In the night from Friday to Saturday, a few students sprayed graffiti on the building of the rectorate at the University of Ghent (UGent) after the university hired a member of the former Reuzegom student club – which was responsible for the death of Sanda Dia in 2018 – as a PhD student.
A group of students wrote several messages on the university's Rector's Office, including "Our UGent heart breaks" and "Reuzegom not welcome," De Morgen reports.
The discontent comes after the recruitment of a former member of Reuzegom. Just a few months ago, he was sentenced to 300 hours of community service, including for the accidental killing of Sanda Dia during a student hazing in 2018.
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After the fatal student hazing, the man was suspended from KU Leuven University. He then continued his studies at UGent where he now chose to pursue a PhD.
"While I understand critical questions and concerns, I cannot understand any damage to university buildings," said rector Rik Van de Walle. "Speaking and arguing is done with words and not by damaging infrastructure."
UGent has filed a complaint against unknown persons with the police.
