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 barricaded in the Bungehuis since Friday. 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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