Studying should become more affordable. That's the statement of the new activist group Student Modus Operandi, which held a protest today at the university. During the lunch break, they hung large banners both on Erasmus Square and in the Refter.

The banners displayed messages such as ‘Everything is expensive, keep education accessible’ and ‘Grant for all, lower tuition.’ These were the slogans on the banners that the Student Modus Operandi (SMO) group put up during the lunch break today. Especially the huge banner in the Refter, unfurled in front of hundreds of staff members and students, drew a lot of attention.

‘Studying is becoming increasingly expensive’, said SMO spokesperson and Philosophy, Politics, and Society student Brit*. ‘Tuition fees are rising, inflation is taking its toll, and rents are increasing.’

Increasing basic grants

The new activist group believes that Radboud University and the government should make a bigger effort to make studying more affordable. Brit mentioned examples such as increasing basic grants, offering cheaper food on campus, and preventing the increase in tuition fees.

The activist group was recently founded and is a result of the ‘#NotMyDebt protests’ of recent years, in which students protested against the abolishment of the basic grant. In later protests, the focus was mainly on the amount of the newly introduced basic grant. Brit explained, ‘Some students are still dissatisfied with the affordability of studying and the living conditions for students.’

National issues

SMO is currently focusing primarily on students at Radboud University and HAN. ‘But these are national issues’, Brit emphasized. According to the spokesperson, the group consists of about twenty to thirty members.

The group intends to make its voice heard more frequently in the future, not only through protests but also through creative actions, including offering affordable food on campus. The group currently has no plans to engage in discussions with the board of directors, as stated by the spokesperson when asked, ‘But we are open to a dialogue.’

Several hours after the action, the banners are still hanging in the Refter and on the square.

*The last name of Brit is known to the editorial team.

Translated by Siri Joustra