"International Student Movement"

I wanted to add some additional details about the situation at the University of Puerto Rico.

"UPR on Strike" is correct in saying that the students are protesting the imposition of an $800 fee ($400 per semester, but it was delayed in the fall so it is $800 for the spring). This is in addition to the tuition already paid by students. Many students are simply unable to pay this amount of money. It is important to understand why this fee (or "cuota," in Spanish) has been imposed. For years, the administration of the university--both the Central Administration and the administration on the individual campuses, have used the budget irresponsibily (that is a nice way to put it). In countless cases, contracts are awarded to friends and family members of the administration and the government of Puerto Rico. In spite of the fact that the financial books should be open to the public (in fact, the accreditation agency has demanded it--it still hasn't happened), the university community (including students, faculty, and staff) have no idea where the money is being spent. Access to these books has also been part of the ongoing protests at UPR.

In the meantime, the infrastructure of the university is crumbling. Mold grows on the walls of classrooms and offices in many buildings and basic repairs do not get made. There has been a hiring freeze on non-teaching staff for several years, and new faculty haven't been hired except in the most rare circumstances. Class offerings have been slashed. Technology is seldom updated. Faculty members must pay for their own supplies to teach their courses--including, believe it or not, chalk and erasers! Faculty have no travel money that is necessary for professional development. Promotions have been put on hold for the last two years. Sabbaticals have been eliminated. In other words, faculty have already been footing the bill for the corrupt administration; now they are demanding that students do the same. They are demanding this fee, yet they are unwilling to explain where they money will be spent. (And, to be clear, all of the cuts to faculty benefits hurt the education of students.)

Students, faculty, and non-teaching staff have all had proposals for the administration about how to address the financial crisis that they created. The administration simply is not willing to listen. In fact, the president of the board of trustees even said that she is willing to have a dialogue, but "it won't change anything." She's confusing dialogue with monologue.

The Chancellor of the Rio Piedras campus (the main campus of the university system), Ana Guadalupe, set up "free speech" areas--these are the only places where dissenting opinion is allowed. Given that Puerto Rico is part of the U.S., this is a clear violation of the First Amendment. Beyond that, limiting free expression is antithetical to what a university should be.

The latest news--just this morning--is that several programs are being put on "pause"--basically probation. These programs are under attack because they have not enrolled a high number of majors. However, as with universities around the world, students in a major are not the only students a department serves. Most of the departments under fire offer extensive courses that service other programs, and the general education as a whole.

In the interest of full disclosure, I am a professor at the university. While I, perhaps, have a slightly different perspective than the students, I am fully supportive of this fight. The administration is corrupt, and they need to go. Any support that we can get will be appreciated!