Students at one of France's most prestigious universities were occupying its premises on Thursday, December 7, demanding the departure of its director following his arrest on suspicion of domestic violence. Mathias Vicherat, director of the Sciences Po social sciences university, and his partner Anissa Bonnefont were arrested on Sunday, each accusing the other of domestic violence. They were released on Monday.
Up to 100 students were staging a sit-in at the main university building in Paris, in the left-bank area of Saint-Germain, according to student organizations, backed by a vote at the student body's general assembly. "The only possible response by the administration is to suspend Mathias Vicherat from all his duties, and his resignation," a text approved by the student body said.
Students were "indignant" at the "persistent climate of impunity" at Sciences Po, it said. Vicherat has written to students, teachers and staff, promising to meet with them "very soon."
Vicherat was appointed head of Sciences Po after the forced resignation of his predecessor Frédéric Mion, accused of covering up incest allegations against star political scientist Olivier Duhamel who was head of the Sciences Po Foundation which has strategic oversight over the university.