Introduced into law in August, the new law will fast-track the privatisation process of the universities and threaten the student voice in the running of the university, which is why two weeks ago, while out in Bordeaux, I attended an assembly for the students and voted in favour of blocking the university as a sign of protest.
Me and Nico estimated that at least a couple of thousand students filled the University concourse that day and took part in the debate which lasted for just over two hours under the midday Bordeaux sun, before the vote was taken that the students would officially oppose the law, and then the vote cast that the university would be blocked in protest.
Minutes after the meeting was adjourned, I took the photo above showing the crowd that had amassed in the University concourse from the nearest building. Minutes later there was a flurry of activity as staff and students got out while they can. Me and Nico however, we went for a coffee in the English club further inside the same building - as you do! So as I enjoyed my extremely nice black coffee, students out in the hall were transporting chairs and tables and then metal chains along the corridor as the building was sealed from the inside.
A vote was scheduled for last Thursday afternoon (22nd) as to whether the university would remain blocked, but that vote could not take place as students were prevented from getting to the urns by protesters, which of course meant the gendarmes were brought in...
Yesterday, a new assembly was called and voted 1097-601 in favour of continuing the blockage. The next assembly has been arranged for Friday (30th) - but are the students likely to vote to stop the protest? Not likely, not until the government has listened to their calls and has taken into account the effects that this law will have on its countries' students...
