Why Critical Orientation Weeks?
At a time when the climate crisis rages, billions are poured into weapons amid massive social cuts, and the AfD polls at 35% in our federal state, we want to create a space for critical education and networking with the Critical Orientation Weeks (KEW). Universities and colleges are not detached from society — science and research are increasingly constrained by private business and politics.
With the Critical Orientation Weeks we want to create free spaces and offer political education alongside the orientation weeks run by student councils and the university, engaging with socially critical and left-wing topics. This is often lacking at the university and other colleges in Leipzig — so we try to contribute to politicising the campus through an alternative program. Events should be understandable and accessible especially for first-year students and people not yet politicised. At the same time, KEW should offer the opportunity to become politically active yourself, because only together can we fight for a fairer world!
Who we are
KEW Leipzig has existed for more than 10 years. We are a loose association of university groups, political groups, associations and individuals who come together specifically to organise KEW. The organising team forms anew each year and is made up of the groups and individuals running events. KEW has a left-wing and anti-capitalist orientation. We stand for left pluralism. What that means is an ongoing democratic process of negotiation. What is clear, however, is that we distance ourselves from sexism, racism, antisemitism, queer hostility, ableism and any form of discrimination.
More than 40 groups and individuals take part in KEW and organise over 120 events. An important pillar of KEW are the many critical university groups at Leipzig University who critically question the teaching content of their degree programmes and take up perspectives that are barely or not at all considered in teaching.
KEW events cover topics including antifascism, critical science, climate justice, feminism, antiracism, the right to stay, labour struggles, internationalism, left theory and much more. Each year this produces a diverse program of workshops, talks, city tours, bike rides or pub evenings.
As KEW organisers we are an official working group of the Student Council (StuRa) of Leipzig University. We work in a self-organised and non-commercial way.
Get involved
Want to help shape KEW? We are always open to new people who identify with KEW’s values and goals and want to get involved. We look forward to hearing from you! Get in touch.