It has been a long time since Students and Staff for Safety TU Delft has published an update concerning the ongoing situation of social unsafety at TU Delft. We have been busy with our regular jobs, but have also been active to improve social safety within our own faculties and departments. Next to this, we have also still been busy on the university level.

It was announced that from January 2025 on, our rector magnificus, Tim van der Hagen, would have a biweekly Walk-in Social Safety Hour. One of us met with Tim to discuss a severe personal situation and ask for assistance to resolve this. Although the conversation was a pleasant one, nothing changed in the end. We are unsure whether this Walk-in Social Safety Hour has had any positive outcomes.

We were also approached to be interviewed regarding the new code of conduct. As it was impossible to meet in a safe setting, several of us attended one of the sessions used to collect input for the new code of conduct. We are still awaiting the draft version that would be shared university-wide.

Still, reports keep coming in of TU Delft employees being bullied into sick leave and having no choice but to leave TU Delft. Contrary to a statement by Tim van der Hagen in his interview with Delta on September 24th 2024, in which he indicates that settlement agreements known to him are for perpetrators of social unsafety, we are aware of cases of victims of social unsafety who signed this settlement agreement.

In fact, although the confidentiality obligation in such agreements has been under scrutiny and has been the subject of a discussion whether it should be included, we have learned that new settlement agreements still contain this confidentiality obligation, as per 'standard practice'.

To change our situation toward an actual safe environment, we have contacted an external organisation to help us. Last April, two representatives from TU Delft had a productive conversation with HRH Laurentien van Oranje at the offices of the number 5 foundation. We hope that with the help of this foundation, we can make a difference in the socially unsafe situation at TU Delft that has existed for far too long. Hopefully, the completely new Executive Board and the new chair of the Supervisory Board will also bring the needed positive change.