Statement of the SASA Assembly on the situation at Serbia’s Universities

Neither universities nor scientific institutions belong to any single generation nor government. They are a legacy created by generations of educators, researchers and students, a legacy we are responsible for keeping and strengthening before passing it on to those coming after us. It is precisely due to this responsibility that the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts has been following with growing concern the developments that jeopardise the autonomy, quality and integrity of public universities in Serbia, undermine the dignity of the academic community and erode public dialogue culture.

We are particularly concerned about the fact that public discourse has come to include inappropriate statements containing threats, calls to violence or allusions to possible harm against students. Even the very fact that this kind of rhetoric appears in public speech, especially when it comes from holders of high public office, represents a serious warning about the current state of public dialogue and political culture in Serbia.

We, therefore, call upon everyone participating in public life, or taking public office, to refrain from actions and statements which deepen social divisions, undermine the dignity of universities and cause concern among the broad public. We urge resolving all open issues with full responsibility toward previous, present, and future generations, in line with the law and through a dialogue with the academic community.