Sciences Po announces the closure of its main premises in Paris this Friday

The management of Sciences Po Paris decided to close its main premises on Friday due to a new occupation by a few dozen students mobilized for Gaza, at a time when the government is increasing its vigilance in the face of actions on French campuses.

“Following the student occupation vote, the buildings at 25, 27, 30, rue Saint-Guillaume and 56, rue des Saints-Pères, will remain closed tomorrow, Friday May 3. We invite you to remain teleworking”indicates a message to employees, sent Thursday evening by the Human Resources department of Sciences Po.

Hunger-strike

After an internal debate on the Middle East on Thursday morning which they judged “disappointing, but not surprising”students from Sciences Po’s Palestine committee announced Thursday afternoon the launch of a “peaceful sit-in” in the school hall and the start of a hunger strike by six students “in solidarity with the Palestinian victims”.

Thursday evening, the occupation of the campus was voted on by around a hundred students gathered in a general assembly, a member of the Palestine committee, who did not give her name, told AFP. Hunger strikes will continue until “holding an official, non-anonymous vote on the board of the Institute for the Investigation of Partnerships with Israeli Universities”declared Hicham, of the Palestine committee.

After a mobilization marred by tensions at the end of last week at Sciences Po, the movement was suspended after the management’s agreement to organize an internal debate – described as “townhall”term used in the United States for a large public meeting. “It was a tough debate, with fairly clear positions, a lot of emotion”, indicated Jean Bassères, the provisional administrator of Sciences Po, which welcomes several thousand students. He called to “calm” before the start of exams on Monday.