Join the conversation: what does it mean to feel welcome in the University Hall?

Every day, many students defend their thesis or dissertation in the University Hall as the conclusion of their degree or doctoral programme. In 2022, a number of reports were made to the Beadle by students and staff that they did not feel welcome in the University Hall. This was partly because of the many paintings in the building that reflect the past, but do not reflect the diversity of our university in 2024.

The university believes it is important for everyone to feel welcome. Therefore, at the request of the rector magnificus, a project team was launched to investigate and answer the following question:

A complex question that was not easy to answer. Because how do you create an understanding of the past while at the same time taking into account the effect of these expressions on people today? And vice versa: how do you ensure that you give space to a diverse reflection of the present while also giving the past a place in it?

Small but telling adjustments

After a lot of research, conversations and sessions at the drawing board, a number of plans were worked out. This summer, a number of these small but telling adjustments were realised to try to answer this question and facilitate the conversation about it. On Tuesday evening, 8 October, panel discussions will be facilitated in the University Hall. Would you like to join the conversation about this? Sign up via this link.

The following adjustments were made this summer:

• Portraits have been moved to create space for group portraits of research groups of the four strategic research themes. These group portraits show that research is (usually) a group process and not always the merit of one person. These new portraits hang in the corridor leading to the Senate Chamber. You can read their stories in advance here.
• A photo exhibition ‘Dimensions of (in)equality’ has opened in the Belle van Zuylen Hall. This exhibition is about feeling welcome, highlighted from various perspectives and stories of students and staff. You can view the photos and read the interviews online via this link. If you want to view the pictures in this room in its full glory, keep in mind that the Belle van Zuylen room is often reserved for promotions and orations. 
• Because we cannot change our history but we can explain it, context has been added to the statue of Paul Kruger and about Belle van Zuylen.

Please note that you can currently only enter the Academy Building if you have an appointment or have registered your visit.