The action committee’s students in Forum. Matthijs Leesmans on the right. Photo Resource A group of Wageningen students is gravely concerned over the budget cuts in tertiary education and has launched an action committee. ‘The slow student fine may have been taken off the table, but the austerity measures still affect us.
Matthijs Leesmans (28), master student Development and Rural Innovation, is one of the committee’s members. ‘At other universities, people are being laid off, and programmes are terminated. WUR has not yet made any announcements to this effect, but who knows what the future may bring. There is no student union to address these matters in Wageningen, which is why we, as concerned students, have taken the initiative to launch the Right to Study action committee. We aim to organise local and national protests and support WUR employees. The interests of students and employees are closely aligned.
The students in the committee met at the national demonstration in Utrecht, Leesmans states. ‘We come from different corners of the university. Five students are currently involved in the initiative. Today, we are present in Forum to discuss the budget cuts with students and recruit other interested participants. The more members, the more power we have to organise ourselves!’
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Leesmans says the students are invited to attend a protest meeting in Atlas on March 3. ‘During that meeting, we will discuss options for action with employees and unions. Other universities have already announced strikes. We may follow. We will see.’
A meet and greet with the action committee is to take place during lunch break on 27 February. ‘We are available in room 771 of Forum from 13.00-14.00 hrs. Drop in! We have free cookies!’
