University rector defends his decision to expel student after trip to France :: Charter'97 :: News

Vladimir Shimov, rector of the Belarusian State Economic University (BSEU), defended his decision to expel a student after a trip to France, saying that it might have ended in a tragedy. In a reply posted in English on the university`s official web site in response to letters of protest, Mr. Shimov says that Tatyana Khoma committed a flagrant violation of the inner regulations of the University and demonstrated her disrespect for BSEU as an organization which is legally and morally responsible for the students` security during their educational process.

The fourth-year student was expelled after she spent a few days in France to attend a meeting of the National Unions of Students in Europe (ESIB).

The girl was one of the best students in her year and had never been disciplined at the university.

The rector`s expulsion order said, "The university administration has detected the fact of an unauthorized and unfounded trip of student Tatyana Khoma to France and her stay at that country between November 11 and 14, 2005 during classes."

On November 24, the student was also evicted from the dormitory.

At the meeting in France, the Belarusian student was elected to the Executive Committee of ESIB, an organization representing more than 10 million students in 34 countries.

More than 3,000 students from 40 countries have already signed an ESIB petition that urged the BGEU rector to reinstate Ms. Khoma as a BGEU student and allow her to stay at the dormitory.