The other day the demonstration “Don’t sell our university” was organised at the Lund University Main Building. It is a protest against the suggestion concerning making state owned universities into private foundations and in social media the discussions have flared.
In social media the debate is heated under the hashtag #ockuperauniversitetet (occupy the university). At 5 pm it’s time for the demonstration outside the University’s main building. Students are encouraged to protest against the government’s suggestion concerning making state owned universities into private foundations. , and to have an open meeting on the premises. The goal with the meeting is to inform both teachers and students about the consequences of the suggestion.
It is the community “Vi äger tillsammans” (We own together) who arrange this manifestation in order to present the student’s’ opinions on a national level. About 350 people signed up for the manifestation on facebook.
Andrea Malesevic is a psychology student at Lund University. She is one of the initiators of the demonstration.
What will happen?
– We will have a manifestation outside the main building. There will be a car with speakers and the idea is that it’s going to be like a small festival with music. – Then the main purpose is to take it one step further with an open meeting where we will discuss what to do next. A small victory though is that the suggestion about making the university into a foundation was sent back for further investigation, but it’s not over yet, says Andrea Malesevic.
Where will the open meeting be held?
– The idea is to use one of the rooms in the main building to have the discussion. These are public buildings open to everyone.
The suggestion came in June and an intense debate took place during September. Not until now the manifestation takes place, why?
– When the government put the suggestion forward during the summer it wasn’t given much attention. There has been a lack of information and not until now do we know what might happen. Now people are ready to fight against the general market adjustment of the university, says Andrea Malesevic.
Text: Pontus Bark and Carl-Johan Kullving
Translation: Mia Söllwander
