Once I was back at university, I noticed that the coronavirus crisis had affected many more people than I had initially expected. That is to say, it had an impact on a lot of students. There are a number of my fellow students who I haven’t seen in class since the coronavirus. And that has affected me.
I know more than most what it’s like when you need to temporarily suspend your studies and then start going to lectures again. I also had to suddenly return to ‘the new normal’ after the coronavirus, but I had already suffered a burnout, which meant that I was unable to study for three years. So, I am what is known as a ‘long-term student’.
Because I’ve been on campus for so long, I’ve also seen Radboud University change. There is now more focus on diversity and student wellbeing, but I feel that there is still great potential. For instance, I believe that it is important that we make allowances for everyone at university. When I heard that the lift in the Sports Centre had been shut down in the evening and that wheelchair users were unable to leave the building, I was very distressed.
That’s why I joined the programme so I could become a DEI Ambassador. In my first year as a DEI Ambassador, I attended training courses that taught us things like identifying personal and group behaviour that unconsciously contributes to exclusion. I was already aware of this, but I think it’s important that everyone on campus acquires a deeper understanding of it.
In September, I will be starting my third year of the Psychology study programme, even though I’ve already taken some third-year courses. This will give me the freedom to devote all of my efforts to my fellow students and fight for equality at the faculty level. In fact, I’m also a member of the Faculty Student Council. I’m assertive enough to offer a different perspective and express my opinion on things, which is why the roles of DEI Ambassador and Faculty Student Council member suit me so well.
Once I’ve completed my study programme, I hope that I’ll be able to concentrate on defending the neurodiverse minority in our society, because that’s an area where there is much to be gained. Deviating from the norm? There’s nothing wrong with that! In fact, it makes each student unique, which ensures that we are able to study on a campus that is characterised by great diversity and not a campus that has one exclusive club.”
Dennis van de Laar is a third-year Psychology student and DEI Ambassador
