A meeting where students and staff could discuss the recent recommendation of the International Partnerships Advisory Committee was terminated after half an hour. 'I think it is very sad that we cannot have a discussion about this.'

‘You have ten seconds to put the banner away.’ Moderator André Lardinois addresses two Pro-Palestine demonstrators holding up a banner reading “Cut all ties with genocide”.

The atmosphere at a meeting in the Lecture hall complex, where students and staff can share ideas on the recommendation of the International Partnerships Advisory Committee, is tense. Recently, the committee recommended freezing collaborations with two Israeli institutions due to serious and systematic human rights violations.

Plane over campus

About 20 minutes before the start of the meeting, a small plane flew over campus several times with a banner messaging “For peace, for Israel”. It is not known who was behind it. Several police officers were also present on campus as a precaution, as well as some security guards who were present in the building.

Back to the lecture hall, where the students refuse to put the banner away. A university employee still tries to change their minds. ‘I appreciate you guys being here to voice your opinions’, he says into the microphone, ‘but I want to do that as well.’ Someone else in the room shouts that the protesters are disrupting the meeting.

‘We are not disrupting anything at all’, the protesters shout back. The moderator repeats his ultimatum while counting to ten. A muddled discussion ensues. Moments later, Lardinois announces through the microphone that the meeting is over. ‘All those present have agreed to the rules of this meeting in advance’, he says.

‘It is very sad that we cannot have this discussion’, says Rector Magnificus José Sanders before leaving the room disappointed.

Good start

Half an hour earlier, however, the discussion had started reasonably well. Participants were asked to summarize their response to the committee’s recommendation in one word via their phones. Soon words like “Finally,” “Too Late” and “Cut the Ties” filled the screen.

Participants could then indicate whether or not the executive board should adopt the recommendation. ‘A lot of people have repeatedly asked to cut ties with Israeli institutions’, said one staff member. ‘Not only with universities, but also with other organizations.’ His words received applause.

‘What more information do you need from us?’ another staff member asks the board. According to her, the report already contains enough facts. ‘Then why do you want to hear opinions?’

Rector Magnificus Sanders replies that she wants to give everyone the opportunity to comment on the recommendation. President of the Executive Board Alexandra van Huffelen adds that people can also add new information.

Disillusioned

Someone else who gets the floor states that it is good that Radboud University is freezing ties with Israeli universities on an institutional level. ‘But I do hope that we will be allowed to keep our individual ties with Israeli scientists.’ He receives support from an associate professor. ‘I heard from an Israeli colleague that many scientists are against the war’, he says.

Not much later, the discussion is interrupted and quite a few staff and students leave the room. Those in the hall are left disillusioned.

Whether there will be another meeting is not clear shortly after the event. A spokesman for the university says he cannot answer that at this time.