Astride Toh

Journalism and Media Studies Lehman College CUNY

Professor McKenna

MCS 421.Capstone.FinalPaper

December 22, 2023

The Societal Impact of Universities

Abstract —

Akin to the protests spotlighting other problems, the student demonstrations brought into question the modern university. Developing into a multifaceted institution its role have become increasingly questioned in the 21st century. Well known entrepreneurs like Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg, and journalists like Larry King didn’t graduate college. So the value a university brings has become questioning. The protests display though universities are still a pillar in this modern world.

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A Manifestation with labor unions. Photo by Suzannah Fernandez.

Students and faculty from Sorbonne Nouvelle, participate in the general manifestations in Paris. Photo by Suzannah Fernandez

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Keywords —

University, scholarship, retirements reformes, youth, manifestations, social movements, Sorbonne Nouvelle, equipped, multifaceted,

I. Introduction

Before student demonstrations rocked the United States in the last quarter of the year, it rocked France. Despite a difference in reason, there is something to be learn from the French manifestations. The passing of the retirement reforms and questioning of democratic intergrity, spurred youth activism. Yet, complications arised when their universities became platforms for expression, advocacy, and visibility. Institutions, like Sorbonne Nouvelle experienced friction between students and administrators (Djermoune, 2023). Students, expressed higher education extends beyond career readiness, and includes making them conscious citizens. Education is not solely a structured lesson plan. School is the place to spotlight, discuss and be educated on social movements. They should be able to demonstrate on social issues concerning them. The administration agreed school is the site for debate, discovery and scholarship. However, they highlighted their responsibility for students safety, the democratization of education and the neutrality a school itself must uphold despite personal views. Lack of neutrality hinders scholarship by highlighting one cause over another. A measure that ostracizes a group from the debate. Being that’s the case, how should higher education play their role during movements?

IIa. Context : La Réforme des Retraites (nationwide)

In 2010, former president, Nicholas Sarkozy, modifed the retirement age of France from 60 to 62. Thirteen years later, another set of speeches turned into actions. The administration of the French President, Emmanuel Macron, increased the retirement age to 64, amounting to 43 years of work to have a full pension. A solution to the gap between an aging and working population. Before the proposed reforms he encouraged, the French to work longer hours to cover for public costs like retirement. However, the French 35 hours work week was established in the 70s to allocate work to the unemployed. France has high unemployment rates compared. Though under Macron it decreased from 10% (2016) to 7.1% (2023), it rose in the third quarter to 7.4% (Arnold & Abboud,2023). Further, nearly 14% of France's GDP goes towards its pension system with “the mandatory contribution rate nearing 28% of earnings at the average wage level”; Yet retirees earn on average €1,200 (Ray, Saptarshi. (2023), Boulhol, & Queisser (2023)). So there had to be a way to cover expenses without pushing financial restraints. Though the deficit is not present it’s hinted to temporary become a bump in the road. In 2022 the Advisory Council released a report. “In 2012 the system had a surplus of €900million and €3.2billion in 2022. Yet, from 2023 to 2027 a possible deficit between 0.3% and 0.4% of the GDP which is around €10 billion a year could last until 2032”(Brunet,2023). The administration set to slightly roll out the increase in age till 2027. However, the council defends “the deficit would gradually died out in mid 2030s without the reforms”(Brunet, 2023).

The Yellow Vest are still visible in protests as a reminder to citizens of their accomplishments Photo by Suzannah Fernandez

These reformes have been debated since 2019. However, the Yellow Vests protests against an increased fuel tax, and COVID placed this issue on the backburner for both sides (HugoDécrypte, 2023). Come January 2023, the administration resurfaced the topic. In March the French senate upheld the reformes. Yet, before the National Assembly could vote on it, Prime minister Élisabeth Borne used a process called Article 49.3 to pass the bill. And that’s why the French public were upset, this bill didn’t have their approval on it. The government’s consistent supporter, workers’ union, the CFDT didn’t back them on this one. News station, France 24, interviewed 23 year old protester, Bertille. A neuropsychologist at a Parisien hospital she testified, “amidst soaring inflation, and an culmination on our hospitals, is the reform which accompanys rollbacks on social support“ (Brunet, 2023). The administration did also lost its majority foothold in parliament last summer (Lichfield, 2019). So it seems the vote from the National Assembly would not have been favorable. Hence why the 49.3 was used. A similar process exist in the US. A president can call an executive order to bypass Congress approval. Alternatively they could veto a bill Congress wants to pass. So, think taxation without representation. Reformes without consent. However, the Supreme Court of France, the Constitutional Council did approve the reform on April 14. This win spotlighted the persistence of Macron’s administration among its predecessors (Brunet, 2023). In September, they began the yearly process of increasing the age by three months till 2027.
“The protests died down as the Macron administration wouldn’t budge and protestors couldn’t financially afford to keep going because they don’t get paid for days they protest” explained professor Laborde. They have the right to but they don’t get paid. And finals for university approached.

