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On Wednesday 18 and Thursday 19 June, a university building (Drift 25) was occupied. The protesters demand that Utrecht ľ�ϸ���Ӱ�� cuts all ties with Israeli institutions. Security staff were repeatedly denied access to the building, which meant that fire safety and escape routes could not be monitored. Due to unacceptable safety risks and because the building is needed for educational activities after the weekend, the university issued a formal request to vacate the premises on Friday morning. Shortly after 9 a.m., the police found the building empty.

Inside, it is a scene of great devastation, according to Anton Pijpers, chair of the Executive Board of Utrecht ľ�ϸ���Ӱ��. ‘It makes me sad and angry. What we are seeing here is no longer a demonstration; this is vandalism. The damage is currently being assessed, but it will be extensive: there are barricades, doors that have been bolted shut, paint, stickers and destroyed electric locks on classroom doors.’

Protesting is part of our democracy, and part of our university. Additionally, there are various ways to engage in dialogue and be heard within Utrecht ľ�ϸ���Ӱ��, such as through the ľ�ϸ���Ӱ�� Council. There is no need to occupy a building in order to be heard.

Balancing complex rights

Demonstrations inside and around university buildings can lead to tensions between different fundamental rights: for example, the right to demonstrate, the right to education and the university’s responsibility to guarantee safety. “These rights are all important, and it is our responsibility as a board to make a careful assessment for each situation,” says Executive Board president Anton Pijpers.
During the occupation of Drift 25, the different rights of protesters, students, staff, and the university were continuously assessed. The new house rules and responsibilities were shared with the protestors, as recently revised based on advice from UU researchers. A key condition for the university was that Security must have access to the building, in order to safeguard flight and fire safety. This access was denied several times. The Executive Board therefore found it necessary to prepare an official request to leave the building ('vorderen').

After consultation with the local authorities, three formal requests to leave were issued on Friday morning in the presence of the police. The police then found the building, whose doors had been barricaded, empty.

‘We will continue to discuss difficult issues’

“We understand that our students and staff watch the events in Gaza with horror,” says Pijpers. “The concerns about the humanitarian suffering are deeply felt within the board as well. We share the distress over the ongoing violence and the lack of perspective on a peaceful resolution. Authoritative academic research has now described the violence as genocidal. The recent actions of the Israeli government - including the blockades of food and aid and the forced displacement of residents - have led us to tighten our policy regarding collaborations.”

“We will continue to engage in dialogue on difficult social issues, both within and outside the university. We invite our students and staff to make their voices heard through the existing channels, in an atmosphere of mutual respect and safety.”