University of Kassel delays civil clause reform to November as student protests mount

Kassel's planned reform

Of the 14 higher education institutions in Hesse, four currently have a voluntary so-called civil clause anchored in their statutes: the University of Kassel, Goethe University Frankfurt, TU Darmstadt, and Geisenheim University. The University of Kassel has had such a clause since 2013. Its basic regulations state, by self-commitment, that "research and development, teaching and studies at the University of Kassel (...) are committed exclusively to peaceful goals." The Senate of the north Hessian university is now considering a change to its basic regulations. A first reading has already adopted a new version. It takes into account that "it is becoming increasingly difficult to separate civilian and potential military use of research results, for example in view of technical developments and hybrid wars," according to the university.

The push for debate

The initiative to change the clause came from within the Senate, a university spokesperson explained. The previous preamble was created in a different historical and political context. Hesse's Minister of Science, Timon Gremmels (SPD), has been calling for a debate on the voluntary commitment to renounce military research for some time. A decision on the new version was recently postponed by the Senate to early November. Until then, a procedure is to be drawn up that "can support scientists in evaluating research projects if necessary." Discussion events on the topic are also planned in the coming months.

Protests against the change

Plans to soften the clause are facing criticism. The "Zivilklausel bleibt" (Civil Clause Remains) initiative is fighting vehemently for the clause to be preserved in its current form. Its members fear that the proposed change would create financial dependencies on arms companies and massively increase the influence of politics and business on academic freedom. The Education and Science Workers' Union (GEW) Hesse is also campaigning for the Kassel civil clause to be retained in its current form.

Especially in times of growing rearmament and increasing security policy influence on science and research, this self-commitment is more important than ever.

The other three universities stand firm

Goethe University Frankfurt explained that it is sticking to its civil clause. A university spokesperson stated that the goal is anchored in the preamble to the university's basic regulations: "Teaching, research and studies at Goethe University serve civilian and peaceful purposes."

Even though the context has changed in view of the threat to Europe from Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine and the loss of the USA as a reliable partner, we see no need for action, because the freedom of research enshrined in the Basic Law guarantees scientists a broad freedom of choice regarding the subjects of their research, which even the basic order of a university cannot restrict.

The university said the formulation leaves open how the goal of a peaceful world is to be achieved. TU Darmstadt also has no efforts to abolish its civil clause. A spokesperson stated it has been part of the basic regulations since 2012 and emerged from an extensive, intensive university-wide public discourse. The clause serves researchers "as an ethical guideline for their actions and underlines our claim to critically and responsibly reflect on the effects of our research," she explained. It does not fundamentally exclude military research. The university assembly reaffirmed its retention and implementation procedures in summer 2024 after reviewing lived practice with the clause. At Geisenheim University, a change to the clause is also "not an issue."