Rector not kidding on occasion of Bergfest

"Students always have their meals together with the director’s family." Even though, over the past 150 years, things have changed a little at the university with its 6,000 students, sharing a beer with the rector during Bergfest has become a strong tradtition.

Last Monday’s beer came from the Lord Mayor of the university town – another tradition. On Wednesday, around 400 "Bergfestler" (students who celebrate Bergfest) drank to having completed half of their studies at Technikumplatz and - according to tradition - at many other places on campus and throughout the town. For bachelor degree students that usually happens after their third semester and for master degree students after their second semester.

Under the slogan "Uni heute, Captain Morgen" ("Uni today, Captain tomorrow", referring to the famous rum brand "Captain Morgan"), students started out at 4.30 a.m. waking up fellow students in their halls of residence. They then got together for breakfast in the cafeteria and finally stormed the lecture halls for "professor games": specialized challenges for the lecturers, duly disrupting the usual course of affairs.

At 1 p.m. official photos were taken at Technikumplatz in front of Carl-Georg-Weitzel building followed by Lord Mayor Matthias Damm's beer. As he couldn’t make it himself, Mr. Damm sent Sebastian Killisch, head of Construction and Order in Mittweida. Mr. Killisch had an excellent view of what was happening on the square from on top of the festival float.

"Black & White" turned into anniversary bar for students and townspeople

From up there and to the cheers of the students, rector Ludwig Hilmer – wearing the historical attire of Technicum founder Uhland – announced that the former "Black & White" pub at Rochlitzer Straße 68 would be renamed "Bergfestkneipe 2015" (Bergfest Bar). The serious background: Due to its significance for the university history the building is to become a place where students and townspeople can come together in a comfortable and nostalgic atmosphere.

From 1866 25-year-old Wilhelm Heinrich Uhland, founder of the Technicum, used "Haus Mehlhorn" both as a guesthouse for students and teachers as well as for teaching purposes and as a theatre (today's cinema "Filmbühne"). Uhland's successor Carl Georg Weitzel lived there with his family between 1867 and 1868 and kept it open to students as a residence and for communal meals.

After the event at "Technikumplatz", students moved on through Mittweida with their festival float. In the evening celebrations continued in front of and inside of the cafeteria – according to plan until 3 a.m. That makes 22.5 hours of "Bergfest 2015". Captain Morgan and Wilhelm Heinrich Uhland would be proud.