Diversity Office Leiden University

𝗔 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗮𝘁… 🔍

Last week we hosted our annual event, this year themed “Belonging first: In conversation about an accessible university”

Through various panels and interactive conversations with the audience, we spoke together on how we can make our academic environment open and inclusive for all, especially for people with a disability.

Thank you to all of our speakers for sharing their views, experiences and tips! We look back on an insightful afternoon where we learned from each other and collectively imagined the next steps toward an accessible university.

📸 Iris Molenaar

𝗔𝗹𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗧𝘂𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆? Get yourself acquainted with the program and speakers! The afternoon will alternate between informative talks and interactive discussions, as well as inviting the audience to share knowledge, experiences and practical tips.

Also joining are 𝗝𝘂𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗻, Senior Policy Adviser Diversity & Inclusion and 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗲𝘁𝗷𝗲 𝗢𝘁𝘁𝗼𝘄, President of Leiden University’s Executive Board.

The 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗴𝗲 of the event will be Dutch and English. Subtitles will appear on a large screen during the plenary session, and the live stream for online participants will also be subtitled in English.

🔗 For a more 𝗱𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 including time stamps, further information on the participants and the live stream link, head to the our bio!

𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝘀, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗗&𝗜 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴!🔔

On January 21 we will hold an interactive, plenary programme themed “𝗕𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁: 𝗜𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆.” We would like to create an open space where students, staff and alumni can share their experience, research and work in creating inclusion, especially for people with a disability.

➡️ Swipe through the post for more details!

𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲 21 January
𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 14:30-17:00
𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 Event & Convention Center Leiden

More information on the speakers and program coming soon. Keep an eye out!

🔗 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝗯𝗶𝗼 to sign up. Following the afternoon online is also possible.

𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝘀, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗗&𝗜 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴! 🔔

On January 21 we will hold an interactive, plenary programme themed “𝗕𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁: 𝗜𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆.” We would like to create an open space where students, staff and alumni can share their experience, research and work in creating inclusion, especially for people with a disability.

➡️ Swipe through the post for more details!

𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲 21 January
𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 14:30-17:00
𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 Event & Convention Centre Leiden

More information on the speakers and program coming soon.

🔗 𝗦𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝘂𝗽 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸 in our bio. Following the afternoon online will also be possible.

𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀 & 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝗟𝗲𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻 💡

In honour of International Day of Persons with a Disability we spoke to ASP board members about their thoughts on an accessible university, and what that may look like.

🎙️ Find out more about their platform and the community they offer on . You can also find their podcast ‘ASPodcast’ on Spotify.

𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗗&𝗜 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁
Interested in this topic? January 21st we will be hosting our annual event, this edition being themed “𝘽𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩: 𝙄𝙣 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙘𝙘𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙮”

In this interactive afternoon we’ll listen to several speakers talk about the importance of making our university space open and meaningful for everyone. And we’ll have the opportunity to talk to each other about how we can practise inclusivity going forward.

🔗 Head to the link in our bio to check out the event’s details. More information on Instagram coming soon!

𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗔𝗹𝗲𝗿𝘁!🚨

Coming Wednesday - 𝟮𝟳 𝗡𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 - Leiden University College will host a panel discussion with PhD candidate Rocío Moltoni from the National University of Rosario (UNR), Argentina.

Swipe through the invite for more details about her important research on 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿-𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘃𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 👉🏼

This event will be held in Spanish, with English translation present.

𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗢𝘂𝘁 𝗗𝗮𝘆 🏳️‍🌈

To mark this important moment in the q***r community, various organisations are hosting events and gatherings today. Don’t miss out! We’ve gathered a selection for you below:

💭 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗟𝗲𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 - 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀* & 𝗡𝗲𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽 | 𝟭𝟴:𝟬𝟬

🫂 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝟬𝟳𝟬 - 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 & 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 | 𝟭𝟵:𝟬𝟬 𝘄𝗮𝗹𝗸-𝗶𝗻

🎭 𝗗𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝗶𝗱𝘀𝗲 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘄𝗯𝘂𝗿𝗴 - 𝗗𝘂𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 ‘𝗗𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝗹 𝗲𝗻 𝗱𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗷𝘀𝘃𝗼𝗴𝗲𝗹’ | 𝟮𝟬:𝟭𝟱

🔊 𝗖𝗹𝘂𝗯 𝗣𝗜𝗣 - 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗢𝘂𝘁 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗸 & 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗗𝗝 𝗛𝗼𝗮𝘅 𝗟𝗲𝗕𝗲𝗮𝘂 | 𝟮𝟬:𝟬𝟬 𝗼𝗻𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀

👯‍♀️ 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝘂𝗯 - 𝗣𝗮𝗻𝗲𝗹 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗸 ‘𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝘃𝗲𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗱’ & 𝗩𝗼𝗴𝘂𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽 | 𝟭𝟳:𝟬𝟬 & 𝟭𝟴:𝟯𝟬 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘆

📝 𝗟𝗔𝗔𝗞 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 - 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗢𝘂𝘁 | 𝟭𝟴:𝟯𝟬

🎙️𝗧𝗿𝘂𝗲𝗨 𝗗𝗲𝗹𝗳𝘁 - 𝗧𝗼𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗘𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 | 𝟭𝟱:𝟬𝟬

🎬 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗗𝗲 𝗩𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁 - 𝗧𝗨𝗦𝗦𝗘𝗡𝗜𝗡 𝗳𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗱𝘂𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 | 𝟭𝟵:𝟯𝟬

Of course, celebrating q***r community is not limited to one day. If you’re looking for a reoccurring space in which to feel safe and share stories, be sure to keep an eye out for The Q***r Book Club in The Hague for example. Their next session is October 21!

