The blockers have been demonstrating since last week to denounce the management of cases of gender-based and sexual violence by the University of Bordeaux-Montaigne. An agreement was reached on Tuesday between the students and the presidency of the establishment, allowing the lifting of a blockade of the premises and the gradual reopening of the classrooms by Saturday.
“Hiring a psychologist”
,
“independence of the cell”
for reporting facts,
“consultation of students for the constitution of this cell”
... Megaphone in hand, a student outlined the main measures adopted during a gathering on the Pessac campus, south of Bordeaux.
“It’s the beginning of a victory, won thanks to the balance of power that we have imposed
,” said Gexane, in the second year of her English degree.
“Some people think about the classes they miss and have no empathy towards the victims
,” adds Louis Corbière, a master's student in Performing Arts, who says he is waiting
“to see what the reporting unit will really give in the long term. term"
. At the heart of the demands: the accusation of rape by professor and philosopher Barbara Stiegler against one of her colleagues for which a judicial investigation, opened by the Bordeaux public prosecutor's office, is underway. And around ten students, who also accuse this professor of sexual assault.
At the same time, on Tuesday, a gathering of teachers and students denounced
“the emotional blackmail”
and the
“zadification”
of the campus implemented by the blockers.
“We refuse to be caught in emotional blackmail on the issue of gender-based and sexual violence. And 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”
and
“undemocratic”
methods .
Non-mixed
Faced with the mobilization of students and the media coverage of the affair, the management of which was criticized, the president of the university Lionel Larré denounced a
“media campaign fueled by false information”
. While the university elections are in full swing, the administration is committed to
“strengthening or implementing as soon as possible”
a permanent display of the contacts of the sexist and sexual violence reporting unit. Its composition will also be reviewed, in accordance with the demands of the blockers, with a single person from the university presidency and a group of student representatives, trained in supporting victims, will be created to
“improve the reporting of reports”
. Furthermore,
“at the request of witnesses or victims, the principle of non-mixed sex will be ensured”
for their treatment; while training in gender-based violence must become compulsory for establishment staff and a psychologist must be hired.
While classes and exams had been suspended for a week despite the need for continuous assessment, the president of Bordeaux-Montaigne University, Lionel Larré, assured on the establishment's website that
"the final exam session may have takes place normally on the scheduled dates
. To allow evacuation of the premises
“in complete peace”
, the blockade should end in two days, Friday.