Hold RUG Accountable: students, staff call on institution to take stand against harassment | The Northern Times
NorthenTimes
logo The Northern Times
  • News
    • All
    • Economics
    • Politics
    • Sports
    • Tech
    Dairy giant FrieslandCampina sees profit drop by three quarters over past year

    Dairy giant FrieslandCampina sees profit drop by three quarters over past year

    Rutte’s suggestion that gasless Groningen could become home to nuclear power station ridiculed

    Rutte’s suggestion that gasless Groningen could become home to nuclear power station ridiculed

    Leeuwarden student helping to organise climate strike on Thursday

    Extinction Rebellion hold socially-distanced demontration on Grote Markt in Groningen

    VDL of Heerenveen, bus maker for over 100 years, to switch to building houses

    VDL of Heerenveen, bus maker for over 100 years, to switch to building houses

    Whole of Netherlands regulations against COVID-19 Coronavirus announced

    Groninger City Club calls relaxations to regulations: “Completely insufficient”

    The freedom to live in fear: “we’re numbers, not people”

    City Central and RUG Law Society to collaborate on ‘inclusive society’ event

    Groninger hydrogen lorry-builder Holthausen gets 1,500 vehicle order from New Zealander company

    Groninger hydrogen lorry-builder Holthausen gets 1,500 vehicle order from New Zealander company

    And unto us a son is born: Baby Elephant born at Wildlands in Emmen

    And unto us a son is born: Baby Elephant born at Wildlands in Emmen

    Students start petition calling for RUG to sever ties with Confucius Institute

    Dutch Education Minister wants meeting with RUG about ‘Chinese influences’, because there are no other problems with tertiary education in the Netherlands, it seems

    Trending Tags

    • Covid-19
    • Lifestyle
      • All
      • Food & Drinks
      • Nightlife
      • Shopping
      • What's happening
      AquaZoo in Leeuwarden gains second polar bear

      AquaZoo in Leeuwarden gains second polar bear

      Internal tourists flocked to Province of Groningen during lockdown Summer

      Internal tourists flocked to Province of Groningen during lockdown Summer

      Rebellion against Coronavirus regulations on the cards as Horeca operators threaten to open terraces on Tuesday

      No festival, but still blockbusting new films and documentaries in Friesland for Northern Film Fest 2020

      Ticket sales for International Film Festival Assen begin

      ‘Ommetje’ app inspires people across the Netherlands to get their steps in

      ‘Ommetje’ app inspires people across the Netherlands to get their steps in

      First skaters take to the ice on the Paterswoldsemeer, but management says that ice is too thin

      Paterswoldsemeer not safe for ice skating (yet)

      Zondag in Groningen’s Noorderplantsoen comes up with ingenious Valentine’s Day idea: coffee-cup dating!

      Zondag in Groningen’s Noorderplantsoen comes up with ingenious Valentine’s Day idea: coffee-cup dating!

      Northern cold snap: natural ice skating rinks now open across Groningen, Friesland and Drenthe

      Northern cold snap: natural ice skating rinks now open across Groningen, Friesland and Drenthe

      Shops can open for ‘click-and-collect’ services from today

      Shops can open for ‘click-and-collect’ services from today

      Trending Tags

      • Culture
        • All
        • Dutch history
        • Typical Dutch
        Groningen to relocate last remaining city beaver

        Groningen to relocate last remaining city beaver

        Harlingen to gain huge sculpture by renowned artist Frank Stella

        Harlingen to gain huge sculpture by renowned artist Frank Stella

        Dutch art detective says that apprehended drug lord owns Groninger Museum’s stolen Van Gogh

        Groninger Museum’s stolen Van Gogh likely hangs on cocaine kingpins wall

        Elfstedentocht committee: organising a race this year would be irresponsible

        Elfstedentocht committee: organising a race this year would be irresponsible

        Pekela Museum in Groningen returns lost Jewish torah decoration to the Netherlands

        Pekela Museum in Groningen returns lost Jewish torah decoration to the Netherlands

