After leaving high school I was not sure about my future, and requested for an early draft of the military service, one had to fulfill anyway. I started with an infantry role, got into a commando platoon, and went through a long series of tests leading to a G2 functiion at division staff level.
I was supposed to become a liaison man between the ground troops and the Thunderflash 306 fighter squadron, that flew air photo reconnaissance sorties, for which the targets I had to provide. However, at the time that was a brand-new position, so I was soon redirected to the special school, where different intelligence functions got their crash course training.
As I was a couple of months early for the course, I had to file and plot thousands of air photos from WWII, mainly taken by British spitfires over Germany. It made me fully aware of the destruction and misery that a war can bring about, and left me a bit older and wiser.
When my class started, most of my classmates were at least four years older, having already passed examinations, earning grades in a wide variety of disciplnes. Thus, through their presentations and discussions, offering me a free and exciting opening towards a wide range of knowledge realms. It helped me decide on the university study I was going to undertake..
Monday, February 13, 2012
Library
My mother was an offspring of a maritime family, while my father was the youngest of a large farmer family. An unusual combination. As such, I was born on a farm (alongside an estuary), but my father was soon forced by the Great Depression to stop farming, and apply for a job at the Ministry of Agriculture.
Now living near a town center, I often went to the library on a free afternoon, and enjoyed the silence, and the wealth of information directly available to me. I never saw one of my friends in there. May be my peculiar appetite was also nourished by the fact that we did not have that many books at home, although we read three newspapers, and some periodicals.
Starting my study at Drift 21, Utrecht, the information about the study was hardly overwhelming, covering one side of an A4, and half of the backside. The Almighty Professor gave some additional information in a short welcome speech. A regular visit to the beautiful library was encouraged, but immediately followed by tales of students, who had asked stupid questions. It became soon clear that such students were expelled with success through a special exam.
It left us with an everlasting sword of Damocles hanging over the library. This was regarded a positive outcome though, because the Almighty Professor expected only about five of us (out of some 100) would in the end get a job. In reality, quite a shortage would extend for more than a decade.
On hearing that my beloved library visit had become an extremely dangerous affair, I wondered whether I should pursue my decision for this study. But then, a couple of days later a Senior Lecturer took away all reservations. He gave a clear presentation on the ins and outs of the study, and also an outlook, that one could end the study as a planner. My trust was restored, although it appeared later on, that the Almighty Professor, and the Senior Lecturer had painfully different views on the contents of the study. That happened to be in the harness of a strict hierarchical system. Nevertheless, I thought I could circumvent all dangerous barriers, but it was not to be.
Now living near a town center, I often went to the library on a free afternoon, and enjoyed the silence, and the wealth of information directly available to me. I never saw one of my friends in there. May be my peculiar appetite was also nourished by the fact that we did not have that many books at home, although we read three newspapers, and some periodicals.
Starting my study at Drift 21, Utrecht, the information about the study was hardly overwhelming, covering one side of an A4, and half of the backside. The Almighty Professor gave some additional information in a short welcome speech. A regular visit to the beautiful library was encouraged, but immediately followed by tales of students, who had asked stupid questions. It became soon clear that such students were expelled with success through a special exam.
It left us with an everlasting sword of Damocles hanging over the library. This was regarded a positive outcome though, because the Almighty Professor expected only about five of us (out of some 100) would in the end get a job. In reality, quite a shortage would extend for more than a decade.
On hearing that my beloved library visit had become an extremely dangerous affair, I wondered whether I should pursue my decision for this study. But then, a couple of days later a Senior Lecturer took away all reservations. He gave a clear presentation on the ins and outs of the study, and also an outlook, that one could end the study as a planner. My trust was restored, although it appeared later on, that the Almighty Professor, and the Senior Lecturer had painfully different views on the contents of the study. That happened to be in the harness of a strict hierarchical system. Nevertheless, I thought I could circumvent all dangerous barriers, but it was not to be.
