RESPONSE FROM THE RECTOR OF AMU TO AN OPEN LETTER TO THE RECTORS OF HIGHER ART EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS AND TO THE SITUATION AT FAMU
We are currently overwhelmed with images and information that severely test our sense of empathy and judiciousness and our ability to respond adequately for the general good. We are constantly under emotional pressure and feel an inherently human need to take a stand.
7 October is the day when the entire civilised world should commemorate the cause that has led Israel to wage war on Hamas and resulted in the tragedy of the Palestinian people: a war that is inflicting suffering on hundreds of thousands of people who are under fire from two sides: on one side, they serve Hamas as human shields; on the other, they are the victims of Israel’s war. We must never forget that the tragedy began with an unprovoked attack on civilians – with systematic murdering, brutal torturing, raping and subsequent capturing of civilians.
The students’ protest was extremely inappropriately timed and hardly justifiable to society, which is why the radical response it elicited on the part of the expert community and public personalities is not surprising. The hoisting of Palestinian flags in and of itself is not a display of antisemitism, but the situation in western universities shows that it can be the beginning of a process that ends with bullying Israeli students and/or people of different views, silencing and intimidating people and physical attacks. This is why the aforementioned initiative and, more importantly, its timing can be perceived as highly socially hazardous and inappropriate.
The Higher Education Act does not allow rectors to interfere with developments within faculties. Rectors can only advocate restraint, good judgment and a reasonable dialogue. However, deans have the power to moderate the events that unfold at faculties and the responsibility to do so in order to prevent the atmosphere at their faculties from deteriorating to the point where qualified teachers could leave, potentially resulting in compromised quality of education and alienating professionals in the field.
A faculty’s response should be one that appeals to respect and decency. Faculties should create a safe environment for everyone and offer a platform for opinion exchange. Escalating communication can only result in conflict, and a faculty’s good reputation will suffer the most as a result.
I would therefore invite the involved parties to exercise restraint and engage in a dialogue primarily on the faculty soil, not in the mass or social media.
