The buildings will gradually reopen from Wednesday and “the final exam session can take place normally on the scheduled dates,” announced Lionel Larré, president of the university, on its website. All classes and exams had been suspended for a week.
At the end of a “constructive” dialogue with the representatives of the mobilization, added Mr. Larré, the management is committed to “strengthening or implementing as soon as possible” a certain number of measures relating to the management of gender-based and sexual violence.
They mainly affect the reporting unit, whose contacts and protocols will be permanently displayed. Its composition will be reviewed, with a single person from the university presidency, and a group of student advisors, trained in supporting victims, will be created to “improve the reporting of reports”.
“At the request of witnesses or victims, the principle of non-mixing will be ensured” for their treatment; among the other measures adopted, training in VSS will be compulsory for the establishment's staff and a psychologist will be hired.
“Some people think about the classes they miss and have no empathy towards the victims”
These announcements come as a large gathering took place midday on Tuesday on campus, where pro and anti-blockade people made their voices heard. “It’s the beginning of a victory, won thanks to the balance of power that we imposed,” said Gexane, in the second year of her English degree, who did not wish to give her last name.
“Some people think about the classes they are missing and have no empathy towards the victims,” comments Louis Corbière, a master’s student in Performing Arts, who says they are waiting “to see what the long-term reporting unit will really give. term ".
“We refuse to be caught up in emotional blackmail on the issue of sexist and sexual violence (...) We refuse to see a semester once again scuttled by the actions of a minority of people,” declared Mathilde Bertrand, teacher-researcher in the English Studies department, denouncing “questionable methods”.
The university has been shaken for months by a case concerning a philosophy teacher who accuses a colleague of having raped her, which he disputes. A judicial investigation is underway. This teacher was also accused by around ten former students of sexual assault and inappropriate behavior.
Faced with the mobilization of students and the media coverage of the affair, the management of which was criticized, the president of the university denounced a “media campaign fueled by false information”.