Wooden cross as a protest against the founding of KIT, erected on October 1, 2009, 137.8 cm × 63.0 × 53.0 cm, wood, paint, steel nails. KIT Archives 28506/5.
Just before the founding ceremony of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology on October 1, 2009, passers-by noticed plywood grave crosses for the university on the Karlsruhe campus. The living dates “October 7, 1825 – October 1, 2009” revealed that they were in protest against the impending merger with Karlsruhe Research Center. These crosses expressed the mood existing at both the Research Center and Karlsruhe University. Beyond uncertainties about future working conditions, there were fears that one merger partner might stifle the other. The abandonment of the familiar “university” label also may have contributed to the unease. Many a university member and outsider were unaware that “Institute of Technology” is the standard international term for a technical university. Mergers rarely proceed without some turbulence or confusion. The path to KIT, broached in 2006, initially could not even rely fully on the merger of the two partners occurring, which has now become self-evidential. This goal emerged from arduous negotiations with sponsoring federal and state authorities. That already was reason enough for less certainty at the outset than many desired. The history of the crosses in the KIT Archives certainly gives sufficient reason for confidence: Immediately after the merger, this object served as inspiration for my idea of making a historical exhibition to mark the KIT bicentennial. kn