On August 27, 2025, students, professors, and supporting citizens gathered in front of the Faculty of Philosophy in Novi Sad, one day after the faculty dean, Milivoj Alanović, ended a months-long student blockade.
According to Radio Free Europe, police in riot gear were stationed at the entrance as protesters chanted “Administration out”.
“We are here until they let us into the building, and they will have to let us in,” one student declared over a megaphone.
The protest follows events on August 26, when students reported that Dean Alanović, accompanied by several professors, changed the locks and threatened students with disciplinary action.
During the previous day, police and gendarmerie entered the faculty after an incident prompted by the dean. Students attempted to block their entry but police still gained access, and the building has been continuously guarded since then.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs reported that one person was arrested for alleged assault on police, while authorities continue to search for others involved.
The students’ demands include:
- Police leaving the building
- Unhindered access for faculty and students
- No disciplinary actions against students involved in the blockade
The protests are linked to the railway station collapse in Novi Sad, which killed 16 people. Following the tragedy, students across Serbia blocked multiple faculties, demanding criminal and political accountability.
The Faculty of Philosophy in Novi Sad was the first in the city to be occupied by students, setting a precedent for later blockades at other universities.
In response, the academic community has called on Dean Alanović to resign for “usurping” the faculty, and around 60 faculty members signed a petition condemning the dean’s actions and the removal of protesting students.
