The Leuven student association LOKO has been recognized by the nationalist student association NSV! permanently withdrawn. The umbrella organization announced this on Saturday. LOKO had already taken the recognition two weeks ago, but NSV! had appealed against that decision.
The decision to use NSV! definitively no longer recognised, was taken on Friday evening at the general meeting of the umbrella organization. NSV! loses its subsidies from LOKO and the possibility of lending materials. Previously, KU Leuven had also prohibited the association from using its premises.
This can be seen in the context of the lecture that Dries Van Langenhove gave last month at the Pedagogical Institute. The lecture was controversial: a large part of his argument went into demonstrating ethnic differences between population groups. KU Leuven subsequently filed a complaint against the Schild & Friends founder following his statements, and the interfederal equal opportunities center Unia also started an investigation.
Inclusivity
LOKO also believes that the lecture “goes against their general values”. “Our inclusivity statement stipulates that we reject any form of exclusion, transgressive behavior, hatred, violence, abuse of power, or discrimination,” the umbrella organization said in a press release on Saturday.
The agenda item about NSV! was discussed in closed circle on Friday, “so that the privacy and representation of the representatives of the student circles is maximally guaranteed”. “It was a long process, but we are especially satisfied that this matter could be concluded in a respectful and serene manner,” conclude Sofie Ooms and Stien Smaege, chairman and vice-chairman of LOKO.
