UPDATE: UM staff and students can watch the livestream in the Blauwe Zaal at Randwyck (UNS50, K0.402), the Aula at Tongersestraat 53 at the School of Business and Economics, or the Turnzaal at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (Grote Gracht 90-92). Afterward, there will be a gathering at the Vrijthof from 15.00-16.00 hrs., with speeches and singing.
Meanwhile, it is unclear if classes at Maastricht University (UM) will proceed. Originally, attendance for students today was only mandatory for exams, required practicals, and work with patients. According to Koen Augustijn, spokesperson for the executive board, it’s up to the faculties to decide.
However, the faculties of Psychology and Neuroscience (FPN) and Science and Engineering (FSE) announced yesterday that, now that the demonstration has been canceled, classes will continue as scheduled. The FSE faculty board did, however, urge tutors not to be too strict with absentees. The law faculty also assumes that classes will go on as usual. Instead, the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences (FHML) and FASoS leave agreements between students and faculty in place to avoid confusion. Also at SBE, there is no attendance requirement.
Yesterday, the National Student Union (LSVb) called on students not to attend lectures at all, at least until the weekend. Students can also still go to Utrecht to demonstrate. The Rotterdam student union STUUR and the political youth organization ROOD, which was affiliated with the Socialist Party until three years ago, are organizing a smaller protest that will go ahead.
The demonstration against budget cuts in higher education was canceled yesterday by the organizers, AOb and FNV, due to safety concerns. In a letter, Utrecht Mayor Sharon Dijksma wrote that they had concrete information that “pro-Palestinian demonstrators wanted to hijack the protest and would not shy away from using violence.”
HOP/CF