        Groningen-based photographer wins prestigious Zilveren Camera prize

        Groningen-based photographer wins prestigious Zilveren Camera prize

        ‘Diever, Village of Shakespeare’ to celebrate Drents Shakespeare society’s 75th anniversary

        Greenlights 2021: Minerva’s artists show their talents online

        Greenlights 2021: Minerva’s artists show their talents online

        Fries Museum to loan series of renowned portraits from London’s National Portrait Gallery

        Fries Museum to loan series of renowned portraits from London’s National Portrait Gallery

        Trending Tags

        • People
          • All
          • Expats
          • International students
          A letter from the Editor – Internationals from 120 countries: Welcome to Groningen, Leeuwarden, Assen and Emmen!

          ‘University of Groningen must do more for the mental health of students’

          From a WhatsApp group to a community: BLOG offers a ready-made social space for Black Ladies in Groningen

          From a WhatsApp group to a community: BLOG offers a ready-made social space for Black Ladies in Groningen

          First students snap up alternate study spots in Oosterpoort

          Dutch student grades rise during pandemic whilst mental health suffers

          NHL_Stenden_studying

          New students in Leeuwarden get ‘Coronaproof’ introduction week

          Dutch King orders new 2-million euro yacht from Frisian boat builder

          King visits Drenthe, ignored by window cleaner

          The freshest of threads: send in your designs and become the next sustainable fashion sensation

          The freshest of threads: send in your designs and become the next sustainable fashion sensation

          “We were hoping to start making friends in the summer”

          “We were hoping to start making friends in the summer”

          Party at home like a King with Temple this weekend

          Party at home like a King with Temple this weekend

          Heads in copper clouds: a Portuguese wanderer in Friesland

          Heads in copper clouds: a Portuguese wanderer in Friesland

          Trending Tags

          • Opportunities
            • All
            • business
            • Education
            Groningen professor awarded with European prize for ‘exceptional achievements as an astronomer’

            Groningen professor awarded with European prize for ‘exceptional achievements as an astronomer’

            Van Hall Laurenstein University acquires ‘Henryetta’, the world’s most sophisticated artificial insemination teaching tool

            Van Hall Laurenstein University acquires ‘Henryetta’, the world’s most sophisticated artificial insemination teaching tool

            Law students: Harmony Complex safety an issue

            Brexit partly responsible for ‘huge growth’ in RUG pre-registrations

            Digital Native? International? Looking for a job? Meet Your Future in Digital might be just for you!

            Digital Native? International? Looking for a job? Meet Your Future in Digital might be just for you!

            Dutch TechZone aims to glue together Drenthe’s business community

            Dutch TechZone aims to glue together Drenthe’s business community

            Law students: Harmony Complex safety an issue

            The RUG is one of the Netherlands’ best universities, so why do its teaching staff give such low-grade feedback?

            Dutch trousers! Drents-born entrepreneur finds success in Canada with low-price equestrian gear

            Dutch trousers! Drents-born entrepreneur finds success in Canada with low-price equestrian gear

            Could you Meet Your Future in the Digital World? Online career event for Internationals going live in February

            Could you Meet Your Future in the Digital World? Online career event for Internationals going live in February

            The Northern Times’ guide for learning Dutch in the North

            The Northern Times’ guide for learning Dutch in the North

            Trending Tags

            The Northern Times
            • News
              • All
              • Economics
              • Politics
              • Sports
              • Tech
              Dairy giant FrieslandCampina sees profit drop by three quarters over past year

              Dairy giant FrieslandCampina sees profit drop by three quarters over past year

              Rutte’s suggestion that gasless Groningen could become home to nuclear power station ridiculed

              Rutte’s suggestion that gasless Groningen could become home to nuclear power station ridiculed

              Leeuwarden student helping to organise climate strike on Thursday

              Extinction Rebellion hold socially-distanced demontration on Grote Markt in Groningen

              VDL of Heerenveen, bus maker for over 100 years, to switch to building houses

              VDL of Heerenveen, bus maker for over 100 years, to switch to building houses

              Whole of Netherlands regulations against COVID-19 Coronavirus announced

              Groninger City Club calls relaxations to regulations: “Completely insufficient”

