{"id":80949,"date":"2017-10-11T15:12:33","date_gmt":"2017-10-11T13:12:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=80949"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:22:52","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:22:52","slug":"genoeg-gepraat-over-diversiteit-actie","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2017\/10\/11\/genoeg-gepraat-over-diversiteit-actie\/","title":{"rendered":"Diversity: enough talk \u2013 time for action!"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Students in the auditorium<\/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\tRonald van den Heerik<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

The initiative urges everyone within the university organisation \u2013 whatever their position \u2013 to make work of this theme. The letter has since been signed by over 350 students and staff members, before it was published. The signatories include the entire University Council, as well as several prominent professors, both men and women.<\/span><\/p>\n

Time for self-diagnosis is over<\/h3>

Headed by Hanneke Takkenberg (professor at Erasmus MC) in her capacity as Chief Diversity Officer, the letter\u2019s authors call on the university community to actively work towards an institution in which we \u201cnot only give thought to diversity and inclusiveness, but actually take action in these areas.\u201d According to the authors, \u201cthe University may have adopted the motto <\/span>\u2018Diversity and inclusion is in our DNA\u2019<\/span><\/i>, but virtually every leading position within the organisation is occupied by a white Dutch male. The deadline for EUR to perform a self-diagnosis and determine which areas are in need of a treatment plan expired some time ago.\u201d \u201cIt is not only about genderdiversity\u201d, emphasizes Takkenberg<\/span>, \u201cbut it is about taking full advantage of all the diversity of talent in this university\u201d. <\/span><\/p>\n

Actually do \u2018yes\u2019<\/h3>

The letter specifically calls on a number of parties to take action, including lecturers and researchers, but also students HR-officers and the Supervisory Board. \u201cWe purposely did not address the letter to the Executive Board and the deans, since we\u2019ve been talking with them for a long time already. It\u2019s time to not only say \u2018yes\u2019, but actually do \u2018yes\u2019,\u201d explains Takkenberg. \u201cOf course, I do hope that the deans and the Executive Board decide to sign the letter too.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018Academic homophilia\u2019<\/h3>

We also find Professor of Sociology Willem Schinkel among the authors, who recently posted <\/span>an impassioned plea<\/span><\/a> about this issue on the Rotterdam news blog \u2018Vers Beton\u2019. In this post, Schinkel reproaches the EUR administrators for a form of \u2018academic homophilia\u2019: white men who anoint someone in their own image as \u2018crown prince\u2019, robbing women and members of cultural minorities of the opportunity to enter the upper academic and administrative echelons of the University.<\/span><\/p>\n

Not an issue of minorities<\/h3>

Takkenberg was overwhelmed by the large number of declarations of support \u2013 350 so far \u2013 since the letter was first informally shared this Friday within the ten authors\u2019 own networks. \u201cWe don\u2019t want to continue complaining, but rather create broader public support for positive action. We want to make the members of the community aware of all the things they can do themselves. For example, a lot of students believe that diversity and inclusiveness are limited to that one issue of minorities, while learning how to deal with diversity is actually an essential part of every student\u2019s education.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018Concrete agreements\u2019<\/h3>

In the letter, the writers call on the university community to make \u2018concrete agreements\u2019, regarding e.g. more diversity within the lecturer corps, \u2018re-gauging the quality of research and research staff\u2019 and greater transparency within the selection and promotion of staff members. And they have the following message for EUR\u2019s students: \u201cGet to know one another and learn from one another \u2013 including people beyond your own familiar circle of friends. By trying to connect, you will actually discover that fellow students who at first glance may not resemble you often have a lot in common with you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Read the open letter here<\/h2>