Bungehuis still shut as Univ. Amsterdam protest continues

By Janene Pieters on February 16, 2015 - 08:17
A barricaded student lights a flare and throws confetti onto the crowd during a speech (photo: Hanna Daych / NL Times). (A barricaded student lights a flare and throws confetti onto the crowd during a speech (photo: Hanna Daych / NL Times))

Protesting students and at least one lecturer are still barricaded inside the University of Amsterdam's humanities building, the Bungehuis.

On Sunday afternoon the University of Amsterdam (UvA) sought a debate with the occupiers at a different university location, the Binnengasthuisterrein, but the activists would not agree to this, Het Parool reports.

The occupiers, who call themselves De Nieuwe Universiteit (The New University), have been . They hope this action will lead to a dialogue with the executive board of the UvA during which they can discuss a list of complaints. Their main demand is a more democratic decision-making process.

The UvA's condition for meeting protesters at a different location in Amsterdam was that the occupiers leave the Bungehuis. "So that students and staff could enter the Bungehuis on Monday in a safe and responsible manner," a spokesperson for UvA said, Het Parool reports.

One of the occupiers stated that they would not go to a meeting at a location other than the occupied building. "In the past months we have tried to enter a discussion and that has not worked. Leaving now would mean that we don't have a means of pressure anymore."

Instead, the occupiers arranged a general meeting with students at 09:00 a.m. on Monday in which they will discuss how to proceed.

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