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.

History The Schweizerischer Studentenverein (SSS) was founded on August 31, 1841, as the federation of the Catholic-conservative, color-bearing, and non-dueling corporations of Switzerland.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 was members of the SSS who contributed to Switzerland's unity.

The SSS was 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 with the CVP and nowadays is open to other political parties.

The SSS has a friendship agreement with the CV and the OCV. It is a member of the EKV.

Symbols The motto of SSS is Its colors are red, white, and green. Its symbol is the red hat. The member corporations are free to choose any shade of red and the type of hat.

Membership 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.

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 support the CC. The veterans are federated in the Altherrenbund (AHB), which has its 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 that were at sometime a member of the SSS. There are three types of corporations: Gymnasialverbindung (High School Corporation), Ingenieursverbindung (Engineering Corporation), and Akademische Verbindung (Academic Corporation).

Organizations fall under a predicate, including: Gymnasialverbindung (High School Corporation) Akademische Verbindung (Academic Corporation) Akademische Kommentverbindung (Academic Comment Corporation) Fachhochschulverbindung (Corporation at a University of Applied Science) Semiakademische Verbindung (Semi-Academic Corporation) Akademische Burschenschaft (German-speaking Academic Corporation) Regionalverbindung (Regional Corporation, not affiliated to a university)

Active sections The following 59 sections have active and veteran members. Letters Corporation Chartered Type Predicate Language Gender Country GR Greviria Bulle 1989 High School Gymnasialverbindung French Male and female Switzerland AW Abbatia Wilensis Wil 1978 High School Gymnasialverbindung German Male and female Switzerland AC Activitas Fribourg 1917 High School Fachhochschulverbindung French Male and female Switzerland AG Agaunia Saint-Maurice 1859 High School Gymnasialverbindung French Male and female Switzerland AL AKV Alemannia Fribourg 1895 Academic Akademische Kommentverbindung German Male Switzerland AM Angelomontana Engelberg 1907 High School Gymnasialverbindung German Male and female Switzerland AR Arvésia Geneva 1946 High School Gymnasialverbindung French Male Switzerland BE Berchtoldia Bern 1917 Academic Akademische Verbindung German Male and female Switzerland BV Berovia Beromünster 1983 High School Gymnasialverbindung German Male and female Switzerland BO Bodania Sankt Gallen 1925 Academic Akademische Verbindung German Male Switzerland BR Brigensis Brig 1843 High School Gymnasialverbindung German Male and female Switzerland BU Burgundia Bern 1865 Academic Akademische Kommentverbindung German Male Switzerland CS Corona Sangallensis St. Gallen 1896 High School Semiakademische Verbindung German Male Switzerland CO Corvina Einsiedeln 1848 High School Gymnasialverbindung German Male and female Switzerland CU Curiensis Chur 1848 Academic Akademische Verbindung German Male Switzerland DE Desertina Disentis 1990 High School Gymnasialverbindung German Male and female Switzerland GU Die Gundoldinger Lucerne 1958 Academic Akademische Verbindung German Male and female Switzerland HA Die Habsburger Brugg/Windisch 1966 Engineering Fachhochschulverbindung German Male Switzerland NO Die Nothensteiner St. Gallen 1984 Engineering Fachhochschulverbindung German Male Switzerland ? Fidelitas Schaffhausen 2005 High School Gymnasialverbindung German Male and female Switzerland FB Froburger Basel 1939 Academic Akademische Verbindung German Male and female Switzerland FR Fryburgia Fribourg 1918 Academic Akademische Verbindung German Male Switzerland GL Glanzenburger Zurich 1959 Academic Akademische Burschenschaft German Male Switzerland GO Goten Fribourg 1953 Academic Akademische Verbindung German Male and female Switzerland HF Helvetia Friburgensis Freiburg im Breisgau 1843 Academic Akademische Verbindung German Male and female Germany HO Helvetia Oenipontana Innsbruck 1860 Academic Akademische Verbindung German Male and female Austria HR Helvetia Romana Rome 1850 Academic Akademische Verbindung German Male and female Italy KB Kybelia St. Gallen 1999 Academic Akademische Verbindung German Female Switzerland KY Kyburger Zurich 1912 Academic Akademische Kommentverbindung German Male Switzerland LE Lémania Lausanne 1891 Academic Akademische Verbindung French Male and female Switzerland LN Leonina Fribourg 1896 Academic Akademische Verbindung German Male and female Switzerland MA Markovia Wangen 1965 High School Regionalverbindung German Male and female Switzerland MP Monte Pacis Gossau 1998 High School Gymnasialverbindung German Female Switzerland MU Munatia Basel 1991 High School Gymnasialverbindung German Male and female Switzerland NR Neu-Romania Fribourg 1938 Academic Akademische Kommentverbindung German Male Switzerland NK Notkeriana St. Gallen 1990 Academic Akademische Verbindung German Male and female Switzerland NU Nuithonia Fribourg 1845 High School Gymnasialverbindung French Male and female Switzerland OR Orion Zurich 1964 Academic Akademische Verbindung German Male and female Switzerland ? Palatia Solodorensis Solothurn 1955 High School Gymnasialverbindung German Male and female Switzerland PT Penthesilea Appenzell 1993 High School Gymnasialverbindung German Female Switzerland RA Rauracia Basel 1863 Academic Akademische Kommentverbindung German Male Switzerland RE Rezia Fribourg 1939 Academic Akademische Verbindung Romanish Male and female Switzerland RO Rotacher Appenzell 1941 High School Gymnasialverbindung German Male Switzerland RS Rusana Altdorf 1918 High School Gymnasialverbindung German Male and female Switzerland SL Salévia Geneva 1876 Academic Akademische Verbindung French Male Switzerland SA Sarinia Fribourg 1895 Academic Akademische Verbindung French Male and female Switzerland SE Seetalensis Hochdorf 1975 Academic Semiakademische Verbindung German Male Switzerland SF Semper Fidelis Lucerne 1843 Academic Akademische Verbindung German Male Switzerland ST Staufer Fribourg 1937 Academic Akademische Verbindung German Male and female Switzerland SR Steinacher St. Gallen 1953 Academic Akademische Verbindung German Male Switzerland SH Struthonia Stans 1909 High School Gymnasialverbindung German Male and female Switzerland SB Subsilvania Sarnen 1860 High School Gymnasialverbindung German Male and female Switzerland SU Suitia Schwyz 1843 High School Gymnasialverbindung German Male Switzerland SA Surlacia Sursee 1991 High School Gymnasialverbindung German Male and female Switzerland TU Turicia Zurich 1860 Academic Akademische Verbindung German Male Switzerland WA Waldstättia Lucerne 1891 Academic Akademische Verbindung German Male and female Switzerland WE Welfen Zurich 1921 Academic Akademische Verbindung German Male and female Switzerland WI Wikinger Immensee 1967 High School Gymnasialverbindung German Male and female Switzerland ZÄ Zähringia Fribourg 1843 High School Gymnasialverbindung German Male and female Switzerland

