Dismay after reports of an abuse network

Dear Sir/Madam
Dear colleagues
dear students,

Last Friday, researchers from the University of Hildesheim presented the results of their research project "Helmut Kentler's work in Berlin's child and youth welfare system" in Berlin (www.uni-hildesheim.de/fb1/institute/institut-fuer-sozial-und-organisationspaedagogik/forschung/laufende-projekte/jugendhilfeberlin/). The findings of this investigation include the uncovering of a network of actors through which paedocriminal acts were implemented, tolerated, arranged and legitimized.

According to the report, Prof. Dr. Herbert Ernst Colla-Müller, who worked as a professor of social pedagogy at Leuphana University Lüneburg until 2009, was one of the members of this network. He died in 2017. Among other things, the study says of him: "At present, it can be considered proven that Gerold Becker, Herbert E. Colla-Müller and Helmut Kentler perpetrated sexualized violence."

These new findings about a former member of Leuphana cause great consternation for us at Leuphana University Lüneburg. The University's Executive Board and the researchers at Leuphana's Institute of Social Work and Social Pedagogy (IFSP) will investigate the specific Lüneburg case in a more in-depth investigation. In particular, we want to encourage other potential victims to come forward so that we can offer them as much help and support as possible.

The initial aim of the investigation will be to find out whether other victims can be identified in addition to the cases from the youth welfare services described in the report, including among former members and students of the Institute who are not yet known. At the same time, the aim is to create transparency and to disclose the extent to which there was and is continuity in terms of personnel and research and the continuation of Herbert E. Colla-Müller's research and professional activities at the IFSP.

It is very important to the members of the Institute to offer the involvement of an external commission with the participation of those affected in order to make their voices heard. In addition, an important step for the scientific reappraisal within the discipline of social pedagogy could be the creation of a national or nationwide ombudsman's office for victims of institutionalized violence in social work and social pedagogy.

In any case, we ask other people who may have been affected to contact the research team led by Prof. Dr. Meike Sophia Baader and Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Schroer at the University of Hildesheim at any time in the interest of clarification. In addition, the Independent Commissioner for Child Sexual Abuse Issues [https://www.hilfe-telefon-missbrauch.online/, https://www.hilfe-portal-missbrauch.de/] or regional counselling centres (Opferhilfebüro Lüneburg: www.opferhilfe.niedersachsen.de/nano.cms/opferhilfebueros/details/lueneburg, Dunkelziffer e.V. Hamburg: www.dunkelziffer.de, Beratungsstelle für Jungen und Männer bei sexualisierter Gewalt Hamburg: www.basis-praevent.de) are available to provide professional support to any affected persons.

We would also like to point out that current and former members and affiliates of the university can also contact the following internal university offices if they are affected by (sexualized) violence at their place of study or work, which provide a safe space for discussing injustice suffered:

Equal Opportunities Officer:
Dr. Kathrin van Riesen
Universitätsallee 1, Room 7.323
21335 Lüneburg
Phone +49.4131.677-1060
kathrin.van_riesen@leuphana.de or gleichstellung@leuphana.de
www.leuphana.de/gleichstellung

Ombudsperson for students and lecturers:
Thies Reinck
Universitätsallee 1, Room 10.319
Phone +49.4131.677-1087
thies.reinck@leuphana.de
www.leuphana.de/universitaet/organisation/ombudspersonen.html

Ombudsperson for academic staff:
Dr. Lea Böcker
Universitätsallee 1, Room 6.219
Phone +49.4131.677-2452
lea.boecker@leuphana.de
www.leuphana.de/universitaet/organisation/ombudspersonen.html

Staff Council
Daniel Simons (Chairman)
Universitätsallee 1, Room 7.322
Phone +49.4131.677-1810
personalrat@leuphana.de

Together, we are committed to ensuring that the university is and can be a safe space. This is particularly important in educational and development processes, which often involve sensitive personal contexts. With this in mind, we want to take all possible measures to enable and ensure this protected space for all members and affiliates of the university and all other people involved in research, teaching, studying and knowledge exchange. Please contribute to these efforts to the best of your ability.

The public statements can be found at www.leuphana.de/news/meldungen-universitaet/ansicht/2024/02/25/bestuerzung-nach-berichten-ueber-ein-missbrauchsnetzwerk (for the University) and at www.leuphana.de/institute/ifsp/aktuell/ansicht/2024/02/25/bestuerzung-im-institut-fuer-sozialarbeit-und-sozialpaedagogik-nach-berichten-ueber-ein-missbrauchsnetzwerk (for the Institute of Social Work and Social Pedagogy).

For the Presidential Board
Sascha Spoun
President