A student-citizen front, composed of students and professors, should be formed and create a unique "student list". At least that's the concept they are imagined by students of the Faculty of Technical Sciences in Novi Sad, who at their own plenum voted on the proposal to call for extraordinary parliamentary elections and thus solve the political and social crisis in the country.
University professors met this news with caution. In the conversation with "Vreme", many were ready to hear if someone had mentioned them, maybe that's why the editorial office contacted them, some said that they had masters at home, and yet they wouldn't talk about it now, while some spoke openly, but unofficially.
Officially, it is clear to all of them that tomorrow they could be an important link in the political chain of decision-making, but also in the next elections - it can be concluded based on several dozens of exchanged messages and conversations.
Who would like to?
Although the other faculties are still discussing this option at plenums, Marija Draškic, a professor at the Faculty of Law in Belgrade, would be happy to respond to a potential call from students to be on the electoral list.
"Yes, I would agree," says Draškić for "Vreme". "But only temporarily, during a transitional, expert government."
"She would do whatever it takes for the students," says Ana Vuković Vimić, a professor at the Faculty of Agriculture in Belgrade. However, he adds that "it depends solely on the students, discussions and agreements with them."
"The most important thing is for them to be informed about my experience and the way in which I am able to contribute, as well as what I am not qualified for," says Vuković Vimić for "Vreme". "Personally, I think that I could contribute the most in an advisory capacity, due to my experience in creating policies, but not in political engagement. Like any professor or scientist, my place is in spreading the representation of new knowledge in practice and strategic planning, but not in dealing with politics."
The professor of the Faculty of Agriculture adds that she considers "engaging in politics here in its narrower meaning, i.e. activities related to exercising power and making political decisions". However, he adds that these activities, in many departments, "should be based on close communication with the profession and science, where we return again to the importance of the advisory role of the scientific and research organizations of our country."
What about the deans?
The deans mostly answer that they don't have time, but that they are ready to step in in other ways.
So Danimir Mandić, dean of the Faculty of Teachers, told "Vreme" that it would be an honor for him, but that, due to health problems, he is not ready to be on the list.
"I will look to help in any way I can," he adds.
Goran Roglić, dean of the Faculty of Chemistry, says that he would not be on the student list, simply because "he has too many obligations as a dean".
Politicians among professors
Many university professors are already politically active in political parties, and some of them are deputies in the current convocation of the Republic Assembly.
Until now, students have distanced themselves from the views of all political parties in the country, including the opposition. The question is whether they would now agree to certain professors being on their list, if they are already party-oriented.
Thus, law professor Jelena Jerinić, who is a member of the "Green Left Front", tells "Vreme" that she "thinks she does not meet the requirements", and the other politicians among the professors respond similarly.
Those with whom the "Vremena" editorial team spoke say that they would not be on the list itself, but not because they would not want it.
"The students probably wouldn't even want me," replies one.
No one completely refused.
The editors of "Vremena" contacted, and logically, only the professors who support the students in the blockade.
Out of at least 30 of them, almost no one answered that they would not because they were not interested in it. Those who, on the other hand, said that they would not be on the list, gave personal or professional reasons why they were prevented from being directly hired. And they mostly explained them unofficially.
"Simply, I'm not trained for that, I'm not that personality profile. It sounds rude, but I know myself so well that I know what I would be good at and what I wouldn't be good at. I certainly wouldn't be in this," says one of them.
