“Student strike”, “Free, Independent Student”, “Free, Independent YSU”: students’ strike and awareness raising campaign was launched in front of Yerevan State University (YSU) Central Building. Dozens of students moved to YSU faculties, then marched to the YSU Faculty of Economics Building, and will return to the Central Building again.
Member of “YSU Restart” Initiative David Petrosyan announced that lecturers from Ijevan, Vanadzor also have joined them. He warned that YSU cleaners had collected the leaflets they had distributed.
Then he raised a number of systemic problems that exist at YSU: “We do receive the education which we can use to work and contribute to the state building process. The university management has no transparency, there is an inefficient expenditure of resources. When we are told that there is no money to organize practicum for the students, let us note that 2 million 600 thousand drams are spent for buying a table, 1 million drams for buying a chair, etc.
Another problem was connected with the university cleaning service. 141 million drams is allocated for it. 87 million drams are provided for the implementation of security services, but security workers are also dissatisfied with the current situation, as the amounts paid do not correspond to the services that are being implemented. According to information we possess, the service belongs to Galust Sahakyan’s son Arman Sahakyan. All this testifies that there should be changes in the university personnel”.
During an interview with Aravot.am, a number of students reported that though they had joined the strike, at the moment it is preferable to have a dialogue with YSU leaders with specific proposals. For example, it is surprising for them why “YSU Restart” initiative rejected the rector’s proposal for a meeting.
Tatev HARUTYUNYAN
