UvA asks protesting lecturers for more time

The Executive Board of the University of Amsterdam has asked the protesting lecturers for more time to come up with a comprehensive answer on their demands. They said this in a letter, Het Parool reports. Earlier this week the protesting lecturers, calling themselves Rethink UvA, gave the Executive Board until 16:00 this afternoon to meet their demands, which include making the university more democratic, restoring trust and an independent investigation into the financial situation. If the Executive Board failed to do so, Rethink UvA threatened that there may be more protest actions. A spokesperson for the University of Amsterdam told the newspaper that Rethink UvA has large demands and that the board wants to give a comprehensive answer. They also need enough time to speak with the Supervisory Board and to make sure they do right to all stakeholders, including the students currently occupying the Maagdenhuis. One of the Rethink UvA lecturers, Dan Hassler-Forest, said that the preliminary letter is a good gesture. Rethink UvA will hold a meeting at the Maagdenhuis to discuss the Executive Board's response. It is as of yet unclear whether further actions will follow. Further actions may take the form of a strike. Union FNV will vote this afternoon on whether they will make money available from the strike fund. The Executive Board will probably have an answer by Tuesday, Het Parool reports.