Ghent (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Around 100 activists protested at Ghent University’s UFO building, demanding a boycott of Israel. Rector Petra De Sutter addressed Gaza concerns, while police controlled tensions with NSV.
As VRT News reported, the academic year at Ghent University opened with protests at the UFO building. Around 100 activists, including students and staff, gathered to demand a full boycott of Israel. They accused the university of being complicit in violence in Gaza by keeping links with Israeli institutions and companies.
At the same time, Petra De Sutter officially took over as rector from Rik Van de Walle. This took place behind closed doors after advice from the police. Last year, the opening procession was cancelled after violent demonstrations, and authorities wanted to avoid a repeat of those incidents.
“We want Ghent University to keep its promise. Statements were made about this over a year ago,”
says activist Bas.
“The collaborations will continue. This makes Ghent University de facto complicit in the genocide in Gaza.”
What drives Ghent University protesters to demand an Israel boycott?
The protest also drew a counter-action from members of the Nationalistische Studentenvereniging (NSV). The right-wing student group tried to show a banner but was surrounded by other activists shouting anti-fascist slogans.
After half an hour, the NSV members left under pressure from the police. The activists said symbolic steps are not enough and demanded that the university cut all ties with Israeli partners.
Rector Petra De Sutter said she takes the demands of the activists seriously. She explained that the university cannot stay silent about the situation in Gaza. During the opening ceremony, she promised to speak about the fear and horror felt by many.
“We are outraged,”
she said, while adding that the university wants to keep the discussion going and examine how it could end cooperation with Israeli institutions.
“We are already going further than all other Flemish universities,”
Petra De Sutter stated earlier.
“This will be on the agenda of the Board of Directors again.”
De Sutter also takes the position of former rector Rik Van de Walle, who argued that if he were to support universities, they would first need European support to act. It indeed centres on the European research programme, Horizon Europe, which connects universities and research institutes throughout the continent, including Israel.
Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, has already proposed the suspension of the deal as a sanction, and if it happens, it would allow universities to cease cooperation with their Israeli partners without the danger of losing funding or being liable for breaching a contract. So far, there is no agreement among EU member states.
Following the war in Gaza that commenced in October 2023, protests at Ghent University against collaboration with Israeli institutions grew. In November 2023, hundreds of students and staff signed petitions for a full academic boycott. Demonstrations then materialised in a public manner and interrupted several university functions.
Tension
Comments
20 responses to “100 Activists Protest Israel Ties as UGent Academic Year Begins”
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Seems like Ghent University’s welcome party just turned into a political soap opera—who needs Netflix? 🎭 But hey, at least they’re keeping it spicy with protests instead of boring old lectures! 🍿
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Looks like the academic year at UGent kicked off with a proper demonstration—who needs a peaceful start when you can have 100 activists shouting for a boycott instead? 🎉 Nothing says “welcome back to school” like a bit of chaos outside the UFO building! 😂
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Looks like Ghent University’s opening bash is more about protests than pep talks this year. Who knew academia could double as a circus? 🎪🙄
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Protesting at a university? How avant-garde! Next, they’ll be demanding a boycott of caffeine during finals week—can’t have those professors thinking too clearly, can we? ☕️😏
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Seems like kicking off the academic year with a protest is the new “back to school” trend in Ghent—who needs textbooks when you have political drama? 🤷♂️✌️
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Seems like Ghent University opened its doors with more drama than a Flemish soap opera—who knew academia could be such a hotbed for protests? 🎭🤷♂️ Good luck keeping the peace, Petra; might as well invest in a bouncer for that UFO building!
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Looks like the academic year at UGent is starting with more drama than a Belgian soap opera. Who needs lectures when you can just protest outside the UFO building, right? 😏📚
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Seems like Ghent University is kickstarting the academic year with a masterclass in protest management—who needs lectures when you have activists and police drama? 🎓🚨 It’s like an episode of a political soap opera, but with more pamphlets and less character development.
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Isn’t it adorable when 100 activists think they can change the world with a protest at Ghent University? 🎓 Because nothing says “serious academic discourse” like chanting slogans outside a building! 🙄
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Looks like Ghent University’s academic year kicked off with all the charm of a Brussels traffic jam—who knew protesting could be such a stimulating curriculum? 🎓🤷♂️
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Looks like Ghent University is making headlines again, not for groundbreaking research but for a protest that could rival a Eurovision contest in drama! 🎭 Who knew academia could be so… animated? 😂
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Couldn’t have asked for a more riveting start to the academic year at UGent—nothing says “let’s hit the books” like a good old protest! 🎓🙄 One would think they’re majoring in drama rather than diplomacy.
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Only at Ghent University can you kick off the academic year with a lecture on ‘How to Protest 101’ and still manage to miss the point! 🎓✌️
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Starting the academic year with a bit of drama, eh? Nothing says “welcome back” like a hundred activists making sure everyone knows that university life can be just as chaotic as a Brussels traffic jam! 😂
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Seems like Ghent University’s academic year kicked off with a classic case of “let’s shout at each other instead of studying” – who needs textbooks when you can just hold a protest, right? 🎓🙄
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Looks like the new academic year at UGent kicked off with a typical dose of Belgian drama—who needs a peaceful start when you can have protests and a side of police intervention? 🍻 It’s like a student party, but with more shouting and fewer drinks!
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Seems like Ghent University has decided to kick off the academic year with a good ol’ protest party—who needs a quiet start when you can have 100 activists making a scene? 🎉 Next up, let’s award a degree in drama for the finest performances by those demanding a boycott of Israel! 🤷♂️
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Funny how the start of the academic year at Ghent University doubles as a live-action protest theatre! Who knew education could come with such a dramatic twist? 🎭🙄
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Nothing like starting the academic year with a good ol’ protest, eh? 🎓 Just imagine the brainstorming sessions over coffee: “How can we make our university as popular as a wet sock?” 🙄
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Looks like the new academic year at Ghent University started with a bang—who needs a peaceful opening ceremony when you can have a protest fest instead? 🎉 Nothing screams “higher education” like a ruckus over boycotting Israel, eh?
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