Geraldine Rauch commented on controversial posts related to the Gaza war on X with a like. This was met with a barrage of criticism. Nevertheless, the 41-year-old does not want to resign.
The President of the Technical University of Berlin, Geraldine Rauch, wants to stay in office – although a narrow majority of the university’s Academic Senate has voted in favor of her resignation. “I have received many calls and statements urging me to stay. I am not resigning,” said the 41-year-old.
Rauch is being criticized for “liking” anti-Semitic posts on the X platform. In particular, this involved a post with photos of demonstrators holding up a picture of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with a swastika painted on it. She apologized for liking the post and explained that she had liked the post because of its text and had not looked closely at the picture posted underneath. The author of the tweet states that the pictures show Turkish demonstrators calling for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
A brief picture of the mood in the Academic Senate
According to the information provided by the university’s Academic Senate, 13 members voted for and 12 against resignation. However, the vote is not binding. The Academic Senate has not submitted a motion to remove him from office, said Rauch.
“I will work on my mistakes. In the Academic Senate, I outlined measures for a common path into the future. The disciplinary proceedings I have submitted will result in a legal assessment,” Rauch said in a statement.
Last word not spoken
However, it is not certain whether the scientist will remain president of the Technical University. Next Monday, the TU Board of Trustees – the supervisory board – will hold a special meeting to discuss Rauch’s case. It is possible that this body will decide to vote her out of office. However, the issue would then go back to the Academic Senate, which would have to take a very clear position on the matter, according to chairwoman Annette Hiller. In the end, the Extended Academic Senate would have to decide on Rauch’s future.
Rauch said yesterday that she wanted to face the allegations and enable an objective investigation with the disciplinary proceedings. She also apologized again for having “liked” an anti-Semitic post on the Internet and spoke of “deep remorse.” She said she had deeply hurt many people and asked for forgiveness again. She had logged out of social platforms. Rauch also announced that she wanted to strengthen the anti-Semitism work at the university – “not through words, but through decisive action.”
Source: Stern
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