Dispute over refugee accommodation on university premises

Dispute over refugee accommodation on university premises

The property on Thielallee 63 in Berlin-Dahlem, which is currently still being used as a parking lot, is to be used by the Senate to build a container village to accommodate 260 refugees. However, this encounters resistance, especially at the Free University of Berlin, which wants to build a building for teaching and research purposes on the site. The university feels over, since the university management was not integrated into the decision of the Senate.

Free University of Berlin basically shows willingness to support refugees, but pointed out that the property in question is required for its own construction work after 2023. The university proposes to use empty buildings of the Federal Real Estate Agency nearby as an alternative accommodation option. The Senate plans a total of 16 additional container villages in various Berlin districts because the need for living space for refugees is large.

The resistance to the planned container village on the universe has led to ridicule and criticism on the net, including at the Free University of Berlin. Some users criticize the university for the fact that it speaks against the temporary accommodation of refugees, even though it otherwise presents itself as cosmopolitan. These reactions illustrate that the topic of refugee accommodation is controversial on universe areas and shows the discrepancy between ideal and concrete action.