“You don’t need to stand on a boat during Gay Pride to show how tolerant you are”

Students about diversity and inclusivity at UM

12-12-2022 · Interview

Sjoerd Maillé (Dutch), master’s student of Law and Labour, would rather talk about inclusion than about diversity in the framework of this series. The latter term, in practice often means naming differences, he says. “It is something that organisations use as part of their profile these days. Look at how diverse we are: we have people with different backgrounds, inclinations and limitations. Inclusion, on the other hand, is about similarities and removing differences. How can we ensure that everyone can partake?”

Maillé speaks from experience. He is visually impaired, but with some help from Disability Support at Maastricht University, he can study ‘just’ like any other student. “I take the same lessons and do the same exams, although I am given extra time to do that,” he says in an office space at the Faculty of Law. Due to renovation work in his student house, it is impossible to study there. Disability Support arranged for him to be able to set up his equipment in this space.

“Very comfortable” but he also feels that he should be the one to contact Disability Support when he needs help. “I dislike when services – even though it is with the best of intentions – tell me how best to arrange my life.”

When the interview has been going on for a while, Maillé wants to refer back to diversity. He feels it is important to stress that he is not against diversity. “On the contrary. It is very good to strive for diversity. I find it positive, for example, that employers are stimulated to hire people with a disability. Except, I would not want to work somewhere because I have a disability. Quality must always be a priority.”

It is a sensitive subject, he says. “You have to choose your words carefully.” Also in the tutorial group meetings. It is not true, however, that you can’t say anything anymore. As a supporter of political party VVD, Maillé is on the right-hand side of the political spectrum and during the tutorial group meetings, social security is discussed, that is not always the easiest perspective, he says. “But if you substantiate your opinion well, it is actually appreciated that you have a different point of view.”

The height of acceptance and diversity, according to Maillé, is that there is not a constant discussion about difference. An example: “Two members in our group of friends are gay. That is totally not an issue for us. In fact, we never talk about it, even though there is room to do so. You don’t need to stand on a boat during Gay Pride to show how tolerant you are. On the other hand, you create understanding by talking about differences. That is what makes this subject matter difficult.”

What UM can do according to students

For students who, like herself, are neurodiverse (an umbrella term for various disorders related to information and stimulus processing in the brain, such as ADHD, autism and dyslexia), it is nice when tutors ask at the beginning of a period if anyone needs help, says Stephanie Besga, third-year University College Maastricht. “When students ask for a delay, they only do it after a long time of struggling and thinking. Then you can at least - and some good tutors do - just say, ‘If you need a deferral, let me know. Send me a message, it's fine.’”

The same goes for asking about personal pronouns, Besga, who is Spanish, believes. “Start talking about it yourself and ask everyone during the introduction round. Otherwise, a person whose personal pronoun does not match the registered gender quickly feels like an outcast.”

Eugenia Brosio (Italian), European Law School sophomore, has the impression that not all faculties make the same effort to make their faculty a comfortable and safe environment. "Action needs to be taken to equalize that," she said. She applauds the additional promotion of activities and events around diversity. "Because many were cancelled by corona last year, students now often don't know they exist."

Students stay too much in their own bubble, thinks Kingson Luc from Australia, who studies both European Law School and Biomedical Sciences. Dutch people with Dutch people, Germans with Germans, and so on. He tries to bring people together at the Language Café, where people can practice the language they are currently learning while socializing. He says it took him three years of lobbying to get the project off the ground. "UM could support these kinds of initiatives a little more," he said.

In addition, staff should receive training on how to deal with a diverse group of students, Luc believes. This could “help avoid uncomfortable situations”, such as when a professor wondered why a Muslim student was “was even wearing a hijab in the first place”. Other possible solutions: a mandatory intercultural studies course at all faculties or include parts of it in curricula. "Developing presentation skills could also be a good opportunity to learn more about how to interact with people from different cultures and backgrounds."

For international students, red tape is sometimes tricky, says Sadie Kinnersley of New York. Administrative and legal documents, such as leases, residence permits or health insurance, are not translated into English. "The university expects independence from students, which is good, but I also think they should do more to help international students." Student life could also be more international. "Student associations do their best to make students feel welcome, but if you don't speak Dutch, you don't belong."

Anna Azzolini, Mia Blacklaws, Line-Marie Eichhorst and Leilani Radaideh

Observant spoke with more students, read their portraits here.