The University of Lucerne announces Martin Mark, Professor of the Old Testament

Lucerne, 21.7.18 (kath.ch) Martin Mark, Professor of Old Testament at the University of Lucerne since 2013, will be released at the end of July. According to the university, the relationship of trust is no longer true. Mark tells kath.ch that his efforts to reform parts of the university have met with resistance.

"The University of Lucerne terminated the employment relationship and released Martin Mark on 31.7.2018," confirms university spokesman Lukas Portmann at kath.ch with a message Luzerner Zeitung (LZ, 21 July). The relationship of trust for the continuation of employment is missing. After the university, other information would not be provided for reasons of personal protection

Distribution of Resources

According to Mark, this dismissal contained questions that would have manifested themselves as as Dean during his three-year term. They were related to business processes, a balanced allocation of resources in administration and education, and financial transparency. His reform efforts provoked "energetic" resistance in some parts of the faculty and administration, so Mark introduced him as Dean last fall, Mark told kath.ch.

The denunciation is disputed

Only six months later Mark faced stiff anonymous accusations from the university administration, who had tried to question his personal integrity . He defended against that with detailed statements. Mark found in Hans Wiprächtiger, lawyer and former federal judge, legal assistance, who will challenge the exemption and dismissal

Estimate by students

The native of southern Germany Mark (* 1961) was since February 2013 professor of exegesis of the Old Testament at the University of Lucerne. From the fall of 2014 to the end of September 2017, he was Dean of the Faculty of Theology. The change in the deanery was then surprisingly two months after the start of the autumn semester. At that time, the university did not comment on the reasons for this unusual period. Mark is also a priest in the Lucerne Malters.

According to LZ Mark is appreciated by the students. His thorough knowledge of Hebrew and his great zeal for the work are highlighted. Mark himself mentions that students and students were shocked by the exemption and expressed their attachment.

The university wants to launch the necessary steps for the succession as quickly as possible, said the university spokesman. (sys)

Robert Vorholt is the new dean of the Faculty of Theology Lucerne