Students ordered to seek dean’s approval for foreign travel
The order, issued by the university’s chancellor, aims to ensure the protection of the rights and legitimate interests of citizens, according to the document. The goal seems even more surprising when you have read all the paragraphs of the edict.
The document says the university must exclude from curriculum any unauthorized contacts of professors and students with the representatives of foreign organizations. If on a visit to the university, foreign guests should be accompanied by “specially appointed personalities from the ranks of the university’s administration or interested services”.
Dennis, a sophomore history student at the Mahilyow State University, told the European Radio for Belarus that all the students without exception had to countersign the order. Otherwise, they could face problems.
“We were told to come to the dean’s office and countersign the order, but nobody really did. Then, dean’s staff came to us with our names on the papers and asked to sign to avoid problems. Naturally, many people resisted but eventually had to sign from the second, third or fourth attempt”, Dennis says.
Dennis signed the papers from the first attempt, because he is set to continue studies in Poland very soon. Initially, he was not going to write any statement, but later decided to do so in order to avoid problems.
“In the dean’s office, they told me in a very polite way that they did not object to my departure, but that I had to write a statement, mentioning the duration of my studies, the location of the university and my accommodation details abroad”.
Students are clearly discontented with this measure. There are those who are not going to seek permission for departure despite having signed the order. Dennis says:
“Students are definitely against. Many people were not going to sign the paper. I have a friend who is going to go for vacations in the US. She is not going to sign. She said: “Who cares where I am traveling to?”
The university’s chancellor was not available to comment on this situation. His office staff told the European Radio for Belarus that the order was an internal circular, so there would be no comments.
Uladzimir Tsikhanaw, the head of the international relations department at the Belarus State University, has assured the European Radio for Belarus that there is no such a system in his university. Students and professors are required to report to the university only of they travel abroad officially to a conference or a business trip.
“We have not received any centralized instructions. The Belarus State University has never issued a circular like this. If you travel officially on behalf of the university, you have to make a report. If you travel on your own, who cares?”
Yet, some students do not lose their sense of humor and often seek permission from the university even before traveling to Russia.
