# Schweizerischer Studentenverein

The Schweizerischer Studentenverein (Swiss Student's Society, abbreviation SSS; French: Société des Étudiants Suisses) is a society of colour bearing students of both genders and at the same time a federation of student corporations which are called sections. Its members are students and former students of high schools, universities and universities of applied sciences in Switzerland, Germany, Austria and Italy. Formerly, sections also existed in Belgium, France and in the Czech Republic. Its motto is virtus, scientia, amicitia!

## History

The SSS was founded on August 31, 1841, as the federation of the catholic-conservative, color-bearing and non-dueling corporations of Switzerland. Its insignia are since 1851 a red-white-green ribbon and since 1861 a red hat. The member corporations are free to choose any shade of red and the type of hat. The first four sections were founded in 1843: GV Zähringia (in Fribourg), GV Suitia (in Schwyz), AV Semper Fidelis (Lucerne) and AV Helvetia Friburgensis (Freiburg im Breisgau).
There are not only sections in German-speaking regions but also in French speaking Switzerland and in other countries. Originally, the SSS was a political movement of catholic-conservative students and therefore implicitly the antipode of the Schweizerischer Zofingerverein, which had a progressive-liberal political setting. The SSS intended to gather Christian, conservative forces against liberalism and radicalism. Nevertheless, after the Sonderbund War of 1847 it were members of the SSS who contributed to Switzerlands unity.
The SSS always meant to be a society of politically active members. Nearly all members of the Swiss Federal Council of the CVP were members of the SSS. This orientation to catholic conservatism diminished more and more since 1970. Officially, the SSS is no longer affiliated to the CVP and nowadays open to other political parties.
In 1873, during the time of the Kulturkampf, the SSS became a society limited to Catholics. This was changed to "Christian" in 1977. Consequently, the SSS is now also open to Protestants. Women are allowed to join the society as of 1968.
The SSS has a friendship agreement with the CV and the OCV. It is a member of the EKV.

## Organisation

As of today, the SSS has 69 sections in Switzerland, Germany, Austria and Italy. This makes it the biggest society of colour-bearing students in Switzerland. It has 1100 active members and 7500 veterans.
The SSS was founded as a central society, not as a fusion of individual corporations which is why their members are directly members of the federation as well, including the right to vote. The supreme organ of the SSS is its General Assembly (consisting of all active members) which is held annually at the so-called Zentralfest ("central festival"), the biggest festival of colour-bearing students in Europe.
The General Assembly elects the five members of the Central Committee (CC), including the Central President (CP), the Central Actuary (CA), the Vice President (VCP), the ombudsman of the universities of applied science (FHCC) and the ombudsman of the high schools. The members are elected for one year; reelection is possible but not frequent. There are several permanent and temporary commissions to the support of the CC. The veterans are federated in the Altherrenbund (AHB), which has an own committee. The AHB and the CC are united in the Council of the SSS. Each member of the CC and the AHB has one vote – however, in case of equality of votes, the CC (as the committee of the students) prevails.

## Member corporations

In total, there are at least 113 corporations who were at least temporarily member of the SSS.

