Everywhere in France, the deterioration of education and work brings students to respond.
Mobilization remains uneven, however, a factor to another, depending on the size of budget
cuts that are practiced. ---- General Assemblies (GA) held in Bordeaux, Caen,
Clermont-Ferrand, Dijon, Grenoble, Paris ... Most congregate at most, for the moment, a
hundred students, but some were much more massive as to Montpellier or Lyon. First
national coordination was attended by delegations from eight facs fighting on 23 and 24
November, and adopted a platform of demands. Many boards, which simply manage poverty,
were also disrupted in order to paralyze the budget vote 2014. ---- Blocking Montpellier
---- In Nantes, the mobilization has gained momentum with the announcement of the closure
of a bachelor of science in education in favor of the Catholic University of Angers which
would open an office in Nantes, offering a license for modest sum of 11,000 euros! A
glaring example of a creeping privatization of higher education.
In Montpellier, the movement began in late September and the AG are fairly well satisfied
(up to 1200 people). Except that in addition to AG, despite the diversity of actions
(demonstrations, occupation of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, blocking factors,
disruption of Boards of Directors or of a public-private agreement), the movement does
not. The government plays the game state, repressing social movements as in the past: it
wants to keep its privileges, and may apply the remainder of austerity measures already
proposed during a delayed CA to be held the rectory (due to the blocking of the last CA).
Lyon-II, right turn
In Lyon-II, the last AG has attracted up to 700 people (students, staff and teachers). The
president, J.-L. Mayaud, which itself boosted mobilization. On 21 November, he called an
"Enlarged Board" especially with people from outside (which are other than potential
shareholders), to "solve the crisis Lyon 2." Non-'re invited, students voted AG to get
there. The President, in reply, sent the CRS and the BAC.
The next AG, 500 people voted early strike and the symbolic occupation of an amphitheater,
to get information about the campus develop and organize the struggle (Committee meetings
mobilization , distribution of leaflets, distribution interventions amphi). One hundred
students have also participated in an interprofessional demonstration and rally before the
Grand Lyon on housing. On 14 December, day of action called by the National Coordination
400 students demonstrated just after the partial!
The presidential team is in crisis: four Vice-Presidents on six resigned, part of the
majority of Mayaud voted against the budget, rejected in the last CA, unheard of! However,
management intends to continue. The new vice president of the Board of Studies and
University Life (CEVU), dean of the faculty of economy, wants to cure the selection. The
message is clear: college is not for pro-trays, or for undocumented! We want to make
Lyon-II elitist establishment and professionalizing ... The return will be decisive, with
a new AG from the resumption of classes and host the next national coordination in Lyon.
Only a movement magnitude will force the government to reverse the liberal policy which is
the source of the alarming situation of facs. The question then arises: Can these
stirrings bring a mass movement? Whatever the answer, the current mobilizations interest
to pass the torch of the criticism of these disastrous to new generations of students
liberal policies.
Ben (AL Nantes), Myriam and Julie (AL Lyon) Otxoa (AL Montpellier).
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