Villa Rühl cleared

The dilapidated site, which had been transferred to the university by the state of Hesse in 2013 and on which soil remediation is currently underway, had been occupied since the Whitsun weekend. The university management no longer saw any scope for the situation to be resolved by a peaceful and voluntary withdrawal of the squatters. University President Prof. Dr. Reiner Finkeldey: "In the discussions with the squatters, it quickly became clear that they were not concerned with university issues that we could resolve in dialogue, but that ideological demands were being brought into the university from outside. Our university is being misused as a stage. We will not allow that."

In the talks, the university had discussed ways to peacefully end the illegal state of affairs. In addition, the university management had established contact with a representative of the city society, who had agreed to be a contact person for the squatters' demand for cheaper rents and cultural centers in the city. At the same time, the university repeatedly asked the squatters to end the action peacefully. Since they were not willing to do so, the university filed a criminal complaint a few days ago in coordination with the Hessian Ministry of Science and the Arts (HMWK).

Finkeldey clarified: "The university is the wrong address for demands for lower rents and for a general district center. As part of its educational mission, it provides its students with large space for cultural and social initiatives. We have no deficits in this regard; on the contrary. For example, the university is building a student house at a cost of 4.5 million euros, and construction work will start in a few weeks. Here, students will find plenty of space for their own initiatives. This project is already receiving nationwide attention and recognition." Also through its participation in documenta 14 and with many activities of its teachers, the university is committed to culture and to critical discourse within the framework set by the Basic Law and the law.

Contact:

Sebastian Mense
University of Kassel
Communications, Press and Public Relations
Tel.: +49 561 804-1961
E-mail: presse[at]uni-kassel[dot]de

www.uni-kassel.de
& nbsp;