The campus mackerfrei collective was founded in 2020 when a professor who had committed sexualised assaults against female students was to return to the university. Since then, we have been campaigning to ensure that sexism and sexualised assaults on campus do not go without consequences. At the end of March 2023, the professor in question was finally removed from civil servant status – also because we made it clear that students will no longer tolerate him at the university.
The campus remains a place where abuse of power, sexism and patriarchal structures are part of everyday life. We want to fight this status quo!
campus mackerfrei has set itself the goal of naming sexualised assaults and sexism in the university context, supporting those affected and demanding consequences if wished by those affected.
If you want to actively stand up for a queerfeminist campus and a university everyday life free of patriarchal violence, come to our open meeting on 17 May! We are looking forward to meeting many new people (all genders) who bring new motivation, ideas and energy to our group!
First of all, we would like to inform you very briefly about the outcome of the appeal proceedings against a philosophy professor of the University of Erfurt for sexualized assaults against students. We will get back to you soon with more detailed words.
The Thuringian Higher Administrative Court in Weimar announced the verdict on March 21, 2023: The professor will finally be dismissed from his employment.
Together with the Feminist Forum and the FSR Philosophy, we had organized a conference under the motto “No room for perpetrators! Consistently against sexualized violence and patriarchal abuse of power on campus and everywhere!” we called for a feminist rally to accompany the trial. Radio F.R.E.I. was on site and captured original sounds – all in German language:
We did an in-depth interview with Radio F.R.E.I. after the trial day about the trial, its outcome, and dealing with sexism and assault at the university in general:
Click here for the full article from Radio F.R.E.I. with various speeches (in German) from the rally accompanying the trial.
Very important: We are incredibly grateful to the many people in solidarity who were with us on this day in front of and in the court!
This week, the Thuringian Higher Administrative Court in Weimar will hear the appeal against a philosophy professor at the University of Erfurt. The Administrative Court Meiningen had previously ruled in December 2020 that the currently suspended professor should be allowed to return to his teaching position and retain his civil servant status after sexualized assaults against students.
As students of the University of Erfurt, we welcome the fact that the Thuringian Ministry of Economy, Science and Digital Society, as the professor’s employer, has appealed against this ruling. Our position on this matter is as follows:
In its previous disciplinary ruling, the Meiningen Administrative Court deliberately disregarded the assaultive character of the acts – despite statements by the persons concerned confirming that the sexual contact was entered into involuntarily and out of a feeling of dependence towards the professor. The fact that the judgment of the Administrative Court Meiningen only speaks of “clearly inappropriate behavior” represents a trivialization of the sexual assaults that cannot be overlooked – especially because the professor in question has already been convicted for these assaults under criminal law on charges of taking advantage and attempted severe coercion. We hope that the Higher Administrative Court will come to a different assessment, taking those impacted seriously, as well as its obligation to the student body of the University of Erfurt.
Allowing the professor in question to return to teach would potentially endanger students. In contrast to the university (whose task it is to protect students), the Uni Erfurt Student Council has already positioned itself clearly and unequivocally: “The reputation and, above all, the trust in this professor by students has been permanently destroyed!” Such mistrust leads to a failure to cooperate between students and teachers in seminars, lectures, and advisory meetings. This would be to the detriment of the students.
Professors, especially cis-male professors, have a prominent position of authority and power in university teaching. These patriarchal power structures enable officials to exploit their position to the detriment of students. The retention of such an abusive and sexist man in his position would be unacceptable situation.
A verdict in favor of the professor again and his reinstatement in the university would not only affect us, but it would also have a signal effect: It would signal to those affected by sexual assaults that the violence they experience is not recognized and does not matter. It would signal to students and university staff that such assaults and the perpetrators who commit them have, and should be allowed to keep, their place at the university. It would signal to professors and cis men in positions of power that they can escape responsibility and that this behavior is condoned.
Our critique against patriarchal conditions does not end with the abusive professor or the adjudicating court. It is a fundamental problem that victims of sexual harassment and violence are still not believed, both socially and legally, and their victimhood is cast into doubt – often by resorting to victim blaming and misogynistic and anti-feminist narratives. This structural violence causes additional injuries, it retraumatizes and it incapacitates, as numerous statements by injured parties after such processes make clear. This should give the responsible court and the university food for thought. The presence of sexism and sexual violence must finally be acknowledged and thematized in both the legal and academic spheres. To this end, those affected and their perspectives must be taken seriously. The appeals process holds the opportunity to do this.
But regardless of how the Higher Administrative Court will rule: We will not rest! For us students, the university should be a space in which we can further our education and develop – and this regardless of our (assumed) gender. We do not accept it when this space is taken away from us by cis men who exercise their power, and we resolutely oppose it.
No place for perpetrators – Against sexualized violence and patriarchal power structures on campus and everywhere!
First signatories: campus mackerfrei Feministisches Forum Erfurt Fachschaftsrat Philosophie Studierendenrat der Universität Erfurt Fachschaftsrat Geschichte Hochschulgruppe Fridays for Future Erfurt Kritisches Lehramt QueErfurt Arbeitsgruppe Nachhaltigkeit Erfurt DGB-Jugend Hochschulgruppe Erfurt
