


READING TIME: 2 MINUTES
PHOTO: REYER BOXEM

PROPOSITION
Darshak Bhatt – Medical Sciences
A river lacks control over its pace and path, yet it advances, and so should research.
My second year as Rector started out tumultuously. During the opening of the academic year,
protesters were lying in front of the door when we walked into the Martinikerk and I briefly had
to interrupt my speech due to the pounding on the doors. Still, we managed to turn it into
a beautiful ceremony around the theme of freedom and academy.
RECORDED BY MARJAN BROUWERS
The past year was eventful due to fierce protests, vandalism, and the tent camp on the Harmonie square.
It was also a wonderful year, however, because of, for example, our fantastic anniversary celebrations in May
to commemorate the University’s foundation day on
23 August. Our University formally existed 410 years on that day.
I have learned a lot in my first year. For example how hard it is to have a conversation when you’re dealing with conflicting interests and opinions that are void of nuance. When people are stood diametrically opposed and have an unwavering belief in their own truth, it becomes almost impossible to have a direct and respectful conversation.
I worry about this polarization and the grim tone. I’m saddened by the fact that students, researchers, and lecturers feel unsafe because of it and no longer dare to speak out.
As a university community, we want to give researchers
the opportunity to make free choices and develop new knowledge. We want to give our students education in which critical reflection and attention to diverse perspectives and angles go hand in hand. Protecting and strengthening that freedom is a responsibility we all share. For that, you have to dare to step out of your bubble — look beyond the borders of your university, your city, your country. We have to remain in dialogue with each other and make all those pluralist voices heard, within the academic community and outside of it.
Especially now, it is essential to invest in academic freedom by supporting the researchers who are not afraid to take risks, who stick out their necks to further science and society. Unfortunately, the new cabinet intends to curtail that freedom by introducing enormous cutbacks. As I’m writing this down in mid-September, it’s unsure what exactly these plans will entail, but the blueprint is unsettling. It goes without saying that the intended cutback of more than a billion euros is unacceptable to us. In other words: my second year as Rector promises to be another eventful one.


year

READING TIME: 2 MINUTEs
PHOTO: REYER BOXEM

PROPOSITION
Darshak Bhatt – Medical Sciences
A river lacks control over its pace and path, yet it advances, and so should research.
The past year was eventful due to fierce protests, vandalism, and the tent camp on the Harmonie square.
It was also a wonderful year, however, because of, for example, our fantastic anniversary celebrations in May
to commemorate the University’s foundation day on
23 August. Our University formally existed 410 years on that day.
I have learned a lot in my first year. For example how hard it is to have a conversation when you’re dealing with conflicting interests and opinions that are void of nuance. When people are stood diametrically opposed and have an unwavering belief in their own truth, it becomes almost impossible to have a direct and respectful conversation.
I worry about this polarization and the grim tone. I’m saddened by the fact that students, researchers, and lecturers feel unsafe because of it and no longer dare to speak out.
As a university community, we want to give researchers
the opportunity to make free choices and develop new knowledge. We want to give our students education in which critical reflection and attention to diverse perspectives and angles go hand in hand. Protecting and strengthening that freedom is a responsibility we all share. For that, you have to dare to step out of your bubble — look beyond the borders of your university, your city, your country. We have to remain in dialogue with each other and make all those pluralist voices heard, within the academic community and outside of it.
Especially now, it is essential to invest in academic freedom by supporting the researchers who are not afraid to take risks, who stick out their necks to further science and society. Unfortunately, the new cabinet intends to curtail that freedom by introducing enormous cutbacks. As I’m writing this down in mid-September, it’s unsure what exactly these plans will entail, but the blueprint is unsettling. It goes without saying that the intended cutback of more than a billion euros is unacceptable to us. In other words: my second year as Rector promises to be another eventful one.
My second year as Rector started out tumultuously. During the opening of the academic year,
protesters were lying in front of the door when we walked into the Martinikerk and I briefly had
to interrupt my speech due to the pounding on the doors. Still, we managed to turn it into
a beautiful ceremony around the theme of freedom and academy.
RECORDED BY MARJAN BROUWERS