Segunda-feira, 10 de novembro de 2003

Bom, como voces já sabem, a J. W. Goethe Universität está em greve. Como nao é de se espantar em greves, o apoio é bastante baixo - localizado, ainda que sem consenso, somente no que corresponder à FFLCH. Conversei com um aluno anarquista daqui que faz desses jornais manifestos distribuídos para o pessoal na rua e falei do caso da FFLCH ano passado. Ele ficou bastante impressionado (quatro meses de greve aqui é absolutamente incogitável) e pediu que eu escrevesse algo para o jornalzinho. Como podem ver, eu fujo, fujo, mas o jornalismo me persegue. Escrevi em ingles para ele traduzir pro alemao, caso contrário meu texto nao seria, digamos, levado muito a sério. Sei que há distorcoes em relacao à greve da FFLCH, mas a intencao aqui nao é informar, mas sim persuadir (e eis que jogo no lixo meus planos de de ser jornalista e assumo minha facada de propagandista ideológico, hehe)

In his way to the toilet, Mr. Me passed by chance through one more crowded assembly on campus. He just wouldn?t pay attention for those choleric students? barking dogs? like shouts nor to the placards with student movement mottos. ?Never mind those sociology trouble makers?, grumbled Mr. Me, who could only think about his relief in the loo.
He was already sitting like a king on his porcelain throne when the noise outside raised. His sphincter contracted, and, as the water splashed against his arse, the word came involuntarily out of his mouth: SHIT. Yes, Mr. Me, that was strike.
Not in Frankfurt, not even in Germany. Mr. Me was last year April 29 in São Paulo University?s Humanities College, Brazil, when an almost four months long strike broke. After years of insufficient replacement of retired professors, lectures were always overcrowded, with students sitting on the floor or standing in the corridors (does it seem familiar?). For instances, the History course had a 51 students per professor ratio (compared to 14/1 in the whole University), and the Japanese Studies could not even start, once there was no professor to drive the classes.
After many assemblies, the strikers? request was ready: 259 new professors for the 13.000 students college, whereas the rector would offer only 12. The professors got engaged as well, and it became to a certain extent a fight of the whole institute against the rector.
Although it was not a perfectly coordinated strike (is there any?), it went in the right way: the media. In times the only reality is the medial reality, no aim is reached without grasping the public opinion in the media. Firstly Literature students? protested in an important bookseller?s fair. Afterwards came lectures by influent professors in public places, street blockades with hippie camping, street parades and so on. Newspapers could simply not ignore it.
Finally, the students made a demonstration during a media covered civic celebration in July 9 led by the São Paulo State Governor. Under the press and audience constrain, the Governor made the commitment to receive students and promised asking the rector to negotiate. The result: 92 professors were offered after three months of protest.
Professors accepted it and quit the strike. Students went polarised and their support faded - there would be no more vacations and the semester was about to be lost in case strike went on. August 15 the end of the strike was finally voted by a slight majority.
92 professors after almost four months, despite Mr. Me?s discourse - ?we can protest without breaking our studies?, ?there is nothing we can do - social resources are limited?, ?that?s my last semester and I got to write my dissertation?. So, imagine what could students win if Mr. Me joined them instead of crapping on his throne. So, imagine what would happen with Mr. Koch?s budget saving project if you all just get engaged.

(photos and texts for the 2002 Humanities College strike at http://www.klepsidra.net/klepsidra12/greve.html)