Rector on the controversy on campus: ‘We must learn to talk to each other in a respectful way’

That political subjects affect academia is not new, but in such an extreme form as now, and certainly around the war between Israel and Hamas, Rector Magnificus Tim van der Hagen has not yet seen polarisation on campus, he says.

He is asked by all and sundry to express his support, to issue statements, hold meetings or ban them, but he is very careful with that. What are the issues that he is struggling with and how does he decide his direction? Delta met with him.

The first thing he said was that he finds the events in Israel and Gaza ‘terrible and inhuman’. “It makes you want to cry.” Van der Hagen also sees people opposing each other on campus and he is thus cautious. “If the Executive Board is not careful, our response or position will stir things up and this will only worsen the polarisation.”

How do you decide what to do in a situation like this?

“It is the job of the Executive Board, and as Rector mine in particular, to safeguard the academic freedom and the security of the staff and students. I feel a bit like a shepherd for these 28,000 students and 8,000 staff members who come from everywhere and of all persuasions. One will vote for this party, the other for that party. There is a wide range of convictions and this is a good thing. We very much want a mixture and diversity.

‘The intention is that people are safe and feel safe’

At the same time, the campus is not a public space, but an academic institution. It is about academic freedom and academic debate, about informing each other and consultation. It is important not to hurt each other, even unintentionally and certainly not intentionally.”

But this does happen, for example when using slogans.

“We are putting a stop to this. There are security officers present at meetings on campus. The intention is that people are safe and feel safe.”

We hear from organisers that it is not clear what may and may not be done on campus in terms of political gatherings. Is that policy on paper?

“We have our Code of Conduct and our values.”

They do not explicitly state what may or may not be done in these kinds of situations.

“What is clear is that we do not carry out political activities on campus. For example, political parties may not hand out flyers. By extension, this means that no slogans may be shouted or banners with slogans held at other gatherings. This is a general rule, not just one for now.”

‘I understand all too well that there are feelings of powerlessness, concern and sadness’

Nevertheless, we do see this regularly being done.

“Again, our policy is that this is not permitted. At the same time, it is not as simple as just drafting a piece of paper with rules and you are done. We are not a police state. People have very deep convictions and feelings. I understand all too well that there are feelings of powerlessness, concern and sadness. We continually need to take things into consideration and balance things out. At what point do you say till here and no further? And when do you have people removed? These too create feelings of being unsafe.”

People are asking the Executive Board to take a stand on terrorism. Why do you not do that?

“We completely reject terrorism. We reject anti-Semitism. We reject the oppression of minorities, and not respecting human rights.”

But up to now that has not been communicated publicly.

“Our values are clearly stated in our Code of Conduct. Everyone is sincerly welcome, whatever their origin, religion, sexual orientation, colour, who they vote for. The more diverse, the better.”

That is not the same as explicity stating your position about a particular issue, is it?

“We issued a statement on the war between Israel and Hamas, as well as on the election results.”

The former was issued on 30 October, three weeks after the war started. It was a very short statement. Why is this?

“We are called on to take a position by a lot of people. But you must realise that the minute we do so, we create greater polarisation. We thus make it less safe for at least one group of people. So we consciously do not do this.”

‘We do not impose a top-down position from the Executive Board’

Should you not explain this more often? If the Executive Board says nothing, people do not understand why not.

“Yes, and this interview is a good opportunity to do so, just as the talk show that we will broadcast on 7 December. This is not the first time that we have to deal with this. It was exactly the same with the invasion of Ukraine. We then also explained that we do not take a position as we are here for the safety of all our staff members, regardless of where they come from and where their family is.”

What is your response to the call to break ties with companies and academic institutions in Israel that may be involved in the war?

“This is a difficult issue. We recently set up a moral deliberation to discuss these kinds of predicaments. We brainstorm with all sorts of stakeholders on complicated subjects. One example is partnerships with the fossil fuel industry.

If we would hold a moral deliberation table about a war, we would not discuss the specifics so that you would not need to choose sides in an ongoing conflict. The main question could then be whether or not to partner defence related companies. This could be a good idea as we do not impose a top-down position from the Executive Board. The issues are far too complex to do this.”

How do you view on-campus gatherings where war is discussed?

“I hope that there will be a balanced debate with various arguments and opinions. People are free to organise these.”

‘The principle should be to bring people closer together’

Would it not be better if TU Delft takes the initiative so as to avoid a vacuum growing in which people organise something themselves?

“I hear what you are saying. It would be an option, even though it would be extremely hard to create balance. The principle should be to bring people closer together and not to further increase the chasm that separates them.”

What about the election results? The day after the elections you published a reaction that you could explain politically.

“You are right, that was more political than the reaction to Israel and Palestine. I did not say anything specific about political parties, but did say something about the bleak political wind as it will affect us in our work. TU Delft’s motto is ‘impact for a better society’. We want to address major societal problems and we need everyone, also those outside of the Netherlands, to do this. The rectors from other IDEA League universities (a collaboration of five European technical universities, Eds.) are wondering what is happening in the Netherlands that it is becoming more inward looking.

On top of this, some of our own people are wondering if they are still welcome at TU Delft. This is terrible and it was the reason to say something about it immediately.

We respond to the impact of political choices TU Delft as a university. If there would be cutbacks on academia, or the Climate Fund be reduced, or the sector plans shelved, we would be affected very badly. We would then not be able to carry out our mission. If you view this as political, then everything is political.”

‘People quickly take and state positions’

There are concerns in Dutch society about internationalisation and migration. The parties that are against these are this big for a reason.

“Naturally I see this too, but we need to look at the election result in terms of what TU Delft stands for as a university. Society is asking universities to produce 50,000 to 60,000 new engineers in the coming years. To achieve this, we need our contacts outside the country. We do not say that migration is fine as this is a completely different standpoint.”

The controversy on campus does not look like it will end soon. What should be done?

“Society as a whole is hardening and people quickly take and state positions, including about others and without taking the effects on the other into account. We have to deal with this too.

If we think about Israel and Hamas, I hope the war ends. But for now and in the future, we must learn to talk to each other in a respectful manner. This is the only way. We offer people that opportunity with all its ups and downs. This is keeping us very busy.”