Coronavirus This is what matters now, for all of us
Rector Professor Axel Schölmerich addresses an open letter to all RUB members.
Dear students, dear members of staff, dear friends of Ruhr-Universität Bochum,
The coronavirus has dramatically changed our lives and work routines in our country and at our university. The situation is extremely serious, and we take it seriously, as Chancellor Angela Merkel stated in her television address on 18 March.
Protecting lives is our main priority. In order to do so, we must give up all activities that make up our university: working at close quarters with 50,000 people on campus, teaching, researching, debating, exercising, eating, celebrating. None of this is possible anymore, not the way we know it. Not until our health systems have developed effective drugs and vaccines.
For now, we must keep our distance in order to keep working together. To ensure that economy and society, as well as our university, do not come to a complete standstill. Because that, too, causes damage and distress.
You, dear students, have been hit particularly hard. Because you don’t know when you will be able to finally take your exams. Because you are wondering how your studies are supposed to work in the next semester, with no face-to-face contact. And also because many of you are losing their jobs and worry about money. We’re doing all we can to implement remote teaching and introduce digital formats by the time semester is scheduled to start on 20 April, and to catch up on coursework. We are also going to provide generous and non-bureaucratic assistance in order to minimise damage and distress.
We’re putting our efforts into keeping things running and maintaining a social attitude even in times of social distancing. Even now, we have been very creative when it comes to finding new solutions and improvising.
I wish to thank all members of staff who work on campus or from home to keep university operations running – and even to rebuild them from scratch. I also thank all those who are on stand-by, who show their solidarity by word and deed, and who help as much as they can.
We have to stand together, showing responsibility and solidarity. That has always been the RUB spirit. But these days, solidarity is put to the hardest test yet since the foundation of our university.
Take care of each other, help each other and most importantly: Stay at home and stay healthy!
All the best,
Axel Schölmerich