Occupation of Janskerkhof 15a

On Tuesday, 3 June, one of our university buildings (Janskerkhof 15a) was occupied by protesters demanding that Utrecht University sever all ties with Israeli institutions. Despite several attempts, it was not possible to reach agreements that would ensure continued safety within the building. This was partly due to the protesters wanting to enforce their own access policy—even after closing time—and because security staff were denied entry to the building early in the evening. Due to unacceptable safety risks, the protestors were ordered to leave early Wednesday morning. After a second order, they left the building voluntarily.

Protesting is part of our democracy, and part of our university. The Executive Board has therefore allowed the protest in the courtyard of the university library in May for one and a half weeks, based on clear agreements. . There are various ways to engage in dialogue and be heard within Utrecht University, such as through student representation. The Executive Board listens to all opinions and carefully considers them in its decision-making.  There is no need to occupy a building in order to be heard.

Balancing complex rights

During protests in and around our buildings, we always consider different rights: the right to protest, freedom of expression, the right to education, and our responsibility for physical and social safety. This is a complex balancing act that requires careful decisions. Utrecht University is always responsible for the safety of everyone on our premises, including protesters occupying a building or outdoor space.

During the occupation of Janskerkhof 15a, we continuously assessed the different rights of protesters, students, staff, and the university. Extensive discussions were held with the protesters about possible ways to demonstrate. A key condition for the university was that Security must manage access to the building, and that after closing time, people may leave but not (re)enter—preventing additional people from entering the building overnight.                

The protestors were unwilling to comply with those conditions. Additionally, security staff were denied entry to the building in the early evening, even though they had been allowed in earlier that afternoon. Inside, all university security cameras had been covered by the protesters, leaving the university with no visibility into what was happening inside.

Despite several conversations and repeated requests to leave the building voluntarily, the protesters did not comply. The Executive Board therefore found it necessary to prepare an official request to leave the building ('vorderen'). Following consultation with the local authorities, two formal requests to leave were issued shortly after 7:00 a.m. on Wednesday in the presence of the police. The group of approximately 15 to 20 people who were still inside then left on their own.

‘We will continue to discuss difficult issues’

“We understand that our students and staff watch the events in Gaza with horror,” said Anton Pijpers, President of the Executive Board of Utrecht University. “The concerns about the humanitarian suffering are deeply felt within the board as well. We share the distress over the ongoing violence and the lack of perspective on a peaceful resolution. Authoritative academic research has now described the violence as genocidal. The recent actions of the Israeli government—including the blockades of food and aid and the forced displacement of residents—have led us to tighten our policy regarding collaborations.”

“Precisely because we understand the concerns of students and staff, we gave this protest space for an extended period and attempted to establish clear agreements,” Pijpers continued. “But an occupation entails risks we cannot ignore. We understand that this evokes strong emotions. At the same time, we have a responsibility to ensure a safe environment in which education and research can continue.”

‘We will continue to engage in dialogue on difficult social issues, both within and outside the university. We invite our students and staff to make their voices heard through the existing channels, in an atmosphere of mutual respect and safety.’