Lund University aspires to be a producer of knowledge and thereby has a responsibility towards society. The university should defend the right of refugees and the right to asylum, says Amin Parsa and Niklas Selberg, doctoral students at the Faculty of Law.
Each generation of humankind is remembered by their tragedies and their response to it. The tragedy of our times, not so different from that of others before us, is the immeasurable catastrophes put on the shoulders of those fleeing from armed conflicts.
Most notably in the recent weeks, wars in Syria and other parts of the Middle East have forced millions of people to seek a safe haven elsewhere. Because of European migration law and policy, many of those refugees succumb while travelling here. Europe is not innocent in the making of the very catastrophe from which these people are escaping. A catastrophe that is made worse by the brutality of the border regime.
The Vice-Chancellor argues that the University has no particular obligations in relation to this crisis. We disagree. The University should do more than what it usually does, and clearly commit to a just and inclusive approach to people fleeing wars and occupation around the world.
The Vice-chancellor of Gothenburg University argues that “it is part of the responsibility of the university to contribute to an open and inclusive society”. The academic leaders of Malmö University has arranged meetings under the heading “How can the university get involved and support the struggle of refugees?”
Furthermore, the verdict of history was rightly harsh against the students of this university who acted against Jewish refugees during World War II.
Why should the university act? Academia sees itself as an institution that creates knowledge/science/truth while also wanting to be a point of reference in public debate. Because of this, Academia should take a stance when faced with atrocities and gross violations of human rights.
There are precedents. 1970 Harvard Law School postponed exams for students who took part in anti-war protests. Recently the Washington Post reported in relation to Black Lives Matter-movement that the dean of the law school at the University of the District of Columbia urged students to take part in protests in Baltimore, and offered to defer an exam for those who help people on the street with legal advice. The Dean was reported telling students that law school leaders want students to be part of the “energy and commitment” of the protests.
We request that Lund University gets involved in responding to the present humanitarian crisis by:
- Funding and organizing a symposium on refugees crisis, inviting civil society activists in Europe and the Middle East to present and share their experiences with academia,
- Initiating fund raising among Lund University staff and students,
- Showing loud and clear support for campaigns such as “Refugees welcome”,
- Reach out to the refugees to offer our services, e.g. language courses, scholarships, and possibilities to take courses and follow through education and research,
- Commit to a sustainable relation to and solidarity with academic institutions in the areas tormented by war and occupation.
Amin Parsa & Niklas Selberg, PhD-candidates, Faculty of Law
