UvA wants to recover damages for demonstrations from perpetrators and introduce entry checks at “high-risk events’’
The war in the Middle East looks set to affect the UvA again this year. A new Palestine demonstration by activists, aimed at severing ties with Israeli research and educational institutions, has already been announced. What measures is the UvA taking? “QR code needed for opening of academic year, next Monday.”
The academic year has only just begun, but the first Palestine demonstration at the UvA is already imminent. Via Instagram, activists let it be known that they will be demonstrating on the Roeterseiland campus on Friday 6 September. With the out-of-control demonstrations of last academic year in mind, the question looms: how is the UvA preparing for potentially another hectic year?
“We want the campus to be a safe place for everyone,” says a UvA spokesperson. Therefore, access controls will be put in place at some events that “could be risky”. This applies, for example, to the opening of the academic year, next Monday. People will then be given a pre-obtained, personalised QR code, which they will have to show at the entrance. In addition, they will be asked not to bring coats and bags inside. “That means attendees will have to queue longer, which of course is annoying, but we want to guarantee everyone’s safety.”
For demonstrations, like the one on Friday 6 September, the same rules remain in force as before. So no overnight stays, no erecting barricades and no vandalism or occupation. “Demonstrating is allowed of course,” begins the spokesperson. “Even at the UvA, that’s not a problem in itself. But we draw the line at escalation. Then we will take action.”
Damage
Last academic year’s Palestine demonstrations led to several disturbances. At the Binnengasthuisterrein as well as Science Park and the Roeterseiland campus, the police had to be called in after vandalism occurred. It is known that the UvA found at least 1.5 million euros worth of damage. However, the total cost is still unclear, the spokesperson says, because invoices for, for example, new coffee machines, some of which were demolished, and cleaning costs for the removal of graffiti often take a long time to arrive.
What is certain is that the UvA wants to recover all damages from the perpetrators. Civil proceedings are now being prepared. “We think it is important to take that step,” said the spokesperson.
Jewish students and faculty
Following these demonstrations, many Jewish lecturers and students have increasingly begun to feel unsafe, according to National Anti-Semitism Coordinator Eddo Verdoner. “We see that the flaring Israeli-Palestinian conflict is unfortunately accompanied by anti-Semitic expressions at our universities. This is unacceptable.” The UvA has also received these signals. “Jewish students and staff have indicated that they do not feel safe on campus,” said the UvA spokesperson.
Within working groups, this has reportedly been discussed, but this has not led to additional measures around lectures, for example. The UvA has several campuses with different entrance doors and lecture halls, so in practice it is impossible to start checking students and lecturers everywhere, says the spokesperson. “There will then be queues, making people late for lectures, so to speak. And besides, this is also not what you should want for a university. You want to keep the UvA open, low-threshold and publicly accessible. That’s an atmosphere you want to maintain. You don’t want to put a fence around it with a lock on it.”
