BY MARY MARTIN AND LAURA ANDERSON
ST. DENIS, France - "There are no classes and no heat because we are on strike in solidarity with the striking workers and for our own demands," said Didier Gallé, a student at the University of Paris VIII at St. Denis.
"We took it over," another student said. "Masses of us stood outside those doors and demanded access to the school. Now we occupy it. Since the metro is on strike, many of us walk or hitchhike long distances every day to meet and decide what to do next."
Didier continued, "I want us to organize more joint actions with the workers."
St. Denis, a university of 27,000 northeast of Paris, is one of 70 out of a total of 90 universities in France that have declared full or partial shutdowns since October. Students demand increased funding for facilities, faculty, and staff, as well as equal treatment for immigrant students. They remain on strike in solidarity with public sector workers despite important concessions wrested from the government December 3.
The international team of Militant reporters who visited St. Denis on December 8 were welcomed at the student strike organizing committee office. "This is the clearinghouse, the center for the exchange of information between campuses," Jessica Lambert explained. Another student said solidarity messages are exchanged via fax with campuses in Belgium, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Britain.
"Our strike is a revolutionary movement because we want a new society, not just more chairs and professors," Lambert continued, "although we do want more chairs and professors!"
We joined Nathalie Camier, a student at St. Denis, staffing a Pathfinder literature table near the strike office for several hours. Throughout the day students sat down to discuss world politics and how the strikes in France fit in.
Nora Hammiche, who is from Algeria, talked about the need for solidarity with immigrant workers. "Some immigrants are scared of political activity because the cops use the excuse of terrorist attacks to harass them," she said. Hammiche, who had participated in a march of 40,000 for abortion rights two weeks earlier, said championing the rights of immigrants is necessary to defend democratic rights for all workers and youth.
Sedjan Tisanic from Belgrade wanted to read the Militant coverage on Bosnia and said he didn't like the U.S. troops being sent there. "Their only purpose would be to bring capitalism," he stated. Noting he wanted no part in the war for U.S markets, Tisanic added, "I prefer to fight for the rights of all people, not just myself."
Asked what she thought had been accomplished by the struggle up to this point, Laurence, a member of the strike committee and an anthropology student, answered, "It doesn't bother me if we lose this battle. What is important are the relations we have established among ourselves through the struggle. Look around - we are Algerians, Africans, Blacks, whites - all together. This is the most important thing," she stressed.
Anderson is a member of the United Transportation Union in Los Angeles. Martin is a member of International Association of Machinists in Washington, D.C.