Ghent University staff sign open letter in support of students’ protest
More than 300 students and staff, including 25 professors, at Ghent University (UGent) have signed an open letter supporting a protest due to take place at the university later on Monday. The letter is addressed to the University’s Vice-Chancellor Rik Van de Walle and UGent’s Board of Governors. Professor Koen Bogaert of UGent’s Department of Conflict and Development Studies calls for dialogue with regard to the university’s cooperation with Isreal.
Those that have signed the open letter demand that Ghent University immediately suspend all cooperation with Israeli universities. The letter also calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
Professor Koen Bogaert of the university’s Department of Conflict and Development Studies told VRT News that he supports the protest and hopes that the university will engage in dialogue concerning its cooperation with Israeli academic institutions.
Speaking on VRT Radio 1’s morning news and current affairs programme ‘De ochtend’ Professor Bogaert said "At the moment the Vice-Chancellor has remained in the background. I hope that in future he will engage in dialogue. Above all dialogue regarding why the Board of Governors and the Vice-Chancellor have not followed the advice give by the Human Rights Commission”.
The Human Rights Commission advised that an exception should be made to Ghent University’s usual policy, whereby it makes decisions on whether to cooperate with foreign academic institutions on a partner-by-partner basis.
"In the exceptional case of Israel we are asking for a temporary suspension of all bilateral cooperation. The case of Israel is an exception. There have been warning signs for months, including from the International Court (about preventing genocide in Gaza). Serious measures need to be taken."
Ghent University has already said that intends to provide further explanation as to why it has decided not to cease cooperation with some Israeli partners.
Professor Bogaert points out that there has been protest at the university since last October including petitions and sit-ins. "Students have been trying for months to initiate dialogue, but they have been ignored”.
From today (Monday 6 May) until Wednesday further protests will take place on the university’s campus.