AA / Tunisia / Salim Boussaïd
On March 13, the surprise visit of the French Prime Minister Gabriel Atal to the board of directors of the Sciences Po Paris campus provoked a strong reaction from the institution’s academic staff, who expressed their “deep emotion” and refused any “interference”, including. that of the state.
In a letter signed by 28 officials of Sciences Po, including deans, directors of research centers and departments, as well as elected members of the permanent faculty of the Board of Directors (CA), the signatories expressed “together and united” their “deep emotion of March 13, 2024 After the Prime Minister’s unannounced visit to the CA meeting”.
“No political leader can assume the right to undermine the fundamental principles of academic independence and freedom, as provided for in the laws of the Republic,” they noted.
They recalled that “academic freedom guarantees the right to teach and conduct research in complete independence, under peer control and supervision, but without interference from any external authority, including the state,” read the letter, which was consulted by Anadolu. .
“Allusions to a possible ‘takeover’ of our institution at the March 13 board meeting seem to contradict this cardinal principle,” they noted, expressing their opposition to any form of “exclusion, discrimination, anti-Semitism, racism.” Islamophobia and violence”.
They also recalled that “Sciences Po is governed by precise rules related to the organization of student life” and that “any non-compliance with these rules leads to an internal investigation, the elements of which, if necessary, will be referred to the disciplinary department.” They noted, in this context, that “this procedure, which does not replace the judicial inquiry, was carried out on March 12, 2024, after the occupation of the amphitheater in Butte.”
They eventually insisted on opening their academic project internationally and that “given the absolute seriousness of the war in the Middle East, as in other conflict zones around the world, it is necessary to allow universities to rebuild their way. Debate and dialogue of ideas”.
As a reminder, on Tuesday, students organized a pro-Palestine demonstration at Sciences Po Paris. Afterward, the Jewish student initially claimed he was denied access to the amphitheater where the event took place and was treated as “a Jew and a Zionist,” before recanting in an interview published two days later.
Meanwhile, the case has gained momentum, prompting reactions from President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Gabriel Atal.
Macron condemned the “unforgivable and totally intolerable” remarks he made against the Jewish student, and the prime minister, while traveling there on Wednesday March 13, said he planned to report to the prosecutor.
A demonstration in support of Sciences Po students was thwarted by the police last Thursday when the administration decided to close the institution and suspend all courses.
Source: AA
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