There are only a handful of students, Place Masséna, ready to protest at the scheduled time. Fifteen at most, and all come from Saint-Jean d’Angély. Those from the Carlone literary campus, who have just finished a general assembly, are still expected. But they bring good news: citizen occupation was voted for today, for the first time. At Saint-Jean d’Angély, they have been blocked for two weeks. Ingrid, a master’s student in environmental communication and sustainable development, explains the situation: “There is a major problem with the information provided to Carlone students. In fact, most are poorly informed about the LRU law proposals. In general assemblies, speakers criticize the government instead of defending the university.”
The situation is better at Saint-Jean d’Angély, where information points are organized. And the students do not feel that the movement is losing momentum: “Even if it is waning nationally, at our faculty, it continues, with support, from the beginning, from the Committee for the Abrogation of the Pécresse Law (CPALP),” assure Ambre and Armelle, first-year psychology students. But many students who voted for the strike do not participate in the demonstration. “We’ve only been talking about it since the day before yesterday,” they explain.
Nonetheless, the procession sets off: about 70 students head towards the Promenade des Anglais, to inform passersby about their movement, behind a black coffin bearing the words “To our knowledge…” Regularly, the demonstrators stop to simulate a funeral ceremony for the university. Then, Guillaume takes his trumpet and plays a mournful tune in front of the coffin, standing on the Promenade. In the second year of his master’s in musicology, he is fully committed against the Pécresse law. “This reform gives too much power to the president of the assembly. The different councils will be imbalanced, with fewer student representatives. Research will be funded by private sources. I work on the thoughts of jazz musicians when they improvise. What company would fund such a project?” He admits, however, that with such arguments, it is difficult to convince all students to attend the general assemblies.
The Citizen Occupation Voted at Carlone
A general assembly comprising 100 to 200 students, according to various sources, voted unanimously in favor of the strike and the citizen occupation, with all but one in agreement. In addition, students have obtained support from their teachers, who are willing to postpone exam dates if the movement continues. But the administration refuses to allow the premises to be occupied overnight. Many classes were still taking place on Thursday afternoon. Moreover, Albert Marouani, president of the University of Carlone, insists that all classes resume by Monday the 10th at the latest.
