A few weeks ago, the student associations of our faculty broke off talks about their move with the Faculty Board. It feels like a good friend letting you know he is done with you and then not answering the phone. Invitations to sit down again to discuss the matter are declined. The door remains closed; our dear student associations say they no longer trust our good intentions regarding accommodation.
What is going on? As we all know, demolition of the W&N building will begin later this year. Except for west wing A and B, the entire building will be flattened. Gradually, all users will be moved to an alternative location, including the student associations and Faculty Board. I myself experienced this in early 2020, when the IVM was moved to the NU building together with the Departments of Mathematics and Computer Science. This move was accompanied by scarcity: the staff had grown considerably and the available space became considerably smaller. In the end, we had to make do with half the space per staff member, and I suspect the Computer Science department had to give up even more space. It took some getting used to, but soon we had forgotten about the W&N building and were functioning as before in our new environment.
Of course, we wish the study associations the same positive experience. The study associations are hugely important to the faculty. They provide a social home for our students, offer help with all kinds of activities and provide valuable feedback on faculty policies. But somewhere things went wrong in communication, because, as mentioned, the associations now believe that we are not taking their demands seriously. They believe they are being undercut by the move, that the reduction in square metres is unacceptable and consider the new location inferior.
I can well understand the student associations' hesitation. As head of the IVM department in 2020, I too had to gulp for a while when I saw the floor plan of the future institute and had to ‘settle’ for halving the space and thus doubling the population density. But after several brainstorming sessions with creative colleagues, we had worked out a supported accommodation plan, and the rest is history. In the end, shrinkage did not prove an obstacle to our functioning and well-being.
The situation with the associations is not really any different. Compared to the 24 square metres that other study associations at VU have, our associations are currently in an exceptionally luxurious position with 62 square metres per association. Even after the move, with 41 square metres, they will have above-average space. There is of course no arguing about taste, but as a long-term resident of the fifth floor of the A-wing, I have marvelled at the claim that the societies would be tucked away in a ‘broom closet’ after the move. In any case, I have thoroughly enjoyed working in these brand-new rooms.
Back to the impasse between the student associations and the Faculty Board. If we had a magic wand to create more space on our packed campus, we would have gladly done so. However, as a board and as VU, we have our backs against the wall: we have no extra square metres and alternative locations are not available either. Moreover, planning continues unabated and the wrecking ball will soon fly into the W&N building. We will have to make do with what we have, and we prefer to do that with the study associations. Therefore, I once again invite the study associations to come back to the table and discuss the layout of the rooms together. Should there be any issues that bother and that the board can move on, we will certainly not fail to do so. Only by staying in conversation will we move forward. Let us look forward together and count our blessings of a powerful faculty with wonderful study associations.