PUC-SP students miss classes for fear of attacks – 04/12/2023 – Daily life

The PUC (Pontifical Catholic University) of São Paulo had a high number of students who missed classes this Wednesday (12) due to rumors on social networks that claimed that the place would be the target of criminal attacks.

The report was on the Perdizes campus, in the west zone of the São Paulo capital, and found that a large number of students wanted classes to be suspended, which was discarded by the institution. There was a meeting of academic centers with the board of PUC-SP asking for effective security measures. The university created a channel for receiving complaints, according to students.

PUC-SP was approached, but did not respond to questions until the publication of this report.

João Oliveira, a first-year international relations student, said that there were many rumors of attacks on the university and that graffiti extolling Hitler was circulating on the networks, with the phrase “let’s kill everyone on 04/12 you rubbish, #Hitler lives”, and that there would be massacres in several educational institutions.

“The rectory evaluated that there was no danger specifically for the students because it wasn’t here and it wasn’t directed. But still a lot of people were absent today, a lot of people didn’t come”, he said.

According to the student, his class has 63 students, but about 20 attended this Wednesday.

“The students asked for the suspension of classes, they said that if, if the rectory did not cancel classes, there would be a collective absence. When the rectory announced that there would be no suspension of classes, many people decided that they would not come, but they had normal classes “, he said, telling that he saw rooms with only two or three students.

Victor Steiner, a law student, said half of his classmates were absent.

“In my class there are about 40 students, today there were only about 20. There were a lot of rumors that there was going to be a massacre here. , said.

Other students who preferred to speak on condition of anonymity said there was an uproar and that many classmates panicked at the possibility of a criminal attack.

The 22 de Agosto Academic Center, representative of law students, met with the rectory on Tuesday (11) to discuss the matter. According to the entity, “there was an investigation by investigative police forces at the university” and no threats were identified.

According to the organ, PUC-SP created an exclusive channel for receiving doubts, suggestions and suspicions, by email at [email protected].

The rectory would also have, according to the Academic Center, sent an institutional message determining that employees and students present identification, such as a digital wallet. In addition, security personnel will be assigned to the entrances.

Student representatives charge the university to hire specialized security agents for the entrances to the building and to issue frequent bulletins about possible threats.

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WHAT TO DO IN CASE OF THREAT OF ATTACKS ON SCHOOLS

• Experts say threats should not be ignored. Therefore, it is important that parents and schools contact the Civil Police and channels created by the Ministry of Justice to report any type of threat.

• Do not share messages, videos, photos or audios with threats

• Authorities need to be notified of any type of threat, as those who produce or share them can also respond criminally

• Parents, students and schools must maintain a close dialogue about alerts, fears and measures adopted. The transparency of actions is important to increase the sense of security

• Be aware and inform the school of any changes in student behavior

HOW TO REPORT

• As part of the Safe School Operation, the Ministry of Justice launched a channel on the website for websites, blogs and publications on social networks to be denounced. The website for reporting is www.mj.gov.br/escolasegura
• In São Paulo, in the event of a threat, it is possible to call 181, a police channel that allows anyone to provide the police with information about crimes and forms of violence, with a guarantee of anonymity.