Explanation/purpose
The University of Twente cultivated several issues over the past years. The issues have been addressed to the Executive Board through official channels such as the University Council, leading to little change of course so far. The initiators of UNMUTE believe that students have been put on mute by those in charge of policy making and we think that we have not been outspoken enough about the negative impact of decisions of the board that affect our student lives every day.

This petition asks the Executive Board of the University of Twente to acknowledge the issues below and their roles in catalysing those issues, and to work towards solutions in collaboration with students. 

Growth
The University of Twente has grown a lot over the past few years. As the university has not adapted to the increased number of students, the growth has had a significant impact. It is the cause for many other problems, including a lack of appropriate student housing, insufficient educational facilities and staff shortage. As these problems keep affecting the quality of education of UT students and staff, the Executive Board still strives to grow; seemingly blind to the problems their policy has created.

Study pressure
The current education system asks a lot from students. The combination of strict binding study advice regulations and the infamous Twente Educational Model make for high study pressure. Students’ mental wellbeing is not put in first place and the most entrepreneurial university is counteracting itself by demotivating any form of student activism through high study pressure and the increasing financial burden (full-time) activism creates. In addition, national policies, such as the abolition of the standard study allowance and the introduction of a loan system only add to the problem. Sadly, the UT has not sufficiently accommodated these new national policies in its own policy yet.

Transparency
The University of Twente is seen as a community, which makes it logical that the members of said community are to have their say in policy-making. Although, amongst others, the University Council, students, and staff can give input on a wide variety of topics. However, the power of such councils is severely exaggerated. In our opinion, the participation councils are not being taken seriously and transparency at our university is not up to par. Transparency and democracy are essential in a community like ours, and at this point in time, the Executive Board does not endorse these values sufficiently.