The lawsuit of the mayor of Bor as another form of intimidation of university professors

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The Network of Academic Solidarity and Engagement (MASA) strongly condemns yet another attempt to repress the current government due to a publicly expressed opinion by university professors in Serbia. This time, the target of local authorities is prof. Dr. Snezana Šerbul from the Technical Faculty in Bor, which is part of the University of Belgrade. Her colleague Šerbula was sued by the mayor of Bor, Aleksandar Milikić for allegedly causing panic and riots, all because of the statement in TV Nova's "Awake" program about the potential construction of a mini-nuclear power plant in Bor and the dangers of a possible accident. What is the most absurd of all, colleague Šerbula made this statement from the position of the Head of the Department for Environmental Protection, but also as a resident of Bor, that is, as an indisputably professional person and a citizen directly interested in the consequences of a potentially dangerous and very likely illegal act. 

After the mayor of Bora sued her, professor Šerbula was forced to give a statement to the police, as well as to hire a lawyer at her own expense in an attempt to get the lawsuit dismissed as unfounded. It is hard to imagine that any court, no matter how sympathetic to the regime, will actually confirm a lawsuit against a professor for a publicly presented scientific opinion in her area of expertise, but this was probably not the main goal for the applicant. As in the case of other persecuted university professors who dared to express critical judgments, the main goal of this lawsuit is to provide another example of how those who dare to warn of the dangers and reasonedly criticize the decisions of the authorities, even from narrowly specialized positions, will fare.

MASA believes that with this act the field for professional, critical and free public debate in Serbia has been further narrowed and that if the academic community does not resolutely stand on the side of its colleagues, who have the courage to point out the dramatic problems facing our society from a professional position faces, then her right to defend the profession, as such, will lose any legitimacy. 

The fourth annual Assembly of MASA was held

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The regular annual assembly of MASA was held on March 21, 2023. in a hybrid model, where part of the members were physically gathered in the premises of the Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory, while the other part of the members attended the Assembly via the Zoom platform.

The program and financial reports for 2023 were unanimously adopted.

In the working part of the Assembly, after a short discussion, the formation of two working groups was unanimously adopted:

  • Monitoring of quality standards - accreditation and adherence to the standards of academic institutions, as well as ethical issues;
  • Promotion of professional authority - strengthening the importance of the word profession in the public and towards decision makers. More than twenty active members applied to participate in the work of working groups.

As part of the fourth item on the agenda, the chairman invited all members of the Assembly present to give their opinion and suggestions for activities in the coming period. Those present reflected on the activities of MASE in the previous period and presented their proposals for more efficient operation of MASE in the coming year.

Those present agreed that it is necessary for MASA to focus all available resources on preserving the integrity of the academic community and the university in the coming period. It was pointed out that the value of MASE's previous work is constantly confirmed, and that members of the academic community and the wider public recognize MASE as an important actor in preserving the integrity of the academic community.

Podrška docentu PBF Vukašinu Milićeviću

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Mreža akademske solidarnosti i angažovanosti (MASA) najoštrije osuđuje još jedan u nizu uklanjanja ili ućutkivanja slobodnomislećih nastavnika zaposlenih na Univerzitetu u Beogradu. Ponovo svedočimo otpuštanju nastavnika Pravoslavnog bogoslovskog fakulteta  (PBF) koji su 2017. godine potpisali „javni apel da je teorija evolucije jedina trenutno naučno prihvaćena teorija koja objašnjava razvoj života na Zemlji”, a među njima je bio i docent Vukašin Milićević. Uprkos pozitivnom referatu koji su potpisali svi članovi komisije za njegov izbor u zvanje docenta, članovi izbornog veća na PBF-u, Univerziteta u Beogradu (UB) odbacili su taj izveštaj. Time se ukazuje na opasnost, kao i u slučaju drugih nastavnika koji su na isti način u prethodnom periodu otpušteni sa ovog fakulteta UB, da PBF sve više funkcioniše kao dogmatska institucija koja ruši ugled UB. 

