The original calendar had students returning to their rooms on Saturday 3 October at dinner. That morning, instead of packing, some of them were being received by the director. Mr Ousmane Diallo, in post since the day before, received students from the Ziguinchor Student Coordination to review the situation created by the postponed reopening of the social campuses.

A meeting arranged quickly#

The postponement had been announced on 2 October in two statements: the first very brief, the second more detailed, citing the unavailability of the main restaurant’s operator and the low capacity of the only substitute restaurant. The meeting the next morning is its first public follow-up. It took place on a Saturday, which shows, at the very least, a tight schedule.

What was discussed#

According to CROUS/Z, the talks covered three points: the current situation, the concerns raised by students and, above all, the search for solutions that would allow the year to start “in the best possible conditions”. The institution does not detail those concerns and does not publish minutes. It only states that talks continue.

A stated method#

The statement reporting on the meeting uses chosen words: “Listen. Exchange. Find the way to a solution together.” The approach, the management writes, rests on “a simple principle: favour open, sincere and responsible dialogue”. The talks “must bring positions closer, examine possible solutions and bring about, as soon as possible, an agreed outcome that takes students’ living and reception conditions into account”.

CROUS/Z says it remains mobilised “with the various parties concerned”, in a spirit of appeasement. It adds that one priority remains: creating the conditions for as calm a start to the year as possible. Further developments, it promises, will be announced officially to the university community.

“The dialogue is under way. The work continues.”

What came next#

The promise of communication was kept within three days. On 6 October, a statement set the reopening for Thursday 8 October at dinner. It does not return to the content of the talks, nor to the question of the main restaurant. To place this meeting within the whole sequence, read our chronicle of the start of the year.