The route went from the O&O square past the Nanolab, the Zuidhorst, Meander, Oosthorst and Noordhorst towards the Ravelijn, and back to the O&O square. Several people who were among the first wave of dismissals marched along. Some hugged each other afterwards. Professor Jeroen Cornelissen describes: 'It feels good that there is so much collegiality. Last week after my last lecture, I received a round of applause from the students. That does something to you.'
PhD candidate Daan is here for a number of colleagues. He himself has remained out of harm's way for the time being, but does know fellow candidates who are now without a supervisor and for whom nothing has been arranged yet. 'It has demotivated me considerably. Let’s say I’d rather had it with the UT, recently.'
'Bad for the entire region'
On the Horst lawn, the crowd gathers in a circle, after which several people from the Enschede Student Movement and Twente for Protest speak. Assistant professor Femke Nijboer is among them. She calls it 'devastating', and indicates that these decisions will lead to a brain drain. 'That is not just bad for the UT, but for the entire Twente region.' She says that the five faculties should join forces more in order to make a bigger fist financially. And she calls on everyone to join a union.
'Raise your voices'
Nijboer believes that the employees should be much more extroverted. 'Be outspoken!' she shouts through the megaphone. To show them what she means, she addresses the in her eyes Dutch populist government that wants to cut back even more on higher education. The supporters chant along: 'Don't do it!'
Protesting certainly makes sense, she thinks, because she believes the plans have not yet been finalised. As the crowd walks on, she says that Twente is generally too shy, and they should bang their fists on the table more. 'Twente needs to raise their voices.' And that the UT should work harder on awareness in the region, because that ensures more public appreciation and support. 'Especially now that the government is closing down everything, we must open up. Giving the people from this region campus tours to show how instrumental this institution is for the region and the people who live here.'
Volt city councillor Erik Kemp confirms it a little later. 'If you compare it to Leiden, for example, this protest is pretty tame.' According to him, a cultural change is needed. 'People in this region aren’t used to protesting. As far as I am concerned, this could also be more structural, so that the impact is greater and people have a better chance of participating.'
The march continues. To the tune of Glory, Glory, Hallelujah, a chant rings out: 'Solidarity Forever, Union makes us strong.'
