My university, the University of Antwerp, is giving an honorary degree to Francesca Albanese, together with two other Belgian universities.
I'm feeling very ambivalent about it.
On the one hand it's obviously a positive gesture, an acknowledgement of the work she's done for justice in Palestine.
But my university has not cut ties with Israeli institutions. They have not made a statement on the ongoing genocide and its impact on education for Palestinians. Hell, they haven't even dared to use the word 'genocide' at all. Even though we – critical students and staff – have urged them to do all of these things for years at this point.
My worry is that this honorary degree is a very convenient get-out-of-jail-free card against criticism, because look at the statement they made! It's a way to polish their image without actually making meaningful changes to their own operations.
It's not a matter of whether Albanese deserves an honorary degree. The question is whether my university deserves to hand it out.
🇵🇸 ✊
#FrancescaAlbanese #Palestine #Gaza #genocide #FreePalestine #Albanese #students #education #university #Antwerp #Antwerpen #Belgium