A university president is firmly seated in her chair.
Even after being caught red-handed with blatant misconduct, the president of the Technical University in Berlin refuses to step down. This adds to her list of blunders as a leader.
The power of seconds glue can't hold the position of Geraldine Rauch as the president of Technical University of Berlin any more firmly than her commitment to stay at her post despite the controversy. How oblivious must a German professor of mathematics be to be involved with antisemitic comments nearly 80 years after the Holocaust? And the university's committee members haven't exactly shone in the incident.
Rauch is facing criticism for liking antisemitic posts on platform X. This included a photo depicting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu surrounded by swastikas. After apologizing and promising to address the situation, she has refused to resign. Instead, Rauch requested a disciplinary action against herself.
If she had resigned, it would have been the right move in the face of her leadership mistakes. By liking these antisemitic posts, she effectively transformed victim into the perpetrator. While it's understandable to criticize the harsh actions of Israelis in Gaza, the fact remains that they were only defending their country following Hamas' brutal attack on Israeli civilians on October 7. While Netanyahu can be called a corrupt criminal, he's not a murderer. Attacks on Palestinian civilians are openly reported by the free press in Israel and punished by an unbiased judiciary. Interestingly, Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East.
Rauch should have clarified these facts to avoid being associated with the Palestinian activists who have been causing problems at German universities for weeks. Not just Jewish students, but all students in Germany feel safer now. The TU board labelled Rauch's actions as "blatant misconduct," which has proven damaging to the university. Surprisingly, the committee still supports the president. This is a mistake: A leader who has acted wrongly must be removed. Otherwise, the damage inflicted can't be mended.
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The controversy surrounding Geraldine Rauch's involvement in antisemitic posts has sparked heated discussions, even reaching Berlin's political sphere. Israeli diplomats have expressed their concern about the situation, highlighting the need for stronger actions against anti-Semitism in Germany.
Geraldine Rauch's refusal to step down despite the backlash over her liking of antisemitic posts has raised questions about the university's stance on such matters, especially given its proximity to Berlin, a city with a significant Jewish population and a dark history of anti-Semitism.
