Prof. Peter Benz Officially Inaugurated as President

Photos: Bauhaus-Universität Weimar/ Thomas Müller

Prof. Peter Benz’s complete inauguration speech can be found here.

The event began with a speech by Prof. Jutta Emes, who was Interim President of the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar from 2022 to 2023. She expressed her thanks for the positive and constructive cooperation during this time and welcomed the new Presidium, which has been in office since June 2023. She also emphasised the internationalisation of the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar and encouraged a closer relationship between the University and the European Commission. High-ranking officials from international universities belonging to the BAUHAUS4EU University Alliance were also in attendance as the ceremony coincided with their networking event.

Greeting from Minister of Science

Thuringia’s Minister für Wissenschaft und Digitale Gesellschaft Wolfgang Tiefensee then gave a welcoming speech. He emphasised the importance of communication and being able to understand one another and expressed his support for finding new forms of dialogue and exchange. Prof. Peter Benz expressed his thanks and symbolically accepted his certificate of appointment from Minister Tiefensee. Prof. Benz has officially been in office since 1 March 2023.

Radu Paul Simon, StuKo (Student Government) representative, also welcomed the President and called for, among other things, more space for dialogue, more transparency, participation and a fundamental independence from the University. Following this, Prof. Peter Benz addressed the full auditorium with his inaugural speech »Being Free« and, based on his experiences in Hong Kong, spoke about his plans for the future.

»Being Free«

In 2019, millions took to the streets to demonstrate for more participation and government accountability in Hong Kong. Prof. Benz experienced what it meant not to be free with his colleague, Justin Wong Chiu-Tat, at the Academy of Visual Arts at Hong Kong Baptist University. Justin had published an essay in Switzerland based on his collection of visual evidence of the protest movement. One of the images included in the essay featured the phrase »Liberate Hongkong – Revolution of our Times«. Publicly display and dissemination of this slogan is punishable by law according to the understanding of the Hong Kong government.

A few printed copies of the essay found their way to the University and the University filed a complaint, allegedly to prevent damage. »I was in a seminar with Justin when he learned about the report. After a brief moment of silence, he said simply, ›I think I need to leave now, and walked out of the room‹, made his way to the airport and left Hong Kong forever to avoid possible arrest. Today, he is free, but his life as he knew it until that moment was over«, said Prof. Benz.

This story makes it clear that the legally guaranteed freedom of teaching, research and opinion are worthless if they are forced to exist in a state of precariousness, insecurity and fear. As long as people do not dare to speak or think what they consider right and important, there is no real »being free«.

The President’s credo is: »This is something we have to fight for, even beyond the university and into society at large, because, as the Hong Kong example illustrates, there is no such thing as a separate, protected space for universities alongside society. We, as university leaders, are responsible for creating and maintaining a sense of ›being free‹. Only by doing so can we fully rely – in terms of desired and expected excellence in teaching and research – on creativity, innovation, energy and the commitment of the individual colleagues, staff members and students at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar.«

The New Presidium’s Kick-Off Programme

He went on to present the visions for the University and plans for the new Presidium together with Vice President Ulrike Kuch. Based on various participation formats – a Kick-Off Programme has been created in order to establish initial priorities for their work together.

»We have started by identifying five major areas: Education, research, community, organisation and infrastructure. For each of these areas, we have defined three to six objectives, which we anticipate will accompany us throughout our entire period in office. We have also included three to four milestones in each instance that we wish to achieve in by the end of 2023. At the same time, we have done our best to ensure that the comprehensive values of sustainability, diversity and digitalisation feature consistently across all areas of our programme.«

At the same time, the Presidium calls upon the entire University to join them in coming up with solutions. A special e-mail address where individuals can submit suggestions and comments has been set up for this purpose: wir[at]uni-weimar.de 

Get Together and Enjoy the Beautiful Late Summer Weather

Following the ceremony, which was accompanied by clarinet and piano group »D’Takito JamDuo«, guests gathered for a reception held in the foyer of the University Library. This gave guests the opportunity to speak with Prof. Peter Benz and other University members. Guests and University members continued to socialise into the evening in the University Library courtyard, which had been decorated with yellow flowers by alumna Franziska Kowitz. The discussions, inspired by the speeches, revolved around the future of the University and new opportunities for collaboration.