In a meeting with the participation council, the Executive Board described the temporary occupation of a lecture hall as a ‘new step’ in the protest. After all, this action, unlike the tent camp, disrupts education at the university. Members of the works council and student council urged the administrators not to escalate the situation.

The faces of the university administrators were tense when they arrived at the Aula on Thursday afternoon. Just before, a group of activists had swapped the tent camp in front of the Montessori building for a lecture in the Lecture Hall Complex (CC). They did not have permission from the University and called it a ‘temporary occupation.’ A small group even climbed onto the roof to wave Palestinian flags above the CultuurCafé.

Emergency meeting

The reason the Executive Board gathered at the Aula was an additional meeting with the works council and student council. In response to the ongoing student protest against the violence in Gaza, an emergency meeting was scheduled.

‘Since this afternoon, a room in the Lecture Hall Complex (CC) has been taken over without permission,’ said board chair Daniël Wigboldus. ‘We have communicated to a spokesperson of the protesters that our regular education and research activity, towards which we feel responsible, is disrupted by something like this. A new step has just been taken, making it very difficult for us as well.’

Taking a breath

According to Wigboldus, there had been good contact between the Executive Board and the activists ‘until a few hours ago.’ He seems to understand this afternoon’s events as a turning point. However, he soon nuanced this statement. ‘When something like this happens, you have to take a breath and see what happens. That is what we are doing right now.’

The participational bodies commended the board for the way it has handled the demonstration so far. Unlike in Utrecht and Amsterdam, the administrators have so far chosen not to end the protest with police activity.

‘This is simply a student way of demonstrating’

Members of the participational body urged the administrators to continue their approach of de-escalation. Works council member Peter van der Heiden reminded the board that Nijmegen University has a rich history of occupations. ‘This is simply a student way of demonstrating,’ he said. ‘As long as it remains non-violent, I would advise the board to be restrained.’

Safety concerns

However, there are also concerns: Wilma Philipse asked for attention to the feelings of insecurity experienced by students and staff from conflict areas. As an academic advisor at the science faculty, she hears these stories firsthand. Dorian Schaap inquired about the safety of the demonstrators who stay on campus overnight. ‘Just because it’s not allowed doesn’t mean the university has no responsibility for those who are there.’

The questions from the participation council reflected significant support for the demonstrators’ demands. They asked what must happen for the Executive Board to meet these demands. There was also a strong push for the publication of a comprehensive list of collaborations between Radboud University and Israeli institutions.

Transparency and collaboration

The Executive Board is indeed working on this. ‘We are working hard on it, but it takes time,’ said Wigboldus. Furthermore, the board aims to map out all international collaborations. ‘Our position has always been: we will not do this for one specific country.’ To which Lau Schulpen, among others, asked if the situation in Gaza doesn’t warrant an exception.

Open to new perspectives

The board members repeatedly stated they are open to new perspectives – their positions are not fixed. Wigboldus noted that he does not rule out freezing ties with Israel if, for example, the International Court of Justice were to find Israel guilty of genocide in Gaza.

Ultimately, the decision rests with the board, Wigboldus responded to a question from a student council member. ‘Our signatures are on the agreements when we establish collaborations with foreign institutions, and also if we sever ties.’ In this regard, the activists are addressing the right entity.

Translated by Siri Joustra