Related videos:
University professor Alicia María López, a lecturer at the Matanzas branch in the municipality of Jovellanos, publicly announced her resignation via a social media post, in which she accused the institution of "turning its back" on the students and staging "a performance" to silence their demands.
"Observe the faces of the few students from Matanzas: sitting in the back rows, clearly discontented and embarrassed," wrote López, referring to a photo published by the official newspaper Girón, which covered a recent meeting between students, teachers, and political leaders at the University of Matanzas.
The academic expressed feeling ashamed to belong to an institution that, according to her, ignores the legitimate concerns of students, and denounced that the event reported by Girón was a maneuver to present an idyllic and depoliticized image of the university environment.
"His management team sets up this staging in order to spread an indelible image," he stated.
In his message, León harshly criticized the institutional stance reflected in the article from the provincial media, which claimed that the University Student Federation (FEU) maintained a "constructive and open attitude towards dialogue."
According to Girón, the meeting addressed issues of interest for young people, including the recent adjustments made by the Cuban Telecommunications Company (ETECSA) that have sparked a student strike at several university campuses in Havana and Villa Clara.
For León, however, the supposed openness to dialogue was superficial and manipulated. “As teachers, when we truly are, we must not disregard the aspirations, needs, and struggles of our students,” he declared.
The teacher announced that she will formalize her resignation this Saturday, a move that has generated considerable buzz on social media, where many users have expressed their support while others have questioned her stance.
The activist José Raúl Gallego stated that with "more actions like this, the circus will fall apart (for the regime) in a week."
Since the company ETECSA launched its new rates, students from various faculties of the University of Havana have declared a strike, while the government continues to deny the student protest.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Resignation of the Professor and the University Crisis in Cuba
Why did Professor Alicia María López from the University of Matanzas resign?
Alicia María López resigned after accusing the University of Matanzas of silencing students and creating a false image of dialogue and openness. She criticized that the legitimate concerns of students were being ignored and mentioned that the event reported by the Girón newspaper was a maneuver to present an unrealistic picture of the university environment.
What is the reaction of university students to ETECSA's rates?
Students have expressed strong opposition to the new ETECSA rates, considering them unfair and exclusive. They have organized academic strikes and demanded the resignation of the president of the FEU, Ricardo Rodríguez González, for not representing their interests. The protest has spread to several faculties and universities across the country, calling for equitable access to the internet.
What measures has ETECSA taken in response to the student protests?
ETECSA announced an additional package of 6 GB for 360 CUP for university students and free access to more than 40 educational sites. However, students believe that this measure is insufficient and continue to demand a structural rethinking that allows for fair internet access for the entire population.
How has the Cuban government reacted to the student protests?
The Cuban government and the leadership of the University Student Federation (FEU) have attempted to discredit the protests, claiming they are manipulated by "enemies of the revolution." They have denied the existence of a student strike and have appealed for normalcy in the classrooms, while insisting on a controlled dialogue and criticizing what they see as a campaign of destabilization.
Filed under: