Publication and ordering of the book
The book is published by UGP (University of Groningen Press) and will be ready at the end of January. It will be presented during a special presentation on January 26. If you pre-order the book, admission to the presentation is free. After the presentation, the book will be available as a free downloadable PDF on the UGP website. It is also available as a paperback. It is a non-profit publication. Not a single cent will be pocketed by anyone!
Contents of the book
- Foreword
- Background
- Studentenvakbeweging (SVB)
- Gronstra and Groningen SVB
- Democratization
- Founding of the GSb
- Early years, WUB, and 1,000 guilders
- Posthumus
- International solidarity
- Second half of the 1970s
- Reflections
From the introduction to Chapter 5: Establishment of the GSb
After the demise of the SVB and the disappearance of the other student parties, the Gronstra slowly but surely fell into crisis. Only the introduction of democratization at the university level enabled it to continue to motivate students. The process of radicalization, in particular the question of how students should relate to the trade union movement, together with the increasing decline in the representation of student interests, was a major cause of this crisis.
All this prompted a number of faculty groups to take the initiative to establish a new student union: the Groninger Student Union (GSb). Advocacy once again became the focus. To express the social nature of its objectives, the GSb called itself a ‘political union’.
From the introduction to Chapter 6: Early years, WUB, and 1,000 guilders
The GSb had only just been founded when it immediately became clear that a strong student movement was urgently needed.
The Biesheuvel government, which took office on July 6, 1971, introduced a package of measures that broad sections of society did not like. Among other things, Biesheuvel and his colleagues put universities under considerable pressure. The internal democratization of universities, the influence of students and staff, was severely curtailed. External democratization, the accessibility of higher education to broad groups, also suffered.
Therefore, taking action was urgently needed.