              The freedom to live in fear: “we’re numbers, not people”

              City Central and RUG Law Society to collaborate on ‘inclusive society’ event

              Groninger hydrogen lorry-builder Holthausen gets 1,500 vehicle order from New Zealander company

              Groninger hydrogen lorry-builder Holthausen gets 1,500 vehicle order from New Zealander company

              And unto us a son is born: Baby Elephant born at Wildlands in Emmen

              And unto us a son is born: Baby Elephant born at Wildlands in Emmen

              Students start petition calling for RUG to sever ties with Confucius Institute

              Dutch Education Minister wants meeting with RUG about ‘Chinese influences’, because there are no other problems with tertiary education in the Netherlands, it seems

              Trending Tags

              • Covid-19
              • Lifestyle
                • All
                • Food & Drinks
                • Nightlife
                • Shopping
                • What's happening
                AquaZoo in Leeuwarden gains second polar bear

                AquaZoo in Leeuwarden gains second polar bear

                Internal tourists flocked to Province of Groningen during lockdown Summer

                Internal tourists flocked to Province of Groningen during lockdown Summer

                Rebellion against Coronavirus regulations on the cards as Horeca operators threaten to open terraces on Tuesday

                No festival, but still blockbusting new films and documentaries in Friesland for Northern Film Fest 2020

                Ticket sales for International Film Festival Assen begin

                ‘Ommetje’ app inspires people across the Netherlands to get their steps in

                ‘Ommetje’ app inspires people across the Netherlands to get their steps in

                First skaters take to the ice on the Paterswoldsemeer, but management says that ice is too thin

                Paterswoldsemeer not safe for ice skating (yet)

                Zondag in Groningen’s Noorderplantsoen comes up with ingenious Valentine’s Day idea: coffee-cup dating!

                Zondag in Groningen’s Noorderplantsoen comes up with ingenious Valentine’s Day idea: coffee-cup dating!

                Northern cold snap: natural ice skating rinks now open across Groningen, Friesland and Drenthe

                Northern cold snap: natural ice skating rinks now open across Groningen, Friesland and Drenthe

                Shops can open for ‘click-and-collect’ services from today

                Shops can open for ‘click-and-collect’ services from today

                Trending Tags

                • Culture
                  • All
                  • Dutch history
                  • Typical Dutch
                  Groningen to relocate last remaining city beaver

                  Groningen to relocate last remaining city beaver

                  Harlingen to gain huge sculpture by renowned artist Frank Stella

                  Harlingen to gain huge sculpture by renowned artist Frank Stella

                  Dutch art detective says that apprehended drug lord owns Groninger Museum’s stolen Van Gogh

                  Groninger Museum’s stolen Van Gogh likely hangs on cocaine kingpins wall

                  Elfstedentocht committee: organising a race this year would be irresponsible

                  Elfstedentocht committee: organising a race this year would be irresponsible

                  Pekela Museum in Groningen returns lost Jewish torah decoration to the Netherlands

                  Pekela Museum in Groningen returns lost Jewish torah decoration to the Netherlands

                  Groningen-based photographer wins prestigious Zilveren Camera prize

                  Groningen-based photographer wins prestigious Zilveren Camera prize

                  ‘Diever, Village of Shakespeare’ to celebrate Drents Shakespeare society’s 75th anniversary

                  Greenlights 2021: Minerva’s artists show their talents online

                  Greenlights 2021: Minerva’s artists show their talents online

                  Fries Museum to loan series of renowned portraits from London’s National Portrait Gallery

                  Fries Museum to loan series of renowned portraits from London’s National Portrait Gallery

                  Trending Tags

                  • People
                    • All
                    • Expats
                    • International students
                    A letter from the Editor – Internationals from 120 countries: Welcome to Groningen, Leeuwarden, Assen and Emmen!

