Recap Opening of Academic Year 2024-2025

The opening of the academic year 2024-2025 took place on Monday 2 September 2024 and was themed ‘Academy and Freedom’. We look back on a ceremony with incisive speeches, beautiful music, and surprising academic insights. The ceremony was traditionally preceded by the stately procession. Pro-Palestinian activists hindered the procession of student associations and professors from entering the Martini Church by lying on the ground.

Rector Magnificus

Speakers included Rector Magnificus Jacquelien Scherpen, President of the Board of the University Jouke de Vries, and Mayor of Groningen Koen Schuiling. Scherpen looked back on her first year as Rector Magnificus, in which a lot has happened, from protests to announced government budget cuts. A year in which she occasionally wondered why we don't talk to each other directly. In addition, big statements were sometimes made in the past year, which seemed to rather lack in nuance. At that point, she decided to pause briefly as the protesters were causing too much noise for her to continue. A little later, she resumed her speech by making a plea for the return of academic freedom that academics should have, including the responsibilities that come with it.

The UG will continue to speak out against the terrible violence that has been taking place for almost a year as a result of the Israel-Gaza conflict and will remain in dialogue with the academic community about it.

Budget cuts and right to demonstrate

De Vries directed his criticism at The Hague. He criticized the announced far-reaching budget cuts and the coalition parties’ criticism of the “wokism” that they claim is rampant at universities. De Vries also proposed solutions, including 'glocalization': a combination of globalization and localization. Mayor Schuiling spoke out in favour of the freedom to demonstrate and the importance of democratic debate.

What else was on the programme?

In addition to these speeches, Bettina Reitz-Joosse talked about her field of study, Latin Language and Literature. Stef van Grieken received the Alumnus of the Year award from the hands of the Rector Magnificus. The new UG poet-in-residence, Femke de Heer, recited a poem on the theme of Academy and Freedom. Finally, Quinten Jansen, GUF-100 winner of the Faculty of Arts, also held a speech. The music was provided by the AMF Jazzband.

We thank everyone who attended and look forward to the new academic year!

All speeches and poem poet-in-residence

• Speech Jacquelien Scherpen.
• Speech Jouke de Vries.
• Speech Koen Schuiling.
• Speech Bettina Reitz-Joosse and slides used during the speech.
• Speech Stef van Grieken. Also check out the video with Van Grieken.
• Speech Quinten Jansen.
• Poem by poet-in-residence Femke de Heer.

Photos

The photos were made by Pjotr Wiese. You can find all the photos on his website.