University against right-winged Extremism
In response to racist, queer-hostile and right-wing propaganda incidents at the University of Potsdam, the University Senate founded the working group against right-wing extremism in 2023. Democracy must be defended, sustained and requires commitment – including that of the University of Potsdam, its staff and students.
The aim of the working group is to help create attractive conditions for study, research, teaching and campus life at the University of Potsdam that ensure equal, liberal, pluralistic and solidary coexistence. This is done in accordance with the university's anti-discrimination guidelines for creating an appreciative and non-violent working and study environment in which the rights, freedoms and dignity of fellow human beings are respected.
With its projects, the working group supports the University of Potsdam in resolutely defending these principles against practices and attitudes of the extreme right. These include right-wing, anti-democratic, anti-pluralist, historically revisionist, anti-scientific, populist and authoritarian attitudes and actions that proclaim inequality between people and support corresponding power relations (e.g. racism, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, anti-feminism, hetero- and (cis-)sexism, ableism or classism).
In order to achieve its goals, the working group is currently operating in three areas:
- Security, monitoring and documentation: Improving the protection of the campuses of the University of Potsdam and their users
- Positioning: Development of guidelines; statements on regional developments related to the working groups's subject area; advising the Executive Board; commissioning relevant expert reports
- Communication: Offering knowledge, expertise and information for employees, UP students and civil society
Further information and explanations on the basic attitude and remit of the working group can be found in the position paper on the founding of the working group.