Campaign of Resistance Against Budget Reductions at Universities in Berlin - Proactive Response in Berlin: Combating Reductions in University Funding
In the heart of Germany, Berlin's universities are bracing for financial cuts that could significantly impact the quality and accessibility of higher education. These cuts, to be decided on the 14th of July, have sparked a wave of protests among students, teachers, and employees, culminating in a coordinated Action Week against these cuts.
The Action Week, which runs throughout the week and includes various informational and protest events, aims to empower students and university workers to fight against austerity measures while defending democratic rights and promoting peace and social justice. The week's activities include a "Lunch break against cuts" at ASH Berlin on the 3rd of July, where students and staff learn about the impact of the cuts and prepare for further action.
A significant rally is scheduled for the 14th of July, at 9.00 am, in front of the Senate Department for Science. This rally, called by an alliance of unspecified groups, is part of a series of events known as BerlinAction weekCutStudentsUnited Services Trade Union. It is intended to mobilize broader opposition against financial cuts and political repression at the universities.
The ongoing negotiations between university leaders and Science Senator Ina Czyborra (SPD) have been a source of contention, with the renegotiations on university contracts extending until the 14th of July. The business community in Berlin and Brandenburg has voiced concerns, warning that cuts to universities could potentially harm the city's location, as universities are crucial for talent acquisition, technology transfer, and further education.
The participants of the protests will exchange information, network, and mobilize each other. Julia Dück, the trade union secretary responsible for universities, has stated that the cuts mean overcrowded seminar rooms, fewer study places, overworked staff, and dilapidated buildings. If the Senate doesn't budge, universities may be forced to sue, according to Dück, who referred to the 14th of July as the day of decision.
The Action Week also addresses broader issues like censorship at universities and the repression of student political engagement. The initial refusal of Humboldt University to provide rooms for anti-war and anti-censorship events was met with public pressure and activism by groups like the IYSSE, ultimately leading to a reversal of the decision.
The participants of the Action Week are not only fighting to prevent cuts to university funding but also to defend freedom of expression and political debate on campuses, opposing attempts by university administrations to ban events addressing militarization, war, and political repression. They also aim to oppose the militarization of universities and government policies promoting war readiness, including increased defense budgets and conscription.
In addition, the Action Week promotes socialist and anti-war perspectives among students, as championed by groups like the IYSSE, which won seats in the Humboldt University Student Parliament advocating against genocide and war escalation. The objective is to strengthen the representation of anti-war, anti-cuts platforms in student government.
Overall, the Action Week aims to sustain a broader movement that connects opposition to university cuts with resistance to militarization and repression in society at large. The participants hope to raise awareness, build solidarity, and pressure university administrations and government bodies to halt or reverse budget cuts and to respect the right to political activism on campuses.
- During BerlinAction weekCutStudentsUnited Services Trade Union on the 14th of July, participants will rally in front of the Senate Department for Science, demanding a reconsideration of the community policy regarding financial cuts to education and self-development, which includes vocational training, and aiming to protect democratic rights and promote peace and social justice.
- As a part of the Action Week, discussions on broader issues like censorship at universities and the repression of student political engagement will take place, with participants advocating for the defense of freedom of expression and political debate on campuses, opposing attempts to ban events addressing militarization, war, and political repression, and promoting socialist and anti-war perspectives among students.
