'Stop blackmailing us, no fine for studying!'

If it were up to the coalition formed by parties PVV, VVD, NSC and BBB, students whose graduation is delayed by more than one year will soon have to pay a 3,000-euro fine. Moreover, the future government wants to cut almost one billion euros annually from its higher education and research budget.

Elisa Weehuizen, chair of the National Student Union (LSVb), which organized the protest, was the first speaker at Jaarbeurs Square. She considers the fine unfair and unreasonable because students can delay their graduation for all sorts of reasons. “If you are serving on the board of a student association for a year, if you're committed to other students, if you're chronically ill, or simply if you experience difficulties with your study, the cabinet would make you pay 3,000 euros."

In her view, the parties in the coalition have done nothing for students and their wellbeing in recent years. “Who cut billions this year from compensating the generation that missed out on the basic student grant? NSC. Who ignored a call from young people to join the formation table? All coalition parties. Who is destroying education now? All coalition parties.” She ends her speech by saying: “Stop blackmailing us, no fine for studying!”

Protesters begin to march through the city centre with Elisa Weehuizen (2nd from left) behind the banner. Photo: DUB

Lie across from it
The demonstration was supported by the protest movement WOinActie. Co-founder Rens Bod, a Professor at the University of Amsterdam (UvA), warned in his speech that the fine will make higher education less accessible, so there will be even less knowledge and skills available to solve societal problems.

“We are not only demonstrating against the cutbacks and the fine but also against the systematic undermining of science and knowledge,” says Bod. “We must oppose these cuts and not participate in them in any way.” He called on university administrators to be principled and not cooperate with the cuts. “Do not implement these schemes!”

Professor Rens Bod from UvA spoke on behalf of WOinActie. Photo: DUB

March through Utrecht
After the last speeches, the demonstrators started a protest march through Utrecht. Jente (19) participated in it. She studies nursing at a university of applied sciences and hopes her graduation will not be delayed because she cannot find an internship. “If that happens, it's not my fault. It would take me longer to complete my studies than I would like. If I also have to pay a fine for that, that would be so unfair.”

Students and scientists from all over the Netherlands participated in the protest, as well as administrators from the universities of Utrecht, Rotterdam, Groningen, Tilburg and Leiden, among others. Trade unions, representatives of youth parties, and members of parliament from opposition parties were there, too.

Petition
Luc Stultiens, a Member of Parliament for  GroenLinks-PvdA (GreenLeft - Lavour Party) initiated a petition against the fine. More than 62,000 people have signed it so far. According to him, the fine will oppress students even more. “That is why we want to get this plan off the table by demonstrating and continuing to put it on the Parliament's agenda. We will come up with alternative plans if the government is short of money.”

Many administrators attended the protest, including Maurice Limmen (VH), Anton Pijpers (UU), Caspar van den Berg (UNL), Wim van den Donk (TiU) and Annetje Ottow (UL). Photo: DUB

Caspar van den Berg, chairman of the association of Dutch universities (UNL) and Maurice Limmen, chair of the Association of Universities of Applied Sciences, attended the demonstration too. However, Limmen says he wants to wait and see what exactly Eppo Bruins, the proposed Minister of Education, Culture and Science, will do about the coalition's plans. “Only when we know more about the fine, its effect and the cuts, will we enter into discussions with the minister to address the situation. Until then, I support the opposing views, but I will not make any statements yet about what actions the association will take.”

UU support
Many of the protesters were from Utrecht. A delegation from the political party Student & Starter was there, as was Vidius chairman Midas Urlings, who gave a passionate speech onstage. UU President Anton Pijpers was among the administrators supporting the demonstration with his presence, alongside UU student assessor Chiara Stam and University Council member Caspar Bruijning, who also consider the fine unjust.