Protests in universities, Minister Bernini meets the rectors of the Crui: “They are responsible for the measures to be taken. In universities freedom of thought, the limit is violence”

“Maximum freedom of expression and thought but there is a limit: violence. From now on, everyone must assume their own responsibilities.” Thus the minister Anna Maria Berniniowner of University and Research, leaving the Crui headquarters in Piazza Rondanini in Rome, where he met the 85 rectors of Italian universities.

A positive meeting, “which went well”, desired and requested by the minister after the protests against the journalist David Porec at the Sapienza University of Rome and the director of Repubblica Maurizio Molinari to Federico II by students for Palestine. But before other protests broke out in the universities: from Turin to Bologna, from Milan to Cagliari up to Trieste. With occupied classrooms, tensions in the streets with the response of police batons and the request to cut off any inter-university collaboration agreement with Israel.

“Each rector – continued Minister Bernini – brought their own experience to develop good practices. It was decided to call things by their own name: the protesters are one thing, the students one. We are finding the tools to slow down the violent fringes and allow students to benefit from university”.

“I tell the students – added Bernini – not to feel alone, the university is for them, it is a collective human dimension, the university has its doors open. Those who want to demonstrate can do so responsibly, there is no enemy here, but we must never descend into violence. There is great unity, the community is united, I share the courage of the rectors; from now on everyone must assume their responsibilities, from now on everyone must do so”.

Milan: “It is impossible for us to limit access.” Naples: “Events with reservations and invitations”

On the “militarization of universities” hypothesis requested by some hawks of the right-wing government, Bernini replied: “The rectors, who thanked the police, will decide when and where to ask for their intervention. I asked them to continue to meet us, there have been no complaints, we are looking for the tools.”

Elio Franziniwho leads the University of Milan, having already responded to the meeting: “In a university like mine one cannot think of limiting access for debates considered at risk, we have more than 40 locations, it is technically impossible”.

While the rector of Naples, Matteo Lorito, announces: “We will hold events with reservations and invitations, this is the saddest consequence. We have just closed bookings for Geolier, 500 places booked in a few seconds.”

Roma Tre: “We will ensure there is no more violence.” Zucchi: “Against the boycott but criticism of Israel is not anti-Semitism”

Massimiliano Fiorucci from Roma Tre adds: “The university is a place that is always open to discussion, it is not good when there are episodes of violence, be it verbal or non-verbal, when someone is prevented from speaking; we will make sure that this does not happen and that there is a discussion even on different positions but where opinions can all be expressed”.

While the rector of Pisa, Riccardo Zucchiexplains: “We in Pisa have created an open academic Senate, we are against the boycott of Israeli universities because we need to build bridges and not barriers.” And he adds: “A reflection was opened to clarify a concept: criticizing some acts of the The current Israeli government is not an act of anti-Semitism or lack of respect for the Jewish community, we must distinguish the people from the criticism of certain acts. The climate is tense and in general we must encourage students to adopt a dialogue attitude.”

La Crui: “Universities are places of dialogue, we condemn violence”

Crui reiterated that “violence contradicts the very essence of the university, the natural seat of critical thinking” and renewed “its firm condemnation of any act aimed at silencing the opinion of others through abuse”. Because “universities are communities of students, teachers and technical and administrative staff who, through training, scientific research and dialogue, generate and transmit new knowledge, based on the comparison, even harsh and determined, between different theses. Argued and not shout. Supported by the exercise of reason and not imposed.”

The rectors: “Now good practices for the right of expression with respect”

For this reason, “good practices aimed at preserving the right to express any opinion within university spaces, respecting cultural exchange, civil life and the founding values ​​of the Constitution of the Republic” will be adopted.

The rectorate in Bologna occupied

In the meantime, however, the protest does not stop. In Bologna, after yesterday’s clashes in the square and the protests at the opening of the academic year, Palestinian collectives and young people occupy the university rectorate. “Batons and censorship?” is the question that can be read on a banner placed in front of the entrance. A “permanent garrison” with the intention of remaining there and two requests: a public meeting with the rector Giovanni Molari and, again, the request that Unibo interrupt contacts with Israel and war companies in light of what is happening in Gaza.