With the German Rectors’ Conference & German Academic Exchange Service:
Commitment to liberal democracy & rule of law [31.01.24]
University of Hohenheim supports statements by the German Rectors’ Conference and the German Academic Exchange Service
The University of Hohenheim in Stuttgart supports the public position of the German Rectors’ Conference (HRK) "For liberal democracy and the rule of law" as well as the public statement of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) "For diversity and tolerance," with which the DAAD decidedly condemns right-wing extremist activities. The organizations made their position public last week on 23 January 2024 and 25 January 2024, respectively.
“We as a university are focused on finding solutions and are part of a large international network, and we therefore regard diversity and cooperation as a great asset and the basis of our daily work," said the President of the University of Hohenheim, Prof. Dr. Stephan Dabbert.
"Our experience has taught us time and time again that only when many different people cooperate and contribute their diverse creativity can we find solutions to the many challenges facing humanity as a whole," stated the President.
HRK emphasizes the importance of the German Basic Law, science, and tolerance
Last week, the Executive Board of the German Rectors' Conference (HRK) emphasized in a public statement "against the backdrop of increasingly blatant anti-democratic efforts and the associated contempt for humanity": "Liberal democracy and the rule of law are the immovable pillars of our country and its institutions. They are also an essential prerequisite for the existence of a competitive and internationally compatible German higher education system." (Statement in full: https://www.hrk.de/press/press-releases/press-release/meldung/science-needs-liberal-democracy-and-the-rule-of-law-5037/)
In its statement, the HRK placed particular emphasis on the academic freedom enshrined in the German Basic Law and the legal protection against discrimination: “The increasing tendency in the public and political sphere to change the content and tone of social discourse in order to normalise hostility to science, restrictions on academic freedom, racism, intolerance, and ideas and enemy stereotypes based on exclusion, to break down social cohesion and to undermine trust in liberal democracy is highly alarming. We, as the HRK Executive Board, are clearly opposed to this. Every single member of our universities is called upon to stand up for the fundamental values of our constitution.”
DAAD condemns right-wing extremist activities
One of the HRK's first supporters was the German Academic Exchange Service, which issued a public statement entitled "For diversity and tolerance - DAAD condemns right-wing extremist activities". In the statement, the DAAD strongly condemns the current right-wing extremist activities, which have become the subject of widespread television and press coverage. (Text of the statement: https://www.daad.de/en/the-daad/communication-publications/press/press_releases/2024/daad-verurteilt-rechtsextremistische-umtriebe/)
“The current right-wing extremist activities are undermining the principles the Federal Republic of Germany has upheld over the past 75 years: respect for human dignity, a free and democratic foundational order, plurality, variety, and diversity. The widespread demonstrations across the country in recent days demonstrate that our citizens are unwilling to tolerate anti-democratic endeavours or racist visions for the future,” said DAAD President Joybrato Mukherjee.
Text: Klebs