                    ‘University of Groningen must do more for the mental health of students’

                    From a WhatsApp group to a community: BLOG offers a ready-made social space for Black Ladies in Groningen

                    From a WhatsApp group to a community: BLOG offers a ready-made social space for Black Ladies in Groningen

                    First students snap up alternate study spots in Oosterpoort

                    Dutch student grades rise during pandemic whilst mental health suffers

                    NHL_Stenden_studying

                    New students in Leeuwarden get ‘Coronaproof’ introduction week

                    Dutch King orders new 2-million euro yacht from Frisian boat builder

                    King visits Drenthe, ignored by window cleaner

                    The freshest of threads: send in your designs and become the next sustainable fashion sensation

                    The freshest of threads: send in your designs and become the next sustainable fashion sensation

                    “We were hoping to start making friends in the summer”

                    “We were hoping to start making friends in the summer”

                    Party at home like a King with Temple this weekend

                    Party at home like a King with Temple this weekend

                    Heads in copper clouds: a Portuguese wanderer in Friesland

                    Heads in copper clouds: a Portuguese wanderer in Friesland

                    Trending Tags

                    • Opportunities
                      • All
                      • business
                      • Education
                      Groningen professor awarded with European prize for ‘exceptional achievements as an astronomer’

                      Groningen professor awarded with European prize for ‘exceptional achievements as an astronomer’

                      Van Hall Laurenstein University acquires ‘Henryetta’, the world’s most sophisticated artificial insemination teaching tool

                      Van Hall Laurenstein University acquires ‘Henryetta’, the world’s most sophisticated artificial insemination teaching tool

                      Law students: Harmony Complex safety an issue

                      Brexit partly responsible for ‘huge growth’ in RUG pre-registrations

                      Digital Native? International? Looking for a job? Meet Your Future in Digital might be just for you!

                      Digital Native? International? Looking for a job? Meet Your Future in Digital might be just for you!

                      Dutch TechZone aims to glue together Drenthe’s business community

                      Dutch TechZone aims to glue together Drenthe’s business community

                      Law students: Harmony Complex safety an issue

                      The RUG is one of the Netherlands’ best universities, so why do its teaching staff give such low-grade feedback?

                      Dutch trousers! Drents-born entrepreneur finds success in Canada with low-price equestrian gear

                      Dutch trousers! Drents-born entrepreneur finds success in Canada with low-price equestrian gear

                      Could you Meet Your Future in the Digital World? Online career event for Internationals going live in February

                      Could you Meet Your Future in the Digital World? Online career event for Internationals going live in February

                      The Northern Times’ guide for learning Dutch in the North

                      The Northern Times’ guide for learning Dutch in the North

                      Trending Tags

                      The Northern Times
                      logo The Northern Times
                      Home contributors
                      hold_RUG_accountable

                      Hold RUG Accountable: students, staff call on institution to take stand against harassment

                      The Northern Times by The Northern Times
                      June 13, 2019
                      in contributors
                      0
                      Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

                      On Tuesday night, around 30 people calling themselves “Hold RUG Accountable” gathered at the University of Groningen to take on harassment and discrimination within the university. The group is calling for the institution to be more accountable in order to create a safer environment for students and staff.

                      By Sophie Pizzimenti and Edward Szekeres

                      During the meeting in the cafeteria of the Harmony Building, several dozen students and staff discussed university policies and devised suggestions for improving what organisers described as “the RUG´s inaction and passivity” within the subject of harassment and discrimination.

                      The Hold RUG Accountable group believes this is a crucial moment for the institution to take a stand against inappropriate behaviour. A press release prior to the meeting asserted that “the university has specific legal responsibilities and obligations for staff and for students regarding its duty of care to prevent harassment and discrimination.”

                      “Prevention is better than intervention” said Polish student Natalia Pierzchawka (28), who is one of the movement’s leaders. In her opening speech, she addressed the various forms of harassment and discrimination that people may unknowingly experience, highlighted the lack of understanding of inappropriate behaviour and the insufficient means of reporting abuse as the core problems that the movement will aim to address.

                      “People are still afraid to speak up”

                      Both international and Dutch students were in attendance and were given the opportunity to anonymously submit their own experiences with discrimination and harassment. “We just want a safe space where we can talk and easily report things,” Pierzchawka says. “People are still afraid to speak up.”

