Board: Students should be able to meet soon in former library
Board: Students should be able to meet soon in former library
Door Giulia Fabrizi
By Giulia Fabrizi
Giulia Fabrizi
Van uit de hand gelopen studentenfeestjes tot bezette universiteitsgebouwen en van kamertekorten tot dreigende bezuinigingen: Giulia houdt al het nieuws in de gaten. Ze praat graag met de mensen die het aangaat, schrijft erover en begeleidt freelancers bij het maken van nieuwsartikelen. Eerder werkte ze als stadsredacteur Groningen en gemeenteverslaggever Haren voor Dagblad van het Noorden.The board of directors said so in a response to the petition that fifty study associations, all student factions on the university council, and the Groninger Studentenbond sent them in early March. The parties were sounding the alarm and said that the university should relax some of its restrictions to prevent students’ mental health from deteriorating any further.
Outside location
In addition to reopening the library, the board is also working on setting up safe outside meeting locations, where study associations would be able to host events, lecturers could teach seminars, and students could meet each other.
The board says these meeting places would open once the government and the Groningen Safety Region relax the corona restrictions, making on-campus meetings at the university possible again.
Speed-testing pilot
This could be as soon as late April. During last Tuesday’s press conference, outgoing prime minister Rutte said that they’ll announce this week whether universities will be allowed to organise on-campus activities, such as classes, by April 26.
However, even if the end of the month sees relaxation happening, the university will still have to abide by corona restrictions, such as social distancing. The board also said reopening the library will serve as a pilot to study the speed-testing options for small-scale gatherings. Anyone who wants to enter the library will have to present negative results from a covid speed test.