Special Zett-eL No. I

8/3/2019 Special Zett-eL No. I

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FOCUS FORUM UNI +++ RACIST ATTACKS +++ UNIVERSITY AGAINST RACISM

Student newspaperErfurt University

Special IWinter term 11/12

Racist Attacks at the UniversityEverybody knows that but nothing changes at all

Last week, the University of Erfurt organized a Forum Uni Spe-zial about the subject of racism. Approximately a hundred stu-dents, lecturers and employees gathered in the universitys ca-feteria to take part in the discussion. The reasons for this eventwere racially motivated attacks against students of the univer-sity that happened on campus or in the city. At the Forum UniSpezial not only students but also the university directorate

made it clear that those incidents should not be tolerated. Voiceswere being raised for projects to prevent racism and to encoura-ge dealing with it. According to Gerd Mannhaupt, vice presidentfor Studium und Lehre, the call for action can only be carriedtogether, by lecturers and students as well as the universitys ad-ministration.When several verbal and physical attacks on students were re-ported in December, the student group AntiRa Campus Erfurt(group against racism on campus) was founded. The groups aimis to collect those reports and to help the persons affected. Theysupport international students, trying to advocate for them. Ifpossible, the group will establish links to other organizations,

e.g. the Student Union. They are also fighting to bring the latestproblems to public attention. Talking about racism the incidentsshould not be trivialized, AntiRa said. Furthermore, members ofthe group are planning seminars to inform and talk about sub-

jects like racism. The groups meetings have been attended bymore than 40 members of the university, among them profes-sors, students and employees.Talking about racism, another topic attracted attention at Fo-rum Uni Spezial: The Student Union tries again to achieve the

title university without racism university with courage. Er-furt would be the first German university to get this award. It islinked to an active commitment of the whole university againstracism and discrimination. Every institution shall offer an in-forming event every semester. The members that voice theirsupport for the title by signing it declare that in case of a racistcomment or incident they wont stay passive but call the police

or intervene otherwise.Two years ago the student union tried to achieve this title forthe university but floundered on those requirements. Back then,they aimed for the signature of all members of elected commit-tees by which the members would have been obliged not to lookaway and to show commitment against racism. However, severalstudent departments didnt send in their signature, on the partof the highest committee of the university, the board of trus-tees, only a few signatures were sent in. One committee evendecided against supporting the campaign. Chairwoman AndreaScholz tried to justify this by pointing out that an interventionin racist incidents could be dangerous. Student Union as well as

the universitys senate criticized this remark. It is not known yetwhether the Student Union will choose the same path this timeby contacting the representatives of the several committees andthe support of the title-awarding organization has not been con-firmed either. (ch)

Group AntiRa Campus ErfurtBest contact, if you experience racist incidents on campus

contact: [email protected]

Team Antiracism of the Student UnionOrganizes events to raise the students awareness of discri-

mination


Equal Opportunities Officer Sabine SchmolinskyResponsible authority for gender subjects


ezraAids the victims of racist attacks


Since weve been writing this article in a very short time and since

were neither students of the English language nor native speakers, we

hereby apologize for any spelling or grammar mistakes.

Important ContactsMOBITHelps to take preventive actions, if racist incidents can beanticipated


Springboard to LearningSends people with migration background to teach in schools,

so that children learn to respect diversity


Strangers become Friends

International students are paired up with host families inErfurt


V.i.S.d.P.: Alexander Kott

Special Zett-eL No. I

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