Rallies call for academic freedom and university autonomy to be defended

At the call of the Tokyo University Staff Union, 350 staff members, students, and post-graduates of national universities from throughout Japan on May 18 held a rally at Tokyo University against independent agencies running national universities for the government.

The government plans to change the form of national universities into either one of corporations with a special status or into private universities.

The government has already changed the status of many national bodies, such as hospitals, research institutes, and non-policy-making units of government organizations. For the status of the national universities, the government intends to reach a conclusion by 2003.

"Under the pretext of administrative need for 'downsizing and streamlining,' the government is trying to cut off sections which are closely connected with the people's lives and safety.

In the rally, Tabata Kuniyuki, chair of the Tokyo University Staff Union, said that if an independent agency takes over the administration of the national universities and steering committees, it will also control medium- and long-term study proposals.

A similar rally was held by the Kyoto University Staff Union in front of the clock tower on Kyoto University campus, attended by about 100 people.

Hirata Tatsuyuki (deputy chair of the Kyoto University Staff Union) read out an appeal calling for academic freedom and the autonomy of universities to be defended. (end)