Study
A couple of students from various faculties of most universities founded a Student Union. They shared the same negative experiences in their study and sought improvement. I became President of the Utrecht Division. Although we could not change the law, we achieved a major improvement in student grants. It went as follows. My older brother had finished his professional exam, earning him a grade in civil engineering. Yet, he was enlisted for his military service time with air artillery. He wanted to join the Engineer Corps, making his service time more useful, and asked me to write a draft letter for a request to the Minister of Defense. The request resulted in a positive decision.
So, my proposal was to have every Utrecht student send a request to the Minister of Education, asking for better pay. We also coined a sum, twice the amount we thought we could get. Then, we made up a general letter of request, and stenciled thousands of copies. We punched a hole in the corner, so we could tie them in bundles, and pin them to the Institute publication boards of Utrecht University.
Within a couple of days, we were summoned to the Ministry in the Hague. A delegation of ours took the train, to be directed at the Ministry immediately to the Secretary-General himself. He proved to be very angry, and said that thousands of requests had reached the Minister. On toilet paper, that is!
So, our students had not written their own letters, we asked, not used our example? What a shame, what a shame. In this crucial hour of decision, we needed all hypocracy available. After apologizing for the very very bad manners of our students, the man calmed down.
Well, he said, if you can stop this avalanche, the Minister is prepared to meet your request. We were perplexed at this sudden generous offer, far exceeding our expectations, and we promised to do whatever we could, to relieve the Minister of these letters.
Never during later student uprisings, such a financial success was achieved again. Yet, the law was changed, and it would prove to be much to my benefit.
Regarding the stranding of my early study phase, I could long afterwards trace another cause for its collapse. A high school report I found, did show a very high mark for history. As we had to turn it in at the start of the study, I did remember a peculiar warning by the Almighty Professor. He had experienced that a student had used his study, to take a reroute to history, which apparently was very bad. As I had no plans in that direction, I now realized that quite other conclusions could have been drawn from my report.
So, my proposal was to have every Utrecht student send a request to the Minister of Education, asking for better pay. We also coined a sum, twice the amount we thought we could get. Then, we made up a general letter of request, and stenciled thousands of copies. We punched a hole in the corner, so we could tie them in bundles, and pin them to the Institute publication boards of Utrecht University.
Within a couple of days, we were summoned to the Ministry in the Hague. A delegation of ours took the train, to be directed at the Ministry immediately to the Secretary-General himself. He proved to be very angry, and said that thousands of requests had reached the Minister. On toilet paper, that is!
So, our students had not written their own letters, we asked, not used our example? What a shame, what a shame. In this crucial hour of decision, we needed all hypocracy available. After apologizing for the very very bad manners of our students, the man calmed down.
Well, he said, if you can stop this avalanche, the Minister is prepared to meet your request. We were perplexed at this sudden generous offer, far exceeding our expectations, and we promised to do whatever we could, to relieve the Minister of these letters.
Never during later student uprisings, such a financial success was achieved again. Yet, the law was changed, and it would prove to be much to my benefit.
Regarding the stranding of my early study phase, I could long afterwards trace another cause for its collapse. A high school report I found, did show a very high mark for history. As we had to turn it in at the start of the study, I did remember a peculiar warning by the Almighty Professor. He had experienced that a student had used his study, to take a reroute to history, which apparently was very bad. As I had no plans in that direction, I now realized that quite other conclusions could have been drawn from my report.
Working for a Living while Studying
Although my father did lend me some money, I took the basic position of taking care of myself, and earn myself a living during my study. First of all, through a variety of jobs in factories, which made me aware of our economics in practice. Then, I applied for a job as General-Secretary of the Utrecht Youth Council, which introduced me to the intricate workings of a large town. That is, at policy level. An insight that was profitable, but the job was gradually too much a burden to my study progress, although I managed to complete a full construction course during those years. Luckily, I was offered a job as a high school teacher, which proved to be a more convenient job for switching back to my original study.
So, after I was expelled from the study by the Almighty Professor, I had been advised to do a construction course. It happened to be of great interest to me, as now I acquired full technical knowledge. It also brought about two refreshing insights - again high marks for my exams, and the conviction, that it was not me who was wrong, but the Almighty Professor. So I went again succesfully through a couple of pre-exams, until the Almighty Professor wanted me to go down the expelling route of a main exam. However, the other professors now refused to cooperate, so he was forced to hand me my bachelors, apparently against his will.
