Monday 18 May 2026
The university elections are coming up. What do the parties stand for?
Mare asked all student and staff parties about their top priorities. Who is responsible in the maze that is Leiden University? ‘The digital chaos needs to end.’
Tuesday 5 May 2026
#BASISgate: an hour into the meeting, bullying behaviour still hasn’t been discussed
During the General Meeting of Members of the BASIS study association, many questions about the disrupted internal relations remained unanswered. ‘Did you or did you not bully Maya?’
Thursday 30 April 2026
#BASISgate seems like a ‘never-ending conflict’: bullying continued even after report
The atmosphere within the BASIS study association has become so toxic that the treasurer’s bullying continued even after the ombudsperson had completed her investigation. ‘This has vastly disrupted my mental well-being.’
Friday 24 April 2026
Advice on the ties with Israel at last: suspend and sever
In a long-awaited report, the Committee on Human Rights / Conflict Zones draws a clear line: suspend ties with eleven Israeli partners and sever ties with one institution definitively. The Executive Board presents a new policy for assessing collaborations.
Monday 9 March 2026
Bas InSite is like a black hole where invoices disappear. ‘The whole system is straining at the seams’
There are major problems with the Bas InSite administration system. Users ‘hop from one error message to the next’, see ‘expense claims disappearing into black holes’ and are finding debt collection agencies on their doorstep due to non-payment. ‘It breaks my heart that this is bringing colleagues to tears.’
Wednesday 4 March 2026
‘Extremely undesirable’ mould and fungi in the Herta Mohr building
A leak has caused mould problems in the Herta Mohr building, and it remains difficult to control the temperature there. The Huizinga building is also having issues. ‘The CO₂ level rises above the recommended values when the door is closed.’
Thursday 19 February 2026
Board president Sels fights a ‘humanities apocalypse’ at Dies celebration
At the Dies Natalis on 9 February, President of the Executive Board Luc Sels delivered a passionate plea for the importance of the humanities and social sciences in his Foundation Day Lecture. ‘We must cherish them: not as heritage, but as a foundation for the future.’
Friday 5 December 2025
University to scale back security at Wijnhaven, with checks limited to evenings
From January onwards, access checks at the Wijnhaven building will only take place in the evenings. The deployment of external security guards will also be scaled back and will be discontinued by March next year at the latest.
Friday 5 December 2025
USC sports instructors lose their jobs: ‘I don’t know if I want to keep exercising here’
Because of new legislation for self-employed workers, instructors at the University Sports Centre (USC) are losing their jobs. This has led to anger and incredulity among instructors and students alike. ‘It’s a mess.’
Thursday 6 November 2025
How one Arabic-speaking man sent university security into a panic: ‘Something is brewing’
Why was the Wijnhaven building closed two years ago and why has university security been tightened since? Newly released documents under the Open Government Act (WOO) reveal that the police and the university have completely different views on threats.
Tuesday 28 October 2025
Psychologists work from home to avoid mice
Researchers and lecturers at the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences are fed up with the mice infestation in their offices. The clinical psychology department has been hit particularly hard. ‘On several occasions, they have raced past my feet.’
Monday 15 September 2025
Student protest at Pride despite ban: ‘The university is guilty of pinkwashing’
Students protesting police violence from the university boat during Pride were blocked by fellow passengers. The riot resulted in the resignation of the chair of the university’s LGBT+ network. ‘Silencing students goes against everything I teach.’