UU files police report for defacement

Utrecht University is filing a police report for the defacement of several university buildings. On Sunday night, the Administration Building was defaced with red paint, and during a protest by students and staff on Tuesday, several buildings on the Drift were also defaced. "Within Utrecht University there is room for different perspectives and feelings, but these actions exceed the norm."

On Tuesday 25 June, students and staff announced a protest in solidarity with Palestine. Although it was announced that they would walk from the Jaarbeursplein to the University Hall, the group moved towards the Drift. Signs that the protesting students and staff would once again attempt to occupy university premises prompted the closure of several premises in the city centre as a precautionary measure.

As a result, some of the planned (educational) activities could not take place and some students had to leave the library while studying for their exams. Vice-president Margot van der Starre: "That we had to take such a drastic measure and then on top of that in the examination period, we find very upsetting. We understand that such a decision has an impact on students and staff." All buildings will reopen tomorrow (Wednesday 26 June).

During the demonstration, several buildings on the Drift were defaced with red paint. Van der Starre: "Within Utrecht University, there is room for different perspectives and feelings about the situation in Gaza and Israel. We understand that students and staff are protesting to express their involvement and dissatisfaction with this topic. However, occupying and/or defacing premises to make your point exceeds a norm. UU will therefore file a police report for all the defacement of this week."

The clean-up of the applied paint will be initiated as soon as possible. This may result in the use of a different entrance at the regarding premises on the Drift during these clean-up activities.