A group of student protesters of the Research Education in Action campaign has spray painted red squares on the entrances of the Academiegebouw in Groningen and the office of the University of Groningen’s Board of Directors Monday morning. According to the activists the Board does not show enough support for students and staff that want to join their protest.
The red squares are the symbol of the national campaign against budget cuts in academic research and education. On Friday 14 december a national demonstration is planned in The Hague. The RUG Board of Directors already released an official statement saying it supports the demo, but “action speaks louder than words”, say the activists, who find it ridiculous that RUG-employees who want to attend the protest have to record a leave day.
“The so called support of the Board of Directors is nothing but hot air”, they write in a statement. “In contrast to other universities, the University of Groningen wants nothing to do with the protest.” The activists want the RUG to follow suit with the University of Amsterdam, which actively encourages students and staff to attend the protest and has even arranged transport by bus to The Hague on 14 december.
