Protests disrupt Icelandic teaching at Sorbonne

An Icelandic lecturer at Sorbonne University in Paris has barely been able to teach in recent weeks because of student protests, mbl.is reports. Ingólfur Eiríksson said the demonstrations had largely been peaceful, despite clashes in France on Saturday in which more than 1,000 people were arrested and 150 police officers injured.

Students have blocked entrances to the university for several weeks, Eiríksson said, adding that the action had been peaceful and carried out in dialogue with university officials. He said teachers supported the students’ demands, but the protests had disrupted university activities.

The demonstrations are largely a show of solidarity with students across France, particularly those from less affluent areas where schools have been underfunded, he said. Eiríksson said Sorbonne students had experienced the impact of cuts themselves.

He has been teaching remotely, allowing students who want to attend his classes to continue their studies. He said students who did not want to protest had not been required to take part.

Eiríksson, who moved to France about two months ago, said his students described the protests as the largest since 1968. He lives near the location of Saturday’s biggest demonstration and said hundreds of heavily equipped police officers were present. He said the police violence had been severe.

He is unsure when the protests will end, though the start of the autumn break in the coming days could affect them. Despite the disturbance, he said, daily life had largely continued as usual.