Uni wants non-Western views in its curriculum
The point was raised by Femke de Ruiter with student faction SOG. She didn’t see it addressed in the university-wide Action Plan for Diversity and Inclusion, which was presented to the council last week. She suggested including non-Western literature to the curriculum or offering ‘more space to explore ideas outside of the established academic order’.
Chief diversity and inclusion officer Gerry Wakker said the faculties and the Teaching Academy will look into the options, but that the changes won’t be made this year. ‘We have to think about how non-Western subjects could be added to education.’
Volunteers
Council members also expressed concern about unequal pay for the action plan’s working group members. The group chairs will be paid 23,300 euros a year, while regular members are expected to participate on a voluntary basis. This way, the working groups will include only people who can afford to work for free, said David Jan Meijer with De Vrije Student. ‘This entire inclusive plan is not inclusive.’
DAG’s Ivi Kussmaul, who sits on the action plan’s advisory committee, partly agrees with Meijer. ‘Minority groups who work to end their own discrimination should be paid for that work. But since there are budgetary constraints, it is good that the chairs are paid, at least.’
De Vries refused to reconsider redistributing the funds: ‘I don’t think we should pay every committee member.’ The council will vote on Thursday whether to budget a total of 740,500 euros for the action plan.