Riki Janssen

Riki Janssen (1959) studied philosophy in Nijmegen. She worked there as a student journalist for the KUnieuws and almost playfully entered the profession after graduating. In the early 1990s she became an editor at Observant, to become editor-in-chief five years later. In May 2025, she stepped down as editor-in-chief and became editor once more.

Articles by Riki Janssen

1981-2025: Selling a bike? Looking for a room? Got a message for an ex? Place a Paarltje!
Background

1981-2025: Selling a bike? Looking for a room? Got a message for an ex? Place a Paarltje!

50 years of UM: The Times They Are (Not) A-Changin'
“For me, a newspaper is more about layout than text”
Interview

“For me, a newspaper is more about layout than text”

Goodbye to print, goodbye to newspaper designer Simone Golob
New employee code of conduct: what is and is not allowed
News

New employee code of conduct: what is and is not allowed

The code also establishes a “preventive duty to report” personal relationships, such as romantic relationships or family ties
Take holiday leave? “Impossible. The work is never done”
Background

Take holiday leave? “Impossible. The work is never done”

UM employees never use all their annual leave
2020 – 2022 : “Intelligent lockdown”: everything online, proctoring software and lots of concerns
Background

2020 – 2022 : “Intelligent lockdown”: everything online, proctoring software and lots of concerns

Series: The times they are (not) a-changin'
DOPE loses ground but remains the largest party on the University Council
News

DOPE loses ground but remains the largest party on the University Council

Student elections: KAN x Volt on the rise, NovUM represented on every council
University Council: “Will there be a more thorough analysis?”
News

University Council: “Will there be a more thorough analysis?”

University Council on the UM and Hospital Board Letter
After the ‘merger’ rejection: “You don’t want to paralyse people with doom scenarios. You want to show them that we would be stronger together”
Background

After the ‘merger’ rejection: “You don’t want to paralyse people with doom scenarios. You want to show them that we would be stronger together”

Board members Habibović and Mertens look back and forward
“I just kept thinking: if I choose something now, I’ll be stuck with it for the rest of my life
Interview

“I just kept thinking: if I choose something now, I’ll be stuck with it for the rest of my life"

Series: The Final Year
Have you taken your vacation days yet?
News

Have you taken your vacation days yet?

Survey by Dutch universities and trade unions on holiday entitlement
Who pays for the increasing costs of commuting by car?
News

Who pays for the increasing costs of commuting by car?

Local Consultative Body: plea for extra travel compensation for employees in lower salary scales
“First a feasible governance model, then we can discuss the plans”
News

“First a feasible governance model, then we can discuss the plans”

What next? Executive Board to respond to latest integration reaction in April
Significant turnover of HR directors at UM: “You’re always walking a tightrope”
Background

Significant turnover of HR directors at UM: “You’re always walking a tightrope”

“A university is a sort of hotel for researchers”
Too many risks, too little consideration of alternatives
News

Too many risks, too little consideration of alternatives

University Council explains why it rejected board integration plans
Trade unions also critical of integration plans
News

Trade unions also critical of integration plans

“The financial section wasn’t shared, which raised suspicions”
1999 and 2009: Students Pieter van den Hoogenband and Tom Dumoulin drop out after a few years of struggling
Background

1999 and 2009: Students Pieter van den Hoogenband and Tom Dumoulin drop out after a few years of struggling

Series: The times they are (not) a-changin'
“You try to anticipate and prevent as many threats as possible”
Background

“You try to anticipate and prevent as many threats as possible”

Crisis manager Janneke Liebregts: "In my first six months here, we haven’t had a single crisis"
Will MUMC+ loose its academic status without an integration?
Background

Will MUMC+ loose its academic status without an integration?

The administrative integration between UM and MUMC+ in nine questions
Will working closer together reduce healthcare costs?
Background

Will working closer together reduce healthcare costs?

