With Starbucks closing its doors this month, a space in the heart of the UT campus has become available. The group hopes to see it repurposed as a ‘Peace Centre’, partly because of Starbucks’ alleged role in the war in Gaza.
Symbolism
‘What better symbolism than to turn a bar that once sold commercial coffee for a questionable multinational into a place where we come together with colleagues and fellow students from all over the world to enjoy masala chai, yerba maté, and milk tea at cheap and affordable prices?’ argues PhD candidate Elias König, one of the initiators, on behalf of the group.
König and his peers believe such a peace centre fits UT’s historical context. ‘Enschede was once home to a vibrant peace movement. Students and some staff members organised discussion groups on nuclear weapons, the Vietnam War, and conscientious objection. At the Boerderij, they established a Peace Centre (Centrum voor Vredesvraagstukken), just as many other Dutch universities did at the time. Let’s revive this old tradition.’
Gatherings
The initiators are already putting words into action. On Wednesday the 26th of November, they will meet at the Zilverling’s Educafé for a lunch gathering with reading sessions, discussions – and cookies. If they have their way, the ‘Peace Centre’ would regularly host such events. ‘A location where we run reading groups, invite speakers, open art exhibitions, and share dinner with friends from all over the world. Some of us come from countries that have experienced war or are currently facing imperial violence.’
For now, UT has not yet assigned a new purpose to the former Starbucks space. Before the coffee chain arrived on campus, the Educafé was simply a study area, mainly used by students from the EEMCS faculty.