                      The meeting to raise awareness of these issues come after a series of scandals “highlighting the deeply rooted problem of harassment in academic spaces” at universities in Amsterdam and Nijmegen. On a local level, the meeting was prompted by a recent column from professor Gerrit Breeuwsma which used the Dutch word “knap” – a play on words which can mean either good-looking or clever – to describe two female academics. Pierzchawka felt the remark was “highly sexist”, and she was not alone: in a follow-up column, Breeuwsma addressed the ample criticism he received following publication. But Pierzchawka says it amounted to a non-apology that dismissed any concerns. “He feels invincible, and that is a problem,” she says.

                      ‘Hold RUG Accountable’ intends to submit a dossier highlighting the shortcomings of existing policy to the university leadership. In addition to the personal anecdotes gathered at the meeting and recommendations for more effective policy and action, the group is preparing a report citing previous university statements, an evaluation of its Code of Conduct and its recently implemented zero-tolerance policy – upon completion, they intend to present their findings to professor Cisca Wijmenga, the next Rector Magnificus of the university.

                      Raising awareness

                      Laura Baams, an assistant professor in the faculty of behavioural and social sciences at the university, was also at the meeting, and she emphasised the importance of making people aware that the existing policies and training are not up to the task. “Without training, people often don’t even know what is acceptable and what is not”, she says. In her previous workplace in the United States, Baams says that she received mandatory training about harassment-related issues. “It’s important to make people aware of what can be done. Right now, I am not sure about the next steps or how the university should respond, as they are not responding at all.”

                      As the meeting came to a close, another participant reflected on what she had learned about existing university policy, which left her feeling even more convinced that the institution can still do more. “I learned a lot of things I didn’t know before, like the existence of the code of conduct, and that staff have to go through training,” explains Stacey Lamptey, a law student from Ghana. “Right now, the university needs to listen to the students, listen to our suggestions, because we are the ones experiencing this.”

                      When approached for comment about the group’s concerns, RUG spokesperson Jorien Bakker said that inclusivity is a top priority at the university. “We are aware of instances of undesirable behaviour that sadly occur at the university, just like in any other organisation,” she says. “We want to be inclusive for all staff and students: that’s why we launched a series of introductory trainings and workshops in the past weeks where we invited staff and students to participate.”

                      Photo by Sophie Pizzimenti

                      Tags: accountabilitydiscriminationharassmentUniversity of Groningen
                      ShareTweetShare
                      Previous Post

                      Hunebed museum in Drenthe hunting for fake dolmens

                      Next Post

                      Econ 050: Vaccines and the costs of inaction

                      The Northern Times

                      The Northern Times

                      Related Posts

                      Online ordering: a blessing for multinationals, the damnation of local companies

                      Online ordering: a blessing for multinationals, the damnation of local companies

                      November 11, 2020
                      “Diversity in the community creates wonder and innovation”: an interview with Dènis Assen of Growing Emmen

                      “Diversity in the community creates wonder and innovation”: an interview with Dènis Assen of Growing Emmen

                      November 4, 2020
                      How are cafés in Groningen being affected by the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic? The Northern Times finds out

                      How are cafés in Groningen being affected by the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic? The Northern Times finds out

                      October 19, 2020
                      Good things come in small packages: the impact of COVID-19 on local businesses

                      Good things come in small packages: the impact of COVID-19 on local businesses

                      October 2, 2020
                      A gateway into a different reality

                      A gateway into a different reality

                      May 25, 2020
                      The end of the high street? – Expansion of Amazon may threaten existence of local shops

                      The end of the high street? – Expansion of Amazon may threaten existence of local shops

                      April 8, 2020
                      Next Post
                      econ_050_horizontal

                      Econ 050: Vaccines and the costs of inaction

                      Five times you realised you are becoming a Dutchie

                      Five times you realised you are becoming a Dutchie

                      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

                      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

                      Most popular this week

                      • Police clear over-crowded Noorderplantsoen in Groningen

                        Police clear over-crowded Noorderplantsoen in Groningen

                        0 shares
                        Share 0 Tweet 0
                      • The COVID Chronicles: ‘The Perils of a PCR Test’

