2009 student protests in Croatia

Student protests in Croatia 2009 began at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Zagreb. On Monday, April 20, 2009, the independent student initiative for the right to free education started an occupation of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Zagreb, Croatia. The occupation lasted for 35 five days, until May 24, when the students voted to suspend the occupation.^[1] The students were protesting the Croatian government's plans to reduce public funding for higher education, which had been provided for free up until recently.^{[2][clarification needed]}

The occupation in Zagreb spread next day to Zadar (where entire university was blocked) and than to other cities, including Split, Pula, Rijeka and Osijek. During those 35 days, around 20 faculties and universities in 8 Croatian cities were occupied at some point. The occupation of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Zagreb lasted 35 days.

The students who organized the occupation demanded 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 was free to enter and leave the faculty buildings, but regular classes were not held. Instead, students organized an alternative educational program, which consisted of lectures, public discussions, workshops, movie screenings and other happenings. Everyone was free to attend these happenings, whether they were students or not. Only the regular classes were blocked – the administration, the library, the bookshop and other facilities within the faculty building were allowed to function as usual.^{[citation needed]}

The central organ of student decision making at the occupied faculty is called plenum. All decisions are made in a direct democratic manner, including whether the student occupation of the faculty should be continued or ended. The plenum is an assembly of all interested students and other citizens and everyone has the right to speak and vote. All decisions are made by the majority of all present participants.

The initial occupation in Zagreb ended soon after the university administration announced that sanctions would be imposed if the action were not ended.^[1]

On November 23 the students again occupied the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Zagreb. After nearly two weeks, the plenum, voted to end the occupation on December 4.^{[citation needed]}

They have received letters of support from individuals and organizations, both from Croatia and from abroad. Among those who have expressed support for their cause are Noam Chomsky,^[1] Judith Butler^[3] and Slavoj Žižek.^[1]

The students of Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Zagreb wrote a manual called The Occupation Cookbook in which they describe the functioning of their faculty during the occupation.

References

External links

• Free Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences: website of the student organization.

v t e University of Zagreb Faculties Faculty of Science Faculty of Architecture Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology Faculty of Civil Engineering Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing Faculty of Geodesy Faculty of Geotechnics Faculty of Graphic Arts Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture Faculty of Metallurgy Faculty of Mining, Geology and Petroleum Engineering Faculty of Textile Technology Faculty of Transport and Traffic Engineering Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry Faculty of Veterinary Medicine School of Dental Medicine School of Medicine Faculty of Agriculture Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology Faculty of Forestry Faculty of Economics and Business Faculty of Kinesiology Faculty of Law Faculty of Organization and Informatics Faculty of Political Science Faculty of Special Education and Rehabilitation Faculty of Teacher Education Catholic Faculty of Theology Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences University Centre for Croatian Studies Academies Academy of Dramatic Art Academy of Fine Arts Academy of Music Other related articles National and University Library in Zagreb University Computing Centre 2009 student protests in Croatia Mladost (sports society) Zagreb Botanical Garden