Students’ Union wants fraternity costume ban

In addition the union also wants the weekly ‘Burschibummel’ – an event where fraternity members meet outside the university – to be banned.

In a statement, union representatives asked Vienna University to “make a clear public statement against right-wing extremist and German nationalist ideology, as well as the weekly Burschibummel and the Akademikerball”.

Some Burschenschaften are associated with right-wing or far-right ideas, in particular with the wish for a German state encompassing Austria.

Burschenschaften members identify which organisation they belong to by wearing coloured hats, and sashes around their chests. Catholic student organisations – which are traditionally against pan-German ideas – wear similar costumes.

The University did not want to give a statement to the Austrian Press Agency, as the rector is currently abroad attending a conference.

The umbrella organisation for Catholic student fraternities (ÖCV) criticised the union’s call for a ban, as it felt that Catholic groups would also be affected.

A ban would “infringe on the personal rights of many students,” it said in a press release.