Which of these events will you visit tonight?

𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗗𝗮𝘆 🧠

Brought into existence by the World Health Organisation, this day raises awareness around the importance of mental health and mobilises support towards those that struggle with it.

𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐥-𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐑𝐨𝐚𝐝𝐦𝐚𝐩
This year WHO’s international theme is: mental health in relation to work. Since studying and student life can be challenging, the University offers resources. But we understand that finding these - and finding the right fit - is not easy when you’re already feeling unwell.

To make things simpler, the Well-being Office has created a Roadmap which outlines all the possibilities. Among these is Caring Universities, who give free programmes to strengthen your mental health together.

🔗 Head to the link in our bio if you want to take a look.

𝐎𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬
Aside from the Roadmap, there is a range of other initiatives in and around Leiden University. Think of who you can chat to anonymously if you need a listening ear or Meditation Group Leiden that can help you unwind after a long day.

Find all of their folders and more in the Plexus Living Room.

𝗜𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲! 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗳𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘁?
📖 If students are to develop their talents, they will need a learning environment where they feel at home and can share their experiences and opinions. The teaching toolkit helps teaching staff develop and deliver inclusive education. It is based on existing sources and is a living document that will continue to be updated.

📖 Each section covers a specific topic and includes questions, tips and sources, arranged in order of lecture design and delivery.

𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘁?
🔗 Check it out under EDI resources on the University website or simply head to the link in our bio.

Leiden Canal Pride 2024 is a fact 🏳️‍⚧️

Thank you everyone who showed up to celebrate this year’s Pride together on Saturday! And our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who helped organise the event. It was a joyful and empowering day full of hand-made signs, outfits, love and most of all: community.

Our boot - and more importantly all the people on it - displayed our theme “Make LU a Space to be Trans*” in fitting colours. A valuable message: since Pride finds its origin in standing up for q***r rights, we continue to do so for everyone in our community, including transgender* and non-binary* people.

🌈 See you next year!

How do we look at the past and future at the same time?‌

The 1st of July every year marks the anniversary of the abolition of slavery in Suriname and the Netherlands Antilles. Referred to as “Keti Koti” – meaning “Broken Chains” – the day is an occasion to reflect back on people’s experiences under colonialism and recognize the continued influence of the past in society today.

Last year’s Keti Koti began the Commemoration Year for the History of Slavery, culminating today, July 1, 2024. For Leiden University, this year involved reflecting on its colonial history and responsibility. Events and discussions, including a Keti Koti table, an exhibition on anti-colonial author Anton de Kom, and a research project on the university’s colonial history, enabled critical discussions about our past and future.‌

What further steps can we take as an academic community to process the past? How do we create and give space to painful but honest conversations? We asked Leiden University students and staff to share their perspectives. The exhibition, “A Contemporary Past – Looking Back and Forward,” features 11 portraits and aims to connect everyday experiences with history, inviting reflection on our multifaced relationships with colonialism.

Demi Derks [pictured first], a history student and also a guide during the Anton de Kom exhibition, says in the context of discussions on colonial pasts that, “many people haven’t learned to engage in this conversation with each other. It’s important to learn how to engage with different perspectives on the world.”‌

Mara Constantinescu [pictured fourth], regional coordinator for Latin America at Leiden University, notes that as a university, it is important to recognize that “systems of knowledge production and reproduction are fundamental in creating more just societies where everyone can flourish.”‌

What are your critical reflections on the university’s history of slavery and its impacts on contemporary society? Visit the exhibition at the Academy Building to hear more from your fellow students and staff members, or even share your own perspectives on the topic by writing to [email protected]

📸:

📢 The Leiden Canal Pride Parade is back on 7 September 2024!

🌈 As part of this celebration of the LGBTQIAP+ community, the university’s theme for this year is: Leiden University, space to be trans*!

Although the term trans* is mainly associated with trans*gender and gender non-conforming identities, trans* can also be understood more broadly. The term also encompasses the trans*cultural and trans*formative experiences of finding new communities and growing as a q***r person in college.

This theme aims to show support for the trans and non-binary community while also recognizing that everyone at the university has their own trans*formative/aggressive/ative experiences.

Once again, the LGBT+ Network will be organizing a boat as part of the parade. Are you a student or staff member at Leiden University? If so, you can be one of the 60 people joining the celebrations!

Apply for your spot on the boat by 19th June 2024 through the link in bio!

For questions, reach out to the through [email protected] or a DM!