IndyMedia - Vrij Media Centrum Nederland

For those of you who do not know what happened, Erasmus University Rotterdam was occupied on Feb 7th, 2023. Here i want to comment on the joke of a letter that the Board of Executives (CvB) sent to the occupiers regarding the night stay (you can read it in their socials too)

To the moment of this publication, the comrades are still going strong after spending the night in the Aula building, something that set a precedent after the violent eviction of the occupation of the same university on November 28th. For more details, I would highly advise checking their socials (@occupyeur on Instagram) cause their transparency is 10/10.

"We cannot guarantee your safety"

How irresponsible it is of an educational institution to even consider sending an official statement saying that. First and foremost, the statement itself shows a lack of respect and interest in the well-being of the students that take part in the learning community at Erasmus University. Not only is this statement disregarding and condescending, but also alarming and fear-provoking, clearly made purposefully. How can the Executive Board of a public institution make comments to scare their students in such a way, directly threatening them with the use of force?

Second, the lack of "guarantee" for safety is not the university failing to protect their students from an outside force that is pressing on them. The CVB is clearly and openly stating that they cannot ensure that the violent force they are calling on the students, purposefully, is not going to put their safety in danger. The occupiers are threatened with safety-endangering violence after the events of the previous occupation on the 28th of November.

"you are responsible if you do not leave the building"

The neoliberalization and privatization of Erasmus University would shame Erasmus himself to the bone. This is not only disappointing but disgusting. I, as a student and as a lover of knowledge, would hope that the Executive Board called themselves part of the community of knowledge of Erasmus University when they deserve the name, and at least attempt to follow Erasmian values.

After this failure to detach themselves from climate polluters in the midst of a climate crisis, regularise the contract of the same staff that teaches their students, and acknowledge the debt they are putting their students through, i would like to end with a quote from Erasmus himself:

"He who allows oppression, shares the crime"