Executive Board response to Central Student Council demand

10 May 2024

The Executive Board of the UvA learned today from the press that the Central Student Council has withdrawn its confidence in the UvA board and demands their resignation. The reason given is that the board allegedly did not take their request for transparency regarding the UvA's collaborations with Israeli academic institutions seriously and because the board is held responsible for violence against students.

Response of the UvA

We regret that the CSR has withdrawn its confidence. Participation is of great importance, and especially in times of tension, it's crucial that we are able to find common ground. We will engage with them to understand how this trust can be restored.

As for openness about our collaborations with Israeli institutions, we made public on May 6 an overview of these collaborations. This openness about collaborations, by the way, had been given previously.

Regarding violence against students: we have house rules that allow for demonstration and protest in a safe manner. When a demonstration becomes unsafe or involves occupation and vandalism, we file a report. The consequent deployment of the police is not up to us. We have let it be known several times that we want to resolve issues with protesters through dialogue, without further escalation. We will continue these discussions in the coming period.

What can I do if I feel unsafe?

We are committed to supporting everyone affected by the recent events.

In the event of an immediate physical threat or emergency

Call security: 020 525 2222

If you are not in acute physical danger, but do have concerns about your safety on campus, please read who you can contact below:

Staff

Do you have questions and concerns? Are you experiencing problems in your work? You can discuss this with your supervisor.
Are you experiencing psychological distress? Contact staff welfare services or Victim Support Netherlands (outside the UvA).
You can also always contact one of the confidential advisers.
Do you want to file a complaint about police violence? You can find more information on the website of the police.

Students

There are a number of places you can turn to, including study advisers, student psychologists, or confidential advisers. Go to information and contact details on the student site.

In addition, talks are being organised at various places within the UvA where there is an opportunity to discuss recent events. Keep an eye on the agenda of your study or workplace.

More information

Check uva.nl for the latest updates and current information about the protests.

Executive Board response to Central Student Council demand

Response of the UvA

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