The Bachelor Open Day at the University of Groningen (UG) proceeded without major issues on Friday, despite a call from pro-Palestinian activists to ‘disrupt’ the event.
The call was accompanied by the message: ‘No business as usual, disrupt the bachelor open day – university of genocide.’ However, only a small group of protesters with flags and a banner gathered at Broerplein around noon.
There was some pushing and shoving on the steps of the Academy building when security personnel and police urged the protesters to leave, but the situation did not escalate further.
Ties with Israel
The protesters are demanding that the UG cut all ties with Israel. Encampment.rug, the group behind last year’s protest camp, claimed earlier this week that the UG and the Groningen University Fund (GUF) have invested 4.25 million euros in ‘companies active in occupied Palestine’.
The UG denies this claim. In a response, the university stated: ‘The Groningen University Fund and the UG do not invest in companies that finance the destruction in Gaza. The UG is not allowed to use its public funds for investment purposes.’
Government bonds
The GUF (a support fund for students, such as for international exchanges) does invest but, since September 2022, has done so in government bonds from various EU countries and funds labelled as ‘sustainable’, according to the university.
‘They invest exclusively in sustainable funds that focus on the environment, social policy, and good corporate governance. This means they do not invest in companies engaged in activities such as the tobacco or arms industries.’