Students from Charles University launched an occupational strike at the
university’s main headquarters Karolinum on Wednesday night demanding the
resignation of the university’s rector Tomáš Zima. They filled the main
entrance hall of the university headquarters refusing to budge, despite
Zima’s efforts to diffuse the tension.
The student protesters hold Zima responsible for a number of managerial
failings, including the university’s controversial partnership agreement
with consumer lender Home Credit, which is known to support the Institute
of Vaclav Klaus, a vocal denier of climate change. Following a wave of
criticism, the company withdrew from the deal, but students say the rector
is no longer trustworthy. They are refusing to leave the premises until he
resigns.