Some want to withdraw, others have moved into a new lecture hall. Students have occupied the Audimax at the Vienna University of Technology since Monday morning. The reason: the university was closed for almost a month from mid-December due to austerity measures.
It had already been announced in November that the university would be closed for about a month from mid-December to mid-January. “In this acute crisis situation, we cannot just go back to business as usual,” TU rector Sabine Seidler warned at the time. With a temporary closure from mid-December to mid-January, one could save energy, but above all costs, and thus contribute to solving the problem.
University in financial distress
High inflation, rising energy prices and impending pay increases for employees had thrown the university into serious trouble. According to a broadcast, the squatters see this closure “as a sign of lack of responsibility on the part of the federal government and the rectorate”. “Students are deprived of the opportunity to prepare for exams, complete theses or use laboratories, workshops and libraries for this purpose,” is criticized.
However, there is also criticism of the fact that “socially relevant topics such as queer feminism, the climate crisis and ethics” are not or hardly represented in the curricula. However, the occupiers do not want to restrict the study activities: they do not want to block exams, they would continue, it says.
Occupation also at the University of Graz
It also started on Monday with an occupation at the University of Graz and the Technical University (TU) Vienna. In Graz they want to show “solidarity” with other activists in Austria and internationally. Here too, mandatory courses on climate protection are required for all students.
“The campaign is limited in time and gives an important signal to the rectorate to implement our demands,” says Alina Koller, spokeswoman for “Erde brennt Graz”. “If talks and negotiations fail, the university must prepare for a year 2023 full of protests and actions.”
Occupiers withdraw – and demonstrate
Elsewhere, however, they want to end the occupation of a lecture hall on Monday. The climate activists of the group “Erde brennt” want to end the occupation of lecture hall C1 at the University of Vienna in the evening. Then it was announced that there would be a demonstration to “remind politicians of their duty”. The rectorate was recently accused of offering only “false solutions”. Last week, according to a broadcast, the heating was also turned off and the air conditioning turned on.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