Zbog ovoga apelujemo na UB da konačno prekine ćutnju i suprotstavi se progonu nastavnika i saradnika zaposlenih na fakultetima u njegovom sastavu. Podsećamo javnost na to da je izmenama Zakona o visokom obrazovanju donetim 2021. godine omogućeno da Sinod Srpske pravoslavne crkve (SPC) kao vanuniverzitetsko telo, utiče na izbor u zvanje nastavnika PBF-a. Iako je MASA upozoravala na činjenicu da je to u suporotnosti sa autonomijom univerziteta i borila se protiv unošenja pomenutog u Zakon, UB je bez ikakvog suportstavljanja prihvatio takvu izmenu. Smatramo da odgovornost sada snose upravo rukovodeći organi UB, te stoga očekujemo da ovog puta podignu glas i osude neakademski i nemoralan čin sa PBF-a prema docentu Vukašinu Milićeviću, te spreče njegovo otpuštanje. 

Podsećamo da je progon prosvećenih intelektualaca nesputanih dogmama sastavni deo dugogodišnjeg nipodaštavanja obrazovanja i stručnosti. U slučaju PBF-a ovakav odnos političkih elita prema visokom obrazovanju, ali i oportunistički podstaknuta snishodljivost prema pojedinim crkvenim velikodostojnicima zapečatila je sudbinu pomenute grupe profesora, docenata i asistenata koji su javno žigosani a zatim polako odstranjivani sa PBF-a. Profesor Maksim Vasiljević dobio je 2020. otkaz nakon što mu Sinod SPC nije dao blagoslov za nastavničku poziciju. Na isti način je otpušten i profesor Rodoljub Kubat, a docentu Marku Vilotiću uskraćena nastava, dok je 2022. otpušten i docent Andrej Jeftić. Prethodni dekan episkop prof. dr Ignatije Midić bio je prinuđen da podnese ostavku jer je Sinod SPC zahtevao njegovu smenu. Hajka se nastavila sada i prilikom izbora docenta Vukašina Milićevića, koji i pored pozitivnog referata nadležne komisije se sada nalazi pred otkazom.

Spinning threats and jeopardizing Professor Gruhonjić's safety

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The Network of Academic Solidarity and Engagement (MASA) condemns the threats directed at journalist and associate professor of the Faculty of Philosophy in Novi Sad Dink Gruhonjić. With incomplete and manipulatively selected excerpts from a public meeting and further tendentious interpretations, an organized campaign directed at colleague Gruhonjić is being carried out.

Statements made at an informal meeting, outside the framework of academic institutions, cannot be the reason for a kind of persecution within the faculty. Without going into what was said, and understanding the sensitivity of the public, we believe that freedom of speech is the inviolable right of intellectuals everywhere. In a premeditated calculation, edited recordings from the depths of the Internet are transmitted as news in tabloid newspapers, and according to the model we have already witnessed several times, these news are followed by a barrage of threats to the life of the individual and his family, as well as calls to prof. Gruhonjic to resign. Freedom of speech carries responsibility for what is said, but it must not mean public lynching.

We express collegial solidarity because we witness how, through various forms of pressure, public name-calling and spin through the media and social networks, public intimidation is practiced, the integrity of critical voices in the academic community is hindered and the personal safety of its members is threatened.

Announcement regarding the situation at the State University in Novi Pazar

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On the occasion of the announcement that the UGPS Nezavisnost State University in Novi Pazar (DUNP) sent to the general public, the Network of Academic Solidarity and Engagement (MASA) expresses concern about the escalation of accumulated problems in higher education that lead to the further collapse of the credibility of state universities in the Republic of Serbia. In the announcement, the claims about the violation of the right to advancement in the academic and professional career, as well as the labor rights of employees at DUNP by the rector prof. Dr. Zane Dolicanin confirms that the authoritarian model of state management is reflected in other institutions, including state universities in the Republic of Serbia. This case is one more in a series of evidence that the processes that invalidate the academic integrity of university teachers in Serbia continue and with increased intensity. The number of university administrations that apply repressive measures in order to further intimidate the academic community and turn its members into followers is growing. Such actions generally lead to further humiliation of the university and denial of its role as an institution of the highest national importance, guardian of democracy and driver of socio-economic progress.

