Actual renewal!

‘Everything that promotes cultural development also works against war’
Sigmund Freud, 1932.

At its best, science is a critique of the known in order to achieve something better: for the benefit of the vast majority on this planet.

Can we make good use of the university for this purpose? The Teaching? Social spaces? International encounters? Political engagement? New friendships?

Do we gain practical experience and engage in theoretical reflection, research, experiments, and debates for this purpose? Do we devote ourselves passionately and leisurely to our fellow human beings, listen, try things out, write, take time and think, go out on the town, criticize, argue, insist, break out, protest, celebrate...?

Is the university a place where honesty and solidarity dominate?

Do members bring ideas into the world — therefore actions! — that promote justice, liberation, and development? Is the destruction of life and the environment analyzed without taboos? Are its causes and perpetrators countered with intellectual means?

It would be too simple to deny all of this.
We are all “the university.” Let’s make the best of it.

The university is also a public institution, largely state-funded, tuition-free, with elements of democratic co-determination and humanistic goals: “Education. Research. Teaching.” is written on the portal. The mission statement proclaims “democracy,” “sustainability,” “justice,” and “peace.” Many people study, work, and fight for these ideals. This opposes to the logic of profit, marketing, indifference, and selfishness. Sometimes this happens quietly, but increasingly it takes the form of open protest.

This must be strengthened. Because we cannot be satisfied! The constant stress of neoliberal competition is gruelling; the prevailing “response” to this crisis is to cut social benefits, close borders, propagate enemy stereotypes, and engage in expensive rearmament.

But that does not make for a livable future. The world is in turmoil. Universities are essential for ensuring that this renewal is humane. To do so, they must change themselves. We are the “Alliance for Enlightenment and Emancipation! (BAE!)”. As left-wing students from different parties, continents, and disciplines, we stand for:

Good financing – there is enough money!
The richest 10 percent of the population owns 76 percent of the world’s wealth. This is a politically created power imbalance, full of violence. For dignity and peace, this inequality must be eliminated. We are fighting for needs-based public funding of education and science. This is a necessary social redistribution. What is fought for in the interests of a good, civil life for all counteracts violence. Herein lies an essential human significance for scientific enlightenment and movement: in the universities, in people’s minds, on the streets!

Improve the social situation!
The Academic Senate is a place for university understanding. We are working to ensure that the problem of the precarious social situation of students and many employees is addressed. Guilt and shame do not help anyone. Solidarity is what matters. Cooperation with the student services organization to overcome the housing crisis and the “BAföG for All” campaign are important points of reference in this regard.

Education should be about personal development!
We fight against restrictions and exam pressure. Education should be about personal development and shared understanding of the world. This requires time to explore topics in depth, smaller learning groups and cooperative learning methods, suitable spaces, and the master’s degree as a barrier-free standard qualification. Joy should be the measure of success!

Civil courage instead of politics based on fear!
The far right dominates when fear prevails. Critical sciences, open educational processes, and a combative discourse on anti-social reality, ethos, and humane alternatives are fundamental to a true democracy. Whether in seminars, in everyday university life, or in committees: instead of elitist misanthropy—courage to engage in debate and committed philanthropy!

We invite everyone to participate!

What is the Academic Senate (AS)?

The AS is the highest elected body at the university. Among other things, it elects the university president, discusses all fundamental issues relating to the university’s development, and has decision-making powers (e.g., with regard to examination regulations, allocation of funds, mission statements). It can also request information and make recommendations on matters affecting the entire university, e.g., controversies surrounding academic freedom, the social responsibility of science, university funding, or construction issues. The AS meets once a month and is open to the university community. It is composed of 10 professors, 3 students, 3 research assistants, and 3 members of the technical, administrative, and library staff. The student representatives are elected annually, the others every two years.

How are AS members electet?

The election will be held digitally for the first time. However, it is still possible to vote by mail upon request. To do so, you must send an informal email from your university email address (firstname.surname@studium.uni-hamburg.de) to wahlamt.uhh@uni-hamburg.de by 2 p.m. on December 22, 2025. Everyone else can vote online from January 12 to January 30, 2026. Shortly before that, you will receive a link to the election portal and the necessary login details at your university email address from the sender voting@polyas.com.