The administrative integration between UM and MUMC+ in nine questions
2006–2011: Attracting the best talent: top 3 per cent of students get their tuition back
Background

2006–2011: Attracting the best talent: top 3 per cent of students get their tuition back

Series: the times they are (not) a-changin’
Background

"My father warned me that I would have to work twice as hard to achieve the same things as a Dutch child"

Series: Sing, fight, cry, pray, laugh, work and admire
A new visual identity? The logo police are always watching
Background

A new visual identity? The logo police are always watching

Series: the times they are (not) a-changin’
Lack of transparency and unclear career paths
News

Lack of transparency and unclear career paths

Maastricht Young Academy publishes critical report on Recognition & Rewards
The calculator
Background

The calculator

Series: Old junk
Padlocks
Background

Padlocks

Series: Old Junk
Budget balanced for 2026
News

Budget balanced for 2026

Financial position UM “robust and stable”
2003-2010: Bye-bye Zwarte Piet
Background

2003-2010: Bye-bye Zwarte Piet

Series: the times they are (not) a-changin’
Maastricht University Office set for overhaul
News

Maastricht University Office set for overhaul

No reorganisation, no redundancies
UPDATE: Language policy still far from fully implemented after seven years
News

UPDATE: Language policy still far from fully implemented after seven years

Bilingual university: everyone should be able to get by in Dutch and English
Pensions: anything but “sexy”, yet far more important than many younger people realise
Background

Pensions: anything but “sexy”, yet far more important than many younger people realise

Lisa Brüggen: “To my astonishment, half of all women getting divorced waive the 50/50 split”
“My family has accepted that I won’t be living down the street from them” 
Background

“My family has accepted that I won’t be living down the street from them” 

Series: The Final Year
2000-2002: Resistance to “elite” UCM programme
Background

2000-2002: Resistance to “elite” UCM programme

Series: the times they are (not) a changin’
Local Consultative Body wants better communication about mobility policy
News

Local Consultative Body wants better communication about mobility policy

Messaging causes confusion
English Style Guide
Background

English Style Guide

Series: Old junk
2003: Observant columnist Louis Boon feels pressured by rector to quit
Background

2003: Observant columnist Louis Boon feels pressured by rector to quit

Series: the times they are (not) a changin’
INKOM revamp: faculty and city introductions to take place in the same week
News

INKOM revamp: faculty and city introductions to take place in the same week

Will UM still host large MECC parties in 2027?
The cycling jersey
Background

The cycling jersey

Series: Old junk
No more sticky notes with passwords on your monitor
Background

No more sticky notes with passwords on your monitor

UM launches staff cyber-resilience campaign
1985 and beyond: Maastricht pulls out all the stops to attract students
Background

1985 and beyond: Maastricht pulls out all the stops to attract students

Series: the times they are (not) a changin’
Court dismisses Law student’s claim: no damages for study delay
News

Court dismisses Law student’s claim: no damages for study delay

He received a failing mark of 2.5 (out of 10) on his research proposal, preventing him from starting his thesis
2009: A runaway bus losing passengers along the way
Background

2009: A runaway bus losing passengers along the way

Series: the times they are (not) a changin’
The brown beast
Background

The brown beast

Series: Old junk
1999 and later: Calatrava’s copper campus never made it past the drawing board
Background

1999 and later: Calatrava’s copper campus never made it past the drawing board

Series: the times they are (not) a changin'
1995: Banalitas fraternity hauled before Executive Board over sexist and homophobic posters
Background

1995: Banalitas fraternity hauled before Executive Board over sexist and homophobic posters

Series: the times they are (not) a changin’
Managers often implicated in socially unsafe situations
News

Managers often implicated in socially unsafe situations

Social Safety Annual Report 2024: no cause for complacency
A stone through the window, smoke in the air and shouts of protesters
Background

A stone through the window, smoke in the air and shouts of protesters

PROTEST exhibition at former Stercollege, now home to FASoS
The 1993 student hunger strike on Vrijthof: three days on water and cigarettes
Background

