In summary, the article Letter brought an injustice at BK City to attention, which had been communicated to us by an reader. The injustice concerned a professor using racist and sexist comments and the exploitation of students for their own financial gain. This letter was published anonymously. As a platform for staff and students at BK City we ambition to channel thoughts and conversations into written or visual pieces to either continue the discussion or spark another. Some challenges lie in the principles and protocols of journalism: fair hearing, grounded statements and transparency. Even though our intentions to convey a certain message in this Letter remain unchanged, we were too inaccurate in our approach and communication. In the Letter article a few steps were provided to guide you the way whenever you find yourself in a situation that feels unjust. However these steps lacked context and content. Every situation requires a different approach. Thus we would like to use this rectification article as an opportunity to further explain opportunities at BK City to undertake action if you have a BK City related complaint.

We hope the overview gives you a clear introduction to organizations and people within the faculty who can support you in complaint cases. Even though our role is not to provide any professional advice - other departments within the faculty are better suitable – we are always here to listen to your story! Remember, our voice is yours.

Following up on this article, we have been noticing a call for more articles on pressing issues in regard to (mental) health and stress. As much as BK City is a second home to many - a place of confidence, warmth and trust – this social base also feeds in to struggles with peer pressure, competitivity and self-doubt. Our faculty is a point of high tension, both in social and communicative dynamic as in individual thought process and work load. It is human to be swept away by this, to enter this overpowering whirlpool of enthusiasm and ambition. Simultaneously, there is a chance of losing sight of our own conditions and needs along the way. We are all sensitive beings who shy away from vulnerable conversation, to prevent from being judged as weak. However, we are not robots – taking off our harnesses every once in a while and talking frank in the end benefits our mind and our physical health. Thus, we intend to address these issues more in future publications.

Academic Counsellor & Confidential Adviser

There is a distinction between an academic counsellor (academiccounsellors-bk@tudelft.nl) and a confidential advisor (vertrouwenspersoon-bk@tudelft.nl). The academic counsellor is a faculty function, the confidential advisor is a role. If you are dealing with unwanted behavior or unequal treatment within your study, you can contact the academic counsellors. For instance, situations regarding (sexual) intimidation, bullying, discrimination, stalking and violence. The academic counsellors at BK City hold open consultation sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12.30 to 13.30 in BG+ Oost 50/70/90. When you want to file an official complaint (see paragraph Complaint Coordinator) about undesirable behavior such as bullying or sexual harassment, you can request advice and help from the confidential advisor. The confidential advisor does not act on the information he or she receives: information is never passed on to anyone else without permission. As a BK student, you are also able to confide in counsellors at other faculties.

TU Delft Regulations

Situations involving inappropriate behaviour, such as intimidation (sexual or otherwise), bullying, aggression or conflicts (personal or work-related) are covered by the TU Delft Regulations for complaints about undesirable behaviour, which you can check online on the TU Delft website: Codes of Conduct and Regulations.

Complaint Coordinator

Filing a complaint via a formal trajectory can be done through the BK City Complaint Coordinator, by sending an email: klachtencoordinator-BK@tudelft.nl. However, entering this formal process must be considered as the final step. Any complaint should first be submitted to, and dealt with by, the lowest relevant operational level. For example, a complaint about timetabling should first be raised with the timetabling department. If the complainant does not agree with the reaction or the solution that is offered, he or she may take the complaint to the complaint coordinator.

Stylos & FSC

Student organizations Stylos (Bouwkunde Student Union) and FSC (Faculty Student Council) both take education-related complaints into account. Stylos has an online form (www.stylos.nl/nl/onderwijs/input) to message the board about an (urgent) issue or a proposal to improve BK education. The board then makes sure this message reaches the right person within the faculty.

All students in the Netherlands have a say in the education system. At BK City this is carried out by the FSC, which is run by nine Bouwkunde students. The FSC has the position to influence faculty policies. In the case of proposed changes, the FSC has an advisory role. The FSC keeps track of important issues at BK City, both short term, such as complaints about a certain course, or long term in order to maintain a certain quality level in education. You can send a message via FSR-BK@tudelft.nl or pay a visit on the second floor of the orange staircase in the Oostserre (01.Oost.810).