Jump to main content
Press Office and Crossmedia Communications
University News
University News Campus

Reaction to enquiries from students, prospective students and parents about recent events in Chemnitz

Ladies and gentlemen, dear students, dear prospective students,

Against the backdrop of the terrible events of the last few days, we receive enquiries from students, prospective students and parents in particular. In view of the violent death of the young man last Sunday in the city center of Chemnitz and the subsequent xenophobic and racist attacks, excesses and riots, we can very well understand the concern expressed.

These events, which we condemn in the strongest terms (please also refer to the Open Letter at mytuc.org/dgxc), are alarming and must not be trivialized to any degree. Everything possible must be done to ensure that such events do not happen again and to send out clear signals against violent crime, xenophobia and racism.

However, we would also like to point out that these events and the resulting picture are not representative of everyday life in Chemnitz. At Chemnitz University of Technology, the principles of democracy, the rule of law, openness to the world and tolerance are lived intensively. People from more than 90 nations study, conduct research and teach at our university. With around 3,000 international students, which corresponds to a share of more than 25 percent, Chemnitz University of Technology is the most international university in Saxony and one of the top universities in Germany regarding international students.

We are not aware of a single case of xenophobic or racially motivated violence against our students and employees. The Saxon State Minister for Higher Education, Research and the Arts has also pointed out in the press that foreign guests can safely move and are in good hands at Chemnitz University of Technology (https://www.tagesspiegel.de/wissen/ausschreitungen-in-chemnitz-an-der-tu-chemnitz-gut-aufgehoben/22972862.html).

Chemnitz University of Technology is committed to ensuring that students and staff from all over the world feel comfortable with us and have excellent conditions for studying, teaching and research. We are looking forward to a joint start into the winter semester 2018/2019.

 

Prof. Dr. Gerd Strohmeier

President

                                                 

Prof. Dr. Maximilian Eibl

Vice- President for Academic and International Affairs

 

(Translation: Annett Müller)

Mario Steinebach
31.08.2018

All "University News" articles