The Central Diversity Office is offering a programme during this week that addresses various aspects of racism. The programme has been created in collaboration with academics, students, student organisations and collectives working against racism and discrimination. The full details of the programme are still being worked on, but you can already register for several events.
2023 Programme
Friday 3 March to Monday 27 March
Photo Exhibition ‘Racism in the Netherlands: blind spots, sore spots’
Language: Dutch
Location AMC: J-plein (final week at the Voetenplein)
Location VUmc: Amstelfoyer
Photographer Marjolein Annegarn explains her work: 'It is up to us white people to talk to ourselves and each other about our blind spots and sore spots. I am white, I attended a white school and had a predominantly white circle of friends. Until I struck up a special friendship with a Surinamese woman. Like all friends, we talked a lot together, about life, love, dreams, sorrows and family. Gradually it became clear to me that we are much the same, but that she experiences a different country in which she is treated differently from me. It touched me. I cycled through life with the wind blowing and didn't even know it was blowing. I delved into why our experiences were different and listened to other people of colour's stories of discrimination and racism. When you look someone in the eye and really listen, you cannot turn away, which is why I made this exhibition of portraits and stories. I haven’t suffered like them, but I want to be an ally. Look these 19 people in the eyes and read their stories.'
Monday, 13 March
Opening event: Institutional Racism and Democratisation at the UvA
Language: English
Location: De Brug, Roeterseiland
Time: 17:00 – 19:00
Start programme: 17:30
During this evening of dialogues, we will discuss institutional racism and democratisation at the University of Amsterdam. We will talk about what institutional racism at the UvA looks like, what its consequences are and how platforms like the University Forum and Denk mee can be used to provide feedback on the university's diversity policy. Among others, CvB president Geert ten Dam and former Diversity and Inclusion Ministry coordinator Nori Spauwen will be present. This event includes a dinner.
Tuesday 14 March
Workshop: If only I had said something (for employees)
Language: English
Location: REC A2.10 Roeterseiland
Time: 13:00 – 16:00
Why is it that in the moment itself you freeze and afterwards you know exactly what you wanted to say? What makes it difficult to intervene when controversial comments are made? And how can you invite yourself to start trying, even in situations where you are a bystander?
During this workshop we will talk about what kind of controversial issues you might have encountered and how your own thoughts might hold you back from intervening. We will invite you to challenge these thoughts and practice together to have a constructive dialogue with your colleague. This workshop is exclusively for staff members (teachers and supporting staff).
ASVA x SV Marula Deep Dive Session: Black resistance throughout the years
Language: Dutch
Location: Doelenzaal, University Library
Time: 18:30 – 21:00
For students and employees of UvA and HvA, ASVA and Afro-Dutch student association SV Marula are organising a talk session on resistance. Often, when black resistance is spoken about it is about Rosa Parks and The Black Panther movement, icons of resistance in the United States. But what about black activists and black resistance in the Netherlands? During this dialogue programme, we look at resistance and the forgotten history of the Netherlands.
Wednesday, 15 March
Workshop: If only I had said something (for employees)
Language: Dutch
Location: SP D1.160, Science Park
Time: 09:00 – 12:00
Why is it that in the moment itself you freeze and afterwards you know exactly what you wanted to say? What makes it difficult to intervene when controversial comments are made? And how can you invite yourself to start trying, even in situations where you are a bystander?
During this workshop we will talk about what kind of controversial issues you might have encountered and how your own thoughts might hold you back from intervening. We will invite you to challenge these thoughts and practice together to have a constructive dialogue with your colleague. This workshop is exclusively for staff members (teachers and supporting staff).
Workshop: Bystander Intervention
Language: English
Location: Doelenzaal, Universiteitsbibliotheek UvA
Time: 13:00 – 15:00
Our Bodies Our Voices provides a Bystander Intervention with a focus on racism. This training teaches individuals how to recognize and safely intervene in situations they feel the need to act upon. Examples include encounters with bullying, discrimination, sexual harassment, micro-aggressions, or other types of unacceptable and transgressive behavior. This workshop develops participants’ skills to intervene in a variety of challenging, real life scenarios and strengthens their assertiveness in both personal and external experiences.
