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27. 10. 09. - 14:00

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27. 10. 09. - 14:00

Minister rejects forced student eviction

By Lisa Chapman

People’s Party (ÖVP) Science Minister Johannes Hahn said today (Tues) he was against the forced eviction of students occupying a Vienna University hall.

Hahn said before today’s weekly meeting of the Council of Ministers that he could understand why students were protesting over conditions at Austrian universities.

He said he wanted to talk with student representatives and was ready to set a date for a meeting with them to discuss student fees, access to institutions of higher education and other issues of importance to them.

Around 500 students have been occupying Audimax hall at Vienna University since last Thursday in protest against over-crowding and under-financing of the institution.

When they heard last night that Vienna police were allegedly planning to evict them at 5am today, they publicised the news on the internet and called on supporters to show up at the university early this morning.

Students at Salzburg University are also planning protests against "the science ministry’s unacceptable educational policy," according to the student association there.

It said a demonstration in front of the house of social sciences was planned for 3pm tomorrow.

Tatjana Markl from the association said: "The science ministry’s policy has long been to starve Austrian universities financially. The massive consequences of chronic under-financing should be made pretexts for student fees and less access to higher education."

Svjetlana Vulin from the association added the ministry’s policy had to be strongly rejected.

It was announced today that Hahn would be Austria’s next EU commissioner. Since his term will begin on 1 November, it is unclear whether he will remain involved in talks with protesting students.

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