HvA students start petition to stop relocation
A petition to prevent the intended relocation of three programmes from the Wibauthuis to the Fraijlemaborg started by three student associations affiliated with the AUAS has been signed by over 1800 people. ‘We’re afraid students won't stay on campus after classes anymore.’
Anne-Lotte van Caspel (21, Human Resource Management) from student association HaReM learned about the mooted relocation through an email from her dean. Three FBE programmes will likely move from the centrally situated Amstelcampus to the Fraijlemaborg in the southeastern part of Amsterdam.
‘We’re happy here on the Amstelcampus! Not only do we have great study areas, but we also have the sort of facilities that encourage student engagement on a more general level,’ says Van Caspel. One of these facilities is Café Fest, the campus café where many student associations organise events. ‘Places like Fest ensure that students will stay on campus longer than is required by their course. Without places like it, we’re afraid students will be less engaged with the university on a whole.’
The AUAS is very keen on student engagement, which is why the university encourages students to organise themselves into associations. Three of these (HaReM, MarCo and Nostro) have started a petition against the intended relocation, which is part of the AUAS's housing plans. In 2020, several faculties will have to relocate their facilities and students in order to vacate a rented location, the Leeuwenburg.
A spokesman of the AUAS emphasises that no decision has been made about the relocations. ‘We are now consulting the participation council and will of course discuss the details with the students and employees of the different faculties. It’s a big puzzle. In the end we must all fit into the same jacket.’
The student associations will likely present their petition to the board of the university in October of this year.
