They remind us to stand firm and never compromise with our and others’ right to think freely and speak freely, with respect for the dignity of all human beings, neighbours near and far, and the planet itself.
Celebrating Academia as Resistance
It seems to me that resisting political pressure seeking to silence some of our voices is most effectively done by precisely celebrating academia and the very idea of the university, in our research, teaching, and our service to the community. When strong forces want to separate us from one another and from colleagues in other parts of the world, we should seek even more collaboration. When we hear calls for cancelling certain fields of research or teaching, including especially those we are not ourselves involved in, we should speak loudly of the value of diversity and disagreement in our pursuit of truth. And when the powers that be present visions of future societies that are more hindered than helped by critical thinking, we should train our students in the art of wisdom.
Achievements and Progress
But perhaps the most important thing we can do as an act of resistance to these developments is to seek joy in whatever we do. And count our blessings. Looking at what TF has accomplished together the last semester, it is really quite astonishing. From all the care shown by teachers and administrators for students in the everyday life of the faculty, to major developments in research, with more project applications than we have had for a long time, revisions of study programs, and work on reforming our processes for the teaching and exam plans. TF is also well underway in its work on hybridization of teaching within its teaching projects, and we have implemented at least nine action items following from our ARK-process, which were discussed and selected by both academic and administrative staff. We are continuing to develop our new platforms for exchange of information, enhancing participation for all in decision-making processes in our stabsm?ten. And the emeriti council, ERTF, is flourishing.
Welcoming New Colleagues and Projects
And on top of all this, from August 1 we will have the pleasure of welcoming our new colleague, Associate Professor Ragnhild B?, who will hold a joint position between TF and KHM – a new and exciting development. Ragnhild will also bring to us and KHM her new NFR project, entitled Dressing the Saints: Gendering and Othering in Netherlandish Art at the Dawn of a Globalised World, a project which will also bring with it a PhD fellow and a postdoc.
Renewing our graduation ceremony
Finally, I also want to commend all of those who were involved in renewing and expanding our graduation ceremony, which we celebrated last week in a packed library/Learning Centre, a ceremony in which our bachelor students were also included. Thinking outside the box and innovatively overcoming formal obstacles really define administrative excellence, as demonstrated well by the result. What a joyous occasion it was, and what a celebration of academia! For those of you who couldn’t make it, the speeches by the dean and the student representative are found here.
Gratitude, Team spirit, Gaudeamus igitur
As we now move into the summer months, it is with a deep sense of gratitude I wish you all a well-deserved vacation; for all the work you have done, but also for the support you have shown one another and the faculty, even when times have been difficult. There is more work to be done, of course. But I’m convinced that we will be able to take this on together, as a team, celebrating our shared goals and respecting our differences.
But now summer has arrived, and vacation too – Gaudeamus igitur! Let us rejoice!