On July 4-6, 2019 faculty member
Marion Detjen participated in the conference „Wer ist Flüchtling? Flucht und Asyl in Deutschland seit 1945“ ["Who Is Refugee? Refuge and Asylum in Germany since 1945"] organized by the Jena Center for 20th Century History.
The conference aimed to historically analyze perception and categorization practices which emerged in dealing with refugees in Germany since 1945 and to contextualize these in an interdisciplinary exchange.
In the frame of the conference, Detjen participated in the concluding panel on „Deutschland nach der 'Flüchtlingskrise'“ ["Germany after the 'Refugee Crisis'"].
More information on the conference>>
Meta: Subject(s): Bard College Berlin | Institutes(s): Bard College Berlin |
On June 18-19, 2019 Bard College Berlin representatives participated in the conference "The Other 1 Percent - Refugees at Institutions for Higher Education Worldwide," organized by the German Federal Foreign Office (FFO), the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Berlin, in celebration of World Refugee Day on June 20. The conference was opened by Heiko Mass, the German Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees.
The conference aimed to strengthen collaboration between higher education stakeholders in countries where displaced individuals live to ensure that generations of young people do not lose their opportunity to lead productive, engaged and independent lives today and in future. In panel discussions, workshops and world-cafés, participants explored opportunities to expand access to higher education for displaced individuals, identified good practices, partnership opportunities and possible actions in the areas of financing and partnerships, inclusion and access, research and data, connected learning, internationalization and transition to employment.
Bard College Berlin was represented at the conference by Associate Dean
Kerry Bystrom, who gave a presentation in a workshop on “Research and data” moderated by economist and peace researcher Tilman Brück; by Civic Engagement Manager
Xenia Muth, who introduced BCB’s
Program for International Education and Social Change in a poster exhibition on the inclusion of qualified refugees in German universities; and by student Ehab Badwi (BA 2022, Syria), who participated in a student panel discussion on “Refugee student experiences at higher education institutions worldwide” and in the workshop "Student-led Initiatives."
Read more about the conference>>
Meta: Subject(s): Bard College Berlin |
Professor of Migration Studies
Agata Lisiak and student Mohamad Othman (BA '21, Syria) will participate in the conference “We, the City. Plurality and Resistance in Berlin and Istanbul,” held on May 23-25 at various locations in Berlin. The conference brings together scholars, activists, and artists from Berlin and Istanbul to explore various forms of knowledge-production, including workshops, panels, and installations.
On the first day of the conference Mohamad Othman will guide a tour titled “Why We're Here” which offers a unique comparative take on conflict and uprising in Syria and Berlin. Mohamad will engage with recent Syrian history by drawing parallels to selected events from Berlin’s past. The two-hour tour will start at U-Mohrenstrasse in Mitte.
The speakers in the panel “Re-Writing the City Through Engaged Walking” co-organized by Agata Lisiak will explore various political efforts centered on the idea of walking, which aim to re-write hegemonic narratives of cities. The speakers (academics and activists from Istanbul and Berlin) will also closely consider walking as an ethnographic and activist method of engagement with the urban and discuss with the audience how we can make cities more inclusive through walking and how we can make walking more inclusive.
More about the conference>>
Meta: Subject(s): Bard College Berlin | Institutes(s): Bard College Berlin |
The monthly journal EuropeNow published a special feature on Bard College Berlin and the role that diversity and migration play within the community and curriculum.
The Campus Spotlight was coordinated by Professor of Migration Studies
Agata Lisiak. It brings together faculty reflections on the migration-related courses offered at BCB and on the many local, international, and cross-campus opportunities through which students can effect positive social change; as well as selected student responses to the question "What is Europe now?".
Read all the contributions here>>
Meta: Subject(s): Bard College Berlin | Institutes(s): Bard College Berlin |
Latest updates:
December 5, 2018: Sara Mardini Released on BailBerlin – Sara Mardini, a first-year student at Bard College Berlin, humanitarian worker and Syrian refugee, was released from Korydallos prison in Athens earlier today. Bail was set at EUR 5,000. Mardini’s request for release from pre-trial detention was granted yesterday, after 106 days in prison. Sara and Sean Binder, a German citizen who was also released, worked as sea rescue volunteers on Lesbos. They were arrested on August 21, 2018 on accusations of human smuggling, membership in a criminal organization, spying, and money laundering. Sara and Sean still face charges and a possible prison sentence.
Kondylia Gougou,
Amnesty International’s Greece Researcher commented: “Whilst we welcome the news that these dedicated humanitarians will be back with their families after more than 100 days behind bars, the fact that they still face absurd charges and potentially long prison sentences is an outrage … People who selfless[ly] act in these ways should be lauded, not imprisoned. These baseless charges should be dropped.”
“We are very happy and look forward to welcoming Sara back home in the next few days,” said Florian Becker, Managing Director of Bard College Berlin. “However, our student’s release came only after the presentation of copious evidence which, in our view, disproves the allegations against her in their entirety. Much damage has already been done. We will continue to press for the charges to be dropped.”