Having earned my bachelors opened the road to become a planner, and join the Institute of the eminent Lecturer, now Professor, with an independent Institute.
So, after I was expelled from the study by the Almighty Professor, I had been advised to do a construction course. It happened to be of great interest to me, as now I acquired full technical knowledge. It also brought about two refreshing insights - again high marks for my exams, and the conviction, that it was not me who was wrong, but the Almighty Professor. So I went again succesfully through a couple of pre-exams, until the Almighty Professor wanted me to go down the expelling route of a main exam. However, the other professors now refused to cooperate, so he was forced to hand me my bachelors, apparently against his will.
Having earned my bachelors opened the road to become a planner, and join the Institute of the eminent Lecturer, now Professor, with an independent Institute.
University Employee
As a post-bachelor student, I soon became an assistant in the Planning Institute. After my final cum laude exam, including economics and metrics, I had a choice of positions inside and outside the university. However, for me the choice was evident- the eminent Professor of the Planning Institute, who had determined my study years before, provided the logical work environment.
Doing so, I overlooked the peculiar situation his Institute was in. He and his Institute had been more or less expelled by the Almighty Professor of the 'Geofaculty' (naming the faculty for short, for reasons of clarity). That way, he and his Institute became part of another faculty, which I will call for short 'Sociofaculty'. As the Institute was still functioning as an independent unit, the main stream of post-bachelor students would still come from the 'Geofaculty', but also from the 'Sociofaculty' to a lesser extent.
Doing so, I overlooked the peculiar situation his Institute was in. He and his Institute had been more or less expelled by the Almighty Professor of the 'Geofaculty' (naming the faculty for short, for reasons of clarity). That way, he and his Institute became part of another faculty, which I will call for short 'Sociofaculty'. As the Institute was still functioning as an independent unit, the main stream of post-bachelor students would still come from the 'Geofaculty', but also from the 'Sociofaculty' to a lesser extent.
Locating a Hospital
An article in a professional periodical did stress that all new hospitals in the country were located in a wrong place. However, with one unique exception in the Utrecht area. A miracle.
How did this miracle come about? Actually, very down to earth. The Hospital Board sought the advice of the Planning Institute, and do an investigation on the relocation of the old renowned hospital. The city location it was in, offered no room to expand. When I was asked to do the research, my main issue was - where do the patients and their visitors come from. I was enabled to lead a group of medical students, that visited the patients, and filled-in my questionnaire. The important role of the hospital presented itself clearly. It turned out, that about one third of the patients (and their visitors) originated from the city of Utrecht, about one third from the surroundings of Utrecht, and about one third from over the Netherlands.
As a result I wanted to secure, that the hospital could be easily approached by public transport, as well as by individual means. All modes had turned out to be essential. A proper location in the, then expanding, fringe of the town of Utrecht was proposed. It fulfilled all criteria. The proposal was adopted carefully, and the hospital grew in name and fame until this very day.
At a later stage, I wanted to do some research with my students (as part of their curriculum) on the planned relocation of the University Hospital. That was refused, so the students had to fill in their questionnaire outside the gate. One main result coming out of the investigation was the lack of rail transport at the new location.
I proposed a rail connection from the Utrecht main station. At the same time proposing it as a transfer and check-in point to Amsterdam-Schiphol Airport. The latter, because of its location, not only at the eastern fringe of Utrecht, but also of the Randstad as a whole. Recently, a newspaper reported such a rail line to be implemented, although the wider Randstad scope is apparently lacking. One cannot have them all.
How did this miracle come about? Actually, very down to earth. The Hospital Board sought the advice of the Planning Institute, and do an investigation on the relocation of the old renowned hospital. The city location it was in, offered no room to expand. When I was asked to do the research, my main issue was - where do the patients and their visitors come from. I was enabled to lead a group of medical students, that visited the patients, and filled-in my questionnaire. The important role of the hospital presented itself clearly. It turned out, that about one third of the patients (and their visitors) originated from the city of Utrecht, about one third from the surroundings of Utrecht, and about one third from over the Netherlands.
