Thursday 9 October 2025
“We shall overcome!” Why I’ll be bringing my guitar to class from now on
To avoid having to talk only about history, William Michael Schmidli brought his guitar to the lecture hall. Song by song, he wants to show his students why the humanities are essential right now.
Monday 29 September 2025
High thresholds for wheelchair users: ‘I don’t feel welcome’
Closed doors, events in inaccessible locations, and lecturers who refuse to adapt: students with disabilities still encounter numerous obstacles, as Avalon Leiman has experienced. ‘It’s an awful feeling to be permanently excluded.’
Monday 29 September 2025
Why it is ‘understandable’ that Hofman cannot be dismissed despite misconduct
How is it that the university cannot dismiss Caribbean archaeology professor Corinne Hofman, even though the court ruled that her misconduct was plausible? Employment law specialists respond to the ruling.
Monday 15 September 2025
Why smart sex robots are far from harmless: ‘They normalise violence against women’
Sex robots are becoming increasingly intelligent thanks to AI. The lack of regulation is ‘extremely problematic’, argues legal specialist Carlotta Rigotti. ‘You can have them act out a rape scenario.’
Friday 6 June 2025
This professor no longer feels safe (and is leaving the university)
After almost seven years, Professor Tahir Abbas has handed in his resignation, partly because he no longer felt safe expressing himself at Leiden University. ‘When I walk into the faculty, it feels like I have a target on my back.’
Friday 23 May 2025
Sudden freeze of Psychology staff’s saved research funds: ‘I had saved up €25,000’
To fill a gap in the budget, the Institute of Psychology took a draconian measure: it froze researchers’ so-called ‘earned funds’. This has led to considerable frustration and uncertainty. ‘My research has been at a standstill for months.’
Friday 23 May 2025
Don’t use us as an excuse for repression, say arrested Jewish students
The university claims strict security measures are needed to protect Jewish students. ‘So then why are we the ones being beaten (and ending up with broken bones)?’ ask three Jewish demonstrators. ‘They’re using us for something we don’t approve of’
Tuesday 29 April 2025
‘Our backs are against the wall’, says the Board about 30 million in cuts
By abolishing the international bachelor’s programme in Psychology, the Leiden University Executive Board hopes to avert the Balanced Internationalisation Act. ‘We have to choose between several evils.’
Thursday 10 April 2025
Trump’s war on academics: has the fallout already reached Leiden?
The Trump administration is turning global academia on its head. American universities are being targeted, funding is being cut off abruptly and students are being deported from the country. To what extent are these developments affecting Leiden? ‘It’s getting scary to say certain things.’
Thursday 3 April 2025
We can’t let this happen here: the lessons of Trump for Dutch higher education
While American academics are under fire by the Trump administration there are valuable lessons to be learned for Dutch universities, argues William Michael Schmidli.
Monday 10 February 2025
Honorary Doctor Eliot Higgins has faith in the new generation: ‘Only critical thinking can save democracy’
Eliot Higgins is the founder of the investigative journalism firm Bellingcat, which has uncovered major war crimes. Last Friday, he received an honorary doctorate. ‘Whether I look at it or not: all those terrible things are happening.’
Thursday 23 January 2025
Don't let Urban Studies become the next victim of budget cuts
Now that study programmes in English are in the crosshairs, Urban Studies students are fearing for the worst. Their interdisciplinary bachelor should not dissapear, Anouk Moritz writes.