Professors of discontent
International staff made up a large part of the occupations and demonstrations of the past months. Now that they’ve put down the megaphone and again taken up their books and pens, four professors reflect.
Dan Hassler-Forest
Assistant professor, Film Studies and English Literature
Born United States
Education University of Amsterdam
‘I didn’t pay much attention to the occupation until one of the occupants, a very good student of mine I never expected to be involved, asked me to give a lecture at the Bungehuis - I guess because my teaching in anticapitalism and autonomy resonated with the occupiers. Giving that lecture was pretty nerve-racking, even though we were more or less talking about the kind of stuff I have lectured on. I had never been very vocal about my frustrations with the UvA in the ten years I’ve been at this university, but once these actions opened the door, the occupation became one of the most important things in my life.
