Resistance to refugee accommodation at the FU Berlin

Resistance to refugee accommodation at the FU Berlin

There are currently 63 plans in Berlin-Dahlem on Thielallee to build a container village for 260 refugees on a fallow uniholder. This encounters resistance, especially from the Free University (FU), which actually intends to build a building for teaching and research there. FU Chancellor Andrea Güttner defended herself against the accommodation of refugees on the site and emphasized that this was not possible.

The President of the FU, Günter Ziegler, expressed his lack of understanding that the Senate plans were promoted without inclusion of the university management. The city of Berlin, Albrecht Broemme's refugee coordinator, defended the decision and emphasized that while the site remains unused, it was a way to accommodate refugees there. He also confirmed that the container accommodation would not arise immediately, but in the near future after possible concerns in the field of nature conservation were clarified.

The Senate decided to build 16 other container villages at the end of March in order to counteract the acute lack of apartments for refugees. These villages are to be built on various fallow land, parking spaces and previously undeveloped land. Despite the efforts of the Senate, there is resistance to the planned accommodations in some districts, including Steglitz-Zehlendorf.

On the net, the procedure of the FU is discussed, which is normally perceived as cosmopolitan and tolerant. Critics accuse the university of not providing any accommodation for refugees, even though they are committed to integration and diversity. This has led to discussions in which the credibility of the institution is questioned.