Monday 28 October 2024
These students broke out of their bubble and decided to learn Dutch
Suddenly, international students have turned from cash cows into scapegoats. The government is working to reduce the number English-taught university programs. Despite this, international students are still taking steps to integrate through language learning. ‘I don’t feel like it’s going to be possible for me.’
Thursday 17 October 2024
Obituary: Stefan Landsberger (1955-2024)
Sinologist Stefan Landsberger passed away unexpectedly. According to colleague Florian Schneider, he was a fervent advocate of the humanities with a great sense of humor and deep compassion.
Wednesday 18 September 2024
How 25 crosses led to 14 life sentences: statistician rallies against another 'miscarriage of justice'
British nurse Lucy Letby has been convicted of murdering seven babies. It is only after that judgment that Leiden statistician Richard Gill – who previously helped acquit two wrongly convicted nurses – is allowed to explain why this case is another ‘miscarriage of justice’ due to ‘statistical blunders’.
Tuesday 25 June 2024
Refugees in Leiden learn to live from day to day: ‘A bomb could be dropped on you at any moment’
Last week was World Refugee Day. Mare spoke to three refugees who work or study at Leiden University. Two are still waiting for a residence permit. ‘For a month, I did nothing but run away from the police.’
Friday 21 June 2024
Trouble in teacher’s tent: misconduct beyond the Hofman affair
Is the work environment at archaeology ‘unhealthy’, as the investigating committee recently concluded? Mare spoke with several female archaeologists. ‘With one lecturer, you have to be careful if you wear a short skirt, another steals your data, and a third will shout at you angrily.’
Wednesday 19 June 2024
Evil at the Kunsthal: ‘The devil made me jump’
Grinning devils, scary witches and farting cats: as of last Saturday, the most macabre prints, drawings and engravings from the University Library’s collection are on display at the Rotterdam Kunsthal. ‘Look, it’s a severed head.’
Thursday 13 June 2024
Female archaeologists wonder: is there really systemic sexism within our faculty?
There are no Andrew Tate-like misogynistic monsters roaming the corridors of our faculty, only hard working and passionate academics, write eight female archaeologists, who don't recognise the image of institutionalised gender discrimination.
Thursday 23 May 2024
Rowing until you have blisters to pay for new hair piece
Because of an auto-immune disease, student Pien Scheer is going bald. Because she ‘didn’t just have three thousand euros lying around for a new hair piece’, she organised a rowing benefit. ‘My butt hurts, but other than that everything’s fine.’
Thursday 16 May 2024
Lectures in the hallway? Seriously? Foolish new designs will wreck our academic community
The design for the new Humanities Campus is an attack on the identity of the scientist, according to David Henley, Remco Breuker en Niels van der Salm. 'This is not a university: it is a managerial wet dream of a university, created by people who have never worked in one.'
Thursday 28 March 2024
Why is the debate at the university ruled by fear?
The current state of the university as bastion of silence is untenable, argue Max Adams and Ebrar Kaya. That is why their student parties are combining forces.
Monday 25 March 2024
Persistent prejudices: how students and lecturers of colour are being excluded
Today is the international day against racism and discrimination. Leiden students and staff also still face prejudice and hurtful comments. ‘They don't understand that I belong here.’
Saturday 9 March 2024
ChatGPT is here to stay
While ChatGPT has been widely adopted among students, the university still seems unsure of how to deal with the chatbot. ‘A lot of time has been wasted.’