{"id":134644,"date":"2022-01-11T16:19:19","date_gmt":"2022-01-11T15:19:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=134644"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:26:04","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:26:04","slug":"students-demonstrate-on-the-dam-for-qr-free-education","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2022\/01\/11\/students-demonstrate-on-the-dam-for-qr-free-education\/","title":{"rendered":"Students demonstrate on the Dam for QR-free education"},"content":{"rendered":"

On Saturday 8 January, the Students for Open Education (SVOO) organisation demonstrated at the Dam in Amsterdam for campus-based education without QR codes. The students, including Rotterdam initiator Nawin Ramcharan, demanded attention for the consequences of the coronavirus measures on student mental health and academic achievement.<\/p>\n

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Tiktok-influencer Sara Dol also spoke during the demonstration.<\/span><\/p>

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Increasing depression, one-sided science and internal divisions were among the various topics addressed at the demonstration. Those present were not only critical of the current coronavirus policy but had also considered more efficient solutions. \u201cStudents don\u2019t dare to speak out for fear of being accused that they only think of themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n

'Don't create discord'<\/h2>
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Despite the cold and rain, a few hundred supporters gathered at the Dam. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter whether you\u2019re vaccinated or unvaccinated\u201d, the first speaker, Sara Dol began her speech. With 2.6 million followers on TikTok she had a big reach for her critical comments on the coronavirus policy. \u201cI\u2019m not here to create discord, but I do see how this is created around us. Let\u2019s take care of ourselves instead of living in fear. Because why are the gyms closed at the very time it\u2019s more important than ever that you work on your immune system?\u201d<\/p>\n

The speakers included well-known and less well-known coronavirus critics, including Martina Groenveld from YouTube channel Caf\u00e9 Weltschmerz and law philosophers Raisa Blommestijn and Eva Vlaardingerbroek. Bas van Bommel, assistant professor of the History of Literature explained how, according to him \u2018mass quarantining\u2019 of healthy people goes against science and law student Marijn Rinck made an appeal to keep the discussions open, despite the polarisation. \u201cStart searching for the truth yourself\u201d, he added. \u201cScience is more than just Ab Oosterhaus.\u201d<\/p>\n

More efficient solutions<\/h2>

There were also several Erasmus University students among those present, including philosophy student Hnady Abbady. \u201cI\u2019m here because education should be accessible for everyone. That\u2019s a human right\u201d, she said. \u201cIn addition, I feel that the collateral damage of the measures is being hugely underestimated. For instance, I\u2019ve seen mental health deteriorate rapidly, also among my co-students. There\u2019s also a huge feeling of powerlessness: students have the idea that they can\u2019t say anything for fear of being accused that they only think of themselves. Many students are not advocates of QR codes and think 2G in education goes too far, but will go along with it if it comes to that.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Initiator Nawin Ramcharan has organised various demonstrations against the introduction of the CoronaCheck in higher education. Due to the current lockdown, he decided to widen the campaign this time and focus on the collateral damage of the coronavirus policy. \u201cThe mental and physical harm in all age categories is highest among the 18-30s\u201d, he explained. \u201cAnd all that study delay doesn\u2019t make you any happier either. You can\u2019t exercise or socialise anymore, so that escape valve has also been removed. And there\u2019s a lot of anxiety, which makes students feel worse about themselves and<\/em> their performance deteriorates.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCurrently there\u2019s only a focus on a higher vaccination level\u201d, he continued. \u201cI think it would be more efficient if the government also considered other variables, such as age, underlying conditions and BMI. The average coronavirus patient on the ICU is 62 years and has a BMI of 29.6 and over half of ICU patients has an underlying condition. Moreover, the policy is currently based on advice from the OMT, which does not include any mental health or educational harm experts. My message to all students is to stand up for yourselves and speak out. I\u2019m also just a simple student but if I hadn\u2019t organised this today, who would have done that?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t

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