### Sections with active and veteran members (58)

| Predicate | Name of the corporation | Style | Language | Gender | Abbreviation | Country | Foundation |
| SG | Greviria Bulle | G | f | m/f | GR | Switzerland | 1989 |
| GV | Abbatia Wilensis Wil | G | g | m/f | AW | Switzerland | 1978 |
| SHE | Activitas Fribourg | I | f | m/f | AC | Switzerland | 1917 |
| SG | Agaunia Saint-Maurice | G | f | m/w | AG | Switzerland | 1859 |
| AKV | AKV Alemannia Fribourg | A | g | m | AL | Switzerland | 1895 |
| GV | Angelomontana Engelberg | G | g | m/f | AM | Switzerland | 1907 |
| SG | Arvésia Geneva | G | f | m | AR | Switzerland | 1946 |
| AV | Berchtoldia Bern | A | g | m/f | BE | Switzerland | 1917 |
| GV | Berovia Beromünster | G | g | m/f | BV | Switzerland | 1983 |
| AV | Bodania Sankt Gallen | A | g | m | BO | Switzerland | 1925 |
| GV | Brigensis Brig | G | g | m/f | BR | Switzerland | 1843 |
| AKV | Burgundia Bern | A | g | m | BU | Switzerland | 1865 |
| SAKV | Corona Sangallensis St. Gallen | G | g | m | CS | Switzerland | 1896 |
| GV | Corvina Einsiedeln | G | g | m/f | CO | Switzerland | 1848 |
| AV | Curiensis Chur | A | g | m | CU | Switzerland | 1848 |
| GV | Desertina Disentis | G | g | m/f | DE | Switzerland | 1990 |
| AV | Die Gundoldinger Lucerne | A | g | m/f | GU | Switzerland | 1958 |
| FHV | Die Habsburger Brugg/Windisch | I | g | m | HA | Switzerland | 1966 |
| FHV | Die Nothensteiner St. Gallen | I | g | m | NO | Switzerland | 1984 |
| GV | Fidelitas Schaffhausen | G | g | m/f | ? | Switzerland | 2005 |
| AV | Froburger Basel | A | g | m/f | FB | Switzerland | 1939 |
| AV | Fryburgia Fribourg | A | g | m | FR | Switzerland | 1918 |
| AB | Glanzenburger Zurich | A | g | m | GL | Switzerland | 1959 |
| AV | Goten Fribourg | A | g | m/f | GO | Switzerland | 1953 |
| AV | Helvetia Friburgensis Freiburg im Breisgau | A | g | m/f | HF | Germany | 1843 |
| AV | Helvetia Oenipontana Innsbruck | A | g | m/f | HO | Austria | 1860 |
| AV | Helvetia Romana Rome | A | g | m/f | HR | Italy | 1850 |
| AV | Kybelia St. Gallen | A | g | f | KB | Switzerland | 1999 |
| AKV | Kyburger Zurich | A | g | m | KY | Switzerland | 1912 |
| SA | Lémania Lausanne | A | f | m/f | LE | Switzerland | 1891 |
| AV | Leonina Fribourg | A | g | m/f | LN | Switzerland | 1896 |
| RV | Markovia Wangen | G | g | m/f | MA | Switzerland | 1965 |
| GV | Monte Pacis Gossau | G | g | f | MP | Switzerland | 1998 |
| GV | Munatia Basel | G | g | m/f | MU | Switzerland | 1991 |
| AKV | Neu-Romania Fribourg | A | g | m | NR | Switzerland | 1938 |
| AV | Notkeriana St. Gallen | A | g | m/f | NK | Switzerland | 1990 |
| SG | Nuithonia Fribourg | G | f | m/f | NU | Switzerland | 1845 |
| AV | Orion Zurich | A | g | m/f | OR | Switzerland | 1964 |
| GV | Palatia Solodorensis Solothurn | G | g | m/f | ? | Switzerland | 1955 |
| GV | Penthesilea Appenzell | G | g | f | PT | Switzerland | 1993 |
| AKV | Rauracia Basel | A | g | m | RA | Switzerland | 1863 |
| CA | Rezia Fribourg | A | r | m/f | RE | Switzerland | 1939 |
| GV | Rotacher Appenzell | G | g | m | RO | Switzerland | 1941 |
| GV | Rusana Altdorf | G | g | m/f | RS | Switzerland | 1918 |
| SA | Salévia Geneva | A | f | m | SL | Switzerland | 1876 |
| SA | Sarinia Fribourg | A | f | m/f | SA | Switzerland | 1895 |
| SAV | Seetalensis Hochdorf | A | g | m | SE | Switzerland | 1975 |
| AV | Semper Fidelis Lucerne | A | g | m | SF | Switzerland | 1843 |
| AV | Staufer Fribourg | A | g | m/f | ST | Switzerland | 1937 |
| AV | Steinacher St. Gallen | A | g | m | SR | Switzerland | 1953 |
| GV | Struthonia Stans | G | g | m/f | SH | Switzerland | 1909 |
| GV | Subsilvania Sarnen | G | g | m/f | SB | Switzerland | 1860 |
| GV | Suitia Schwyz | G | g | m | SU | Switzerland | 1843 |
| GV | Surlacia Sursee | G | g | m/f | SA | Switzerland | 1991 |
| AV | Turicia Zurich | A | g | m | TU | Switzerland | 1860 |
| AV | Waldstättia Lucerne | A | g | m/f | WA | Switzerland | 1891 |
| AV | Welfen Zurich | A | g | m/f | WE | Switzerland | 1921 |
| GV | Wikinger Immensee | G | g | m/w | WI | Switzerland | 1967 |
| GV | Zähringia Fribourg | G | g | m/f | ZÄ | Switzerland | 1843 |

