Students from the Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) will continue their climate demonstration after the weekend. “We think it is important to demonstrate non-violently, but it must yield something,” says spokesman Liz van der Jagt of the demonstrators. The group thus responds to the university’s request not to spend the night in the building: “On Monday morning at seven o’clock we will be back with ten students.”
The demonstrators have been occupying a boardroom in TU/e’s Atlas building since Monday. They want to influence the climate policy of the university. The first demand, acknowledgment of the climate emergency, has been granted by the university. “But we are not satisfied yet and will continue as long as necessary,” says Van der Jagt.
Nevertheless, the activists comply with the university’s request not to sleep in the boardroom at night. In doing so, the educational institution runs the risk of being fined. The group has therefore decided to sleep at home in the evenings and weekends. They are not afraid that they will now secretly lock the door at TU Delft.
“PR-wise it would be a very stupid decision by TU Delft.”
Van der Jagt: “There is always a voice deep in the back of my head, but our consultations have always been very neat. As far as PR is concerned, it would also be a stupid decision if the TU denies us the right to demonstrate. But I do trust it hear.”
There are two further requirements that the TU will not comply with. The students want her to break ties with companies from the fossil industry, such as Shell, BP and Exxon Mobil, but the Executive Board is not going to do that. They also remained vague about the requirement to provide insight into how much money TU Delft receives from these types of companies and whether they influence education and research results.
The Executive Board replied that it would like to include the income more clearly in annual reports, but the demonstrators are not satisfied with that. “That is really too vague,” says Van der Jagt. “What does clearer mean to them, where can we see that?” The activists have one comprehensive statement drawn up in response to TU/e’s position.
“It can always escalate if they cross our borders.”
It is not yet clear until when they will continue their occupation, “but the first small victory has given us renewed energy, we will continue”, says Van der Jagt. Now it’s all still very neat, a kind of polder demonstration, but that doesn’t mean it will stay that way.
“If they cross our borders, so if we are ignored by TU Delft, if they take away our stuff or send the police on us, it can always escalate,” Van der Jagt continues.
In the meantime, the demonstrators have an unexpectedly free weekend. It’s nice to sleep in your own bed and to be relieved of each other for a while. “Well…” it sounds hesitant, “one of the activists had his birthday on the first night of the occupation, we’re going to celebrate that together tonight,” says Van der Jagt. “And probably it won’t work not to talk about the action, haha.”
Read also:
Activists occupy TU/e meeting room: ‘we will stay here’
Activists occupy larger part of TU/e: ‘we are being ignored’