Students block HEC business school to amplify voices of high schoolers and teachers, despite ongoing exams and mixed reactions from peers.
Blockage at HEC business school
On Thursday, October 15, a small group of activists blocked the entrance of HEC, France's top business school, at its Jouy-en-Josas campus. The event was reported by the newspaper Le Figaro the day before, and involved only about two dozen people.Blockage details and impact
The activists used trash cans and construction barriers to create a blockage, but it did not prevent access to the campus. HEC confirmed that classes and exams were not disrupted, and the school's administration did not comment on the event.Activists' motivations and demands
The students involved acknowledged their privileged status and aimed to highlight the struggles of high school students and teachers. They displayed banners with messages like "Listen to the high school students" and "Privileged, but not blind," and questioned the government's response to their demands.Mixed reactions among students
Some students supported the action, noting that not all HEC students come from privileged backgrounds. Others criticized the movement, calling it a "bourgeois need to exist" and suggesting that those involved would later work in banks, highlighting a perceived hypocrisy.Political response and preparation
Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of the political party La France Insoumise, commented on the event via the social network X, stating it was unrelated to his recent conference at HEC and mocking potential legal actions against the activists. The activists had organized through a WhatsApp group with over 900 members, encouraging others to join during exam hours.Blockage duration and administration's role
The blockage was planned to last until mid-afternoon, and the HEC administration did not intervene. Activists continued to invite their classmates to join, emphasizing the event's timing during the exam period.
