fac en greve

Dear Paris 3- Sorbonne Nouvelle students,

I do not understand why it is necessary for you to literally BLOCK the entrance to my classes at Paris 3 from yesterday (Monday) until Thursday with your tables and your pamphlets and your bodies. Heaven forbid that some of us want to learn (or at least have class so we can get credit from our home schools, or, in the case of the poor actual Parisian students, GRADUATE one of these days), and heaven forbid that some teachers actually want to teach instead of striking.

I am all for freedom of expression, and your weekly (or bi-weekly) Assemble Generale meetings. It's great that all the students and faculty have a place to express themselves, and inform the student body about the campus happenings. Here's what I don't get-- why you're all about freedom of expression and better wages, but you won't give other students the freedom to go to class, where they can learn something useful, and maybe even make a career out of what they learned and make a life for themselves. Actually, wait, that was silly. Here's what I REALLY DON'T GET-- Students are not paid, therefore, how can they go on strike? Manifestations? (Protests) Sure. Greve? (Strike) Non!

I get that you're French, and that's kinda your thing, y'know, you enjoy life and then POOF, someone tries to change something and you strike. In this particular case, I agree, it is unfair that professors who focus on research are being forced to put in more teaching hours, especially if they're not good at teaching, so that they have something to "show for their jobs" (thanks Auni, for the clarification). I understand their need to strike and show the government their disapproval-- it's annoying to us students, but hey, it's not us who are getting shafted (I hate that word but I feel it's quite appropriate here), it's not like we can relate.

Or wait, are you Parisian students telling me...we can? Tell me, dear etudiant (student), are you blocking my school because you relate SO DEEPLY to the professor's peril that you want to make sure that EVERY professor has the ability to greve, to give a big UP YOURS to Sarkozy? After all, if no students are let in, no professors have to teach, and don't have to be forced to "show for their jobs." Just come on and admit it, you secretly don't want class, do you? ;) (Well, I suppose if the professors who are only good at research and not teaching are forced to give more classes, I would get upset to, how boring for us students! Yet, I wouldn't go on strike against him or her. Evidently we need to implement Wellesley-style end-of-semester SEQs into these universities. I hope they actually have them already).

I'm sorry if anyone who reads this doesn't agree with me, but JE NE SUIS PAS D'ACCORD AVEC CELA! (I am not ok with that!) Open up the university and let me take classes, dammit, or else I will steal your precious cigarettes and Vanessa Bruno/Longchamp bags and throw them in the Seine!