Excellence...
Wir sind hier, wir sind laut, weil man uns die Bildung klaut!
The students' associations of the humanities departments organised a demonstration against what they called the Ausverkauf der Geisteswissenschaften, i.e. the selling out of the humanities. The main issue seemed to be the personnel shortage, the nicest expression of this being an empty chair with a sign saying 'Leerstuhl Portugesisch'1. Some other issues were also mixed in, however: there was one sign saying 'Eine Welt mit Bush und ohne Rumänisch sieht schwarz aus', and another complaining about the upcoming tuition fees (those are new to Heidelberg).
Much of this is related to the Excellenzinitiative, which, roughly speaking, comes down to a redivision of the state support for the universities: some 'excellent' ones will be selected, which will then receive more money. Since the total amount of money available to the state does, of course, not change, this money will be taken from other universities, as far as I have understood it. Now the rectorate of Heidelberg university has decided that the best chances to be selected are in boosting the natural science departments, with the consequence that the humanities and social sciences budgets have been cut. Rather heavily, as it seems: a teacher in the French department told me the number of employees had decreased by 30% in the last three years, because of constant budget cuts.
I joined the demonstration, partly out of curiosity, partly to replace some friends of mine who would have gone, had they not gotten into sudden trouble with their landlord, and of course partly because I don't agree with the policy of the rectorate.
The demonstration itself was not very exciting, apart from being a demonstration; there were a few police officers walking along, although I must say I don't think they did so out of conviction, and there were several 'waves', which was new to me as a demonstration phenomenon: everybody squats, and then stands up in an ordered fashion, giving the traditional wave effect.
One other nice sign that was carried along:
Überfüllte Hörsäle:
Ich kam, ich sah, ich ging
(Overfilled lecture rooms: I came, I saw, I went)
1The German word leer means 'empty', whereas Lehrstuhl means 'chair' in the sense of 'professor's position'.
The students' associations of the humanities departments organised a demonstration against what they called the Ausverkauf der Geisteswissenschaften, i.e. the selling out of the humanities. The main issue seemed to be the personnel shortage, the nicest expression of this being an empty chair with a sign saying 'Leerstuhl Portugesisch'1. Some other issues were also mixed in, however: there was one sign saying 'Eine Welt mit Bush und ohne Rumänisch sieht schwarz aus', and another complaining about the upcoming tuition fees (those are new to Heidelberg).
Much of this is related to the Excellenzinitiative, which, roughly speaking, comes down to a redivision of the state support for the universities: some 'excellent' ones will be selected, which will then receive more money. Since the total amount of money available to the state does, of course, not change, this money will be taken from other universities, as far as I have understood it. Now the rectorate of Heidelberg university has decided that the best chances to be selected are in boosting the natural science departments, with the consequence that the humanities and social sciences budgets have been cut. Rather heavily, as it seems: a teacher in the French department told me the number of employees had decreased by 30% in the last three years, because of constant budget cuts.
I joined the demonstration, partly out of curiosity, partly to replace some friends of mine who would have gone, had they not gotten into sudden trouble with their landlord, and of course partly because I don't agree with the policy of the rectorate.
The demonstration itself was not very exciting, apart from being a demonstration; there were a few police officers walking along, although I must say I don't think they did so out of conviction, and there were several 'waves', which was new to me as a demonstration phenomenon: everybody squats, and then stands up in an ordered fashion, giving the traditional wave effect.
One other nice sign that was carried along:
Überfüllte Hörsäle:
Ich kam, ich sah, ich ging
(Overfilled lecture rooms: I came, I saw, I went)
1The German word leer means 'empty', whereas Lehrstuhl means 'chair' in the sense of 'professor's position'.
posted by Olivier at 4:21 PM
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