MODERATE STUDENTS MARCH TOWARDS UNIVERSITY; MILITANT STUDENTS ON STEPS OF UNIVERSITY BUILDING; STUDENTS IN FRONT OF FACULTY BUILDING; SIGN "FACULTA OCCUPATA".




Initials JH/V/BOB/PC


EDITORS: OUR STORY "ITALY: ROME STUDENTS CONVERGE IN DEMONSTRATION OVER STUDENT OCCUPATIONS" PROD NO. 1615/69 SERVICED 20TH FEBRUARY 1969, ALSO REFERS.

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Background: ABOUT 600 MODERATE STUDENTS MARCHED TO ROME UNIVERSITY TODAY (FRIDAY) TO PROTEST AGAINST THE BREAKDOWN OF TEACHING THERE CAUSED BY THE OCCUPATION OF 10 FACULTIES AT THE INSTITUTION BY LEFT-WING STUDENTS. YESTERDAY, THE ROME UNIVERSITY SENATE DECIDED TO CLOSE THE FACULTIES AMID GROWING TENSION BETWEEN EXTREME LEFT-WING STUDENTS AND MORE MODERATE COLLEAGUES WHO WISH TO HALT THE NEAR-DISRUPTION OF UNIVERSITY LIFE SINCE THE ACADEMIC YEAR STARTED LAST OCTOBER.

MANY MILITANT STUDENTS ASSEMBLED ON THE STEPS OF THE MAIN BUILDING OF THE UNIVERSITY TODAY.

THE MODERATE STUDENTS ARE DEMANDING THAT UNIVERSITY LIFE RETURN TO NORMAL WHILE A REFERENDUM BE HELD ON STUDENT PARTICIPATION IN UNIVERSITY GOVERNMENT, AND DEMANDS FOR OTHER SWEEPING REFORMS. THE LEFT-WING STUDENTS, WHO WANT TO CONTINUE THE OCCUPATION OF THE FACULTY BUILDINGS, CLAIM A REFERENDUM COULD EASILY BE RIGGED AND WOULD NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

THE OCCUPATION OF THE FACULTY BUILDINGS BECAME EXTREMELY UNPOPULAR IN RECENT WEEKS BECAUSE IT PREVENTED MANY STUDENTS FROM TAKING EXAMINATIONS.

CLASHES BETWEEN BOTH STUDENT FACTIONS WERE ONLY NARROWLY AVOIDED YESTERDAY WHEN RIVAL DEMONSTRATIONS WERE HELD.