80th Anniversary of the University in Exile

The University in Exile was created by The New School’s first President, Alvin Johnson, as a haven for scholars whose lives and careers were threatened in Germany in 1933, when the Nazi Party came to power and acted to expel all Jews and political opponents from German universities. More than 180 intellectuals and scholars were rescued with their families. Some remained at The New School for many years. All of them immeasurably enriched the intellectual life of the United States. This commemoration of these events is also intended to call attention to the urgent need today to protect scholars around the world who are being persecuted and silenced. Samantha Power, U.S. Ambassador to the UN, “Protecting Scholars and the Right to Free Inquiry.” (Watch the video or read the transcript) Panel discussion in response to Ambassador Power's talk with Jonathan Fanton, Interim Director of Roosevelt House at Hunter College, former Chair of Human Rights Watch, and former President of The New School, and George Rupp, Senior Fellow, Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs, former President and CEO of the International Rescue Committee. Moderated by Aryeh Neier, President Emeritus of the Open Society Foundations. ( Video) Hannah Arendt (2013) was screened, followed by discussion with film director Margarethe von Trotta, actress Barbara Sukowa, and co-screenwriter Pamela Katz. Moderated byJerome Kohn, director of the Hannah Arendt Center at The New School for Social Research.