On 28 June 1984, the Wechloy science campus was to be officially opened.

This led to an unprecedented scandal in the history of the university. The AStA had secretly reprinted invitation cards and distributed them to students. Around 150 came to the lecture theatre where the ceremony took place; the room was completely overcrowded. Some students also disturbed the speakers with whistles, soap bubbles, balloons and heckling. The target of the protest was the university policy at the time and the occupational bans imposed by the Lower Saxony state government on members of the German Communist Party. Finally, a student took the microphone and gave a speech in which he lashed out at the politicians present, including the then Minister for Science and Art, Dr Johann-Tönjes Cassens. The university president at the time, Prof Dr Horst Zillessen, then pulled the emergency brake and ended the event. A debate ensued at the university and in public as to whether the student protest was legitimate and whether the cancellation was excessive.

The incident also prevented the handover of the symbolic golden key to the Wechloy campus. This was later made up for by the university construction company and the building contractors involved. Curious: at 13 kilograms, the key was so heavy that it had to be held by several people during the handover.

Incidentally, the building has been honoured with several architectural awards - as one of the most beautiful university building projects of the post-war period. The university renovated the striking ring façade in 2023 to improve its energy efficiency, with better insulated panes and an integrated photovoltaic system.