### Sections without active but with veteran members (21)

| Predicate | Name of the corporation | Style | Language | Gender | Abbreviation | Country | Foundation |
| AV | Agorà Fribourg | A | g | m/f | AF | Switzerland | 1971 |
| SG | Ardevensia Sion | G | f | m/f | AR | Switzerland | 1988 |
| SG | Aster Fribourg | G | f | m/f | AS | Switzerland | 1967 |
| GV | Audacia Pfäffikon | G | g | m | AU | Switzerland | 1994 |
| FHV | Daltonia Muttenz | I | g | m | DA | Switzerland | 1976 |
| FHV | Die Ruithonen Burgdorf | I | g | m | RU | Switzerland | 1900 |
| AV | Helvetia Monacensis Munich | A | g | m | HM | Germany | 1844 |
| AV | Helvetia Lovaniensis Leuven | A | g/f | m/f | HL | Belgium | 1872 |
| GV | Himeria Porrentruy | G | f | m/f | HI | Switzerland | 1925 |
| ? | Lepontia Bernensis Bern | ? | ? | m | ? | Switzerland | 1931 |
| SA | Lepontia Cantonale Locarno (Lucerne) | A | i | m | LC | Switzerland | 1885 |
| SA | Neuburgia Neuchâtel | A | f | m/f | NN | Switzerland | 1995 |
| AV | Neu-Welfen Zurich | A | g | m | NW | Switzerland | 1946 |
| GV | Paludia Heerbrugg | G | g | m/f | PH | Switzerland | 1991 |
| SG | Rhodania Sion | G | f | m/f | RH | Switzerland | 1846 |
| SA | Romania Turicensis (Zurich) | A | f | m | RT | Switzerland | 1930 |
| SA | Romania Bernensis (Bern) | ? | f | m | ? | Switzerland | 1945 |
| SA | Sancta Johanna Fribourg | A | f | m/f | SJ | Switzerland | 2003 |
| GV | Saruna Sargans | G | g | m/f | SN | Switzerland | 1992 |
| FHV | Turania Winterthur | I | g | m | TR | Switzerland | 1892 |

### Sections without active or veteran members (32)

| Predicate | Name of the corporation | Style | Language | Gender | Abbreviation | Country | Foundation |
| GV | Adelphia Bellinzona | G | g | ? | ? | Switzerland | † 1968 |
| AV | Augusta Turin | A | g | ? | ? | Italy | † 1888 |
| SG | Blarentia Pruntrut | G | f | ? | ? | Switzerland | † 1931 |
| AV | Helvetia Eystettensis Eichstätt | A | g | ? | ? | Germany | † 1895 |
| AV | Helvetia Herbipolensis Würzburg | A | g | ? | ? | Germany | † 1888 |
| AV | Helvetia Lipsiensis Leipzig | A | g | ? | ? | Germany | † 1902 |
| AV | Helvetia Mediolanensis Milano | A | g | ? | ? | Italy | † 1967 |
| AV | Helvetia Tubingensis Tübingen | A | g | ? | ? | Germany | † 1975 |
| AV | Helvetia Westfalensis Münster | A | g | ? | ? | Germany | † 1914 |
| AV | Justiniana Sion | A | g | ? | ? | Switzerland | † 1901 |
| GV | Laudania Lucerne | G | g | ? | ? | Switzerland | † 1976 |
| AV | Leonia Como | A | g | ? | ? | Italy | † 1895 |
| SA | Lepontia Friburgensis Fribourg | A | i | m/f | LF | Switzerland | ? |
| GV | Petromariana Delle | G | g | ? | ? | France | † 1901 |
| SG | Salésia Evian-les-Bains | G | f | ? | ? | France | † 1882 |
| ? | Sektion Luzern | G | f | ? | ? | Switzerland | † 1849 |
| ? | Sektion Chur | G | g | ? | ? | Switzerland | † 1878 |
| ? | Sektion Dillingen | A | g | ? | ? | Germany | † 1877 |
| ? | Sektion Frauenfeld | G | g | ? | ? | Switzerland | † 1861 |
| ? | Sektion Grosser Sankt Bernhard | G | f | ? | ? | Switzerland | † 1871 |
| ? | Sektion Heidelberg | A | g | ? | ? | Germany | † 1877 |
| ? | Sektion Mainz | A | g | ? | ? | Germany | † 1871 |
| ? | Sektion Mariastein | G | g | ? | ? | Switzerland | † 1874 |
| ? | Sektion Monza | A | g | ? | ? | Italy | † 1866 |
| ? | Sektion Paris | A | g | ? | ? | France | † 1878 |
| ? | Sektion Prag | A | g | ? | ? | Czech Republic | † 1864 |
| ? | Sektion Strassburg | A | g | ? | ? | Germany, now France | † 1877 |
| ? | Sektion Thonon | G | g | ? | ? | France | † 1891 |
| ? | Sektion Zug | G | g | ? | ? | Switzerland | † 1858 |
| I.V. | Sinceritas Biel | I | g | ? | ? | Switzerland | † 1910 |
| A.V. | Valeria Florens Sion | A | g | ? | ? | Switzerland | † 1892 |
| S.A. | Vigilia Fribourg | A | f | ? | ? | Switzerland | † 1933 |

