Crisis at the UdeM: The FAÉCUM asks the management of the Université de Montréal to pull itself together

MONTREAL, Aug. 28, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - The Fédération des associations étudiantes du campus de l'Université de Montréal (FAÉCUM) is asking management to face up to its responsibilities and put an end to police interventions on the campus. Management needs to learn the lessons from its mistakes of last spring, when its stubborn refusal to recognize the strike votes triggered conflicts similar to those of the past few days. "If the UQAM, with its tradition of militancy, has managed to carry out an orderly return to the classrooms, we do not see why such pandemonium should be necessary at the Université de Montréal. The university's management has a duty to avoid repeating the mistakes of the last session, and to recognize the strike votes," warns Mireille Mercier-Roy, Secretary General of the FAÉCUM.

The massive presence of the riot squad at the Université de Montréal is deplorable, in the FAÉCUM's view. The twenty-odd patrol cars, chartered STM buses, and riot control mini-buses constitute a response out of all proportion to the fifty or so students who are attempting to have their strike votes respected. This atmosphere does not promote learning and flies in the face of tradition at the Université de Montréal.

Furthermore, the FAÉCUM deplores the work currently being done by the Université de Montréal's security forces. Although the Fédération cannot object to police interventions in response to criminal acts, such interventions must not replace the regular security forces. "The management of the Université de Montréal needs to get its security services to pull themselves together," asserts Mireille Mercier-Roy.

Over the past 35 years, the Fédération des associations étudiantes du campus de l'Université de Montréal (FAÉCUM) has been defending and promoting the academic, political, social and economic rights and interests of students. Consisting of 85 student associations representing 37,000 members, it is the largest campus-based student association in Québec.

SOURCE: Fédération des associations étudiantes du campus de l'Université de Montréal

Alexandre Ducharme, press attaché, FAÉCUM
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