What’s the idea?

The Platform for Different Perspectives is an evening event held at CREA where students engage in dialogue with one another. ‘We organise dialogue evenings opened by inspiring speakers. For example, we’re thinking of inviting people from Deel de Duif. After the opening, students sit down at round tables for accessible, informal dialogue,’ says Willem Volker.

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Goals of the Platform

• To provide a platform and promote plurality and diversity of perspectives among students
• To demonstrate that our academic community welcomes dialogue
• To foster mutual understanding of differing viewpoints
• To build support for dialogue and open conversation

Why this Platform?

Willem Volker: ‘During my time as a student, I’ve observed how we’ve entrenched ourselves in the trenches of our own beliefs. Some voice their opinions loudly, while others — though they certainly have views — are far more reluctant to speak up.’

‘With the Platform for Different Perspectives, we want to change this. We aim to extend a hand to those students who haven’t yet spoken out and offer them a platform to do so. The Platform for Different Perspectives is not a political movement, but a movement united by at least one shared belief: how we engage in disagreement.’

Core values

We’ve drafted a few preliminary core values to guide how we enter into dialogue:

• We assume from the outset that the other person speaks in good faith and with the best intentions
• Reasonable people can disagree
• Dialogue serves to foster better understanding of other people’s views
• Dialogue helps us challenge and better substantiate our own perspectives
• Sometimes, the other person may be right

Who is it for?

The Platform for Different Perspectives is for anyone who recognises themselves in the values and goals above.
‘We’re looking for students who want to contribute ideas on what more we can do to promote plurality of voice at the university.’

‘Everything is informal and non-binding. The initiative is still in its early days — join us now and help shape the direction we take together!’

Who is Willem Volker?

Willem Volker is Student Assessor. This means he takes part in administrative meetings and represents the student voice.

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