Reply #9: Occupations spread to Germany + A message from Audimax Vienna to students everywhere [View All]

Sorry for kicking this again!

A very rough translation:


"Dear students in Germany,

in Austria the universities are squatted. We see the need to personally inform you about what is happening at the moment, as it was not conveyed in the media that this protests are something new that has never existed before.

This protest was rooted in a totally spontaneous demonstration of solidarity, no Student representative or party organized this, purely from the awareness of the Education issue it has arisen and developed. This pure core, this motor we are feeling behind everything that happens here. Students of all disciplines have spontaneously - without any parent organization - come together to protest the studing conditions.

The extent of this action is proof that this is a central concern all European students are personally related to. We protest, not as the media presents it, but just also against the decisions of the Austrian Government, but primarily we do not agree, on a basic level, with Europe-wide trends such as the commodification of education and the loss of democracy in education institutions. These are transnational problems, which we, as students, will only be involved in if there are protests all over Europe.

Wanting self-determination of students and teachers is a key element of this movement in Austria. Therefore auditorium halls were occupied, which are now alive and hold constructive discussions, in which all students can participate at any time. It is important that there is not only protest, but that discussion spaces beyond public institutions and established platforms are created. In Austria, across regions this has already happened. The debates and protests will continue here and students in Austria are waiting for their German fellow students to disclose common problems.

November 5th is an international day of protest as a warm-up for a week of protest under the motto "Education is not for sale". The students and pupils in Austria will support this day with a big demonstration.

We encourage every single student in Germany, in Europe and beyond dissatisfied with her/his educational system.

Plenum (Assembly) of the occupied Audimax Vienna."


Source: http://unsereuni.at/?p=5531

Meanwhile a lecture hall in Heidelberg in Germany has been occupied. (german: http://www.bildungsstreik2009-hd.de)