USP strike: Dean travels to Europe during crisis – 09/27/2023 – Education

The rector of USP (University of São Paulo), Carlos Gilberto Carlotti Júnior, traveled to Europe amid the strike initiated at the institution due to the shortage of teachers. He must pass through Germany and France, returning to Brazil only on October 3rd.

A meeting between the rectory and 20 members of academic directories has been scheduled for this Thursday (28) since the beginning of last week. The theme is the strike. Carlotti Júnior will not listen to the students’ demands, having appointed his deputy to do so.

According to the USP press office, the excursion had been planned for some time to sign academic cooperation agreements. One of these agreements would be with the French National Center for Scientific Research.

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.

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.

Shortly afterwards, on Tuesday (27), professors from six colleges announced a strike in support.

Until Tuesday evening, students from FMUSP (Faculty of Medicine), FEA (Faculty of Economics, Administration, Accounting and Actuary), FOUSP (Faculty of Dentistry), FCF (Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences) and EEFE (School of of Physical Education and Sport) had not commented on the strike.