Professor Valentina Arsić Arsenijević from the Medical Faculty of the University of Belgrade stated that faculty blockades and student protests are a matter of individual choice, and that studying or participating in blockades is not mandatory. She criticized the deans and rector for discriminating against students, noting that 97% of students are invisible to them and that they have not engaged with the largest group of students. She also highlighted that there are three groups of students, with the largest being the ‘non-aligned’. This topic has sparked various public reactions, focusing on student rights, university authorities’ responsibilities, and the legitimacy of blockades as a form of protest.
Political Perspectives:
Left: Left-leaning sources tend to emphasize the students’ right to protest and criticize the university administration for ignoring the majority of students and discriminating against those involved in blockades. They highlight the importance of dialogue and the need for the university to address student concerns rather than dismissing them.
Center: Center-leaning sources present a balanced view, acknowledging the students’ right to protest but also pointing out the disruption caused by blockades. They focus on the need for mutual understanding between students and university authorities and stress the importance of maintaining academic order while respecting student voices.
Right: Right-leaning sources emphasize personal responsibility and criticize the blockades as unnecessary disruptions. They support the professor’s view that studying is a choice and that blockades harm the majority of students who want to study. They often accuse university officials of bias and failing to uphold academic standards.
