
At the very beginning of the faculty blockades in Serbia, SPUB and SKONUS rushed to issue statements condemning the blockades and “political activities” at the faculties. They rushed so much that they didn’t even have time to proofread their statements twice. However, there were more significant reasons why they should have carefully read their shameful statements and accusations directed at students who have been demanding truth, justice, and functioning institutions for a month. It is precisely for this reason that students from three faculties have voted no confidence in SPUB and SKONUS.
The president of SKONUS, Margareta Smiljanić, who was involved in the SNS call centre scandal, last addressed the public after meeting with Prime Minister Vučević, reports Nova.rs. Vučević then claimed that all student demands had been met, and instead of presenting anything that students have been demanding for a month, Smiljanić expressed concern about the delivery of classes and called for dialogue rather than protest radicalisation. This was the last straw.
At the seventh plenum of students at the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics in Novi Sad, a vote of no confidence in SKONUS was passed, announced yesterday by the students occupying this faculty. As students note, the no-confidence vote stemmed from “shameful events and statements” in the recent period.
“Professors and faculty administrations will be there for students. The academic calendar can be modified. Financial reprogramming can be done. The aim of the blockade is to appeal to institutions, and the demands are indeed addressed there. Do not spread intimidation among students. No one fears you anymore,” the PMF plenum declared.
Students at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in Belgrade also voted no confidence in SKONUS and SPUB at a plenum held on 16th December, believing these organisations are not working in their interest. “Therefore, they lose legitimacy as our representatives,” they stated in an announcement on their official social media channel.
Students at the Faculty of Mining and Geology (RGF) in Belgrade voted no confidence in their faculty’s parliament at a plenum held a week ago. Through this, the plenum distanced itself from all statements, opinions, and positions that parliament members represent.
The Student Parliament of the Faculty of Mining and Geology confirmed on 12th December via their official social media account that the Teaching-Scientific Council had voted to support the blockade. The parliament used this opportunity to express their assessment that any further protests could be orchestrated by political entities.
“Respecting the provisions of the Higher Education Law (according to which political activity at higher education institutions is prohibited), but above all the personal morality and integrity of our members as individuals, we draw attention that special caution must be directed at suppressing politically motivated influences on students of our faculty in terms of directing them to participate in demonstrations whose further purpose would be directed exclusively towards achieving political goals,” signed by members of the Student Parliament of the Faculty of Mining and Geology.

And speaking of personal and moral integrity
As stated on the faculty website, the delegate of the Faculty of Mining and Geology in the Student Parliament of the University of Belgrade (SPUB) is Ana Ćurić. Let us recall that she worked in the SNS call centre suspected of being involved in vote-buying during the 2023 elections, as revealed by CINS and confirmed by Nova.rs.
And let us also remember that on the second of December, the SPUB presidency condemned the faculty blockades and expressed “concern about the misuse of higher education institutions.”
“We emphasise that the demands presented in the media are not an initiative of all university students, but rather a smaller group which, while claiming to fight for student interests, is actually carrying out political activities by usurping the University, higher education institutions, and the teaching process,” the SPUB presidency declared then.
By now, it’s quite clear who is trying to reduce tens of thousands of protesting students to some insignificant number, initially three or four of them, and then about 600 in front of the Presidency, for example.
Students across Serbia, self-organised and, judging by their actions and unity - rather well organised, have been giving citizens lessons in (direct) democracy in recent days. As student representative bodies like SPUB and SKONUS do not fit into these principles at all, and with their “moral integrity” (which they so proudly invoke) only bring shame to students - it seems that the time has finally come for their dismissal.
Anastazija Govedarica Antanasijević
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