These are turbulent times for higher education management boards. Not only because of the budget cuts, but also due to the uncertain news that continues to come out of the United States. For example, scientists at Wageningen University were shocked by a survey from the US that included questions about the respondent’s collaboration with ‘communist, socialist or totalitarian parties, or with any other party that holds anti-American views’. The available responses were ‘yes’ or ‘no’. “This questionnaire has not yet reached our university,” says Van Huffelen. “As a group of universities, we have already called on everyone not to answer these questions.”
The situation for a number of US scientists is now so dire that consideration may be given to granting them academic asylum. Particularly research fields that focus on climate and gender are being targeted, and some European institutions have already taken action in order to grant refuge to their US counterparts. The Volt political party, for example, states that the Netherlands is lagging behind in this respect. The party asks that this situation be rapidly resolved by welcoming talented Americans who are being suppressed.
Does Radboud University plan to open its doors? “It is part of our tradition, and part of the city’s tradition, to welcome people in need.” According to Van Huffelen, specific requests have not yet been made, and furthermore, Dutch universities are still trying to find a way to fund such a gesture of hospitality. As a side note, she adds: “On the one hand, the government is demanding that we make cuts and on the other, they’re asking us to accommodate American scientists.” A letter has now been received from the minister and the commitment of research financier the Dutch Research Council (NWO) has also been established. “Together with the Dutch Research Council, we are going to look at how our university can make a contribution.”
Lobbying in The Hague
The last possibility for preventing the budget cuts is in the hands of the Senate. It debated the issue this week, and is due to vote on it in early April. Needless to say, Van Huffelen attended this debate in The Hague on 25 March (see photos). In addition to attending the debate in her capacity as President of the Executive Board, she was also there because of her Hague background, where, among other things, she served as a senator and served twice as a state secretary in Rutte’s third and fourth cabinets. When it comes to politics, she is more seasoned than any other President of the Executive Board. “This obviously helps quite a lot with my discussions in The Hague.”
According to Van Huffelen’s analysis, the key to the budget cuts debate lies with the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA). For a couple of weeks now, she has been working tirelessly to turn the tide in The Hague, through talks with senators and with Minister Eppo Bruins, a lobbying effort in conjunction with other universities. “I’m not going to elaborate on the details now. That would be unwise.” What would be the best course of action if the cuts unexpectedly continued to be applied, a scenario that Van Huffelen is seriously considering. “That’s something that I’d rather not anticipate.”
