Teresa Präauer: “against the cuts on dutch education”

In Wien schrieb Teresa Präauer dem Rektor der Universität Utrecht am 12. November einen Brief “against the cuts on dutch education”. Wenige Tage zuvor, am 10.11, hatte sie in Utrecht die niederländische Übersetzung des Romans Kochen im falschen Jahrhundert und die englische Übersetzung des Essays Tier werden präsentiert. Fünf Jahre davor war sie zu Gast (18.9.2019) mit dem Roman Oh Schimmi (2016) und dem erzählerischen Essay Tier werden (2018).

“i am an austrian-german writer being very concerned about the plans of cutting the german studies in utrecht, as well as a couple of other language studies.

what we need the most in our days and times is the capability of a deep reading and understanding of our roots, cultures, traditions, breaks, of all the similarities and differences, of signs and symbols. we have to deal with more and more information nowadays, also with misinformation and fakes: so who will be capable of understanding in the future, being critical, teaching others?

being able to read means being able to understand the other—and to understand ourselves. our society is built of so many things that make us human, educated, peaceful, jolly and wise. how sad from now on i have to send all my letters just in english and all of them—to whom? where will those be? not in utrecht anymore?

i am sad, shocked and highly concerned. instead of opening up to the world, our minds seem to get very narrow and small.

i am loudly protesting against these cuts on dutch higher education

and ask you to reject and fight against these devastating backlashes

i am with you on this fight”