Sara and her sister Yusra Mardini, who participated as one of 10 athletes on the “Refugee Olympic Team” in Rio in 2016, became internationally known because they saved the lives of the other 18 forced migrants in their life raft by swimming their water-logged boat to the Greek coast during their own flight across the Mediterranean in 2015.
Sara Mardini became a student at Bard College Berlin in August 2017 when she was awarded a full scholarship under the Program for International Education and Social Change (PIESC), aimed at students from regions of crisis or conflict. Currently there are 32 PIESC students enrolled at Bard College Berlin from Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Greece, Eritrea and Brazil.
Sara Mardini Released on Bail (press release)>>Sara Mardini gegen Kaution freigelassen (Pressemitteilung)>>Amnesty International: Smuggling charges against humanitarian workers who saved refugees in Greece must be dropped>>Human Rights Watch: Saving Lives at Sea Should Not Earn Time in Jail>>Sara Mardini's case in the international press and in statements from other organizations>>November 27, 2018: Sara Mardini receives finalist prize of the 2018 MIT Media Lab Disobedience AwardBCB student Sara Mardini, imprisoned in Greece since August 2018 for refugee aid work, and her sister & Olympic swimmer Yusra Mardini have recently been selected among the finalists of the 2018 MIT Media Lab Disobedience Award.
The Disobedience Award was created in 2017 and recognizes individuals and groups "who engage in ethical, nonviolent acts of disobedience in service of society."
The award committee praised Sara and Yusra's gesture to rescue their fellow refugees when their boat capsized during their journey to Europe in 2015 as well as their subsequent efforts in helping other refugees. The value of the finalist prize is $10,000.
Read more about the award>>November 5, 2018: Human Rights Watch issues statement about Sara Mardini and fellow volunteersIn a recent coverage of BCB student Sara Mardini and her fellow volunteers' arrest in Greece for refugee aid work, Human Rights Watch considers the accusations brought against them "entirely unfounded."
Greece: Rescuers at Sea Face Baseless Accusations>>October 20, Berlin: Demo in solidarity with BCB student Sara Mardini and her fellow volunteers currently detained in GreeceBard College Berlin in cooperation with Nadja López, the initiative
#FreeHumanitarians, Seebrücke - Schafft sichere Häfen! and Seebrücke Berlin held on October 20, 2018 a demonstration in solidarity with Sara Mardini and her fellow volunteers Nassos Karakitsos and Seán Binder, currently held in detention in Greece for their refugee rescue work.
The crowd marched from Alexanderplatz to Brandenburger Tor, where participants held up signs against the criminalization of rescue workers and demanded Sara, Nassos, and Seán's release from prison. Stage performances were offered by musicians Gülina, Monolink, among others, as well as Theater X / JugendtheaterBüro Berlin.
Videos from the demonstration>>More information (PDF)>>Link to the Facebook event>>August 29, 2018: Syrian Refugee Student from Bard College Berlin Arrested in Greece for Rescuing Refugees from Aegean WatersBerlin - Sara Mardini, a 23-year-old Syrian refugee student and scholarship recipient of Bard College Berlin, was arrested in Greece last Tuesday, August 21, 2018. She was on her way back from Lesbos to Germany to resume her studies after a period of several months’ service as a volunteer
rescuing refugees in Greek waters. Sara and Sean Binder, a German citizen and fellow volunteer, who was also arrested, are in detention and have been accused of human trafficking, membership in a criminal organization, spying, and money laundering.
Sara and her sister Yusra Mardini, who participated as one of 10 athletes on the “Refugee Olympic Team” in Rio in 2016, became internationally known because they saved the lives of the other 18 forced migrants in their life raft by swimming their water-logged boat to the Greek coast during their own flight across the Mediterranean in 2015.
“We are in close contact with Sara’s legal counsel and these charges seem more about halting the operations of the NGO in question than about any actions of Sara or her fellow volunteer,” said Dr. Florian Becker, Managing Director of Bard College Berlin. “A long period of imprisonment in Greece awaiting a potential trial would be devastating for Sara and her life plans. We will leave no stone unturned to get Sara released from prison, so that she can spend this time in Berlin and continue her studies, which she has earned with so much difficulty.”
After their arrival in Germany, Sara and Yusra continued to be engaged as volunteers, demonstrating great personal commitment to the interests of refugees. Sara was invited as a speaker by Harvard University and Dartmouth College; her sister spoke before the UN General Assembly and with personalities like Pope Francis and Barack Obama.
Sara Mardini became a student at Bard College Berlin in August 2017 when she was awarded a full scholarship under the Program for International Education and Social Change (PIE-SC). The PIE-SC scholarship program is aimed at promising students from regions of crisis or conflict. Currently there are 30 PIE-SC students enrolled in the two B.A. degrees at Bard College Berlin – 27 Syrians, one Iraqi, one Afghan and one Greek student.
Link to press release>>
Meta: Subject(s): Bard College Berlin | Institutes(s): Bard College Berlin |
