One white sheet reads ‘Talenstudies kunnen niet worden weggeschoofen’ [‘Language degrees can’t just be schoof-ed aside’], a play on the name of the current prime minister. Lies Wesseling, Professor of Cultural History, Gender and Diversity, paints the letters red. “That’s the worst thing, I think, that some language degrees will just disappear, like what’s happening in Leiden now.” University newspaper Mare recently reported that as part of the cuts, the Leiden Executive Board has decided to merge a number of different language degrees. For example, Chinese, Japanese and Korean will now be merged into a single Bachelor’s degree: Asia studies.
Wesseling is one of three members of staff who came together to make banners on Friday afternoon. At a table sits Ash-Avary Chrobak, a student of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, cutting out red felt squares, the symbol for ‘WO in Actie’, one of the organisers of the demonstration. “I hope that there are enough. I hear from a lot of students that they want to come. This is our community, too, and if carried out, these cuts will hit us all. We’re fighting for our own opportunities.”
Students would be immediately hit if the delay penalty is implemented, although RTL Nieuws reported recently that Minister of Education Eppo Bruins has his own doubts about that now. He is said to be contemplating raising the tuition fees instead (currently €2,350).
The news is immediately shared in the group chat of the Maastricht chapter of ‘WO in Actie’, specially created for the demonstration. Other messages in the chat: is there still room on one of the five coaches the faculties have arranged (no), how can students without free public transport get their train tickets reimbursed (become a member of one of the unions, UM will only reimburse tickets for employees), and will there be rest stops at the demonstration for people who are easily overstimulated but who do want to march (yes, the Janskerk, the Domkerk and the AOb education café). On Monday afternoon, the group chat has 378 members, how many will ultimately travel to Utrecht remains to be seen.