Action group BK Scholars for Palestine is calling for the elective course Architecture and Colonialism to be continued. That is the message of a petition that the group is circulating among staff and students.
Architecture and Colonialism covered the role of architecture in colonialism and was taught for the first time last academic year. The course was created after an earlier academic event organised by the group on destruction in Gaza was cancelled by the Faculty of Architecture. Dean Dick van Gameren reported that he had received ‘various signals’ that made him lose confidence ‘that we can guarantee a constructive and respectful dialogue’.
Exhibition shortened
Nevertheless, the course did not run without incident. A planned final exhibition was shortened from two weeks to one day. According to the university spokesperson, this was due to possible unrest. After protests from the students, the exhibition was nevertheless shown for ten days in May, albeit in a modified form. There was extra security, the works were anonymised and all designs were placed behind glass. From 29 September to 13 October, the exhibition was also on display at the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam.
According to the petition, the faculty board has not yet responded to questions from staff and students about the future of the course. The petition therefore calls on the faculty to guarantee the course’s continuation.
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