FON students joined the blockades. Professor Vladimir Obradović assesses that mass blockades show that society is ready for changes that "this country has needed for a long time", but mentions that not too many FON teachers supported the students
Professor of the Faculty of Organizational Sciences and member of the presidency of the Freedom and Justice Party Vladimir Obradovic he stated for "Vreme" that faculty blockades in Serbia, a sign that they are young people eager for change, and that about 500 students were present at the FON blockade in Belgrade.
"I was not in the country during the FON blockade, but I support the rebel students and I sent them a letter of support that was read at that rally." When the blockade started, there were about 500 students at the protest that day, who were united around their idea. The amphitheater was packed, and students were also standing on the sidelines. I heard that from my colleagues, and I saw it on social networks," says Obradović.
Let us recall that on December 6, it was announced that the students of the Faculty of Organizational Sciences (FON) joined university blockades as a sign of solidarity with the victims of the canopy fall and the beaten colleagues from the Faculty of Dramatic Arts.
The Student Parliament of FON has not yet made an announcement regarding the blockade
The students of that faculty emphasized that they advocate for a Serbia "where there is responsibility, where students and citizens can freely express their opinions without fear for personal safety, and where institutions do not protect perpetrators of criminal acts."
According to Obradović, it is a self-organized group of students who decided on this type of protest.
Although the impression is that FON students did not take part in student protests in the past few years, the interlocutor of "Vremena" indicates that representatives of students from this higher education institution did participate in some of the protests, stating that some of them camped at the corner of Nemanjina and Kneza Miloša Street in December last year.
"Protests in which they participated went 'under the radar.' That was the time when Marinika Tepić was on hunger strike, and the students were camping near the Government of Serbia. Since then, they have started to get involved in civil protests, and now it appears that a large number of them have rebelled. It's a very pleasant surprise for me," says Obradović.
The Student Parliament of FON has not yet made an announcement regarding the blocking of this faculty. An extraordinary session of the Teaching and Research Council is scheduled for Monday (December 9), where there is only one item on the agenda, and that is the blockade of the faculty.
"Professors sided with students in smaller numbers"
Speaking about the professor's support for the students, Obradović assesses that they stood by the students, but in smaller numbers.
"Students also announced which scientists supported them, and that is very positive." But, if we consider that there are between 140 and 150 teaching staff at the faculty, the thirty people who supported them is not a large number in terms of percentage," Obradović presents.
According to him, the mass blockade of faculties throughout Serbia shows that society is ready for changes, and that changes should have happened a year ago.
"If it had happened then, we would not have fallen into this crisis." Everything we warned about happened. It is clear that this government does not care about the state. Just look at the president's statements. If the president talks like that about students, what does he hope for and what are his motives? It is a Government that does not care about the people and the state, and they are there practically for their own interests. With the canopies falling, figuratively and literally, what can they hope for," asks Obradović.
Speaking about the blockades, Vučić claimed that there were three or four students in the blockade at the faculties, as well as that some young people took money from the opposition and from abroad in order to demolish it.
"I didn't hide, I'm here"
Although Obradović has barely appeared in the media since his candidacy for mayor of Belgrade in December, he denies that he has withdrawn.
"I'm here, I haven't gone anywhere, I haven't taken shelter anywhere." I have a job as a professor and I have to do it, but I am present in political events. I am here, as a member of the Presidency of the Freedom and Justice Party, and I gave statements to the media a week or two ago. However, when we come to power, someone has to take over management, so in the previous period I was in contact with representatives of various international companies, mostly around the world. I exchanged experiences and looked at what is happening right now, because we, as a country, are very behind in terms of technology," notes Obradović.
He points out that one of the main laggards of our country is in traffic and infrastructure and assesses that we are decades behind the world. He says that immediately after the change of government, this country must move forward with the help of experts.
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