Under student protest "fails" faculty after faculty of different universities. The protest is organized in Belgrade, Novi Sad and Niš.
Students are blocking Faculty of Philosophy in Novi Sad, and in Belgrade Philosophy, Philology, Architecture, Natural and Mathematics, Faculty of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Political Sciences, Faculty of Dramatic Arts, Faculty of Sports and Physical Education (from Wednesday, December 4), and for Friday (6 . December) the closure of the Faculty of Organizational Sciences was also announced.
The Faculty of Law in Belgrade announced the suspension of classes and the blockade of the intersection for 15 minutes on Friday (December 6) at 11:52.
Photo: FoNet/Marko DragoslavićPhoto: FoNet/Marko Dragoslavić
The demands of all students are more or less the same: publication of complete documentation concerning the reconstruction of the Railway Station in Novi Sad; dismissal of charges against persons arrested and detained at protests after the tragedy; filing criminal charges against persons who physically attacked professors and students; in case it is determined that one of the attackers is performing a public function, their dismissal.
Among the demands was a 20 percent increase in budget funds for state faculties, but, for example, the FPN students on this occasion gave up on that.
Most of the professors support the students' demands
Professor at the Faculty of Political Sciences and member of parliament of the Green-Left Front Đorđe Pavićević told "Vreme" that it is good that the students found a way to express their dissatisfaction because the official channels were also closed for them, so they had to decide on these slightly more radical ones steps - occupying faculty buildings until some problems are solved.
"Most of the professors support the students' demands, maybe some professors have problems with the way it is done, but so far there have been no major problems, as far as I know, when someone tried to hold classes," indicated Pavićević.
The Seselje trail is bursting, bursting
He explains that for a long time, students were deprived of their voice and the opportunity to express their opinion, and the first time they started to articulate it through informal channels, they were punched in the nose, locked up, beaten, cars ran over them, and so on.
During that time, Pavićević adds, the official student organizations behaved as if this was not happening, so it is not surprising that students from several faculties began to express their dissatisfaction in this way.
Plenum function
Blockades imply a complete suspension of classes and academic work, which means that there will be no colloquium, no exams, and no consultations.
Photo: FoNet/Marko DragoslavićBlockade of the Faculty of Political Sciences
Photo: FoNet/Marko Dragoslavić
On Tuesday (December 3), it was voted at the Planum of the Faculty of Political Sciences that professors will not be allowed to enter the faculty, but that the administrative service and support workers will be allowed.
However, already on Wednesday, the Plenum will be held again and it will be discussed again, because, says Pavićević, a number of students do not want professors who otherwise support them to leave.
He adds that the weaknesses of the Plenum are that someone can propose something on the spot and then have it adopted without any serious discussion, but that the advantage is that any decision can be canceled very quickly.
The interlocutor of "Vremena" emphasizes that the professors should show their support to the students in some way, not in terms of participation in the Plenum, but to help them, for example, in terms of logistics - they should eat there, sleep, have something to do. while blocking the faculty.
"On the other hand, professors also support these same demands in their own way," says Pavićević.
Student Parliament: "Abuse of higher education institutions"
On Tuesday, the Student Parliament of the University of Belgrade announced on its Instagram account that it expresses concern over the events of the previous days, due to the "abuse of higher education institutions".
"We invite all students, professors and the academic public to contact the institutions that are responsible for fulfilling the requests published in the media. We note that higher education institutions are places of education, not political organization," they state.
They added that the "legitimate" representatives of the students will always be on the side of the students "but also on the side of academic integrity and support demands that do not have a political background."
They also made an appeal to political actors to "stop the harassment, pressure and usurpation of educational institutions, so that students can continue to act freely in an academic spirit".
Professor Pavićević says that usurpation is actually what the Student Parliament of the University does, as well as many Student Parliaments at the faculties.
"All those organizations do not have an iota of legitimacy." In many cases, these are professional student representatives. Elections for student parliaments are often much worse than those that take place at the national level. So they are simply a student class by themselves and it is not surprising that they are protecting their position and something they did in previous years, only the public did not pay much attention to it," concludes Pavićević.
Support from colleagues from Croatia
Students blocking the Faculty of Political Sciences are supported by the Student Union of the Faculty of Political Sciences in Zagreb, as well as all other students in Serbia.
"We support all students who are blocking their faculty because of the incident and violence at a peaceful and reported meeting during which students paid tribute to those who died in Novi Sad," they write in a statement on their Instagram account.
They believe that violence has no place in civilized and democratic societies, and therefore they stand by the students who want to find and punish the responsible persons because "students have always been agents of social change!" It's a shame that they are being forcibly silenced now".
