University of Geneva removes controversial building name
The University of Geneva has decided to remove the name of “Carl Vogt”, a 19th-century naturalist accused of holding racist and sexist views, from a university building.
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В Женеве «отменили» автора тезиса о происхождении человека от обезьяны
The name will be erased from the university building located on Carl-Vogt boulevard in the centre of the city and replaced with “University of Geneva” (UNIGE), the university confirmed on Thursday. A new name for the building will be chosen following a wide participative consultation.
The move, first revealed by Radio Lac, is due to a “certain number of theories about the hierarchy of races and inferiority of the female sex” that Vogt defended, the university stated.
Carl VogtExternal link (1817-1895) was a German scientist, philosopher and politician who emigrated to Switzerland. He published a number of works on zoology, geology and physiology. He was active in the creation of the University of Geneva, becoming rector (1874-1875) and later a professor of geology and zoology.
“His quest for answers as to the stages of evolution (from ape to man) led him to conclusions that appear at the beginning of the 21st century as hasty and racist,” writesExternal link the Historical Dictionary of Switzerland.
The university rectorate said the theses defended by Carl Vogt were “obviously incompatible with the values of UNIGE”. The future of a Carl Vogt statue outside the university’s Bastions building will also be reviewed. Discussions will be held with the city authorities.
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If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.