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What’s going on in Leuven?

Brian Leiter

A philosophy professor and a female doctoral student he is supervising got into a fight in class, and the police were summoned!  There is a brief account in Dutch, which was described to me by a correspondent, and which Google translate adequately conveys.  Anyone know what's going on?  Very bizarre.

UPDATE:   Philosopher Andreas De Block, Vice-Dean of the Institute of Philosophy at Leuven, writes:


On Monday 15th of February 2016, an incident took place between a male tenure-track assistant professor and his female PhD-student, both working at the Institute of Philosophy of the KU Leuven. There have been all sorts of rumors about the causes and the nature of the incident, mainly on the internet but also in the Belgian media. However, at present it is unclear what exactly happened and why. Both parties have instituted legal action against each other – the outcome of which is currently unknown. The academic authorities (Faculty Board, vice-rectors, rector and academic ombuds) have immediately placed the incident on file, thus starting an internal investigation. The outcome of this investigation is also, at present, unknown. Both parties emphasize that they agree with the procedures that are being followed in the ongoing attempts to resolve the incident.

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9 responses to “What’s going on in Leuven?”

  1. A Dutch Speaker

    Apparently, Jan Heylen, an assistant professor of logic and analytic philosophy, got into an argument with a female doctoral student about a paper she had written. The argument turned into a physical altercation. One (admittedly sensationalist) newspaper reports that witnesses are saying that "he dragged her by the hair and pushed her against the wall" (http://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20160301_02159808). Bystanders separated them. He left. The police were called. They are now both pressing charges against one another.

    Here is the original article: http://www.veto.be/artikel/fysieke-agressie-zet-faculteit-filosofie-op-stelten

    Reply
  2. Ashika Singh

    On 15 Feb, a female teaching assistant was physically assaulted by a professor (her Phd supervisor) within the campus’ premises due to an argument regarding a paper she had written. Witnesses in the neighboring offices had to separate the fight as the victim yelled for help. The police was called but the professor had already left by the time they arrived. The dean for the Institute heard a statement from the professor acknowledging the assault, yet took absolutely no actions hoping the incident would go unnoticed. Furthermore, the following day after the assault, the accused professor, who was allowed to teach, has falsely informed the students that the TA in question has left the university.

    We, the students (initially a group of approximately only 30 people and now much more), protested this class by confronting the professor and argued that the university should take the impartial position towards the incident and to suspend the aggressor until all investigations are carried through, as this is usually the normal stance expected from an institution when facing accusations of this severity. One of the professor’s classes did get suspended (the one we occupied), however, the professor is still teaching other classes in the institute. The number of students who are standing against this injustice within the institute has multiplied since the incident.

    Signed

    KU Leuven Feminist Society

    Reply
  3. Livia Ferbinteanu

    I am a student at the department of philosophy at KU Leuven. I can say that the department is not treating the situation impartially as the victim is no longer teaching and the perpetrator is teaching a class, as I type. There is student outrage against the decision of not suspending the professor during police investigation in order to preserve impartiality. I am commenting this from a student-lead protest. We were unable to protest inside the institute because the dean demanded the chief security to lock us out. The gates are close and upon request to enter, we were told by the chief of security from the dean that we can go to the library, but would not be allowed to leave. This is outrageous.

    Reply
  4. Student

    In the Belgian media, there’s a statement by the rector that states that the prof admitted to physical contact and formal disciplinary measures have been started against him:

    This makes one wonder: is the vice dean worse informed than the average Belgian on the matter, or is he trying to protect the aggressor? The accused is known to be a close friend of his….

    http://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20160301_02158593

    http://www.standaard.be/cnt/dmf20160301_02158595

    Reply
  5. A Dutch Speaker

    This is an unfair accusation. In the second article referred to here, the Rector of the University says that disciplinary proceedings have started, *but* he adds: "That the disciplinary procedure has been started, of course, does not mean that he is guilty." The disciplinary procedures are to determine what happened and what should be done about it. That is what the vice dean means by "internal investigation."

    Reply
  6. Student

    Also, a remark about Andreas De Block's update: both parties don't agree with the procedures taken because no actual action is taking place. There's a lot of deliberation and evasive dialogue that is meant to try to keep this issue silent during which she is not teaching and he is teaching as if nothing happens. To say that both parties agree with that is a lie.

    They need to suspend this professor as it is the only fair way and there is a lot of tension at the department because these requests are not being met. Everything is not fine.

    Reply
  7. Jeff Heikkinen

    ADS, that's not the point, at least not the way I read the other comments in this thread. The question is why he would still be teaching while such an investigation is ongoing. As long as there's an ongoing investigation into an alleged incident of this severity, I (and apparently others in this thread) would expect the person under investigation to be suspended with pay. This is not a judgment on the person's guilt or innocence, just a sensible precautionary measure that promotes the safety of all concerned, including the accused. The question is why this is apparently not being followed in this case.

    At least, this is standard operating procedure in the US and Canada. Maybe that's not the case in Belgium, but I would suggest that it should be.

    Reply
  8. A Dutch Speaker

    I completely agree that Heylen should be suspended during the investigation (and the standard operating procedure changed). I also think that it is disturbing that student protesters are being marginalized. They should be heard and kept up-to-date on exactly what's happening. After all, as of now, they're the ones expected to sit in classes with, take one-on-one oral exams with, and be graded by someone who nobody seems to deny was physically violent to a student.

    Reply
  9. American Friend of UK

    Shocking. I think the professor would be automatically terminated in the United States with no investigation. There is no
    excuse for that behavior. The simple fact of the physical assault of the student would be sufficient. That he continued to
    teach his classes makes the department look really regressive. I think we assume the European academic community is more
    enlightened but perhaps this particular department of the university needs some self examination–to say the least.

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