Following discussion, the letter below has been drafted by the DiGRA board and was sent to Mr Ising and Mr Bode at MDH Berlin.
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I am writing on behalf of the Digital Games Research Association, the international association of digital game research which holds a major international conference biannually and supports research, teaching and publication activities of its members through national chapters, sponsored events, junior researcher support and other means. DiGRA has operated since 2004, including having set up the gamesnetwork email discussion list that is a primary avenue for international discussion and networking in digital games research.
DiGRA is concerned about the recent dismissal of one of its members, Dr. Julian Kücklich from your organisation. From information received from Dr. Kücklich, we understand that no reasons have been officially given to him by your organisation to explain why he was dismissed. If this is so, it is difficult to ascertain if a fair and adequate process was undertaken in deciding on this course of action.
We note that the Mediadesign-Hochschule (MDH) Berlin offers degree programs in game design, and that Dr. Kücklich has established a significant and substantial reputation in the field of digital games research through his publishing and speaking activities and his ongoing contribution to the lively collaborations of members on the gamesnetwork discussion list. Consequently the reputations and standing in the digital games research community internationally of both the MDH and Dr. Kücklich are a concern and of significant interest to DiGRA’s Executive Board and to its members.
I hope that this situation can soon be resolved through a fair and adequate and transparent process. DiGRA understands that confidentiality considerations might be relevant to your process, but supports its member, Dr. Kücklich, in seeking for himself satisfactory details of the grounds of his dismissal on the grounds of transparency, natural justice, and fairness.
Yours faithfully
Helen Kennedy
President, Digital Games Research Association
on behalf of the DiGRA Executive Board
cc: gamesnetwork
hardcopy sent by mail.