Panel discussion: The Effects of Racism on Algorithms and Artificial intelligence
Language: English
Location: Science Park Central Hall building C
Time: 12:00 – 13:30
In our information society, predictive algorithms and AI are ubiquitous. This predictive technology is increasingly used in society and business, but there’s a risk that the technology is not neutral and may even be closely related to racism and discrimination. Because algorithms themselves may not have racist intentions, but the developers behind the algorithm may have. This is how racial bias arises in technology. During this panel discussion with, among others, Machiel Keestra (Central Diversity Officer at the University of Amsterdam), Robin Pocornie (master's student Bioinformatics and Systems Biology), Iris van der Tuin (professor in Theory of Cultural Inquiry at Utrecht University) and Cynthia Liem (associate professor with the Multimedia Computing Group at the TU Delft) we will discuss what relationship there is between racism and algorithms and AI. How does this manifest itself and what are the consequences?
Thursday 16 March
Anti-Asian Racism Meme Battle
Language: English
Location: Science Park 904 Central Hall
Time: 10:00 – 12:30
Come and meet PAC at UVA on March 16 during the week against racism. Have a chat with the members of the organization, create your own micro-aggression meme, or join one of the meme battles. PAC provides a safe space where questions and experiences related to Asian identity or racism can be shared (anonymously too).
PAC (Pan Asian Collective) strives for full representation of Asians in the Netherlands within culture and media. Among other things, the organization connects fresh perspectives and storytelling in theatre, campaigns and cultural programs. In addition to organising events and meetings for the Asian community, the organization is also conducting research to map Asian Racism in the Netherlands.
Anti-Asian Racism Meme Battle
Language: English
Location: REC HAL A
Time: 14:00 – 16:00
Come and meet PAC at UVA on March 16 during the week against racism. Have a chat with the members of the organization, create your own micro-aggression meme, or join one of the meme battles. PAC provides a safe space where questions and experiences related to Asian identity or racism can be shared (anonymously too).
PAC (Pan Asian Collective) strives for full representation of Asians in the Netherlands within culture and media. Among other things, the organization connects fresh perspectives and storytelling in theatre, campaigns and cultural programs. In addition to organising events and meetings for the Asian community, the organization is also conducting research to map Asian Racism in the Netherlands.
Inspiration, self-care & engagement workshop
Language: Engels
Locatio: Doelenzaal, Universiteitsbibliotheek UvA
Tijdstip: 14:00 – 17:00
This workshop welcomes people who study or work in our university to help us build a non-hierarchical space of self-care, deep reflection, inspiration and solidarity. We aim to create space to search for what drives and inspires us in our work or study. We often do not make time for this – as everything around us demands our attention, our opinion, and maybe our involvement. At the same time, it is essential for our wellbeing that we stay in touch with what motivates and inspires us, so we can act in ways that are aligned with how we feel. We make use of creative and contemplative methods as tools to navigate and discover our unique learning paths in life, combining this with inclusive teaching methods. The workshop is a taster of the longer CREATE pilot training, a co-created multi-meeting course on inspiration and engagement. Students, teacher and supporting staff are all welcome to join.
Friday, 17 March
City Walk with Far Too Close (Dutch)
Language: Dutch
Location: Bushuis hall
Time: 11:00
In the podcast Far Too Close, four (former) UvA students explore the colonial past of six buildings in Amsterdam's University Quarter. What stories reside in the buildings where we attend college and where we go to study? And what should we do about a past that may feel far away, but is actually still very close? During the Week Against Racism, you can set off with two FAR TOO CLOSE guides, who will take you on a quest to discover the colonial history of the places where UvA students and staff work and study every day.
City Walk with Far Too Close (English)
Language: English
Location: Bushuis hall
Time: 14:00
In the podcast Far Too Close, four (former) UvA students explore the colonial past of six buildings in Amsterdam's University Quarter. What stories reside in the buildings where we attend college and where we go to study? And what should we do about a past that may feel far away, but is actually still very close? During the Week Against Racism, you can set off with two FAR TOO CLOSE guides, who will take you on a quest to discover the colonial history of the places where UvA students and staff work and study every day.
More information
Do you have questions about the programme? If so, please contact Tuyet Stooker at t.p.stooker@uva.nl.