Slobodni Filozofski!
Posted on | April 19, 2009 | No Comments
On Monday, April 20th 2009, an independent student initiative for the right to free education started a peaceful occupation of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Zagreb, Croatia. They organized this action demanding the right to free education for all and the elimination of all tuition fees, at all levels of higher education: undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate. During the occupation, everyone is free to enter and leave the Faculty building, but regular classes will not be held. Instead, students have organized an alternative educational program, which consists of lectures, public discussions, workshops, movie screenings and other happenings. Everyone is free to attend these happenings, whether they are students or not.
Every evening, students will hold a plenary session (”plenum”) at which they will discuss the situation and decide whether they will continue with the occupation the next day. Everyone is free to attend these sessions, participate in discussions and vote, whether they are students or ordinary citizens. The issue of the right to free education is not one that concerns only the students, it is an issue of relevance for the future of the entire society, therefore every member of the society has the right to participate in decision making at the plenary sessions.
On this page you will find information about the initiative for the right to free education, as well as translations of some of our important documents into several languages. For more information about the reasons for the protest and why the students chose to carry it out in this manner, see frequently asked questions.
So far, we have received numerous letters of support from individuals and organizations, both at home and from abroad. Among those who have expressed support for our cause are Noam Chomsky, Judith Butler and Slavoj Žižek. Full list of who supports us can be accessed here.
UPDATE: After 34 days, at yesterday’s plenum the students of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences have voted to suspend the occupation of the Faculty. They have decided to, temporarily, continue the fight by other means. The plenum will continue to meet – preferably every week (or at least once a month).
http://www.slobodnifilozofski.com/
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