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Majid Dari

In the 1970s and 1980s, the university was at the forefront. Despite the high costs, it stood against excesses and did not settle for just being avant-garde; rather, it tried to be influential by supporting the media, participating in elections, supporting intellectuals, and holding numerous social-political meetings. Whenever necessary, it took action and entered the field by organizing various gatherings and giving fiery speeches (even within the university).

The Judicial Arm of the University – also known as the Disciplinary Committee – could have sentenced students and prevented them from participating in activities based on certain articles; however, due to the power and unity of students and sometimes ambiguity in the specified articles, as well as the complicity and cooperation of university officials, this matter was becoming increasingly difficult to carry out.

This system and many equations were disrupted by the emergence of the Third Millennium miracle. The government had realized that its arrows were either not hitting their target due to the constant presence of students, or it was difficult to make them possible. The public’s interest in the university was also high. Even the people in the streets and markets had their eyes on the university and were monitoring its activities. This was seen as a dangerous zone for the integrity seekers who saw most of their failures as a result of the university, so they had to think about its fate. Zahedi and the students, the ministers of science in the ninth and tenth governments, started a project to weaken the university by employing individuals who sometimes did not even have a university degree, and continued with determination. The government, which was very pleased with its unwavering support for Ahmadinejad and his emergence, praised everything he did and tried to cover up their goals by strengthening the student Basij and suppressing student activists. The disciplinary committee also

For years, universities were in turmoil until the university presidents gradually changed in 2013. However, they also acted conservatively. The Ahmadinejad administrators implemented the changes they wanted, and now in the face of the same changes, there is no will for change. Gradually, licenses were issued for activities, but under the supervision of the university. When the university had to issue qualifications for participation in the elections of a certain student organization, it was evident that student activities were only possible under our supervision. And since most of the presidents tried to maintain their positions, they made conservatism their profession and rejected students who were considered radical. The student committee continued with power. Student regulations focused on minor and insignificant criteria. For example, if students rebelled against the university’s set criteria for dress, they were referred to the disciplinary committee. If their social or even professional activities exceeded the limits set by the managers, they were referred to the disciplinary committee. However, there were also students and officials who

In any case, the judicial arm of university managers has now become powerful and oversees student activities. However, until now, the discussion was only about the university. In 2017, a number of students who had gathered at the university were arrested by security forces and brought to court. The involvement of security forces in the university was not unprecedented, but not to this extent. In response to the protests that took place, in order to demonstrate their authority, despite the Ministry of Science’s promise to follow up on their situation, they were sometimes faced with heavy judicial sentences. This was a turning point that should not have been easily overlooked. Until then, university activities were dealt with within the university and by the disciplinary committee, but now student activities in the university are considered a crime.

But it seems that the government did not agree to this. This time, the university, in order not to fall behind, included the students’ activities outside the university in the university’s regulations through certain procedures: “Violation of virtual space and disciplinary regulations of students”; a new innovation that, if not prevented from being implemented, will soon be considered as part of the university’s laws.

The consequences of laws outside of custom like this will weaken the university even more. The disciplinary committee is now over the student both inside and outside the university, and will monitor their social activities outside of the university. This regulation is fundamentally in violation of citizenship rights and despite repeated promises, it makes the university more secure, not safe. What students and student organizations do and will do in response is up to them; but civil society and political activists must pressure the government and protest similar regulations, demanding their cancellation and instead of blaming and determining the fate of students, they should support the dignity of the university and its students.