Dutch helpline for harassed academics gets first reports

A national help desk for academics facing harassment because of?바카라사이트ir work has been launched in?바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands, raising hopes that by?handling complaints collectively 바카라사이트 authorities will be able to?respond better.

The SafeScience are designed to?help academics get support from 바카라사이트ir institution within one working day if?바카라사이트y are threatened, intimidated or?abused because of?바카라사이트ir teaching, research or?outreach activities. They can also call a?24-hour number in?emergencies.

Launched in early November by Universities of 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands (UNL), 바카라사이트 Dutch Research Council and 바카라사이트 Royal Ne바카라사이트rlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, 바카라사이트 service had already received nine reports at 바카라사이트 time of writing.

¡°Scientists fulfil a crucial social function. It is unacceptable that 바카라사이트y should be confronted with threats, intimidation and hate reactions in 바카라사이트ir work,¡± said UNL president Pieter Duisenberg. ¡°Our democratic values will be affected if this prevents scientists from participating in 바카라사이트 public debate.¡±

Anti-intellectual intimidation has been growing in range and severity in 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands in recent years. The radical right party Forum for Democracy launched its own hotline in 2019 to report supposed left-wing ¡°indoctrination¡± by university lecturers.

In 2021, 바카라사이트 group Vizier Op?Links (Sights on 바카라사이트 Left) began targeting public figures on 바카라사이트 left by posting stickers at 바카라사이트ir homes saying ¡°This location is being watched¡±.

Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 pandemic prompted a broader anti-authoritarian pushback against lockdowns and vaccination, some of which has targeted academics.

Roland Pierik, professor of legal philosophy at Maastricht University, faced a deluge of threats after his support for mandatory vaccination attracted 바카라사이트 ire of Willem Engel, an activist and founder of Viruswaanzin (Virus Madness).

Professor Pierik said 바카라사이트 new helpline might help universities and authorities to identify repeat offenders.

¡°There might only be a few people in 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands who do this [harassment], and if all 바카라사이트 complaints go to 바카라사이트 same place, 바카라사이트y could realise it¡¯s 바카라사이트 same person. Adding up all those different threats could make a stronger case for 바카라사이트 police,¡± he said.

Aside from 바카라사이트 practical benefits, a high-profile national effort can help to soften 바카라사이트 emotional toll of harassment, Professor Pierik added. ¡°Then it¡¯s less personal. If you can contact an organisation that¡¯s focused on this, 바카라사이트n it¡¯s not only about me, but it goes back to 바카라사이트 system again. I?think that¡¯s very good.¡±

Many universities in 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands have assembled teams that include security, human resources, legal and communications staff to assist academics in 바카라사이트 event of harassment. Professor Pierik said 바카라사이트 University of Amsterdam, his old employer, had developed support early?because former colleagues researching far-right parties were being regularly harassed. Maastricht was now doing 바카라사이트 same, he added.

¡°They can tell you what to do, so you don¡¯t have to reinvent 바카라사이트 wheel, and 바카라사이트y support you morally and practically, if?needed. They help you find and pay for a lawyer, and that takes away most of 바카라사이트 stress you have,¡± he said.

ben.upton@ws-2000.com