Press release: Place of reflection for students and staff

Nr. 286/2015 - 20.11.2015

Göttingen University opens “Room of Silence” on its central campus

(pug) Göttingen University has set up a “Room of Silence“ for its students and employees on central campus. The room, located in the multi-purpose building (MZG) called the Blue Tower, was inaugurated yesterday evening with around 100 guests attending the celebration. There, staff, employees and associates of the university of all confessions have the opportunity to congregate for solitary or mutual reflection. Moreover, any university staff member, employee or associate interested in and looking for a place for inner thought, meditation or prayer can use this open-purpose room irrespective of their religion.

“With this project, we aim to give our students and employees the opportunity and the place to find peace and quiet amidst the hubbub of academia, research and scientific routine,” declares Professor Hiltraud Casper-Hehne, Vice-President of International Affairs at Göttingen University. “In addition, we want to promote intensive interreligious dialogue – a pursuit that is of imminent importance, especially in these times. The joint project development was carried out in an atmosphere of mutual respect.“

The "Room of Silence“ is a joint project of the university involving Göttingen’s Protestant student community, Catholic university community, its Reformed Presbyterian parish, Liberal Jewish community and Turkish-Islamic community (DITIB). Back in 2012, students submitted proposals for similar quiet places or prayer rooms as part of the Ideas Competition held by the university. Reconstruction of the room was funded by the participating congregations alongside Göttingen University, the Ideas Competition for Design additionally by the Hanns Lilje Foundation.

The proportion of international students attending Göttingen University is more than 12 per cent, that of international scientific personnel 18 per cent, with 12 per cent international professors. “Thanks to its progressive internationalisation, the University of Göttingen is becoming more and more characterised by a diversity of cultures and religions amongst students and employees. This is a huge enrichment for us,” Professor Casper-Hehne says. “We conceived this “Room of Silence” to do justice to our diversity.“

The "Room of Silence“ is open on weekdays from 09:00 to 21:30 CET. More information and photos from the inaugural ceremony can be found online at www.uni-goettingen.de/raum-der-stille.

Contact:
Professor Hiltraud Casper-Hehne
Georg-August-Universität Göttingen
Vice-President of International Affairs
Wilhelmsplatz 1, 37073 Göttingen, Germany
Phone +49 (0)551 39-13110
E-mail: hiltraud.casper-hehne@zvw.uni-goettingen.de
Website: www.uni-goettingen.de/en/vizepraesidentin-prof-dr-hiltraud-casper-hehne-/110984.html