×
Victory
This petition is closed
We have Won!
Ruben C.
started this petition to
The Hague University Board of Directors, Jet Bussemaker, Dutch Minister of Education, Culture and Science
Ladies and Gentlemen, we have done it!
We are now able to officially confirm that the Debate with Dries van Agt WILL take place as planned on Monday, December 3rd, at 18:00 hours!!!
In order to accommodate the University's security concerns during our negotiations, we have agreed to please ask all intended attendees who are NOT students (of any institute/university) to please register through the following form: http://www.123contactform.com/form-430820/Event-Registration-Form-Debate-With-Dries-Van-Agt. All students are required to bring their student card.
We will also have a registration desk as the entrance of the event, which will open at 18:00 and close at 18:25 hours.
We cannot emphasize this enough (since we want all of you to come). IF YOU ARE NOT A STUDENT, OR ARE A STUDENT WITHOUT STUDENT CARD, AND YOU DO NOT REGISTER, YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO ENTER – So please take three minutes to fill the Registration Form.
We would like to thank all of you for the effort you have put in supporting us.
A big thank you to Reinform and Kritische Studenten Utrecht for the publications of their articles in our support.
Thanks to the students of the HHS which have independently organized petitions to support us, and collected signatures in The Hague during the weekend, despite the harsh weather. Thanks to all the academicians from Groningen to Eindhoven (not joking) who have sent letters and e-mails and have personally called the Board of Directors to express their concerns, and especially the faculty and director of the ISS. A big thank you to the Student Unions who mobilized themselves and launched independent investigations in the matter. Thanks to all the people around the world who have taken the time to sign and share our online petition.
Last, but not least, we would also like to thank The Hague University (Haagse Hogeschool) Boad of Directors for its dedication to uphold the principles of academic freedom through their decision allow the event to take place at the HHS.
Without you all, this event would have never had the opportunity to take place. This no-small victory demonstrates how the civil and academic societies can organize themselves to create an impetus for meaningful change. We are grateful to have had the opportunity to embark on this journey with you all.
See you at the event!!!
Critical Collective
We are now able to officially confirm that the Debate with Dries van Agt WILL take place as planned on Monday, December 3rd, at 18:00 hours!!!
In order to accommodate the University's security concerns during our negotiations, we have agreed to please ask all intended attendees who are NOT students (of any institute/university) to please register through the following form: http://www.123contactform.com/form-430820/Event-Registration-Form-Debate-With-Dries-Van-Agt. All students are required to bring their student card.
We will also have a registration desk as the entrance of the event, which will open at 18:00 and close at 18:25 hours.
We cannot emphasize this enough (since we want all of you to come). IF YOU ARE NOT A STUDENT, OR ARE A STUDENT WITHOUT STUDENT CARD, AND YOU DO NOT REGISTER, YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO ENTER – So please take three minutes to fill the Registration Form.
We would like to thank all of you for the effort you have put in supporting us.
A big thank you to Reinform and Kritische Studenten Utrecht for the publications of their articles in our support.
Thanks to the students of the HHS which have independently organized petitions to support us, and collected signatures in The Hague during the weekend, despite the harsh weather. Thanks to all the academicians from Groningen to Eindhoven (not joking) who have sent letters and e-mails and have personally called the Board of Directors to express their concerns, and especially the faculty and director of the ISS. A big thank you to the Student Unions who mobilized themselves and launched independent investigations in the matter. Thanks to all the people around the world who have taken the time to sign and share our online petition.
Last, but not least, we would also like to thank The Hague University (Haagse Hogeschool) Boad of Directors for its dedication to uphold the principles of academic freedom through their decision allow the event to take place at the HHS.
Without you all, this event would have never had the opportunity to take place. This no-small victory demonstrates how the civil and academic societies can organize themselves to create an impetus for meaningful change. We are grateful to have had the opportunity to embark on this journey with you all.
See you at the event!!!
Critical Collective
A group of students initiated a debate with Dries van Agt, former Dutch prime minister, at the Hague University of Applied Sciences.
The event was organized well in advance and respecting all the provisions and rules of the institution pertaining to the invitation of guest speakers.
During his time as prime minister, Mr van Agt was a strong supporter of Israel , he now is critical of Israel's violation of international law and human rights.
Support for the event was suddenly withdrawn, well after the event was announced and approved, under the pretext of a conflict of neutrality. However, The Hague University has allowed controversial figures, some with opposing viewpoints to Mr. van Agt, to speak unopposed at events open to the public in the past, and not allowing Dries van Agt to speak is a clear application of a double standard.
Mr. van Agt has been allowed to publicly speak on the issue of the Middle-east numerous times and at various higher education institutions, including some of the most prestigious of the Netherlands. As a collective of students, teachers, and members of the citizenry at large, we are extremely concerned about the restriction of academic freedom at The Hague University of Applied Sciences pertaining to this event.
We believe that a public university such as De Haagse Hogeschool has a duty to be a platform to the entirety of society and for a wide variety of voices and opinions. Historically, universities have been platforms and refuges for the intellectually marginalized for the greater benefit of society. We believe that restricting the organization of the aforementioned event is a breach of such a tradition and duty and a betrayal of the core values of academic freedom and integrity, as well as freedom of speech.
We further believe that not allowing the event to take place as intended sets a dangerous precedent, as it implies the right for a University's administrative councils to control student and staff participation in university life and organization of extra-curricular learning. We do not believe this to be consistent with the values of democracy and freedom of expression.
Critical Collective will submit an appeal with the University's Board of Directors to intervene in support of having the event as Critical Collective intended it.
Defend academic freedom - Sign the petition!
For more information on the event please check: https://www.facebook.com/events/248916405234095/
To contact Critical Collective please write to Ruben Rosenberg Colorni at critical.collect@gmail.com
The event was organized well in advance and respecting all the provisions and rules of the institution pertaining to the invitation of guest speakers.
During his time as prime minister, Mr van Agt was a strong supporter of Israel , he now is critical of Israel's violation of international law and human rights.
Support for the event was suddenly withdrawn, well after the event was announced and approved, under the pretext of a conflict of neutrality. However, The Hague University has allowed controversial figures, some with opposing viewpoints to Mr. van Agt, to speak unopposed at events open to the public in the past, and not allowing Dries van Agt to speak is a clear application of a double standard.
Mr. van Agt has been allowed to publicly speak on the issue of the Middle-east numerous times and at various higher education institutions, including some of the most prestigious of the Netherlands. As a collective of students, teachers, and members of the citizenry at large, we are extremely concerned about the restriction of academic freedom at The Hague University of Applied Sciences pertaining to this event.
We believe that a public university such as De Haagse Hogeschool has a duty to be a platform to the entirety of society and for a wide variety of voices and opinions. Historically, universities have been platforms and refuges for the intellectually marginalized for the greater benefit of society. We believe that restricting the organization of the aforementioned event is a breach of such a tradition and duty and a betrayal of the core values of academic freedom and integrity, as well as freedom of speech.
We further believe that not allowing the event to take place as intended sets a dangerous precedent, as it implies the right for a University's administrative councils to control student and staff participation in university life and organization of extra-curricular learning. We do not believe this to be consistent with the values of democracy and freedom of expression.
Critical Collective will submit an appeal with the University's Board of Directors to intervene in support of having the event as Critical Collective intended it.
Defend academic freedom - Sign the petition!
For more information on the event please check: https://www.facebook.com/events/248916405234095/
To contact Critical Collective please write to Ruben Rosenberg Colorni at critical.collect@gmail.com
Posted
(Updated )
Report this as inappropriate
There was an error when submitting your files and/or report.