Small pro-Palestinian demonstration in front of Administration Building

A small group of students gathered in front of the Administration Building, at Utrecht Science Park, on Tuesday, at around 1:00 pm. They were not wearing face coverings this time, but rather hats and scarves to protect them from the cold, rain, and wind. The protesters announced that they would gather there beforehand, so the building's doors were closed. The university administration's offices are located in this building. UU security guards ensured that the protesters did not get in.

Outside, two activists held a red banner with the slogan "Hands off Palestinian Unis," while others hung a green banner reading "From Utrecht to Birzeit, education is a right." The demonstration was sparked by the harsh way the Israeli army broke up a protest at Birzeit University, in the West Bank, on 6 January.

The protest was organised by Utrecht Student Encampment and the student union Vidius. "Palestinians in the West Bank are increasingly being pressured by Israel and driven out," says Vidius chair Dante Glastra van Loon. "People protested against this at Birzeit University."

Photo: DUB

Collaboration with Palestinian universities
Despite the strong gusts of wind and freezing rain showers, the activists persevered. They handed out leaflets explaining why they have been campaigning for years and why the university should sever ties with the Israeli universities that support the army. In addition to the boycott, Dante explains that the activists are now “also asking UU to collaborate more with Palestinian universities.” Through a megaphone, another activist shouted that UU is partly responsible for the genocide in Gaza, a well-known slogan by now.

Vidius also wants UU to be more transparent in its efforts to sever ties with Israeli partners. The university still maintains research projects with Israeli universities, as part of Horizon Europe. "The university says it is working on this, but we don't know for sure what kind of steps it is taking. They could be more transparent about this," argues Dante, who believes that the university is not communicating sufficiently well about this subject. "If they shared more, employees and students might also be able to help."

Lucas, Hermen and Sara, from the University Council. Photo: DUB
 
University Council
Around half past one, three student members of the University Council, who had been invited to speak with the protesters, arrived. Hermen Horzelenberg, Sara Aksakal and Lucas Meijer Galan called on the protesters to become politically active within the university's representational structure, or at least vote in the University Council elections, which will take place on 1-3 June. That way, they would be able to plead their case to the Executive Board themselves.

However, in the conversation that followed, the University Council members had to admit that they can't force the board to do anything. The University Council has little power to approve measures, prompting one of the activists to ask whether that should change. After all, was there not a majority in the council in favour of severing ties with Israeli universities?

Among the students, at least, there certainly was, the three University Council members replied. They, too, would like councillors to have more say, but this would require amending the law governing academic community participation, which can only be done in The Hague. Lijst Vuur will work towards this, said Hermen. Sofie Kisjes, from Vidius, then took the floor. "We don't want to wait for The Hague. We want to make UU more democratic faster."

After braving a few rain showers, the activists and the councillors agreed to disagree. The protest's organisers then broke up the demonstration, and the Administration Building was quiet again.