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international

HvA will establish so called ‘quiet spaces’

Willem van Ewijk,
24 november 2016 - 17:24

The Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (HvA) has announced it will build quiet spaces for its students.

The university has not yet decided where these so called ‘quiet spaces’ (in Dutch, stilteruimtes) will be established, but according to vice-president of the CMR, the combined Works and Students Council Mark van der Horst, the university’s board, together with the Facility Services department, has already identified potential locations. 

 

The university’s Board of Directors will soon submit a concrete proposal to the CMR. This will also include a list of rules governing the use of these quiet rooms.

 

HvA rector Huib de Jong briefed the CMR on the matter one week ago, emphasising that quiet rooms are not to be confused with ‘prayer rooms’.

 

According to de Jong, quiet rooms should provide a space where students and employees can ‘retreat in silence for whatever reason’.

‘We are a public university. We don’t recognise religion here.’

‘Worship rooms’

The University of Amsterdam had already decided to establish quiet rooms one year ago but a definitive decision has since been postponed.

 

It appears to be a controversial matter. ‘The sort of quiet rooms we have been talking about so far remind me too much of a worship room. As a public institution, we want to respect the principle of separation of church and state,’ de Jong said at the time.

 

The long awaited decision is greeted with enthusiasm by CMR members. ‘We are very happy,’ vice-president Van der Horst said. Van der Horst went on to emphasise that quiet rooms are not worship rooms. ‘We are a public university. We don’t recognise religion here.’

 

Gym

CMR member Bram Buskoop thinks it is good that a decision has finally been made. ‘Some students prefer going to Café Fest or the campus gym. Others want to take a break in a space where they can unwind and relax in silence.’

 

In the basement of Leeuwenburg, a HvA-building at Weesperzijde, an improvised (and tolerated) prayer room already exists. On several locations of the university special study rooms have been put in place where students can study in silence.

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