Executive Board not working on Administration Buildings' fifth floor

Tensions have run high these past few weeks due to the occupations of university buildings by pro-Palestine demonstrators and the police actions that ensued. It happened not only in Utrecht, but in other Dutch cities as well. In May, several activists entered the room occupied by Danël Wigboldius, President of the University of Nijmegen, where they feasted on chocolate and did yoga exercises. Activists at the University of Amsterdam also invaded the sixth floor of the ABC building, where the Executive Board works, causing significant damage. 

These events have led Utrecht University's Executive Board to move. “We have no concrete indications that we are not safe. I do not feel threatened, but what happened in other universities shows that administrators and their workplaces have unfortunately become a target. So, as a preventive measure, we have decided to work elsewhere for a while. That is very unfortunate as it damages the open character of our university. We hope this will be temporary and not become the new normal,” explains UU President Anton Pijpers.

The Executive Board continues to work as usual. All of their commitments to the university remain.