Back to 6 May | FS director Bert Zwiep: “Hear stories from employees who no longer dare to do their work”
This week marks exactly one year since the pro-Palestinian protests at the UvA got completely out of hand. In this series, Folia talks to various people involved about their experiences. Today, part 2: Bert Zwiep, Director of Facility Services (FS) at the UvA.
“It was 6 May when things really kicked off. The call to action was shared online on all kinds of social media channels, including some where I don’t think it belonged, such as Mokum Kraakt. As soon as that post appears there, you know that people who have no connection with the UvA will turn up. That can create a completely different atmosphere. That day, it became clear that things were not going in the right direction when we saw that the tent camp was being barricaded. Why would a tent camp need to be hermetically sealed off? That has nothing to do with protesting.”
“As security, we were completely overwhelmed on 6, 7 and 8 May, but the build-up to that moment had already begun at the end of 2023. During those months, the first meetings were organised in the form of teach-ins in various UvA buildings and demonstrations at the AUC. Security immediately contacted the organisers of these actions to see how we could best facilitate the demonstrations.”
Storming
“The relationship between FS and the organisers was excellent. This also applied to the walk-out on 13 May, during which all information was shared. Unfortunately, the demonstration was taken over by people who were not involved in the organisation. This allowed them to rush inside and vandalise the premises. I arrived on the first floor and saw thirteen masked people dressed in black running up the stairs. That was the first and only time I felt truly afraid, especially for the people who were working and studying in our buildings. I believe that protesting should always be possible, and the UvA should provide space for that at all times, but storming buildings is really going too far.”
“That protest had a huge impact on the caretakers, who work every day to keep the campus looking nice. They saw everything being smashed up right in front of them, and that really hit them hard. During the night and the days that followed, various FS teams were busy checking all the electrical systems, boarding up doors, cleaning up and coordinating the work for the construction workers.”
Hardening
“The demonstrations continued after the summer, and unfortunately those weeks in May turned out not to have been the low point. It only got worse. At first, we only had to remove slogans in the sanitary areas, but now we also have to remove swastika symbols. And during Minister Brekelmans’ visit to Room for Discussion, violence was even used against the security guards for the first time. When you’re suddenly on the receiving end as an employee, it affects you for weeks. With this hardening of attitudes, we’re losing touch with each other instead of growing closer.”
“I really care about the well-being of all students and staff, including the protesters, but I’m also responsible for the well-being of FS staff. I hear stories from my employees about their partners, who sit at home in fear when another demonstration is announced, and also from employees who no longer dare to do their work when demonstrations are announced. That simply cannot be true; this is an educational institution. There must be room to demonstrate, but we must also continue to work together to ensure a safe environment for everyone.”