manifestation. Source: Anonymous Sorbonne Nouvelle student

IIb. Context: La Réforme des Retraites (university wide)

Why were Gen-Z students bothered by a law I thought favored them? Amidst an inflation, wouldn’t the reform decrease further financial burden waiting for them in the future? They wouldn’t have to bear the financial burden of the older generation. Lou Roméo of the news station France 24, asked young protestors the same question. 24 year old master student, Yannël of Sorbonne University, admits, “I can understand the need to balance budgets when the population is getting older” but argues, the reform should at least be adapted to the arduousness of the work (Brunet, 2023) . Bertille, 23 expands that thought; “Remember that most people’s health begins to decline around the age of 64.” (Brunet, 2023). Those who can’t afford to retire before this age are the working class. Though they pay taxes, the wealthier have the flexibility to retire early with a comfortable sum; placing the weight of the bill unto the blue collars. So, the visible protestors were blue collars workers like bakers, garbage collectors, public transportation workers, hospitality and oil refineries workers among others. “Nearly 40% of them work in a “tense” job where they have fewer resources to cope with higher demands, compared to 23% in Germany or 30% in Europe. (Amar & Mouëllic, & Pivin, 2023) .”

Messages similar to this were plastered around Paris. Photo by Suzannah Fernandez. TRANSLATION : THERE”S MORE TO LIFE THAN WORK. TO RETIRE AT 60 IS TOO LATE

Beside Sorbonne Nouvelle, Paris 1, Paris 8, and Paris Cité among other universities in Paris and even nationwide, demonstrated. The university of Bordeaux-Montaigne (outside of Paris) was blocked with the presence of 300 students (Fernando, 2023). Their decisions to occupy school grounds were voted at university wide assembly meetings. During these weekly meetings students voiced their concern, vote on decisions to take as a student body and during the civil unrest they voted to do their part.

AG meetings happened in the center of campus

As a New Yorker raised in hustle culture, I’m used to seeing people go beyond the retirement age in the workforce. So, my foreign upbringing caused a knowledge gap. Soon though, the answer to "What is going on?”, would be [were] answered when the protests came to me. Students at my host university altered the pedagogy of the classrooms. At the beginning of class, or during, active students asked the professors for time to speak. These rooms became their platforms to talk about the status quo, express thoughts, sentiments and encourage student involvement. However, the plot moved from the classrooms to an occupation of the university building. A move that was forewarned in the posters they plastered across the university. Sorbonne Nouvelle [(which I attended) - we know ] went from being blocked by students to shutting down. My neighborhood on the other hand was plastered with posters and slogans. On my way home I saw a burned garbage in the neighborhood. On another day I could hear chants from my 8th floor apartment.
Bertille also clarifies, the “lack of work” retirees do should be reevaluated. “The retired may not be working lucratively but their work is beneficial as they look after another, and volunteer”(Brunet, 2023). Involved students throughout Sorbonne Nouvelle, repeated “This impacts our parents, our older family members; so it impacts us.” The boomers and Gen X who taught were getting closer to retirement, face a gradually delay to their goal. ] This delay also impacts millenials and Gen-Z. Due to higher education, some graduates work later in their twenties (ages 24 to 25), causing them to work pass 64 regardless of the reforms. As noted earlier, [they’ll] receive their full pension 43 years of service. Yet, they are recompensed with “a pension increase obtained when one exceeds the legal age.” With the reforms, the change from 42 years, and age 62, negates their late start, and make sure a percentage retire on time. Though great they lose out on surcharge that accounts for late employment when the nation is combatting with a rise in unemployment“ (Louis, 2023). There is indeed a labor crisis in France that the Government should have recognized and addressed before any announcement on pensions” (Amar, & Mouëllic, & Pivin, 2023)

Increase the wages not the age. Source : Astride

References

Aarup, Anne Sarah. (2023). French Senate adopts pension reform as street protests continue. Politico https://www.politico.eu/article/france-senate-pension-reform-labor-unions-protests-retirement-age-elisabeth-borne-emmanuel-macron/

Amar, Corinne & Mouëllic, Juliette & Pivin Clotilde.(2023) Pourquoi l’actuel projet de réforme des retraites fait-il débat? RadioFrancehttps://www.radiofrance.fr/franceculture/podcasts/le-pourquoi-du-comment-economie-et-social/pourquoi-l-actuel-projet-de-reforme-des-retraites-fait-il-debat-3701597