Statement of the Student Body of the Berlin University of the Arts (AStA UdK Berlin) on the violence of the security company during the UdK Rundgang ’22
The autonomous student initiative I.D.A. is collecting your anonymous experience reports to make them visible in a social media action. The experiences will also be shown to the university administration.
Contact: ida@asta-udk-berlin.de
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In addition, for concerns related to any form of discrimination, feel free to contact our Anti-Discrimination Referat. (antidisberatung@asta-udk-berlin.de)
Dear Presidium of the UdK Berlin,
Dear UdK administration,
Dear building management,
Dear students of the UdK Berlin,
it is with great dismay that we have become aware of a series of incidents in which the security company contracted for Rundgang ’22 has used verbal (discriminatory, sexual, queerphobic and transphobic harassment), nonverbal, and physical violence against numerous students.
Our student body is international and diverse. Therefore, it has a special need for safe structures. Some of the security personnel were completely unqualified to work with our students and their discriminatory behaviour led to lasting psychological damage to the students affected. The high number of security personnel at Rundgang also caused shock, confusion, and discomfort among all students.
Furthermore, some students have told us that they will not attend or participate in the future Rundgang if this security company is hired again.
Demands regarding security:
- A written apology from the security company to the student body, especially the affected students.
- Significant reduction in the number of security personnel and a change of company.
- Implementation of a paid awareness team, consisting of experts and students consisting of at least the same number of people as the security personnel.
- Follow-up meetings with affected students with professional mediation to find ways to support those affected, including reimbursement of costs incurred, e.g. treatment of injuries and psychological counseling, if applicable.
- The inclusion of professionals (e.g. UdK's Diversity Officer) and/or students in the briefing of the security staff (as already promised in the statement of the UdK published on Thursday 28.07.) and transparent communication about the tasks and powers of the security staff. The briefing should also include training on how to deal with artworks and performances.
The AStA of the UdK is currently working on collecting reports and evidence of the incidents during this year’s Rundgang, but also past Rundgangs. In addition, we are already in talks with the UdK presidium and the administration, which are jointly responsible for this event.
Rundgang is nothing without the students. Rundgang is the pinnacle of UdK's public exhibition of artworks and interdisciplinary/interfaculty exchange. Therefore, we will ensure that Rundgang ’23 can again be a place where this exchange can flourish in a comfortable atmosphere.
Demands on Communication:
- Involve students in the planning for the UdK Rundgang well in advance and in a meaningful way (this promise has been already announced publicly by the UdK).
- No evacuation of the grounds of Hardenbergstr. 33 for university employees and students, and clear communication of the closing times (e.g. by posting in the foyer)
- The cancellation of the exclusive Preview Day at Rundgang and the return of the Sommerfest.
On behalf of the Student Body,
your AStA