Police clear student occupation of Nantes university building amid extensive damage
Police evacuated the Censive building at the University of Nantes on Saturday after students had occupied it since Wednesday in solidarity with high-school protests, leaving the site heavily vandalized.
Since Wednesday, the Censive building on the Tertre campus of the University of Nantes has been occupied day and night by students supporting a nationwide high-school movement. An assembly of over 1,000 participants voted to maintain the occupation. Police intervened on Saturday morning, removing the protesters and securing the premises.
The evacuation revealed extensive vandalism, including graffiti and scattered waste, which university officials said could delay reopening. Carine Bernault, president of Nantes Université, visited the site and condemned the damage, emphasizing the university’s role as an open place for dialogue rather than a closed, damaged facility. She highlighted longstanding funding shortfalls that have strained university conditions. The incident underscores tensions between student activism and institutional resources.
Why it matters
The eviction highlights growing student unrest and the challenges French universities face amid funding shortages.
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