Open letter from Rector Jeroen Geurts in response to the theft of flags
Dear VU students and colleagues,
Last Monday, the rainbow flag and the "stop violence against women" flag were stolen from VU Amsterdam and another symbol was put in their place. You may have read about this in Wednesday's Telegraaf. Lately, we find ourselves having to explain more often than we used to why inclusivity, and symbols of inclusivity, are important. This concerns me deeply. Let me explain why.
Inclusivity is a right. A hard-won right. A right that still needs to be secured every day, so that everyone can simply be who they are. That's what Pride Amsterdam was about last week. And it seems so natural: everyone participates, everyone matters. That’s inclusive thinking. However, in practice, it turns out that “participating” for some is much harder than for others. This is a discrepancy we must not accept.
VU Amsterdam has spearheaded inclusivity since its founding days. When it comes to Abraham Kuyper's "kleine luyden," it’s not only about those who cannot afford to study. It’s also about those of us with a different skin color, sexual or gender orientation, or religion. Everyone is welcome at VU Amsterdam. We remain committed to our founding principle.
Inclusivity is a matter of values. And those values are expressed and emphasized every day by the flags that were recently stolen from the main entrance of VU Amsterdam. But inclusivity is also a matter of quality. A university community should be drawn to this! A conversation held with different people, from diverse backgrounds, is a qualitatively better conversation. That’s why our university is so committed to the mixed classroom. It’s a proven concept to enhance the quality of learning. The idea is simple: be curious about others. ‘Other people’ are not a threat, but an enrichment. Please remember this—it’s an important point. When one listens and tries to empathize with others, one’s own perspective, knowledge, and experience become better. Enriched. This is what our upcoming dies natalis will be all about.
At a university, one expects sharp discussions. We must challenge each other and we will by nature disagree on matters of content. But let us always treat each other with respect. And: address each other openly. Don’t stealthily steal flags, but have the courage to truly engage in a conversation. Be willing to have your own viewpoint challenged and, if necessary, adjust it. That’s what academicians do. Fair enough to be tough on the content, but let’s be mild towards people and our relations. ‘We’ are all we’ve got, especially so in times of scarcity and conflict.
I hope we will be able to enter into a good and meaningful academic year by September 2nd. I wish for us that each can make their point, but that the willingness to listen to others is also always high on our agendas. We can deal with anything, everything may be discussed, but let us do it together. Everyone participates, everyone matters. That is my mantra, and it stems from a deep persuasion.
Many thanks.
Be well.
Jeroen Geurts
Rector Magnificus of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam