KU Leuven asks activists to end building’s occupation

Activists have been occupying KU Leuven's 'de Nieuwe Valk' building since 13 May. The occupation is a protest against the collaborations between KU Leuven researchers and Israeli research teams. KU Leuven cannot approve of this kind of occupations, but has been compelled to temporarily tolerate the presence of the activists. The university opened a dialogue with them and talked with them on multiple occasions. After all, our university is a place of open dialogue and debate, with room for critical voices, respect for each other, and other opinions, while paying particular attention to everyone's safety and well-being.

The campus is used intensively for educational purposes. KU Leuven has tried to maintain a calm and serene environment during the studying and examination period. During the past few weeks, the university has tried to ensure the physical and social safety of the activists and of all other colleagues and students. However, since the building is not designed for several weeks of occupation, including overnight stays, the university has had to mobilise additional manpower and resources. Additional surveillance was needed given that the activists could not ensure that the agreements made on the use of the space were respected at all times, which led to some safety and hygiene incidents. KU Leuven always remains responsible for the general safety, fire safety and the health of colleagues and students in all buildings and grounds owned by the university. Additionally, many campus activities like examinations, seminars and conferences have been moved to ensure a serene study and examination period for all colleagues and students in June. This has also required a lot of effort and flexibility behind the scenes.

KU Leuven continues to focus on a respectful dialogue with room for different perspectives, but, at the same time, recognises that all additional efforts to ensure everyone's safety are not sustainable in the long term. With the upcoming summer holidays, the university cannot sufficiently guarantee the physical and social safety of the activists and other colleagues and students. That is why, this morning, KU Leuven has asked the activists to clear the building by 1 July 2024, 18.00, to make it available for the key responsibilities it was built for: research and education. KU Leuven wants to make the building available again to colleagues and students who participate in the third examination period.

The university emphasises that it will always be open to a respectful dialogue with the activists, but that it does not believe that an occupation contributes to this dialogue. There are many more constructive ways to voice an opinion and to communicate differences in perspective. The end of the occupation in no way means that there is any less room for different points of view. The university also highlights its call to focus on the recovery of the academic capacity in Gaza and on concrete support for the students, researchers and universities in the Palestinian occupied territories. The university wants to fully focus on this recovery and invites the activists to contribute to this goal.