The 1993 student hunger strike on Vrijthof: three days on water and cigarettes

Series: the times they are (not) a changin’
“We didn’t want to argue with the landlord, so we just left”
Background

“We didn’t want to argue with the landlord, so we just left”

Another student house gone
“When a professor raises concerns about high workloads, something actually gets done”
News

“When a professor raises concerns about high workloads, something actually gets done”

Local Consultative Body criticises handling of work pressure and sick leave
It’s been a good run
Editorial

It’s been a good run

The second lesson came printed on a coffee mug a former editor once brought in: “Sometimes a colleague knows better”
A wave of emotion
Editorial

A wave of emotion

How well do we really know ourselves? It seems I can still surprise myself
“If you do it, I’ll do it”
News

“If you do it, I’ll do it”

Campaigning during the University Council’s speakers’ quarter: is it allowed?
Made a mistake? Own up to it
Editorial

Made a mistake? Own up to it

Ouch – we missed that second email
The milk carton on the windowsill
Editorial

The milk carton on the windowsill

As it’s a small building, the job usually requires almost no effort at all
Help! I want to write!
Editorial

Help! I want to write!

My first time calling someone for an interview: nerve-racking. Seeing my first article in print: a milestone
“I’m not cut out for city life – I find it too individualistic”
Interview

“I’m not cut out for city life – I find it too individualistic”

Sing, fight, cry, pray, work, laugh and admire
Show-offs
Editorial

Show-offs

The older students’ pretentious behaviour irritated me to no end
More candidates standing for university elections in May
News

More candidates standing for university elections in May

New student party: “Lift the food ban and toilet restrictions during exams”
Sometimes we have to sit on our hands
Editorial

Sometimes we have to sit on our hands

At times, it takes all our willpower not to jump into the conversation
Interview

"I give the impression that I'm so confident, but I don’t always feel that way inside"

Sing, fight, cry, pray, laugh, work and admire
Thirty women and one man
Editorial

Thirty women and one man

A perfect spot for lovers, a place to cherish
“I don’t like having my picture taken”
Editorial

“I don’t like having my picture taken”

Maybe that’s part of why I became a journalist – to stay on the other side, behind the scenes
University Council backs policy instrument for evaluating institutional partnerships
News

University Council backs policy instrument for evaluating institutional partnerships

HRDD framework to assess which partner institutions have clean hands
It may be tempting to bury your head in the sand
Editorial

It may be tempting to bury your head in the sand

I find myself wanting to change the channel or put down the newspaper when faced with yet another item on one of Donald Trump’s countless executive orders
“Every student should be aware that a tutor can view all kinds of online activity on Canvas”
News

“Every student should be aware that a tutor can view all kinds of online activity on Canvas”

Student members U-Council are concerned and want transparency
Privacy? Don’t make me laugh
Editorial

Privacy? Don’t make me laugh

The names of people who hold an administrative position at the university should, by definition, be known
The difficult fight against dirty shipping fuel
Science

The difficult fight against dirty shipping fuel

Dissertation Prize goes to legal researcher Giulia Giardi
Out of coffee
Editorial

Out of coffee

It wasn’t as simple as just placing an order online
“You’re not God”
Editorial

“You’re not God”

“I shouldn’t have made that mistake”, I’d tell my coach
A personal interview that was deemed “too personal”
Editorial

A personal interview that was deemed “too personal”

The interviewee thanked us for sending her the article but said she had changed her mind
“Listen to the employees, take their points seriously”
Background

“Listen to the employees, take their points seriously”

About Recognition and Rewards for support staff
A small revival of Limburgish
Editorial

A small revival of Limburgish

Whenever he hears someone speak the local dialect, he switches to it
Employee award for HR professional Petra Suurmond
News

Employee award for HR professional Petra Suurmond

New Year’s reception at Centre Céramique
Passing the torch
Editorial

Passing the torch

The right time to let someone else take the helm and face the winds, whether gentle spring breezes or severe autumn storms
Exit X
Editorial

