The University of Warsaw affirms its unwavering commitment to supporting the values and rights like openness, tolerance and respect toward one another. The University recognises and respects the right to speak freely and express diverse viewpoints as well as disagree and voice one’s perspectives. The University is committed to ensuring a respectful and safe manner toward other members of the academic community. The incidents of blocking the entrance and exit of the campus of a pregnant woman or an employee rushing for chemotherapy cannot be accepted. Further, we cannot approve of the situations when students with disabilities who are brought to their academic classes by a special University vehicle, academics and students who attend their classes outside the Main Campus, cannot enter or leave the University premises. We cannot consent to interrupting classes and examinations by groups of over-a-dozen intruders in the University halls and lecture rooms as they destroy the quiet of study and work. Also, we do not agree to destroying the property of the University and private persons. Such behaviours cannot be justified by any intentions of the protesters.

For the safety of the undisturbed work of the University as well as the rights and freedom of the students and employees, the UW authorities requested the assistance from the police to restore the infringed law and order. We strongly believe that just instructions to follow the legal and social rules at the University as well as resulting consequences of the violence should be successful.

Undoubtedly, the University authorities remain steadfast in the dedication to upholding the principles of free speech and academic freedom through dialogue, understanding and support to those who have been demonstrating in front of the building of the Faculty of Political Science and International Studies for three weeks. It should not be allowed, however, that the freedom and tolerance of the University is perceived as an encouragement to act against the law and principles.

The change in the form of the protest and its escalation has had an impact on the academic community, thus, leading to the attitudes of objection, anxiety and complaints. Consequently, the discussed and agreed arrangements have been breached unilaterally.

To sum up, we profoundly object to aggression, breaching the law and escalation of the conflict. Once again we urge all participants of the protest to conduct their demonstrations peacefully and to respect the rights and freedom of other people.

The UW Press Office