Professors and doctoral students at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) in Brussels are planning an 'exam supervision strike' to call for an academic boycott of Israel amidst the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The extent of the strike is not yet clear.
The decision comes after months of failed attempts to encourage the university to support an academic boycott of Israel, according to Jouke Huijzer, a political scientist and PhD student at VUB. A significant number of faculty members, PhD students, and undergraduates have expressed their backing for the action via email, although the full extent of the strike is still uncertain.
In recent months, the university has been the site of numerous demonstrations, teach-ins, and sit-ins to persuade the institution to advocate an academic boycott of Israel and denounce its ongoing violence in Gaza.
Credit: Belga / James Arthur Gekiere
However, Huijzer suggested that even sound arguments have failed to convince VUB chancellor Jan Danckaert to endorse such a boycott. Huijzer also criticised the lack of a clear university position on the rebuilding of Palestinian academic institutions, which were destroyed by the Israeli Defense Forces.
"We see ourselves forced to resort to alternative means due to this lack of results. An 'exam supervision strike' is one of the most lenient forms of strikes with minimal impact on the students," the PhD student explained.
Although those participating in the action will be present to supervise exams, they will not report any attempts at cheating or rule-breaking. "We do not condone such actions but instead have chosen not to respond to them, taking inspiration from the behaviour of the Flemish university chancellors," Huijzer concluded.
