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The GEW union chapter at the University of Kassel opposes the University of Kassel Senate’s planned weakening of the civil clause, which has been in effect since 2013, and supports the protest organized by the “Zivilklausel bleibt” initiative on July 1, 2026, in the Senate Hall (at 8:30 a.m., Mönchebergstraße 3, 2nd floor).
At the Senate meeting on July 1, 2026, the civil clause is to be replaced by a kind of “peace clause” or “values clause.” This decision would enable military actors such as the Bundeswehr or the arms industry to use university research for their own purposes and to influence it in their favor.
With this stance, the GEW works council at the University of Kassel aligns itself with the decisions of the GEW national executive, which, in its 2025 resolution “Against the Militarization of Universities and Research,” called for a commitment to the civil clause. Above all, the GEW works council condemns the lack of transparency and the absence of public discussion regarding the watering down or abolition of the civil clause at the University of Kassel. The lack of student involvement and co-determination contradicts the principles of democratic participation.
For this reason, we call on faculty and students at the University of Kassel to advocate for the preservation of the civil clause and “to critically examine the possibilities of military use of research results and, within the framework of their responsibility for the consequences of their research, to advocate for exclusively civilian use” (GEW Federal Executive Committee 2025, Resolution 1.16).
We call on all GEW members, researchers, and students to protest against the weakening of the civil clause on July 1, 2026 (at 8:30 a.m. at Mönchebergstrasse 3, 2nd floor) and to sign the petition of the “Zivilklausel bleibt” initiative (available at Café Desasta at HoPla and Café Krise at the University of the Arts).

Resolution of the Senate of the University of Kassel dated December 4, 2013:
“Research and development, teaching, and academic studies at the University of Kassel are committed exclusively to peaceful goals and are intended to serve civilian purposes; research—in particular the development and optimization of technical systems—as well as academic studies and teaching are geared toward civilian use.”

Resolution of the Senate of the University of Kassel dated July 11, 2012, regarding the “Revision of the Guidelines for Professors”:
“It is part of science’s responsibility to address the potential applications and consequences of its findings, to draw attention to risks, and to counteract them. This therefore calls for transparency and discourse across different academic disciplines. It is part of the university’s social mission to to promote peace and international understanding. Therefore, research, teaching, and studies at the University of Kassel should serve exclusively civilian and peaceful purposes. Discussions about the goals and risks of scientific activities must be conducted openly. The same applies to sustainability as a principle that is significant in terms of environmental protection, climate change, or social justice in its interpretation and implementation —as a scientific topic as well as for the university’s own policies and actions. Equally worthy of mention here are the interests of life and health—which deserve to be promoted and valued— social cohesion, and the prevention of discrimination.”

We call on all GEW members, scholars, and students to protest against the weakening of the civil clause on July 1, 2026 (at 8:30 a.m. at Mönchebergstrasse 3, 2nd floor) and to sign the petition of the “Zivilklausel bleibt” initiative (available at Café Desasta at HoPla and Café Krise at the Academy of Fine Arts; online at https://www.openpetition.de/petition/online/petition-gegen-forschung-zu-kriegszwecken-fuer-den-erhalt-der-zivilklausel-an-der-universitaet-kassel

Wednesday, 03.06.2026, 17:00-18:30h
Online event: "I thought it was just part of it."
Presentation of the GEW handout on dealing with abuse of power in higher education and research

Dear colleagues,

Abuse of power is a serious problem that is increasingly attracting institutional and public attention in its many forms. Universities and research institutions, with their strong hierarchies and multiple dependencies, are particularly susceptible to the abuse of positions of power. High levels of dependency, temporary and precarious employment relationships and non-transparent structures encourage the exploitation of power imbalances and at the same time make it more difficult to defend oneself against abuse or unfair treatment. Our declared aim is to support colleagues in recognizing and naming abuses of power and counteracting them both in individual cases and structurally.

A first and important step is the publication of the GEW handout "Recognizing, naming and counteracting abuse of power in higher education and research". It is aimed at anyone who is affected by abuse of power, has observed it or would like to find out more about the topic.
We therefore cordially invite you to the public presentation of this GEW handout on dealing with abuse of power in higher education and research on Wednesday, June 3, 2026 from 17:00 to 18:30! The event will take place online.

We look forward to numerous registrations via this link: https://www.gew.de/veranstaltungen/detailseite/ich-dachte-das-gehoert-einfach-dazu

The handout is available online.