The General Council of Students on the Río Piedras Campus of the University of Puerto Rico (UPR) today thundered against the regulation authorizing the installation of security cameras on the university campus.
According Clement Light, president of the student body, the regulation was approved by the Board of Directors without going through the crucible of the University Council of the academic institution. Likewise, the student leader rejected that it is a regulation approved in 2015 and that, upon reaching the UPR Board of Directors, the provisions prohibiting the filming of these rooms in spaces such as halls, halls and student offices were removed.
“The student body of 2015 was quite clear that we do not want cameras on campus for any purpose because of suspicion and expectation that at some point this film will be used to politically persecute students and teachers ”The student said after holding a picket in front of the facilities of the university institution, where they also opposed the granting of a teaching position to the president of UPR, Jorge Haddock.
Clemente argued that the approval of the document did not follow the usual procedure for approving a regulation. He explained that the discussion on regulations has its origins in the Academic Senate of the Campus – in this case the Río Piedras campus -, then it goes to the evaluation of the University Committee and, if approved by this body, then goes to the JG.
“Apart from the fact that the process was quite nebulous, what was approved in the JG is not what was approved in 2015 in the Academic Senate. It has undergone some changes and the ban on having cameras in hallways, hallways and classrooms has been removed. . [Además], the language around the Multisectoral Committee that would film these cameras has been slightly changed and the ban on these cameras not being able to be used to judge the productivity of non-teaching staff has been removed, “said the student, who also stressed that JG should have notified the academic Senate that he would evaluate the regulation.
Clemente also said that they had a meeting with the rector of the campus, Luis Ferrao, and that he supported the approval of the regulation by JG and argued that the document “is legal”.
Clemente, in turn, commented that they contacted the student representative at JG, Alondra Díaz, to request the return of the document from the Academic Senate of the Rio Piedras campus. He also indicated that the Council would oppose the entry into force of the regulation in writing. He noted 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 rooms is taking place at a time when the University is facing a budgetary crisis and cuts proposed by the Fiscal Control Council (JCF). And, although he indicated that the cameras were purchased in 2015, he commented that it is not known if the programming of these devices is still working, which could involve an additional expense.
Considering this, Mario Alegre, the campus spokesman and communications director, said that after tests a year ago, it was confirmed that the cameras were working. However, he acknowledged that he is still evaluating the software compatibility of these cameras. However, he could not say how much it would cost to purchase another program.
In the same way, Alegre reacted to the complaints of the student sector and claimed that the installation of security cameras “it will be done with the sole aim of having an additional resource to protect the physical integrity of all members of the university community, always ensuring the protection of civil rights and the educational mission of the University. “University spokesman said the regulation was approved by the Senate Campus academic and approved by the student community through a referendum.
“Despite the supervision of the Campus, over the years we have faced a considerable number of crimes against persons and property (including cultural heritage) in various areas of our university environment, from vandalism and robbery to The Casa del Rector and other structures, even assaults, cases of harassment and – a few years ago – a tragic case of rape, “the spokesman said in written statements.