By Gifts Antoniou

The issue of security in universities is brought back by the government on the occasion of last Wednesday’s violent attack on Law. From the Maximos Palace, where today a meeting will be held under the prime minister with the relevant ministers, they make it clear that it will be “Absolute priority in the immediate nearby period is the formation of security protocols, which the universities need to acquire universities with the responsibility of the Rector’s authorities.”

The government leadership appears determined to proceed immediately with this issue and not to go into the process of prolonged consultations, which are not a few times exploited as a derogatory tactic so that nothing will be done in the end. “We will expect suggestions from all interested parties, but we will do what we need based on the best international practices. No delay, without fear and no discounts »sources at the Maximus Grand.

The application of security protocols for universities is essentially in the formation and implementation of a planning tailored to the particular requirements of each University Foundation, with the aim of tackling violent and offender behaviors, vandalism, occupation of spaces, attacks, etc. Measures such as guarding the spaces, entry control and input control, installation of electronic surveillance systems such as cameras, alarms, etc.

All this will fall to the table in the near future in order to move on specific plans for universities. It is no coincidence that the government is reported to the responsibility of the Rector’s authorities, as cases have been recorded in the past in the part of some rectors to proceed with such procedures.

For the government, the issue of security at universities had been one of the central commitments before the 2019 elections. The government spokesman, Paul Marinakis, acknowledged yesterday that “The university police venture did not succeed”which had been promoted as the peak of the effort to restore security to universities. He, of course, mentioned the abolition of asylum, which enabled the police to attempt and put an end to years of occupations at the universities. And he also pointed out the need to create safety protocols. In fact, he also put the parameter of disciplinary measures for students arrested to participate in extreme episodes. “One is arrested for an act like the one in Law. And it turns out to be a student, because some are students, some are not students. I think, now I express my personal view that this man, who had an active role in this, cannot continue to be a student. “said Mr. Marinakis. And he added that in addition to the criminal consequences, there must be disciplinary consequences. “I think it’s something that has to get into public dialogue, there should be very serious disciplinary consequences, I say again after justice decisions.”he stressed. In fact, in order to demonstrate the government’s determination to deal with the matter, he added that “We cannot have a stricter framework for students in schools than in universities.”

At the same wavelength, the Minister of Rural Development and Food, Costas Tsiarasspeaking to SKAI pointed out that “The children of any citizen cannot go to study at an educational institution and have such behaviors and violence. Is out of all logic and out of every concept of democracy ».