneipant'.
This status expresses that someone is not just a one-time guest but a friend of the fraternity, and it allows them to take part in certain internal events.
As a visible sign, the Konkneipant may wear the Fuchsenmütze (fox cap) — though not a ribbon.
Women in the Corps
First of all: due to various identity-defining features, such as fencing, a Corps is conceptually a specific form of male community.
Women should be able to take part in our fraternity life. Within the framework of friendship, exchange, and the general social life of the Corps, they naturally belong with us.
Beyond that, we want to give women who render special service to the Corps or are closely connected to it the opportunity to receive the official status of a 'Corpsdame' (Corps lady). This status is meant to express particular connection and appreciation. It includes selected rights and forms of participation, while remaining deliberately distinct from active membership in the Corps. Like bearers of the Corps ribbon, Corps ladies wear the Corps' colours as a bow.
Diversity and tolerance also means respecting different forms of voluntary community.
Get in touch
Feel free to reach out to us via the contact page.
Corps Viadrina