LUCSoR Staff Activism Against University Budget-Cuts
On Tuesday, September 17th, the Dutch king, Willem-Alexander, will present the plans of the new government of the Netherlands. This government’s aspirations, led by the party (PVV) of right-wing nationalist Geert Wilders, are mostly defined by budget cuts. One of the sectors receiving such budget cuts is higher education.
With Universities already struggling to make ends meet, these extra budget cuts could have disastrous effects on the quality of education and research. Other plans such as the “langstudeerboete” ( fine for study delay) will put extra financial pressure on students, making University education less accessible to students with less material welfare. Three LUCSor staff members, Professor Maurits Berger, Dr. Elpine de Boer and Dr. Marcus Davidsen, have decided to speak up in the Leiden University campaign: “Zonder ons onderzoek is Nederland in gevaar.” (“Without our research the Netherlands is in danger.”) In this campaign, staff members highlight what their research and education contribute to society and what the losses would be if it would no longer exist.
Prof. Maurits Berger, lecturer of Islam (in the West), starts his appeal by stating that everyone has an opinion about his field of research. In his classroom, Muslims and non-Muslims meet. Of course, these students have their ideas about Islam, and Islam in society. The classroom provides an environment in which all of these students can learn and converse with each other. Prof. Berger points out that it is detrimental for both his subject field and society to keep the conversation going.
Dr. Elpine de Boer points out the importance of studying religion in a country like the Netherlands, where most people have become estranged from religion. The Psychology of Religion, Dr. de Boer’s field of research, researches what gives people meaning. Meaning-making lies at the core of our mental health, our behaviour, and how we treat ourselves and others. Dr. de Boer then points out that democracy can only be upheld by working together. That is why it is important to know what moves people and how they can come together, despite their differences.
Dr. Marcus Davidsen starts his video by mentioning the diverse religious landscape of the Netherlands, and that it is crucial for society that people from different religious backgrounds meet and learn from each other. A school is a perfect place for that. Dr. Davidsen explains he is developing the first national curriculum for the school subject “Levensbeschouwing en Religie”. He is also educating future religion teachers, so they can carry forward a respectful way of studying diverse religions and philosophies of life. He finishes by underlining how important education about religion is to stay undivided in a religiously diverse society.