There is finally some clarity regarding Paul Bakker’s future at Radboud University. He will remain a professor of philosophy and start working for Radboud University Press, but he will no longer perform any teaching-related activities.

Paul Bakker, the professor who came into infamy in 2020, will start working at Radboud University Press in September, the university announced today. He will remain employed as a professor of philosophy for half of his contract ─ though not at his old department, and likely only one day per week. However, Bakker will not return to teaching, and consequently will not be giving lectures or guiding students.

In June 2020, the university announced that it had received reports regarding Bakker, who at the time was nominated for the role of dean at the Faculty of Philosophy, Theology and Religious Studies. The Executive Board looked into the matter. As a result of an external investigation, the Board concluded in September of the same year that Bakker had been guilty of ‘transgressive behaviour.’

Bakker’s future as dean of the faculty came to a definitive halt. Additionally, after the conclusion of the investigation, he was not allowed at the faculty for some time. As of writing, Bakker works at most one day per week in his office, and he no longer holds a teaching position.

Concerned Students

‘There were a lot of concerns at the faculty about Bakker returning to teaching’, according to dean Heleen Murre-van den Berg. ‘That had a major impact on the decision.’ The dean goes on to state that predominately students were worried. ‘Members of the Faculty Student Council were kept involved throughout the proceedings. We also regularly spoke with our students on the matter.’

‘If presented with the same case now, we might be able to act quicker’

Precisely what is meant by ‘transgressive behaviour’ in Bakker’s case has not been disclosed by the university. The report of the 2020 external investigation – written by the bureau Berenschot – was only viewed by the then Executive Board and head of HR. The Executive Board continues to refrain from providing details, stating only that Bakker’s behaviour was not illegal. However, the Board does state that Bakker was officially reprimanded in 2020.

‘It is in the interest of everyone involved that we will refrain from giving any details on the case’, according to the Executive Board’s vice chair, Agnes Muskens. The Board has stated its aim of protecting the privacy of those who reported the transgressions and will continue to do so now.

Rumours

The Board is aware that the continued lack of clarity has contributed significantly to the swirl of rumours surrounding Bakker. The choice to not discuss any details was ‘a consideration of the interests of all those involved’, Muskens says. The fact that it took so long to decide on Bakker’s position at the university was simply due to the ‘thorough’ nature of the process.

Could things have been sped up? Potentially, according to both the vice chair and dean. Murre-van den Berg: ‘If presented with the same case now, we might be able to act quicker.’ Muskens: ‘In that sense, we are learning as an organisation.’

A point of contention during the meetings was Bakker’s possible return to teaching. Murre-van den Berg: ‘There is no need for secrecy. At a certain point, we as the Faculty Board asked ourselves: should we not let him return to teaching in some capacity? It caused a great deal of debate.’

The fact that Bakker will now be partially returning to the faculty to do research means that vice chair Muskens and dean Murre-van den Berg are confident that Bakker won’t repeat the same mistakes. Murre-van den Berg: ‘Otherwise, we would have taken different steps.’

In a short comment, Bakker stated that everything had been properly discussed and that he is satisfied with the agreements made.

Translated by Jasper Pesch