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A ''Studentenverbindung'' (often simply ''Verbindung'', capitalized in German like all nouns) is the umbrella term for all kinds of fraternity-type associations in German-speaking countries, including ''Burschenschaften'', ''Landsmannschaften'', ''Turnerschaften'', ''Sängerschaften'', Corps, Catholic fraternities, ''Schwarzburgbund'', ''Wingolf'', and ''Ferialverbindungen''. Less than 1% of all current students and living alumni in Germany are active members of a ''Studentenverbindung''.〔(wdr.de )〕 == Organization == Fraternities of this particular type are present in Germany, Austria, Belgium, Hungary, Latvia, Switzerland, and (formerly) German or German-speaking areas and other communities in Europe and Chile. They consist of active members who are students currently enrolled in university, and the already graduated ''Alte Herren'' or ''Altherren'' (Elder Gentlemen or alumni) / ''Hohe Damen'' (High Ladies) that have once been active in the corporation and now provide guidance and the necessary financial backing to the fraternity. The active students are commonly divided into four groups, with the ''Füchse'' (German for ''fox'', the pledges), the ''Burschen'' (German for ''fellow'', full members), and the inactive ''Burschen'' (having been members for a set time limit) forming the fraternity's actual core. The fourth group, the ''Chargierte'' are standard members elected by the former groups' democratic vote and outfitted with power of command over certain situations of everyday life. Common ''Chargierte'' are the ''Senior'' (signing his name with an x), ''Consenior'' (xx) and the ''Drittchargierter'' (xxx), charged with concerning themselves with representation, fencing and/or organization of festivities, and correspondence and diplomacy, respectively. Active and inactive members of older fraternities, who often possess large mansions, reside in the ''Verbindungshaus''. It usually consists of a small dorm and common rooms for festivities, the most notable of which is the ''Kneipe'', where regular celebrations involving student songs and traditions are held. One of the many benefits of joining a fraternity in Germany is the especially low pricing of the often rich rooms. As ''Studentenverbindungen'' are much less present in campus life in comparison to US fraternities, many actively try to recruit new members through these low-priced rooms. After a certain period allowing these new members to learn the traditions, they are then usually offered full membership or asked to leave. Once finished with education and starting a career, the inactive ''Burschen'' are asked to resign from the fraternity's core members and become ''Alte Herren'' or ''Philister''. This involves losing influence and vote in the core fraternity's democratic process, allowing younger generations to take their place. Major decisions, though, are still made by an annual committee where every member, student or not, has one vote. Furthermore, they are commonly asked to pay a certain annual sum to help sustain the fraternity fiscally, to actively participate in democratic decisions concerning only ''Alte Herren'', and to pay regular visits to the fraternity's festivities. The ''Alte Herren'', too, elect representatives to take care of representation (''Philistervorsitzender'' or ''Philistersenior''), financial overview, supervising the ''Verbindungshaus'', and so forth. A very peculiar characteristic of this structure is that the link between active members and ''Alte Herren'' is usually so direct that already the youngest members are asked to address even their most decorated ''Alte Herren'' by ''Du'', the intimate form of salutation in German, or even by their first name. This commonly includes referring to one another as "brother". As it is possible for any ''Verbindung'' to forge treaties with another, this may be extended to members of other fraternities. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Studentenverbindung」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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