War in Gaza
Earlier this month, the university was urged to pay more attention to the situation in Gaza. — © belga
The planned occupation of a Ghent University building by students from Monday has the support of more than a hundred university employees, including professors. This is evident from an open letter addressed to the board of directors and rector Rik Van de Walle.
In the open letter, the employees oppose the “backdoor policy” at Ghent University and the “repressive threats” made against students who are planning an occupation. “The fact that the rector first ignores and then threatens these courageous students goes against everything our university should stand for,” it said.
The employees also say they are shocked that the board of directors and the rector ignored advice from the Human Rights Commission. That committee recommended that “given the current context of irrefutable war crimes and large-scale human rights violations, no more bilateral collaborations should be concluded with all Israeli universities,” the open letter states.
The signatories demand that Ghent University temporarily suspend all collaborations with Israeli universities and ask the university to call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. They also demand that “the safety of students who would occupy the university be made an absolute priority and that all threats be immediately withdrawn.”
The open letter was signed online on Sunday around 8 p.m. by about 120 employees, including more than ten professors.
Several actions have already taken place at Ghent University to draw attention to the situation in the Gaza Strip and the climate crisis. Students said they planned to occupy a university building from Monday to Wednesday, without more precise information.
