The General Council of Students of the Pedres River Enclosure of the University of Puerto Rico (UPR) thundered today against the regulation authorizing the installation of security cameras on the university campus.
seconds light Clement, President of the student body, the regulation was approved by the Board of Governors without going through the crucible of the University Board of the academic institution. Likewise, the student leader repudiated that this is a regulation approved in 2015 and that, when she arrived at the UPR Governing Board, provisions were eliminated that prohibited the shooting of these cameras in spaces such as corridors. , lobbies and student offices.
“Students since 2015 have expressed themselves quite clearly about the fact that we do not want cameras on the Campus for any purpose because of the suspicion and expectation that at some point this filming will be used to politically persecute students and teachers “, Said the student after the celebration of a picket in front of the facilities of the university institution where they also opposed the granting of a professorship to the president of the UPR, Jorge Haddock.
Clemente complained that the approval of the document did not follow the usual procedure to endorse a regulation. He explained that the discussion of the regulations originates in the Academic Senate of the Enclosure – in this case in the campus of River stones -, later it happens to the evaluation of the University Board and, of being approved by this organism, it happens then to the JG.
“On top of that the process was quite nebulous what was approved in JG is not what was approved in 2015 in the Academic Senate. It underwent some amendments and the ban on having cameras in the hallways, lobbies, halls was removed. [Además], The language around the Multisectoral Committee that would handle the shooting of these cameras was slightly changed and a ban was removed that these cameras cannot be used to judge the productivity of non-teaching staff, “he said. the student, who further noted that the JG had to notify the Academic Senate that it would be evaluating the regulations.
Clemente also explained that they held a meeting with the rector of the Enclosure, Luis Ferrao, And that he supported the approval of the regulation by the JG and argued that the document “is legal.”
Clemente, for his part, commented that they contacted the student representative undergraduate at the JG, Alosa Díaz, to request that the document be returned to the Academic Senate of the Rio de Janeiro campus. He further stated that the Council will oppose in writing the entry into force regulation. He mentioned that, according to the procedure before the JG, they have until February 15 to oppose the regulation.
He also denounced that the installation of these cameras occurs at a time when the University is facing a budget crisis and cuts proposed by the Board of Fiscal Control (JCF). And although he indicated that the cameras were acquired in 2015, he commented that it is unknown if the programming of these devices still works, which could lead to an additional expense.
In the face of this, Mario Alegre, Spokesman and director of Communications of the Enclosure, assured that, after some tests realized a year ago, it was confirmed that the cameras work. However, he acknowledged that they are still evaluating the software compatibility of these cameras. However, he could not specify how much it might cost to purchase another program.
Similarly, Alegre reacted to the demands of the student sector and argued that the installation of security cameras “it will be done with the sole aim of having an additional resource to safeguard the physical integrity of all members of the university community, always ensuring the protection of civil rights and the educational mission of the University. “The spokesman for the university administration raised that the regulation was approved by the Academic Senate of the enclosure and endorsed by the student community in a referendum.
“Despite the surveillance of the Precinct, over the years we have faced a considerable number of crimes against the person and property (including cultural heritage) in various areas of our university environment, from vandalism and theft to the Rector’s house and in other structures, even assaults, cases of harassment and – a few years ago – a tragic case of rape, “the spokesman said in written statements.