After almost two weeks of apparent silence to allow for cleaning and restyling work, the first students to cross the entrance of Palazzo Nuovo were those who had just graduated. After discussing the thesis, many people went to take the ritual photoswith a laurel wreath on his head, in front of the University building which was officially reopened yesterday after all teaching activities were blocked due to the occupation by pro-Palestinian students. Of the 38 days of battle — except for the flag painted on the entrance steps, which was destined to disappear — nothing else remains. The graffiti, writings and murals painted on the walls of the atrium have been cleaned and covered in paint. Of the mobilization to save Gaza from the bombs, which kept the university in suspense, not even a sign or a flash of color remains. But this does not mean that Unito is not thinking about the possible rekindling of the protests.
The curtains closed, meetings between the rector Stefano Geuna have not stopped and the representatives of the “home” departments at Palazzo Nuovo. If a short time ago the agenda included exams to be moved and the demands of the occupants, today the governance of Unito is focused on the third appeal of the summer session. It will start on Monday and should take place in the vacated and cleaned classrooms of Palazzo Nuovo. In the various meetings, however, there is also a reflection on the possible initiatives to be implemented to improve safety of the symbolic building of the “city center campus” in via Sant’Ottavio, which in recent months has been occupied twice: for three days in November at the beginning of the war in Gaza and on March 8 by transfeminist collectives.
The voice of Install turnstiles at the entranceas done at the Milan Polytechnic with rather questionable results, is excluded by the rector who, however, admits the reasoning on Strengthening of the video surveillance system: “It’s an idea we’re considering,” Geuna says.
Hypothesis greeted with concern by a part of the university. «I would have expected a different response to the mobilization, more oriented towards dialogue — commits the professor of History, Bruno Maida —. It is necessary to reflect on the use of cameras in the university. Will they serve to prevent thefts and ensure night-time control of Palazzo Nuovo? Or do they risk limiting freedom of movement and meeting within the university?
Meanwhile, we await the bill for the damages. Even if, once the walls are removed, we don’t go beyond “a few damaged latches and frames”. Geuna explains: “There is still no total sum, which is huge in itself. However, we are talking about many thousands of euros. Clearly forty days of occupation without allowing personnel in and without maintenance have led to the damage”, explains the “magnificent” of the University. The university is evaluating whether or not to proceed with the request for compensation for damages. “These are issues that have various aspects, including legal ones”, explained Geuna. In recent days, the Digos had sent a report to the prosecutor’s office regarding the pro-Palestinian occupations in Turin’s universities and the damage to Palazzo Nuovo had also been examined.
