Studenten in Freiburg, Wintersemester 1968/69

The film chronicles the beginning of the student protest following the death of student Benno Ohnesorg in Berlin in June of 1967.

According to the Baden Württemberg Higher Education Act of 1968, the University of Freiburg forms a Basic Regulations Assembly: 22 full professors, 10 lecturers, assistants and academic councillors, 10 students. Three commissions draft paragraphs. The students are defeated in votes. Under threat of withdrawal, they force further negotiations to be made public. Professor Jeschek, Criminal Law, Councillor of the Higher Regional Court, criticizes the public nature of the negotiations. This is a people's assembly, not a consultation, which could serve as a model for self-government matters. A student named Berger replies.

The film consists of four parts: Part 1 shows the founding of a new working group of the "Critical University" at the FU Berlin. Participants are students, workers, pupils, assistants and a university lecturer. The working group is founded to study the problems of educational advertising. Part 2 shows the campaign "Expropriate Springer"; the university administration of the FU Berlin refuses the rooms. The Springer Hearing takes place after all. Part 3 describes the Vietnam Congress, shows Dutschke's speech and a first approach to a counter-demonstration against the students. Part 4 answers Wolfgang Lefevre's questions about the next goals of the SDS.

In three episodes, the Freiburg University professors Schramm, Hassenstein and Dr. Bresch and their lectures are portrayed. What is the basis for becoming a university teacher? Is it possible to redesign the classic lecture? Can the illegal, the conflict, be legalized? What do reforms consist of? What about study committees with equal representation?

The conflict comes to a head; student Melville proposes that the Basic Regulations Assembly should "like Lysistrata" refuse to deal with the Ministry of Culture and not adopt any Basic Regulations until the Dahrendorf Plan is off the table. The students propose that no basic regulations be passed until the government has improved the Higher Education Act. The motion is rejected by 10:25 votes. Riots interrupt the meeting.

Documentary by Hans-Dieter Müller.