MASA provides support to colleagues from DUNP in their efforts to defend the credibility of their institution. At the same time, we call on all members of the academic community to persevere in the fight for the preservation of academic and civil rights and freedoms, including the rights to work, association and social dialogue guaranteed by the Constitution and the Labor Law as significant achievements of modern European states.

 

Support for FILUM students

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The Faculty of Philology and Arts of the University of Kragujevac has not had adequate premises for its activities for 20 years. Students in the Department of Applied and Fine Arts face a lack of adequate educational conditions, given that classes are held in multiple locations in the city, often with significant travel between them. Students are forced to work in inadequate rooms that are small, full of moisture, while heating, electricity and water are often not functioning, windows cannot be opened, walls are dilapidated, inventory and floors are worn out. The management of the Faculty did not respond adequately to these challenges, and the accreditation of the program was passed without an adequate check of the conditions in which the teaching is conducted.

We invite you to support the students of the Applied and Fine Arts Department of the University of Kragujevac in their struggle for the right to work and education in adequate conditions. 

https://peticije.kreni-promeni.org/petitions/hocemo-prostor-ne-obecanja?source=rawlink&utm_source=rawlink&share=29dcbfe7-4b1c-4741-9074-dd484c8eec01

Support of MASE students protesting against election irregularities

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The Network of Academic Solidarity and Engagement (MASA) provides unreserved support to students in their protest against numerous irregularities in the recently held parliamentary, provincial and local elections in Serbia, which were pointed out by numerous foreign and domestic observers in addition to representatives of the opposition. The obvious violation of the electoral will of the citizens of Serbia on election day itself was only the culmination of all abuses of state resources by the regime in Serbia in order to retain power. Accepting the results of such elections would be equivalent to abandoning Serbia as a parliamentary democracy, which is why MASA believes that it is the duty and obligation of those who support a democratic political system rooted in civil society to raise their voice against the brutal violation of the electoral will of the citizens of Serbia.

Advocating for a society based on education, expertise, critical thinking and responsibility, MASA believes that it is the duty of all academic workers to stand with their students who have stood up against a society based on obedience, manipulation and fraud. For more than half a century, students have been the force that steadfastly stood as a barrier to regime abuses in Serbia. In addition, MASA strongly condemns the beatings, arrests and intimidation of students who oppose the alteration of the electoral will of the citizens of Serbia. Due to the questioning of voting along with years of deprivation of media freedom, we call on universities in Serbia to support their students and other citizens in defending the basic principles of democracy.

A meeting of new members of MASA was held

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On Thursday 21.12.2023. an event was held to welcome new members of the Network of Academic Solidarity and Engagement - MASA. The participants of the gathering were addressed by the members of the MASE Advisory and Coordination Board, academician prof. dr. Vladica Cvetković, prof. Dr. Snježana Milivojević, Assoc. Dr. Bojan Bodroža and Prof. Dr. Dalibor Petrović.

Dalibor Petrović, in his capacity as the president of KO MASA, in his opening address referred to the current events in the scientific and educational area of Serbia, but also to the political and social environment in which academic and scientific activity takes place in Serbia. Accordingly, he emphasized the importance of the activities of an organization such as MASA, after which he briefly recalled the most significant activities of this organization in the past two years.

Snježana Milivojević stated that the public's expectations from the University are still very high, therefore we should use all our intellectual resources to get involved in the formation of a new and better society. We must be more vocal on many issues, among other things how to democratize society anew since clear signs of the reestablishment of autocratic patterns of political action are noticeable. According to Professor Milivojević, the university's silence on these issues is the loudest. In addition, she referred to the structural changes that must be implemented at the university, which lead to its passivation.

