Title: “The requisition of Crous housing for the Olympics: a controversial decision and insufficient compensation”
Introduction :
The French government recently announced its decision to requisition the accommodation of the Crous (Regional Center for University and School Works) in order to make them available to participants in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. This announcement sparked strong reactions from students, student organizations and politicians, who denounced a lack of consideration for students and inappropriate compensation. In this article, we will examine the different points of view on this controversial decision and discuss the inadequacy of the proposed compensation.
Paltry compensation:
The Minister of Higher Education announced that students whose accommodation was requisitioned would receive compensation of “100 euros and two places” to attend Olympic events. This measure has been strongly criticized by students and student associations, who believe that this compensation is derisory and does not take into account the inconvenience caused by the requisition of their accommodation.
Reactions of indignation:
Reactions to this government decision were not long in coming. Politicians, particularly those in the opposition, have denounced the government’s contempt for students. Green MP Julien Bayou described the compensation as “100 bullets and a Mars”, thus highlighting the derisory treatment reserved for the students. For its part, the Solidaires union denounced a “rant” and initiated legal proceedings against the requisition of housing.
Suspension of requisition and impact on students:
In addition, the Paris administrative court suspended in summary proceedings the decision of the Crous to limit the occupancy leases of student accommodation for the year 2023-2024. This suspension was welcomed by students and student organizations who believe that the requisition of accommodation poses a serious problem, particularly in terms of precariousness and uncertainty for the students concerned.
A contested decision:
According to the National Center for University and School Works (Cnous), which manages student residences, this requisition is necessary to accommodate firefighters, caregivers and law enforcement during the Olympic Games. However, many critics believe that this decision prioritizes the interests of Olympic participants over the situation of students.
Conclusion :
The requisition of Crous housing for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games is causing widespread controversy. Students, student organizations and politicians strongly criticize this decision and the proposed compensation, considered insufficient. The suspension of the requisition decision by the administrative court also highlights the problems and the impact on students. It is necessary for the government to take these concerns into account and find fairer solutions for the students concerned.