Pro-Palestinian activists vandalised the Berchmanianum last night. Several Executive Board office windows were smashed and pink paint was thrown against the building. The Nijmegen Student Encampment does not claim responsibility for the vandalism, but defends the action.

On Thursday night, activists smashed at least 15 windows of the Berchmanianum Academy Building at Radboud University. These were office windows of members of the Executive Board of the educational institution. Pink paint was also thrown on an outer wall and some windows. In addition, curtains were destroyed.

On its website, Radboud University writes that the “repair costs are considerable“. The total amount is not yet known, according to a university spokesperson. A cleaning company is removing the paint this morning. Cleaners are also working inside the offices. The broken windows are clearly visible; not all the glass has been cleared away yet.

It is unknown who is behind the action. The Nijmegen Student Encampment Instagram account says that “they have left the encampment, but have set their sights on the crown”. When asked, however, a spokesperson for the encampment would not comment on whether they were behind last night’s action.

Damage repair

The spokesperson did confirm that it had been pro-Palestinian activists who had taken ‘direct action’ last night. ‘The action was intended to harm the university financially. We cannot have Palestinians being killed every day and the Executive Board continuing as if it is business as usual. The university is still making money through its collaborations with Israel within the Horizon EU project. The lives of the Palestinian people should outweigh financial interests.’

The spokesperson dismisses the accusation that the action is intimidating. ‘This is not intimidation; the action did not target individuals. We have been protesting for 18 months but the Executive Board refuses to take real action. First, it was waiting for the advisory committee, then it failed to cut all the ties. The aim of this action is to make retaining ties with Israeli institutions so costly that the Executive Board is forced to sever them.’

On behalf of the Executive Board, the university spokesperson said that the vandalism was ‘unacceptable’. The Executive Board members would not be working in the offices today anyway because they are at an external meeting. ‘The offices are being prepared as quickly as possible so they can be used for work again.’