### Explanation

Legende :
* Predicate:
* GV = Gymnasialverbindung; High School Corporation (SG)
* AV = Akademische Verbindung; Academic Corporation (SA), (CA)
* AKV = Akademische Kommentverbindung; Academic Comment Corporation
* FHV = Fachhochschulverbindung; Corporation at a University of Applied Science (SHE)
* SAV / SAKV = Semiakademische Verbindung; Semi-Academic Corporation
* AB = Akademische Burschenschaft
* RV = Regionalverbindung; Regional Corporation (not affiliated to a university)
* Style of the corporation:
* G = Gymnasialverbindung; Corporation at a High School
* I = Ingenieursverbindung; Corporation of Engineers
* A = Akademische Verbindung; Academic Corporation
* Language of the corporation:
* g = German
* f = French
* i = Italian
* r = Romansh
* Gender of the members:
* m = exclusively male
* f = exclusively female
* m/f = mixed |||||||

## Notable members (selection)
### Holy or blessed members

* Maurice Tornay (1910–1949), Augustinian, missionary and martyr, (GV Agaunia)

### Prelates

* Norbert Brunner (born 1942), Bishop of Sion
* Benno Gut (1897–1970), Cardinal
* Kurt Koch (born 1950), Bishop of Basel
* Gaspard Mermillod (1824–1892), Cardinal
* Henri Schwery (1932–2021), Cardinal
* Reinhold Stecher (born 1921), Bishop of Innsbruck

### Politicians
#### Members of the Swiss Federal Council

* Viola Amherd (born 1962)
* Roger Bonvin (1907–1982)
* Enrico Celio (1889–1980)
* Flavio Cotti (born 1939)
* Alphons Egli (born 1924)
* Josef Escher (1885–1954)
* Philipp Etter (1891–1977)
* Kurt Furgler (1924–2008)
* Thomas Holenstein (1896–1962)
* Hans Hürlimann (1918–1994)
* Arnold Koller (born 1933)
* Doris Leuthard (born 1963)
* Ruth Metzler (born 1964)
* Giuseppe Motta (1871–1940)
* Jean-Marie Musy (1876–1952)
* Ludwig von Moos (1910–1990)
* Josef Zemp (1834–1908)

#### Other politicians

* Achille Casanova (born 1941)
* Anton Cottier (1943–2006)
* Dominique de Buman (born 1956)
* Bruno Frick (born 1953)
* Felix Gmür (born 1966)
* Carlo Schmid-Sutter (born 1950)
* Urs Schwaller (born 1952)

### Others

* Daniel Anrig (born 1972), Commandant of the Pontifical Swiss Guards
* Roman Bannwart (1919–2010), Theologian
* Pierre Hemmer (1950–2013), Entrepreneur
* Hans Küng (born 1928), Theologian
* Elmar Mäder (born 1963), Commandant of the Pontifical Swiss Guards
* Giusep Nay (born 1942), president of the Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland
* Michel Plancherel (1885–1967), Mathematician