Professors refuse to sign up to act

Serbian academics who refuse to accept legislation that has given the government day-to-day control of the universities are risking dismissal from their jobs.

A new university act, introduced last summer, gave the government control over the election of the rector, deans and lecturers, curricula, enrolling students and decisions on vacations. Lecturers who refuse to sign contracts offered by new government-appointed deans can be dismissed.

Half of the elected deans at the University of Belgrade are members of the ruling parties. They have already started reorganising faculties, with threats and dismissals of teachers who oppose the law. Oliver Antic, the government-appointed dean of the faculty of law, was the first dean to use his new power to dismiss a colleague. In August, he sacked Vladimir Vodinelic, associate professor of civil law, who has a strong academic reputation and is not a member of any political party.

Last month 15 of his colleagues, themselves prominent academics, announced that they would stop all teaching in protest. One, Vojin Dimitrijevic, former vice-chairman of the United Nations human rights committee, called the dismissal "illegal, immoral, arbitrary, irresponsible, and scandalous".

The same group of lecturers had previously announced that they would not sign new contracts. Dr Antic simply replaced the new contracts with a statement of understanding that they would remain employed until their term of employment expires.

Three more professors of law and some other professors have been dismissed so far. Dr Antic accused the protesters of being politically motivated, linked to those "forces" which were "discredited among the people".

Dr Antic was supported by Vojislav Seselj, a radical right-wing politician and a member of the new governing board of the law faculty.

Employees have signed the new contracts at a number of other faculties but many philosophy professors are refusing and threatening to strike.