They are posters with a rather unusual political message put up by students at Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg. Slogans about the right to demonstrate on campus.
– I think that as a citizen in a democratic society you need to stand up for your rights, says Viggo Segersten, a student at Chalmers, who is criticizing the school’s decision.
The minister: “Understands the decision”
Since the decision was announced earlier this week, it has met with opposition from both politicians and editorial writers. But the Minister of Education, who was quick to defend the rector, stands firm today that it was right to ban demonstrations.
– We have a situation where many students and employees, not least with a Jewish background, feel worried now given the anti-Semitism we see in society and the polarization that exists. I understand the decision. We always stand up for freedom of expression but also need to protect the safety of the employees, says Education Minister Mats Persson (L).
Criticism from L students
From the youth association it sounds different.
– I can state that he has not anchored this with his student union. We are deeply critical, says Liberala students chairman Hannes Snabb, and continues:
– There is no point in having freedom of expression if it only allows what is within the norm. You have to be able to be challenged and respond to what deviates from the normal.
Åsa Westlund, who is the Social Democrats’ education policy spokesperson, is also critical.
– I think it was frightening to hear an education minister so casually, almost encouraging such a sweeping ban on political demonstrations.
“Preferably keep quiet”
At a job fair at Chalmers on Tuesday, an Israeli arms company would have participated. But according to the university, that should not have influenced the decision.
On Thursday, the rector does not want to appear for an interview about the criticism of the demonstration ban and to explain the security threat demonstrations around the Israel-Palestine conflict have created at the university.
– We should just learn about mathematics and production drawing and preferably keep quiet. That is what the message to us will be, says student Simon Hermansson, and continues:
– In case of possible security threats, I think you should make sure to call the police if extra protection is now needed. Do not restrict the right of all those people who just want to hold peaceful demonstrations.