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Why exactly do we celebrate students’ day in Europe? November 17th is a day of remembrance and gratitude for the acts of those students who came before us, many of whom dedicated their lives for the liberties and rights that us students enjoy so freely today – and sometimes take for granted. The 17th of November is the day where students are put in the limelight and activities are organised throughout Europe by the European Students’ Union (ESU) and National Unions of Students.
Without delving too deeply into why we students celebrate this day, allow me to give you a brief outline of some of the major incidents related to the 17th of November and how Students’ Day came about:
November 1939: Prague, Czechoslovakia: Demonstrations by Czech students against the German occupation resulted in the killing of Jan Opletal - an aspiring medical student by Nazi soldiers. The student’s funeral procession which was held on the 15th of November led to thousands of students, who used the occasion as another anti– Nazi demonstration. In a brutal retaliation all Czech higher education institutions were closed down; Nazi troopers stormed the University of Prague, more than 1200 students were jailed or sent to concentration camps; and nine students & professors were executed without trial two days later on the 17th of November 1939. The events of this day were first commemorated on the 17th of November 1941 by students in the UK in what became known Europe over as Students’ Day.
November 17th 1973 Athens, Greece:
Students’ rose up in Greece on Students’ Day 1973 in what is known as The Athens Polytechnic uprising. After barricading themselves and constructing a radio station from the equipment that the students found in the laboratories they started broadcasting pro-democratic and anti-regime messages to the entire city of Athens. They were soon joined by thousands of their compatriots. The student strike against the Greek military junta came to a climax on November 17, with a violent crackdown and tanks crushing the gates of the polytechnic. The Day of the Greek Students is today among the official holidays in Greece.
In the Czech Republic and Slovakia, the events of November 17, 1989 remain etched in the memory of all who were students then. On this day a peaceful student demonstration in Prague was beaten back by the riot police. That event sparked a set of popular demonstrations that saw the beginning of the Velvet Revolution and finally the demise and overthrow of the communist regime there.
In a groundbreaking move, the significance of which can only be appreciated in light of the problems faced by students in the not too distant past, the European Students’ Union (ESU) last May passed their students’ rights charter – a European document that declares 35 student rights to be inalienable and finally provides a concrete reference document when it comes to student rights.
Whether its fighting totalitarianism or arguing around a negotiating table - students have always been a catalyst for change. ESU will this year be promoting the day across Europe by co-ordinating with National Unions of Students to use the 17th of November to recognise outstanding students or organisations who have promoted or fought for the student interest in their respective countries.
On Students' Day we should take some time to remember all those who came before us, who weren't as lucky as we are today and because of whom all the freedoms we enjoy and take for granted are a reality. My appeal to you is to spare a thought for all those around the world who are not in the same position as many of us: The students still jailed or denied their rights in China following the Tiananmen Square massacre of 1989; the Belarusian students jailed, expelled or forced to leave their country for expressing their dissatisfaction with the regime there; and the countless people around Europe and the world for whom Higher Education remains a distant pipe dream.
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