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Discussion series 'Monthly topics'

«Abuse of power at universities – 200 testimonials and calls for reform»
REFLEKT Recherche-Team

Talk

The new series of talks at Gessnerallee in cooperation with editorial teams: once a month, an editorial team selects a key journalistic topic and shares it live with the audience. This time, the topic is abuse of power at Swiss universities.

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  • Wed 03/12 19:30 – 21:00

    Stall 6

    Remaining tickets at the box office

Copyright: Bodara GmbH

Have you experienced abuse of power at a Swiss university? In response to this call from the investigative research team REFLEKT, more than 200 people from 12 universities came forward in the summer of 2025. They reported bullying, intimidation, exploitation of dependent relationships and sexual harassment. Many felt abandoned by their university – even though more and more support services are being created. Why do these seem to be ineffective?

The journalists at REFLEKT conducted dozens of interviews with those affected, evaluated their experiences and analysed them together with experts.

On stage, they provide insight into their months of research and discuss with experts: Why is the academic world so susceptible to abuse of power? Where are the institutions failing? And what needs to change urgently?

Guests

Anina Ritscher, Editor REFLEKT

Elisabeth Stark, Vice President for Research University of Zurich

Neele Heiser, Board Member actionuni, umbrella organization for mid-level academic staff

More information about the host

REFLEKT, Switzerland's first independent and non-profit research team, was founded in 2019. Since then, a small, powerful team has been carrying out major research with a big impact. In order to uncover abuses and promote transparency, they focus on investigative research projects lasting several months, which traditional editorial teams are increasingly unable to handle. By presenting their work in an attractive way and publishing it via various channels, they make their work accessible to the widest possible audience. In this way, they promote quality in journalism, increase public awareness and contribute to media diversity and a functioning democracy. https://reflekt.ch/

Information on accessibility and language

  • The event lasts 90 minutes (without intermission).

  • The event will be held in spoken German.

Overview of the upcoming «Monthly Topics»

January 7, «Monthly topic: An evening on barriers and how we dismantle them»

Since November 2024, CORRECTIV.Schweiz has been researching visible and invisible barriers in everyday life as part of the «Achtung Barriere! Where is life made more difficult for you?» project, the editorial team has been researching visible and invisible barriers in everyday life - in the city, in social life and in our minds. The focus is on people with disabilities and the challenges they face on a daily basis. How does it feel to navigate through public spaces as a blind, autistic or mobility-impaired person? What barriers arise due to bureaucratic structures, a lack of consideration or a lack of knowledge? And what does it mean when even the right to leisure, self-determination or safety is up for debate? On this evening, CORRECTIV.Schweiz gives space to one or more of these questions - with personal texts, conversations and perspectives that are often not heard enough.

  • The REFLEKT team investigates abuse of power

    at universities in Switzerland.

    More than 200 people have reported harassment.

    Many victims feel alone, even though help is available.

    The journalists talk about their investigation on stage.

    They talk to experts about what needs to change.

  • Once a month, an editorial team selects a journalistic focus topic that matches the themes or audience of Gessnerallee and shares it live with visitors on site. Gessnerallee's new series of talks takes place in cooperation with various editorial teams. The ‘monthly topics’ were inspired by the highly acclaimed ‘Kosmopolitics’ series, which took place at the former Kosmos.

  • WAV

    WAV is a twelve-member research collective from Zurich. They have been research partners for journalists and editorial offices, civil society and the non-profit sector since 2021. Their research critically scrutinises and opens the doors of boardrooms and boardrooms where decisions that affect everyone are quietly made. They create transparency - so that those responsible are not judged by their words, but by their actions. https://wav.info/

    Tsüri.ch

    Tsüri.ch was founded in 2015 by Simon Jacoby together with a group of young journalists with the aim of producing independent local journalism. A city magazine that is always critical, on the pulse of the city and transparent. Every year, they organise focus months on topics such as housing, addiction and mobility. The content of these focus months includes panel discussions, city walks and workshops. https://tsri.ch/

    REFLEKT

    REFLEKT, Switzerland's first independent and non-profit research team, was founded in 2019. Since then, a small, powerful team has been carrying out major research with a big impact. In order to uncover abuses and promote transparency, they focus on investigative research projects lasting several months, which traditional editorial teams are increasingly unable to handle. By presenting their work in an attractive way and publishing it via various channels, they make their work accessible to the widest possible audience. In this way, they promote quality in journalism, increase public awareness and contribute to media diversity and a functioning democracy. https://reflekt.ch/


    CORRECTIV.Schweiz

    CORRECTIV.Switzerland is a non-profit research centre. Together with the population, they conduct research to strengthen democracy. They use innovative approaches and methods, such as the CrowdNewsroom they developed. They also network local journalists and uncover social injustices, either alone or together with partners. https://correctiv.org/schweiz/

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