After reviewing the article, it is evident that it presents a one-sided account of the facts. The Executive Board of VU Amsterdam has issued the following statement to Ad Valvas:
Providing a socially safe working and studying environment is a top priority at VU Amsterdam. The Executive Board and leaders at all levels are committed to making our campus a place where collaboration can take place in harmony and with enjoyment. Like in wider society, we too encounter situations where students and staff feel treated unfairly. Conversations about these issues can sometimes be accompanied by tension.
VU Amsterdam offers support and assistance for such situations through, for example, ombudspersons, confidential advisors, and mediators. Their methods are documented in procedures to ensure that all parties involved are handled in an objective and careful manner. VU Amsterdam aims to learn from each incident and to continuously improve.
The situation in question occurred primarily in 2022/2023. Extensive discussions and correspondence took place between the parties involved. Additionally, a confidential external investigation was conducted as part of a procedure. An employment conflict arose with the individual concerned. The individual decided to leave VU Amsterdam at the beginning of 2024. As a result of this conflict, we have also identified areas for organisational improvement. We have ensured that these are addressed appropriately. We believed that we had concluded a difficult process with mutually agreed terms.
We are distressed that other (former) VU Amsterdam staff members are now being personally and publicly attacked, without having chosen this. Ad Valvas has linked names to a confidential and anonymised report. Publishing this information without understanding the context, including the process of creating the report, leads to a skewed view and unwarranted conclusions. Furthermore, VU Amsterdam finds it difficult to defend itself due to its commitment to confidentiality agreements. We are unable to communicate more about this matter as it directly concerns the privacy of the involved staff members.