At least three of students, adding up to 300 persons, demonstrated this Friday in front of the Rectory of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), to expose their stand on the eviction of the Justo Sierra auditorium, also known as Che Guevara. A dispute arose as the speeches started, with the group that identified itself as “University Pride,” wearing white shirts and responsible for calling the rally through social media, was interrupted by the irruption the group “Center of University Students,” headed by Alejandro Martínez, which interrupted the event by attempting to take hold of the microphone and speak their mind.
Martínez argued that the group “University Pride” was controlled by political groups to attempt to meddle in UNAM decisions, and politicize the theme of the Justo Sierra eviction, while also accusing them of preventing dialogue among students on the theme.
At third group, composed of students of the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters also demonstrated agains “University Pride,” calling them opportunistic.
The three groups stated they were in favor of the collective Okupa Che leaving the Justo Sierra auditorium of the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters.
The first speakers put forward that due to its autonomy the National University had to take back spaces for the students, which included the Justo Sierra Auditorium.
Gerardo Tovar, of the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters, demanded “recovering of the auditorium, the demand that the students and the university community have is a double demand, it is the demand of the occupiers to vacate but also the demand that the authorities do their duty.”
He insisted that “we know who the occupiers are, many of them hide their true political like or their intentions, we cannot point out what is behind them, the occupiers are from outside the university and their activities have often threatened both academic and administrative regularity.”
Monica, a student of the same Faculty of Political and Social Sciences expressed: “we want this conference room to be used for various activities, to be visited and used by all university students.”
As the original rally dispersed, the members of “Center of University Students” stated that the petition they gave to the Secretary of Community Services demands that the head of the UNAM Enrique Graue “publicly explained what the strategy and the work route is for the university authorities to decide the use of the Che Guevara auditorium.”
Finally, Manuel Valdés of “University Pride” stated that the statement that they were prevented from reading also demanded “that the auditorium be vacated, turned over to the community of the university in a peaceful way and that forums for dialogue be held among the faculties.”
Some banners present also stated “No the the Che Guevara eviction,” “Not all students agree with the eviction. Lets learn to listen to others.”
No consensus was reached between the groups present in front of the Rectory.
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