With the departure of Goffe Jensma, the University of Groningen has lost the only professor of Frisian in the Netherlands. Incomprehensible, says Janette Bosma. According to her, yet another proof that things of value are defenseless in a neoliberal world.
A room of about 10 square meters with books to the ceiling with a large desk in the middle full of folders, books and papers. Together with two other students, I listened to stories about the history of Friesland every week in this room. The professor, an old man, always dressed in an all-black suit, captivated us for two hours.
There was no intermission, and while I looked at the clock and counted down the minutes during other lectures, I was glued to the small piece of desk that had been cleared for my notes. The only thing that disturbed the lecture was the ringing telephone. This was then fished out from under the paper and recorded: “Mei Goffe Jensma”. My favorite teacher during my studies at the University of Groningen.
Everyone has one. And it is no coincidence that they are often history teachers. During my Dutch studies at the University, I chose to follow a Minor in Frisian in 2018. I grew up in Friesland, but could hardly read and write Frisian and knew little about the history. Little attention is paid to this in Frisian schools and this increased my curiosity.
Pay everything
As part of the History of Friesland lectures, we went on an excursion to – you guessed it – Friesland. We left the faculty early in the morning in Jensma’s car. He assured us that he would pay for everything that day. Typical of his involvement with students and enthusiasm for his field. It was a great and educational day.
This month I heard that Goffe Jensma is retiring. As a result, the university not only loses an enthusiastic lecturer and researcher, but also loses the only professor of Frisian in the Netherlands. In other words: the second national language of the Netherlands no longer has an independent study and no chair group. Incomprehensible. Study and research into cultural heritage is lost.
I now work as a lecturer at the Faculty of Arts in Groningen and see it all around me: the disappearance of the Frisian study and now also the professor are, in my opinion, characteristic of the return thinking of the university and the government.
Declining student numbers
The government has campaigned to make science studies more popular and makes it interesting for universities to focus on major studies by means of a financial incentive. The result is declining student numbers for the small language schools and universities that would rather lose them than get rich. They are political choices based solely on economic gain.
But the blame cannot be placed solely with the State. There is also an important role here for the Faculty Board and the Executive Board of the University of Groningen. Who, precisely in this period, when the Frisian Jouke de Vries took office as chairman of the Executive Board, wanted to invest more in Campus Fryslân. It is incomprehensible that Jensma has not been listened to before. After all, his departure had been known for years. His succession has not been taken seriously.
At the beginning of last week it was announced that Jensma will be ‘succeeded’ by Anne Merkuur. Good news you might say; a young talented researcher has been found for the position. But her position is assistant professor for 0.4 fte. Not a professor.
Can’t find anyone?
We have heard the excuse that no one can be found in other contexts. It is only a matter of good search and of course the University itself plays a pre-eminent role in this with its function as a trainer of young academics.
I find it indigestible that the only professor of Frisian in the Netherlands with emeritus status and there is no suitable successor. We see it on all fronts: things of value are defenseless in a neoliberal world. Cultural heritage is lost when power refuses to value the little things.
Janette Bosma is Councilor for the Municipality of Groningen and lecturer at the University of Groningen