A senior lecturer at the University of Groningen (RUG) is no longer allowed to teach a subject after students complained that he was trying to convince them of conspiracy theories. A spokesperson for the University of Groningen confirmed this on Wednesday after reporting in the Groningen newspaper University newspaper. Lecturer Tjeerd Andringa taught the ‘Systems View on Life’ course at University College Groningen (UCG), a faculty of the University of Groningen. In his lectures to first-year students, he is said to have taught not only conspiracy theories about vaccinations, ‘the dominance of Jews’ and the attacks on the Twin Towers; but also tried to convince his students of this.
In the course, students would ‘learn to think like a scientist’, but in practice, according to the University newspaper little room to go against Andringa’s controversial views. For example, he is said to have admonished two students after they questioned study material that claimed that vaccinations cause autism. After a student lodged a complaint about Andringa’s statements in the fall of 2020, the Faculty Board spoke to the lecturer. He would then be officially reprimanded for “statements against the prohibition of anti-Semitism”, which “were almost criminal,” the medium writes.
The Faculty Board instituted extra supervision of Andringa’s lectures to ensure that they meet quality requirements and guidelines. In the University newspaper confirms that the board has decided ‘after a long period of supervision and observation’ to no longer offer the profession. The exact reason for the decision is not reported, opposite NRC the dean of the faculty was unable to respond on Wednesday afternoon. It is unclear whether Andringa will still lecture in the other subjects that he believes to be the study guide of the RUG has been scheduled for. According to the University newspaper the faculty is conducting ‘further research’ into the way in which Andringa carries out his work.
Alternative media
Andringa obtained her doctorate in mathematics and natural sciences and is primarily an expert in the field of acoustics and sound perception. He has been working for the University College since 2014. on his employee page on the RUG site, he says he listens to podcasts from ‘alternative media’ in his spare time. He mentions, among other things, Red Ice Radio, described by CNN in 2018 as a “conspiratorial, racist and nationalist” medium. He himself claimed in 2015 during an interview with The Corbett Reportpodcast that the elite deliberately abuse children to exercise their power, without having proof.
The RUG spokesperson states that a university lecturer is ‘in principle’ free to engage in conspiracy theories in his spare time. For questions about Andringa’s teaching position at University College, she refers to the Faculty Board, which was unable to respond to questions from Wednesday afternoon. NRC. Andringa herself says opposite NRC to respond “next week”. According to him, there must first be „more nuance and reality in the news cycle come”. Asked who should provide this nuance, he points to the university: “I’m just a small player in the whole.”