Laurence Bertrand Dorléac, president of the FNSP, the governing body of Sciences Po Paris, assured Monday that the institution would be “intractable” if anti-Semitic acts were proven within the school, and expressed “her concern” facing a “stiffening climate”. She was referring to incidents that occurred as part of a “day of European academic mobilization for Palestine”. The alleged facts, of which versions differ, occurred on March 12 during the occupation of an amphitheater by around 300 pro-Palestinian activists.
“Absolutely reprehensible things happened”
According to the management, a student from the Union of Jewish Students of France (UEJF) was “prevented from accessing the amphitheater”, and “accusatory remarks were made (from the platform, NLDR) against ” from the Association. The UEJF denounced anti-Semitic comments. “Some absolutely reprehensible things have happened, in the sense that we cannot prevent a course. There are 300 associations at Sciences Po, they must request authorization to meet. In this case, the amphi Boutmy (main amphitheater of Sciences Po, editor’s note) was occupied by students, and whatever the cause of these students, it is a first error”, estimated Laurence Bertrand Dorléac on France Inter.
“On the other hand, reports have been made, which concern facts which are also reprehensible. If a student was prevented from entering this lecture hall on the grounds that she belongs to an organization of young Jewish students in France, it is absolutely reprehensible,” added the president of the National Political Science Foundation, in charge of the major strategic orientations and management of Sciences Po.
Administrative investigation
“The next day, an administrative investigation was decided. The first hearings will take place this (Monday) morning. And on the other hand, an article 40 was filed, that is to say a report to the prosecutor of the Republic,” she said. “These investigations will reveal what exactly happened. If there were any anti-Semitic acts, we will be uncompromising.” “I am very attentive to all anti-Semitic acts that may occur. I do indeed notice a stiffening of the climate and it is normal that I am concerned about it,” said Laurence Bertrand Dorléac.
But “be careful not to pit communities against each other and students against each other,” she added, believing that Sciences-Po “is the subject of perhaps, let’s say unreasonable, interest.” On Wednesday in the Council of Ministers, President Emmanuel Macron denounced as “unspeakable and completely intolerable” the comments reported during the pro-Palestinian mobilization at Sciences-Po Paris on March 12.