Serbian President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 stated today that the case of professor Jelena Kleut from the Faculty of Philosophy in Novi Sad “has little to do with the state.” Vu\u010di\u0107 explained that the decision resulting in Kleut losing her job, after not being selected as a full professor, was made by her colleagues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI really do not know exactly what happened, but this decision was not made by the state; it was made by the professors. From what I understand, 18 voted in favor of the decision, five were against, and one abstained. These colleagues made the decision in accordance with the law. It has little to do with the state,\u201d Vu\u010di\u0107 said while answering questions from journalists in Velika Drenova near Trstenik, where he attended the opening of a renovated elementary school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He criticized that the autonomy of universities has been “destroyed by those who allegedly claim to defend it.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou have turned our universities and faculties into political party campaign headquarters, destroyed a year of teaching, and ruined the education of a whole nation irreversibly. That can never be restored. Certain individuals must be held accountable\u2014the ones who destroyed the system. What did you expect, that someone would build a monument for you for destroying the country?\u201d the President asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Despite unanimous support from expert and selection councils, the Senate of the University of Novi Sad denied Professor Jelena Kleut the appointment to the position of full professor, which resulted in the termination of her employment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yesterday, the Faculty of Philosophy in Novi Sad submitted an urgent request to the Administrative Court, asking for a temporary measure that would allow Kleut to return to work until the conclusion of her legal proceedings against the University of Novi Sad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n