Exit X

Twitter/X had been grating on us for quite some time
“When we sang “Long shall he live”, we couldn’t help but laugh, despite everything”
Interview

“When we sang “Long shall he live”, we couldn’t help but laugh, despite everything”

Sing, fight, cry, pray, laugh, work and admire
“There’s zero information coming from UM”
Editorial

“There’s zero information coming from UM”

“Which budgets will be affected? And how big is the problem? Do an analysis and be transparent"
“You look good for your age”
Editorial

“You look good for your age”

Very kind of him, you might think. And until recently, that’s exactly what I thought
“I am old and standing in young people’s way”
Background

“I am old and standing in young people’s way”

Playful T-shirt campaign launched to spark dialogue about ageism
Tiny little room
Editorial

Tiny little room

Not only is she a skilled writer, but she’s also adept at reading between the lines
New calls for boycott of Israeli universities 
News

New calls for boycott of Israeli universities 

Free Palestine Maastricht: “Does the university want these partners?”
The Monday hurdle
Editorial

The Monday hurdle

I still felt a pang of anxiety during our weekly editorial meeting after autumn break
“Is this really national news?”
Editorial

“Is this really national news?”

A flurry of digital excitement, along with a bit of confusion and a stream of congratulatory emojis
Interview

"I can talk to my mother about anything, but I don’t tell her everything"

Series: Sing, fight, cry, pray, laugh, work and admire
Cardboard boxes in a back room
Editorial

Cardboard boxes in a back room

Improperly parked bikes being flipped upside down; students carrying around oversized drinking cups with straws
I’ve come to appreciate my accent
Editorial

I’ve come to appreciate my accent

An Observant-podcast? Let's put our heads together
Uncomfortable is not the same as unsafe
Editorial

Uncomfortable is not the same as unsafe

If we need to discuss something, could we do it inside our offices instead of half-standing in the hallway?
“I haven’t got anything done all day”
Editorial

“I haven’t got anything done all day”

She no longer looks like she did four years ago and feels uncomfortable with it being up
Letschert: Workload will rise, and a blow to innovation
News

Letschert: Workload will rise, and a blow to innovation

President Rianne Letschert on cabinet's austerity plans
What’s old, what’s new
Editorial

What’s old, what’s new

Is it a case of old wine in new bottles? Not at all – we’re using the exact same format precisely because it works so well
UM President Rianne Letschert: “It's definitely going to hurt, we just don't know where and how much”
News

UM President Rianne Letschert: “It's definitely going to hurt, we just don't know where and how much”

Cabinet continues to cut hard, but differently
Putin and a first-year student
Editorial

Putin and a first-year student

What struck me was that most first years had either lost or left their mentor group on the very first day
Field trip
Editorial

Field trip

A few colleagues, still or again in field trip mode, became a bit unruly as the day progressed
“I don’t like being the centre of attention. I’m no spearhead or standard-bearer”
Interview

“I don’t like being the centre of attention. I’m no spearhead or standard-bearer”

Retirement interview with Executive Board member Nick Bos
“If you didn’t already exist, you would have to be invented”
Editorial

“If you didn’t already exist, you would have to be invented”

I’ve said it before – maybe the Eindhoven administrators should turn to their counterparts in Maastricht for advice
Waiting, waiting and more waiting
Editorial

Waiting, waiting and more waiting

The print version of Observant was already outdated by the time it hit the university newspaper racks
“Binding Study Advice? That is not something for central government”
News

“Binding Study Advice? That is not something for central government”

President Rianne Letschert reflects on outline agreement
“Media out”
Editorial

“Media out”

Our repeated requests for comments are not always successful
“I no longer want to be part of UCM as it is today”
News

“I no longer want to be part of UCM as it is today”

Professor Louis Boon, UCM’s founder and first dean, is bowing out
Attraction of authorship
Background

Attraction of authorship

New first-year block Telling Stories at UCM popular: how do I write a short story?