Dr. Sharon Nazarian, a national board member of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and a prominent expert on global antisemitism, has called for the immediate resignation of Geraldine Rauch, President of the Technical University of Berlin. Nazarian’s demand follows a private meeting with Rauch two days ago, during which Rauch reportedly denied any issues of antisemitism on her campus despite recent intense anti-Israel protests and her own questionable online activity.
In her statement, Dr. Nazarian expressed deep concern over Rauch’s leadership, highlighting her lack of engagement with Jewish students and faculty and her online behavior, which included liking posts with antisemitic content. “She has not demonstrated a commitment to keeping all students on her campus safe, and more importantly, she does not exemplify moral leadership at a very sensitive time for most universities in democratic societies across the globe,” Nazarian stated.
Dr. Nazarian is currently in Berlin as the inaugural Gahl Hodges Burt Fellow in Policy at the American Academy, where she is studying the intersection of antisemitism and democratic degradation. Her work involves meeting with various stakeholders to understand how Germany is addressing the rise of antisemitism. The meeting with Rauch was part of these efforts.
Nazarian’s call for Rauch’s resignation stems from the latter’s apparent indifference to the antisemitic atmosphere on campus, exemplified by the recent protests where participants chanted anti-Israel slogans. Nazarian believes the University needs a leader who will take antisemitism seriously and ensure the safety and inclusion of all students.
The Technical University of Berlin has yet to respond to these serious allegations and the call for Rauch’s resignation. The situation continues to unfold, drawing attention to the broader issue of antisemitism in academic institutions and the need for proactive and morally sound leadership.