Semi-active sections The following 21 sections have no active members, but still have veteran members. Letters Corporation Chartered Type Predicate Language Gender Country AF Agorà Fribourg 1971 Academic Akademische Verbindung German Male and female Switzerland AR Ardevensia Sion 1988 High School Gymnasialverbindung French Male and female Switzerland AS Aster Fribourg 1967 High School Gymnasialverbindung French Male and female Switzerland AU Audacia Pfäffikon 1994 High School Gymnasialverbindung German Male Switzerland DA Daltonia Muttenz 1976 Engineering Fachhochschulverbindung German Male Switzerland RU Die Ruithonen Burgdorf 1900 Engineering Fachhochschulverbindung German Male Switzerland HM Helvetia Monacensis Munich 1844 Academic Akademische Verbindung German Male Germany HL Helvetia Lovaniensis Leuven 1872 Academic Akademische Verbindung German and French Male and female Belgium HI Himeria Porrentruy 1925 High School Gymnasialverbindung French Male and female Switzerland Lepontia Bernensis Bern 1931 Male Switzerland LC Lepontia Cantonale Locarno (Lucerne) 1885 Academic Akademische Verbindung Italian Male Switzerland NN Neuburgia Neuchâtel 1995 Academic Akademische Verbindung French Male and female Switzerland NW Neu-Welfen Zurich 1946 Academic Akademische Verbindung German Male Switzerland PH Paludia Heerbrugg 1991 High School Gymnasialverbindung German Male and female Switzerland RH Rhodania Sion 1846 High School Gymnasialverbindung French Male and female Switzerland RT Romania Turicensis (Zurich) 1930 Academic Akademische Verbindung French Male Switzerland Romania Bernensis (Bern) 1945 Akademische Verbindung French Male Switzerland SJ Sancta Johanna Fribourg 2003 Academic Akademische Verbindung French Male and female Switzerland SN Saruna Sargans 1992 High School Gymnasialverbindung German Male and female Switzerland TR Turania Winterthur 1892 High School Fachhochschulverbindung German Male Switzerland

Inactive sections The following sections are inactive and do not have any active or veteran members.