Should study associations also critically assess their collaborations with companies?

Activists from Occupy EUR protested at the Pavilion last Friday against a wine tasting organised by the study association STAR from RSM, which was sponsored by Shell. Among unsuspecting students enjoying their wine, a protester delivered a speech about Shell’s role in ‘the destruction of the world’. This protest raises the question: should study and student associations think more carefully in the future about who they collaborate with? Should they stop working with companies that, according to Occupy, are polluters? And is it the university’s responsibility to provide clear guidelines on this?

Calls to cut ties between the university and the fossil fuel industry have been heard for some time now. Climate activists regularly stage protests on campus to this end. But now it seems that study associations are also being scrutinised because of their sponsors. Many associations work with companies to organise career events, networking drinks or workshops.

The action by Occupy EUR raises the question: should study and student associations be more critical of their sponsors and collaboration partners? Should the university play a role in this? Should there, for example, be guidelines on which companies are or are not welcome at campus events? Or is this something associations should be allowed to decide for themselves, and would such guidelines place too many restrictions on their freedom? Share your opinion via the form below.