dr. angela merkel. it is an unfortunate twist of fate that the education minister, of all people, is to be stripped of her doctorate. she got the news in south africa. >> i will not accept the decision by the university of dusseldorf, and i will challenge it in court. now that i am is involved in a legal battle with the university, i must ask for understanding that i cannot comment further on the matter today. >> after an investigation lasting months, the university concluded that schavan plagiarized from other works. >> she intentionally copied in claimed as her own theories originated by others. >> critics have questioned the university's decision not to ask for an independent assessment of the dissertation. members of schavan's party say they are confident her dissertation at the academic standards at the time, but opposition parties are calling for her to step down. >> i cannot for the life of me imagine how a german education minister can remain in office with a blemish like this. >> in 2011, the t