{"id":80333,"date":"2017-09-06T16:39:54","date_gmt":"2017-09-06T14:39:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=80333"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:22:50","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:22:50","slug":"more-than-one-thousand-signatures-petitioning-against-duisenberg","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2017\/09\/06\/more-than-one-thousand-signatures-petitioning-against-duisenberg\/","title":{"rendered":"More than two thousand signatures petitioning against Duisenberg"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tVVD (People\u2019s Party for Freedom and Democracy)<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

There are more than 2.500 signatures on a petition opposing the appointment of VVD politician, Pieter Duisenberg, as chairman of the university association VSNU.<\/p>\n

The petition<\/a> was launched by the action group ReThink UvA that previously opposed University of Amsterdam\u2019s policy. In particular, it galls the scholars that as a member of the Lower House, Duisenberg pushed for scholars\u2019 political leanings<\/a> to be scrutinised.<\/p>\n

Recreational studies<\/h3>

But they also take umbrage with other opinions he holds. For example, he believes that popular \u2018recreational studies\u2019 should disappear<\/a>. \u201cWhen the UWV\u2019s registration numbers for a study are high, then supply really has to be looked at. We do so already with new studies, but we now also want to do so with existing programmes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Duisenberg also wanted to partially reserve revenues of the lending scheme in order to resolve the problems at technical universities. That earned his party a great deal of flack: shouldn\u2019t students from all programmes profit equally from additional investments made in education?<\/p>\n

Those behind the petition argue he isn\u2019t the right person to \u201cfight for true autonomy for the universities and colleges in this country. He lacks the credibility and support necessary in carrying out his new position.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s difficult to ascertain how many signatories are actually involved with the university. Some work at the UvA as a professor or lecturer; others, as outsiders, seem particularly to oppose the VVD and neoliberalism.<\/p>\n

\u201cLeave the VSNU\u201d<\/h3>

The petition isn\u2019t the only indication of criticism regarding the appointment. The UvA\u2019s central student council has previously stated that with Duisenberg as chairman<\/a>,<\/u> the Amsterdam university must now leave the VSNU<\/a>.<\/p>\n

However, the UvA has expressed full confidence in Duisenberg, and says it has taken the students\u2019 appeal onboard. Nor did the university association VSNU appear to be impressed.<\/p>\n

Within governor circles there\u2019s scant discord about the appointment. Everyone has congratulated Duisenberg on his appointment, and one assumes that he shall promote the universities\u2019 interests the best he can.<\/p>\n

More about Duisenberg<\/h2>