Monday 4 March 2024
This feels like a betrayal: internationals saddened by new policy
They were lured in with advertisements about ‘an international-friendly place’ but are now being ‘thrown under the bus’, say foreign students. ‘This goes against everything the university promised.’
Thursday 22 February 2024
No more fossil ties, unless...
The Executive Board no longer wants to work with fossil companies that do not adhere to the Paris climate targets, but keeps the door ajar for some projects.
Thursday 1 February 2024
University to cut some fossil ties, but not all
Leiden University will terminate collaborations with ‘fossil industry partners that are not demonstrably committed to achieving the goals of the Paris climate agreement, unless the project has the explicit aim of contributing positively to these goals’. The University Council intends to further strengthen this proposed policy. ‘This is inconsistent and odd.’
Monday 22 January 2024
Leiden lawyer files case against the Netherlands over Palestinian victims
Leiden professor and lawyer Helen Duffy is assisting a Palestinian-Dutch man in his fight for justice for his family members who were killed in an Israeli military operation in 2014. ‘We’re filing a case against the Netherlands.’
Monday 22 January 2024
Students must vacate Pelikaanhof due to renovation
As of September 2023, students who move into Pelikaanhof are given a temporary occupancy agreement of up to two years instead of a standard lease. The reason for this is the renovation work scheduled to take place in the property, which will require all of the approximately 500 residents to have moved out of the building in a few years’ time.
Friday 22 December 2023
Strife within student party LVS: ‘There has been a coup’
There is conflict within student party Lijst Vooruitstrevende Studenten (LVS), the party for progressive students. The reason for this is an amendment about a possible merger of LVS and the parties ONS and DSP. Members who are against this plan feel they are being silenced and are threatened with expulsion from the party.
Wednesday 20 December 2023
COT Institute relinquishes assignment to investigate security action
Crisis Research Centre COT has relinquished the assignment to investigate the events that occurred at the Wijnhaven building on 9 November. According to Board president Annetje Ottow, too many people were unable or unwilling to cooperate with the investigation, making it impossible for COT to continue. Ottow announced this during the University Council meeting on Monday.
Saturday 11 November 2023
How a pro-Palestine protest turned into a chase (and a flight between clothes racks)
On Thursday afternoon, an unannounced demonstration by action group Students for Palestine at the Wijnhaven building started with pushing and shoving but was eventually allowed to proceed. Afterwards, university ‘security guards’ followed students and lecturers on their way home. ‘Why are you following us? This is incredibly intimidating.’
Monday 6 November 2023
Suddenly there are access checks everywhere, but how strict are they?
How effective are the heightened security measures at Leiden University? Mare took a tour of ten different university buildings. Spoiler alert: seven of them could be accessed without an LU-Card, and two with someone else’s card.
Monday 6 November 2023
‘Wijnhaven closed due to external threat’
The Wijnhaven building was closed from Friday 13 October to Sunday 15 October due to threats from outside the university. So the ‘heightened security risk’ did not come from within the academic community.
Friday 29 September 2023
Cut fossil ties? The whole room votes in favour (but the result is ‘not binding’)
What to do with the ties between the university and the fossil industry? The attendees of Wednesday’s debate on that very question unanimously agreed: sever them immediately. ‘If we continue to work together, we are complicit in the destruction of life.’
Tuesday 19 September 2023
We cannot speak loud enough about suicide
It is a misconception that talking about suicide can put ideas into someone’s head, experts say. ‘Don’t underestimate how much of a difference you can make by being there for someone in their darkest moment.’