{"id":6483,"date":"2015-10-08T13:18:16","date_gmt":"2015-10-08T11:18:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2015\/10\/08\/wij-vinden-dat-de-sinterklaasviering-een-feest-voor-iedereen-moet-zijn\/"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:22:21","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:22:21","slug":"wij-vinden-dat-de-sinterklaasviering-een-feest-voor-iedereen-moet-zijn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2015\/10\/08\/wij-vinden-dat-de-sinterklaasviering-een-feest-voor-iedereen-moet-zijn\/","title":{"rendered":"‘We believe that everyone should feel free to join in the Sinterklaas celebrations’"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Zwarte Pieten en Roetveegpieten tijdens het feest in 2014.<\/span><\/p>

\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMichelle Muus<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

The Executive Board would like to start a university-wide discussion about the role of \u2018Zwarte Piet\u2019, or Black Pete. The question is, how should the sidekick of Sinterklaas look during the coming Sinterklaas celebrations? In a letter to all students and employees<\/a>, the Executive Board calls for a debate. Chair of the Executive Board Pauline van der Meer Mohr explains to EM why she wants to start the debate now.<\/p>\n

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The \u2018Zwarte Piet debate\u2019 is being held in many corners of Dutch society. Why do you believe it is important to also stimulate this discussion within the university?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cIn late 2014 we announced our plans to give careful thought to possible alternatives to Zwarte Piet\u2019s traditional appearance \u2013 alternatives that do justice to the continuing status of Sinterklaas as a feast for everyone. And as far as we\u2019re concerned, this is still our main point of departure. In light of the upcoming Sinterklaas celebrations, we would like to give the members of the EUR community an opportunity to share their views on this subject. The recent letter is intended as a \u2018kick-off\u2019 for this discussion.\u201d<\/p>\n

Why has the Executive Board decided to organise a public debate, rather than simply declare its own position on this matter?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cUniversities are an ideal environment for open discussion. In a sense, we have already declared our position by stating that we believe that Sinterklaas celebrations should be \u2018inclusive\u2019 \u2013 in other words: everyone should feel free to join in the fun. We are now asking the EUR community to tell us how we can keep it that way. We will take these viewpoints and suggestions on board when we determine how the university will be celebrating Sinterklaas in 2015.\u201d<\/p>\n

The \u2018Zwarte Piet debate\u2019 can become very heated \u2013 to the point of people actually getting arrested. Aren\u2019t you afraid of unleashing similar passions here within the University?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The discussions regarding Zwarte Piet have indeed become very intense, and I don\u2019t rule out that some people in the university community also have very strong opinions on this matter. But there\u2019s nothing wrong with a lively debate, as long as people substantiate their positions with solid arguments. I am confident that this will be the case at our university, and that we can show respect for one another\u2019s viewpoints.<\/p>\n

In your letter, you write: \u201cThis university can send a powerful message by making the Sinterklaas celebrations inclusive to all.\u201d Which indications have you received from the university community that people feel alienated from the existing celebrations?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cAt the end of last year in particular, a number of staff members indicated that they felt uncomfortable with how Sinterklaas was being celebrated here on campus, and specifically with Zwarte Piet\u2019s appearance. We take this kind of message \u2013 in which people indicate that they cannot identify with these celebrations \u2013 very seriously.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the letter there are hints that the Board has a particular position on this matter, for example the sentence: \u201cJust because something is a tradition, it need not be a justification for its continued existence.\u201d Aren\u2019t you afraid of disturbing the process of \u2018open discussion\u2019 with this statement?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cOn the contrary. What we are actually saying is that, as far as we\u2019re concerned, it is OK to hold the argument \u2018traditions are there to be maintained\u2019 up to scrutiny.\u201d<\/p>\n

Will the Executive Board keep the option open of a traditional black (or brown) Zwarte Piet at EUR celebrations?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThe figure of Zwarte Piet has already seen a number of changes in recent years. And I expect him \u2013 or her! \u2013 to change even further in the years ahead. After all, as history teaches us, public perceptions are constantly evolving too. When we meet to decide on Piet\u2019s appearance during the upcoming Sinterklaas celebrations, we will be taking account of the various viewpoints shared with us in response to the letter.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t

\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t
\n\t\tThe figure of Zwarte Piet has already seen a number of changes in recent years. And I expect him \u2013 or her! \u2013 to change even further in the years ahead.\n\t<\/blockquote>\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t–<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPauline van der Meer Mohr\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t<\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n

What is your own perspective on Zwarte Piet?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cAs a first-year student, I took part in Sinterklaas\u2019s arrival in South Rotterdam, dressed up as Zwarte Piet. That\u2019s the first time I became aware that for some, the figure of Zwarte Piet is less innocuous than for others. But leaving that aside, I\u2019d rather not let my personal views influence the discussion right now, since we need to make an administrative decision on this matter \u2013 which means that we have listen carefully to what everyone has to say.\u201d<\/p>\n

How do you like to celebrate Sinterklaas at home? With or without Piet?<\/strong><\/p>\n

When I celebrate it with my own family \u2013 particularly now that the children are a bit older \u2013 it\u2019s mostly about the surprises<\/em> (humorous packages), the personalised poems and the playful way in which we tease other family members about their peculiarities. Our poems are signed \u2018Sint & Piet\u2019, or otherwise just \u2018Sint\u2019. Neutral, at any rate.<\/p>\n

What do you ultimately expect to achieve with this debate?<\/strong><\/p>\n

That we take time to carefully reflect on the criticism that people have levied against the celebration of Sinterklaas as celebrated until recently. And that while we may not be able to satisfy everyone, or convince them, we have nevertheless heard and understood each other\u2019s arguments. And that we make a serious contribution to the nation-wide debate. And finally, that we arrive at Sinterklaas celebrations that everyone can enjoy.<\/p>\n

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