As a result I wanted to secure, that the hospital could be easily approached by public transport, as well as by individual means. All modes had turned out to be essential. A proper location in the, then expanding, fringe of the town of Utrecht was proposed. It fulfilled all criteria. The proposal was adopted carefully, and the hospital grew in name and fame until this very day.
At a later stage, I wanted to do some research with my students (as part of their curriculum) on the planned relocation of the University Hospital. That was refused, so the students had to fill in their questionnaire outside the gate. One main result coming out of the investigation was the lack of rail transport at the new location.
I proposed a rail connection from the Utrecht main station. At the same time proposing it as a transfer and check-in point to Amsterdam-Schiphol Airport. The latter, because of its location, not only at the eastern fringe of Utrecht, but also of the Randstad as a whole. Recently, a newspaper reported such a rail line to be implemented, although the wider Randstad scope is apparently lacking. One cannot have them all.
Democracy
As a representative of our Planning Institute I was assigned, not only a member of the national Planning Section of the Aacademic Council, but also a member of the General Council of the 'Geofaculty', a democratic body that came with the new law. The Almighty Professor had lost a lot of power, so strong voices were raised to return the Planning Institute to the 'Geofaculty'. This seemed to be a convenient option, as there was no problem in available posts. The hard-working 'Geofaculty' was growing and growing against all odds, while I expected the 'Sociofaculty' soon to have to give up posts. All conditions were met to make an easy transfer profitable for everyone, which I did advocate. Then quite unexpectedly, two or three of my colleagues proved to be very opposed to the suggested transfer. I was accused of seeking promotion through the Institute transfer, and had to be fired.
However, under the new law and subsequent ruling, the University Board had to establish a temporary 'Court', that would rule over a democracy-born conflict. It took some years of struggling, in which I was expelled from the Institute. Yet, I could do my research, and write my PhD thesis. It regarded monitoring issues of computer usage by a Provincial Department in close coordination with the Department. The aim was to control their policies in an advanced manner. As far as I was concerned, no employment time was wasted. These type of information systems became later of general use, after the advent of internet. Nowadays, the world is familiar with search facilities, such as Google, and accustomed to Wikipedia libraries. After completion of my thesis, I was transferred alone to the 'Geofaculty' on condition, that I was not allowed to do research on cities. At that transfer moment I was exhausted and asked for a short break, which was not granted. My backpain ruined my arrival, as I could hardly speak, and it was to become the forerunner of two hernias later on.
At the opposite side, the 'Sociofaculty' had appointed, as a reward, one of the opposing colleagues to a professorate. A rash decision, they told me, they soon became to regret. When the smoke had cleared, they realized I had been right on the worsening of the budgettary situation. They had to fire people of their own. The end result was, that the Planning Institute was discarded, and only three of my former colleagues were also transferred to the 'Geofaculty'.
However, under the new law and subsequent ruling, the University Board had to establish a temporary 'Court', that would rule over a democracy-born conflict. It took some years of struggling, in which I was expelled from the Institute. Yet, I could do my research, and write my PhD thesis. It regarded monitoring issues of computer usage by a Provincial Department in close coordination with the Department. The aim was to control their policies in an advanced manner. As far as I was concerned, no employment time was wasted. These type of information systems became later of general use, after the advent of internet. Nowadays, the world is familiar with search facilities, such as Google, and accustomed to Wikipedia libraries. After completion of my thesis, I was transferred alone to the 'Geofaculty' on condition, that I was not allowed to do research on cities. At that transfer moment I was exhausted and asked for a short break, which was not granted. My backpain ruined my arrival, as I could hardly speak, and it was to become the forerunner of two hernias later on.
At the opposite side, the 'Sociofaculty' had appointed, as a reward, one of the opposing colleagues to a professorate. A rash decision, they told me, they soon became to regret. When the smoke had cleared, they realized I had been right on the worsening of the budgettary situation. They had to fire people of their own. The end result was, that the Planning Institute was discarded, and only three of my former colleagues were also transferred to the 'Geofaculty'.
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