PROFESSORS BLOCK SERBIAN GOVERNMENT: Blockade Will Last Until Demands Are Met. Authorities Won’t Succeed in Destroying the University!

After students and citizens celebrated the results of local elections in Kosjerić and Zaječar last night, protests continued today in Belgrade, in front of the Serbian Government building, organized by professors, who will be joined by all educational workers and students. Follow all student activities on our blog.

Mikica Sibinović, a professor at the Faculty of Geography in Belgrade, said tonight at the “Faculties at a Crossroads” protest in front of the Serbian Government that the blockade will last until their demands are met.

“We are staying here until the competent institutions abolish the regulation that reduces our scientific work to five hours a week, because without scientific achievements, there is no quality teaching at faculties,” said Sibinović.

According to him, they will remain at the intersection of Kneza Miloša and Nemanjina until the working group, whose goal is to abolish the autonomy of the university, “and thereby critical thought at faculties,” is disbanded.

“The purpose of the existence of the university community is to point out problems in society and offer solutions, and without critical thought, we cannot do that,” he said.

He added that “they will not leave the intersection until the competent institutions approve budget quotas for student enrollment at state universities.”

COFFEE ON GAS and BURNING DEMANDS: Professors in front of the Serbian Government

Sibinović stated that in democratic societies, power is replaceable and transient, while education is eternal, and pointed out that the foundations of higher, and then secondary and primary education, would disappear if they allowed the collapse of state universities.

“You Tried to Destroy the State University in 1998 and It Didn’t Work”

Professor Natalija Jovanović from the University of Niš asked at today’s “Faculties at a Crossroads” protest in front of the Serbian Government whether the authorities want to destroy the University – Serbia’s best brand, the foundations of science, education, youth, and the future of this country, and stated that they will not succeed.

“Messages are coming from the top of the ruling regime that a diploma is not important, we hear threats ‘we will destroy the state university’. You tried to destroy it in 1998 and it didn’t work, so it won’t now,” said Jovanović.

She emphasized that intellectuals today unhesitatingly put their knowledge in the name of justice and truth and reminded that intellectuals, whenever “dark clouds hung over the country,” were the conscience of the nation, initiators of freedom and development, and that they awakened national consciousness.

“Regardless of the sacrifice, they built our moral vertical,” she stated.

Students Call Citizens to Protest

Students of the Faculty of Law in blockade called on citizens to come and support the University of Belgrade and professors, who are protesting in front of the Serbian Government from today until their demands are met.

“Faculties are on the Cliff”

According to N1 reporter, by setting up metal fences, the professors have practically created a cage at the intersection near the Government, and inside are representatives of the academic community. Filip Ejdus, a professor from FPN, says there is a chance that the demands will be met.

“Faculties are on the cliff. If another step is taken in the direction the regime is going, I fear that the university will completely collapse. By defending the autonomy of the university, we are defending the most vital part of this society and state,” said Ejdus.

When asked how long they would stay at the intersection in front of the government, he said that the idea was to stay until the demands are met.

“It will depend on the energy and dedication of all people from the Rebellious University. I hope that we will be persistent and determined to defend the University,” Ejdus stated.

Source: Nova.rs Photo: Filip Krainčanić/Nova.rs