Bishop Cvetković called for a conversation and an exchange of ideas and opinions. He briefly referred to previously stated claims by other participants and the general situation at the University and in society. He highlighted why activism is important and why we need to create a bigger picture in order to bring about change.

Bojana Bodroža continued on the importance of activism and invited all those present to take an active part in the activities of MASE. She briefly referred to the work of the group for Dignified Work in Science and concluded that this group made a significant contribution to solving the problem of the exclusion of university teachers from the former project and now institutional funding.

After the introductory speeches, the new members of MASE highlighted the problems they face within their institutions, among which the passivity of younger colleagues and constructive conformity were most often identified. In addition, the participants discussed the possibilities for increasing the capacity of the network and the action plan for the next year. Participants agreed that MASA gives academics the opportunity to speak their minds knowing that, regardless of the consequences, they will have the full support of members.

The main conclusion of the very lively and fruitful discussion was the opinion on the importance of continuing the activity of MASA and the activation of its members through the existing working groups. Accordingly, in the coming months, action plans will be made for action in the coming year with the aim of pointing out the problems that the academic community is facing, but also trying to point out the ways to overcome them in the following period.

Intrusion by members of the MUP on FASPER

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The network of academic solidarity and engagement publicly advertises, regarding another situation of violation of university autonomy, this time, due to violation of the inviolability of the academic space (universities, higher education and scientific institutions) which is guaranteed by the Law on Higher Education, Article 8, Paragraph 1.

MASA appeals to all institutions and responsible individuals and reminds that the autonomy of the university is guaranteed by Article 72 of the Constitution of the Republic of Serbia, and that the latest entry of members of the MUP of the RS into the premises of the Faculty of Special Education and Rehabilitation (FASPER), who were uninvited, unannounced and without the approval of the Faculty administration, this autonomy was brutally violated.

Based on the information provided to us by the dean of FASPER, members of the police demanded access to the faculty's documentation without any written order or official document. Without going into the (un)justification of this kind of behavior and referring to the Criminal Code, someone who should ensure respect for (all) laws, with this kind of violation of the academic space, exactly violates the mentioned provisions of the Constitution of the RS and the Law on Higher Education. An additional problem is that it was done in an extremely brash, arrogant and unprofessional manner. This is inadmissible and unnecessarily causes fear and suspicion, precisely in an academic institution, which has its own democratic mission in relation to academic freedoms and institutional autonomy, and which is practiced by institutional culture.

They would also point out the inadmissibility of extremely unprofessional performance of duties, which can be used as a means of intimidation in any area, whose inviolability is guaranteed by the Constitution and laws. Accordingly, MASA expects that the issue of responsibility, before the competent authorities, of those who damaged the academic space of the Faculty of Special Education and Rehabilitation will be raised.

Appointment of new members of the Council of the Faculty of the University of Belgrade

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The Network of Academic Solidarity and Engagement publicly opposes the appointment of new members of the Council of the Faculty of the University of Belgrade by the Government of Serbia.
In accordance with the law, for members of the council before the founder, i.e. of the state, prominent personalities from the fields of science, economy and culture are appointed. Completely contrary to this principle, among the newly appointed members were also persons whose names can only be associated with affairs, criminal charges and public spreading of hatred and intolerance. In our opinion, these are persons without credibility and ethical integrity. 

The only criteria for the selection of such persons is obvious party affiliation or previous public support for the ruling party. From such members of the council, one certainly cannot expect a free and independent opinion, but only a direct execution of the orders of the authorities. This decision directly means nothing to the autonomy of the University and continues the process of its humiliation. That process is already clearly taking on the outlines of a planned program for party control over the scientific and higher education institutions of Serbia.

Massa supports all actions of resistance of students and teachers against this decision of the government. We invite colleagues to react and oppose the election of controversial members to the councils of their faculties. The academic community of Serbia must finally find the strength to openly oppose the continuous attempts for complete control over its institutions.