Strike at USP: Faculty of Medicine approves strike – 09/27/2023 – Education

Students from the Faculty of Medicine at USP (University of São Paulo) decided to stage a strike in support of the institution’s student strike. With this, the demonstration continues to take shape.

During a meeting held on Wednesday night (27), the majority of those present chose to suspend classes.

“Now, it is up to us to ensure that the strike actually occurs. Let’s unite to prevent classes from taking place, thus ensuring that the students’ demands are put into practice”, says the Oswaldo Cruz Academic Center, representative of the medical students.

The USP Faculty of Medicine was cracked until tonight. There, there are also courses in physiotherapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy and medical physics. These supported the strikers from the beginning; those in medicine, no. Thus, a dispute began in that building, with the victory of the class boycott.

With the participation of medical students, only FEA (Faculty of Economics, Administration, Accounting and Actuary), FOUSP (Faculty of Dentistry), FCF (Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences) and EEFE (School of Physical Education and Sport) have not yet expressed their support for or adherence to the strike.

On Monday night (25), students from the Polytechnic School decided to support the strike, as did students from the Faculty of Law. The decision was taken in an assembly attended by 630 students. According to the 11 de Agosto Academic Center, 606 students voted in favor of the strike.

A meeting of representatives from academic directorates with the university rectory is scheduled for this Thursday afternoon (28). The rector, Carlos Gilberto Carlotti Junior, will not participate. He is traveling to Europe, scheduled to return on October 3rd.

Strike script

The strike movement at USP began on the 18th, when students of humanities and geography courses intended to protest against the lack of teachers.

At around 7pm that day, the management of FFLCH (Faculty of Philosophy, Letters and Human Sciences) sent an email to students saying that all activities were suspended. Subsequently, the buildings were emptied and locked due to fears that they would be invaded. The university guard was called, and police vehicles were sent to the scene.

After the action, students from other FFLCH courses — social sciences, history and philosophy — decided to support the strike.

A list of demands was addressed to the space director, Paulo Martins: release of the buildings; departure of security agents from student spaces; scheduling a meeting between the rectory and students; and public retraction by Martins, recorded swearing at students.

The first three points were met. In an interview with Sheet, Martins said he did not intend to apologize for his attitude and criticized the movement’s organizers, saying that “they use the same weapons as the Bolsonarist right”. The statement sparked outrage.