A new law in Bavaria may lead to the expulsion of students due to anti-Semitism.
The government of Bavaria is preparing to take strict measures against universities, including the possibility of forcibly expelling students, as part of its response to the rise in anti-Semitic incidents on campuses across the state.
According to Minister of Science Markus Blume, the cabinet plans to adopt amendments to the Bayerisches Hochschulinnovationsgesetz (Bavarian Higher Education Innovation Act) in the next four weeks. The amendment aims to introduce a unified penalty system that allows for measures ranging from formal reprimands to expulsion and prohibition of re-registration.
Currently, Bavarian universities apply different regulations based on their own internal systems. Although many of them allow expulsion as a last resort, the methods of application vary significantly from one university city to another. The new law seeks to unify these rules across all universities.
The proposed sanctions system is based on Ordnungsrecht für Schulen (the regulatory law for schools), where violations lead to escalating penalties such as warnings, transfers, or expulsion from studies. Universities will retain the right to assess what constitutes a 'permanent disruption of campus peace.'
This step comes in the wake of recent incidents, including pro-Palestinian demonstrations at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU), reflecting growing concerns about rising hostility towards Jewish students. The government emphasizes that the aim of the law is to provide a safer academic environment and to deal firmly with serious violations.
In addition to addressing anti-Semitism, the legislation also includes the Bavarian ban on multiple gender language forms, such as the star or the colon. This ban has been in effect since April 2024 in schools, universities, and government administration, aiming to reduce bureaucracy and standardize the use of official language.
The press report was prepared by Felix Hertz based on information from dpa, reflecting the intention of the Bavarian government to send a clear message that serious misconduct within universities will no longer be tolerated.