Statement by the President of the University

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Prof. Elmar Lampson on the Spiegel article from April 27, 2019

Dear visitors, dear colleagues
dear students,

In the current issue of Der Spiegel from April 27, 2019, our university is mentioned in connection with sexual assaults. The title of the article is "Gefährliche Nähe. #MeToo. After allegations of sexual assault against Munich music professors, alleged victims also come forward in Düsseldorf and Hamburg."
The article suggests a reference to a recent incident, not least through the image of the Budge Palace. It quotes a student who claims to have been coerced into sexual intercourse 25 years ago by an unnamed professor at our university. The thought of an alumna of our university as a victim of sexual assault makes me sad and angry at the same time. And it is also terrible that professors from that time are now under general suspicion.

One success of the current public debate is that more and more victims feel encouraged to speak out about their experiences of sexual assault in public. There has been a positive social change in this respect. The topic is becoming less taboo and this is leading to greater awareness. Promoting this change at our university is our common concern and not least the task of the university management.

For years, we have been working with the respective Equal Opportunities Officers, the Staff Council and other Committees at the university to create structures for dealing with these issues and to establish offers of help. As early as 2006, a public university event was held on the subject of "Closeness and distance in the classroom" under the title "Panic feelings - book presentation with Freia Hoffmann". Also since 2006, the university has been represented by the Equal Opportunities Officer in the BUKOF Commission "Sexualized Discrimination and Violence", which, among other things, has set up a constantly updated online handout on the BUKOF website. In 2008, a council of confidence was formed from members of the college. It has gained great acceptance within the university and is often the first point of contact for complaints.

An anti-discrimination guideline was adopted by the University Senate in 2015 and later published in English on the website. This guideline provides a good basis for responding to possible incidents. The fact that these measures can have consequences is also shown by the fact that disciplinary proceedings were even conducted on this basis in one case.
A steering group made up of colleagues from all areas of the university is currently drawing up a diversity concept for the HfMT. The initiative for this came from the University Senate and is supported by the university management and led by the temporary Equal Opportunities Officer. In this way, the HfMT aims to continue to position itself clearly against discrimination and violence at all levels.

The university provides a close-knit network of counseling services. You can find more information on our website at
https://www.hfmt-hamburg.de/die-hfmt/gremien-und-beratungsangebote/

It is good that these topics are becoming less and less taboo today and we all agree that in an atmosphere of openness and collegial trust, sexual assault, violence, coercion and discrimination will not stand a chance at our university.
With best regards
Yours
Elmar Lampson