Archive for the ‘news’ Category

The Occupation Cookbook

Friday, December 18th, 2009

The Occupation Cookbook is a “manual” that describes the organization of the student occupation of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences that took place in the spring of 2009 and lasted for 35 days. It was written for two reasons: to record what happened, and to present the particular organization of this action in such a way that it may be of use to other activists and members of various collectives if they decide to undertake a similar action. (more…)

Occupations end in Pula and Zagreb

Friday, December 4th, 2009

Today students at the University of Pula voted to end the occupation of their university which they had started on November 23rd.

This evening, the same decision was made at the plenary session held at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. The classes will resume as normal starting tomorrow.  The next plenary session will be held on Tuesday, December 8th.

Protest in front of the Ministry of Education

Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009

On Monday, November 30th, the students at the Faculty of Political Sciences in Zagreb voted to end the occupation of their faculty, which they had started on November 24th. On the following day, they organized a protest (in which students of other faculties also participated) in front of the Croatian Ministry of Science, Education and Sport. Altogether, some 300 students gathered at 3pm in front of the Ministry building and joined hands forming a chain around the building. After that, they sat on the floor in front of the building blocking the exits from the building and the Ministry’s underground garage, preventing Ministry employees from leaving the building. (more…)

Current situation in Croatia

Wednesday, November 25th, 2009

At today’s plenary session at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Split, the students have voted to occupy their faculty and obstruct all classes. We have received news that the students of the Academy of Applied Arts in Rijeka have also decided today to occupy their faculty. That means that, currently, the following educational institutions are under student occupation in Croatia: (more…)

Further occupations in Zagreb and Split

Wednesday, November 25th, 2009

At the assembly held today at the Faculty of Political Sciences in Zagreb the students voted to occupy the Faculty and obstruct the classes. Thus they have joined their colleagues who are occupying the Unversity of Pula, the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Rijeka and the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Zagreb in fighting for free, publicly funded education for all students. Meanwhile, at the plenary session held this afternoon at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Split, the students decided that tomorrow they will occupy one of the Faculty’s lecture halls at noon, and immediately after hold a plenary session at which they will decide on the continuation of the occupation.

Students vote to occupy the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Zagreb

Monday, November 23rd, 2009

Following occupations in Pula and Rijeka that began earlier today, at the plenary session held today at noon at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Zagreb the students voted to occupy the faculty building in the same manner as it was done in the spring, when the occupation of the faculty lasted for 35 days. That means the faculty building will be open for anyone to enter; cafeteria, bookstore and other facilities withing the building will be open; teachers will be allowed to hold consultation hours but lectures will be obstructed and instead of them students will organize their own, alternative, educational programme, consisting of movie screenings, public discussions, workshops etc.

Occupations in Pula and Rijeka and activities in other cities

Monday, November 23rd, 2009

At the plenary session of November 20th held at the University of Pula it was decided that the students will occupy the University on Monday 23rd. Since approximately 8:30am all lecture halls have been locked and the University is controlled by the students!

At the last plenary session at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Rijeka, held on November 19th, it was decided that today one lecture hall will be occupied. The plenum will be held at 6pm to decide on further actions. As we have learned, the lecture hall has been successfully occupied but the students have had a confrontation with the acting dean who has verbally abused the occupiers, threatened to throw them out and disconnected the internet connection in the lecture hall that is being occupied. He has also decided to employ security guards who are suppose to confirm the identities of the students who enter the faculty building before tonight’s plenary session! (more…)

Letter of support to the students of Austria

Wednesday, October 28th, 2009

We write to you to express our full solidarity with your struggle against the commercialization and commodification of higher education in Austria. Above all, we see in it the mirror image and continuation of our own struggle – both in its goals and methods. It is one more reminder of the fundamental lesson that there are no longer merely local struggles. (more…)

An overview of this spring’s protests and a short update on the current situation

Friday, October 23rd, 2009

In Croatia, the spring of 2009 was a spring of a great student revolt. It all started on April 20 at the beginning of the international “Reclaim your education – Global week of action 2009″ when the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Zagreb was occupied. It remained occupied for another 35 days. During the height of the protest, around 20 faculties and universities in 8 Croatian cities (Zagreb, Zadar, Rijeka, Osijek, Split, Pula, Varaždin, Slavonski Brod) were occupied – all under a common international slogan “One world – one struggle. Education is not for sale”. (more…)

Letter to Alain Badiou

Saturday, October 10th, 2009

At the last plenary session held on October 6th, the students were informed that the famous French philosopher Alain Badiou, who was supposed to come to Zagreb and meet with the students on October 16th, has fallen ill and will not be able to come after all. The plenum has decided to write a letter to Mr Badiou wishing him to get well soon and expressing desire to welcome him in Zagreb some time in the future. (more…)