The network of professors, associates, researchers, and other employees at the University of Novi Sad and other higher education institutions in Vojvodina, "Slobodan University," has announced its strong opposition to the manner in which their university has been involved in the process of proposing members of the REM Council, as well as to the candidates that have emerged from that process.
According to information available in the media, the Universities of Novi Sad and Pristina, the University of Defense, the Criminalistics Police University, and MB University have proposed the journalist and editor of "Politika," Bojan Bilbija, and the Niš journalist and founder of the so-called GONGO organization PROUNS, Milan Petković, as candidates, as stated in their announcement.
"We believe that these candidacies are unacceptable and deeply compromising for the integrity of REM, as well as for the reputation of the University of Novi Sad. Petković comes from an organization that is used to exert political influence under the guise of professional association. Bilbija, on the other hand, has repeatedly violated the journalistic code by spreading disinformation, hate speech, and participating in politically motivated campaigns in pro-government media," emphasized those from the Free University.
They add that even more alarming than the candidacies themselves is the illegitimacy of the procedures by which they were proposed, as the proposal was evidently made without any insight or participation from the academic community of UNS. They state that no member of the University was consulted, nor was a Council or Senate of UNS convened.
"This is yet another piece of evidence of the privatization of UNS by Rector Dejan Madić, who continues to present himself as rector, even though all 17 members of the University voted no confidence in him. If he found time to propose regime spokespersons for members of the REM Council, he could have found time to convene a Senate session to confirm his dismissal," they announced.
According to their claims, the University of Novi Sad has lacked a legitimate leader for months, instead being held by an illegitimate usurper who clings to his position through legal maneuvers.
"The latest move—participating in a politically motivated selection of candidates for REM—represents the pinnacle of institutional abuse and further undermines the reputation of our academic community. We strongly oppose these candidates and support the proposals from the University of Belgrade and the University of Arts—Mr. Vanja Šibalić and Dr. Irina Milutinović—whose professional biographies and public engagement inspire confidence that they will represent the public interest, media freedom, and professionalism in the REM Council," the professors stated.
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