                        0 shares
                        Share 0 Tweet 0
                      • Rebellion against Coronavirus regulations on the cards as Horeca operators threaten to open terraces on Tuesday

                        0 shares
                        Share 0 Tweet 0
                      • Police raid Hells Angels club house in Harlingen

                        0 shares
                        Share 0 Tweet 0
                      • Groningen to relocate last remaining city beaver

                        0 shares
                        Share 0 Tweet 0
                      The Northern Times

                      The Northern Times

                      NorthernTimes.nl is an English-language news site for internationals and anyone interested in news and activities in the three northern Dutch provinces of Groningen, Friesland and Drenthe. The website provides daily coverage and summaries of local news in the north, as well as human interest stories, backgrounds and a regional events calendar. The Northern Times is an initiative of the International Welcome Center North in cooperation with Persbureau Tammeling BV, which owns and operates the website.

                      Powered by:

                      Akkoord van Groningen, Gemeente Groningen, Koninklijke Metaalunie & FME, University of Groningen, Hanzehogeschool Groningen, Samenwerking Noord, Campus Groningen, and DUO/NEC NL (Nationaal Europass Centrum Nederland). 

                      Privacy statement and disclaimer 

                      NorthernTimes.nl is an English-language news site for internationals and anyone interested in news and activities in the three northern Dutch provinces of Groningen, Friesland and Drenthe. The website provides daily coverage and summaries of local news in the north, as well as human interest stories, backgrounds and a regional events calendar. The Northern Times is an initiative of the International Welcome Center North in cooperation with Persbureau Tammeling BV, which owns and operates the website.

                      Newsletter

                      Once or twice a week, we send out a digital newsletter to our subscribers. We will not and cannot share email addresses or any other personal data provided by our subscribers with any third parties, nor will we use this information for any purposes other than providing the newsletter. 

                      Questions or comments?

                      If you have any questions concerning your privacy or comments about ways that you think we could further protect and inform you about your privacy, please let us know by contacting us at info@tammeling.nl

                      Disclaimer

                      The Northern Times reserves the right to change its privacy policy, but will inform our subscribers and readers in advance prior to implementing any such changes. These changes will be published in a timely manner on The Northern Times’ website.

                      Tags

                      Arriva (44) Art (46) Assen (158) business (35) Climate Change (35) Coronavirus (348) coronavirus regulations (33) COVID-19 (191) COVID 19 (47) Drachten (42) Drenthe (703) earthquakes (45) Eelde (38) Emmen (135) festival (34) football (48) Friesland (742) Groningen (1419) Groningen Airport Eelde (40) Groninger Museum (37) Hanzehogeschool (34) Heerenveen (33) Hoogeveen (40) housing (86) international (36) international students (40) jobs (47) Leeuwarden (351) LF2018 (36) Make it in the North (39) natural gas (51) Netherlands (44) NHL Stenden (41) NS (35) police (56) protest (45) RUG (100) Sneek (37) students (73) tourism (35) train (55) UMCG (82) University of Groningen (158) Wadden Sea (34) what's on (37)
                      • News
                      • Covid-19
                      • Lifestyle
                      • Culture
                      • People
                      • Opportunities

                      © Copyrights The Northern Times 2018

                      No Result
                      View All Result
                      • Culture
                        • Dutch history
                        • Typical Dutch
                      • Lifestyle
                        • Food & Drinks
                        • Nightlife
                        • Shopping
                        • What’s happening
                      • News
                        • Economics
                        • Politics
                        • Sports
                        • Tech
                      • People
                        • Expats
                        • International students
                      • Opportunities
                        • business
                        • Education
                      • Subscribe To Our Newsletter

                        Join our mailing list to receive the latest news from Groningen, Drenthe, and Friesland.

                        You have Successfully Subscribed!

                      Subscribe To Our Newsletter

                      Subscribe To Our Newsletter

                      Join our mailing list to receive the latest news from the Top Dutch region!

                      You have Successfully Subscribed!