During the spring semester, EPFL set up the ILOT (Israel and Occupied Territories) commission to discuss the situation in the Middle East in the context of EPFL.
The commission meets twice a month.
The commission’s objectives are to reduce the impact of the crisis in the Middle East on the campus, ensure the continuity of EPFL’s missions, promote campus unity, support affected communities, advise EPFL management on actions to be taken and the school’s position, optimize exchanges and centralize communication, and validate events.
ILOT also discusses the progress made by the working groups (WG) set up by the commission last semester.
Four working groups have been set up since the commission’s inception: each is tasked with considering a specific aspect of the impact of the crisis in the Middle East on life at EPFL.
Discussion forums WG : The aim of this working group is to design a space for political discussion. The aim is to create a place where everyone can express their political opinions, debate and get informed, while respecting others.
Discussion group WG : The aim of this working group is to design professionally supervised discussion groups to allow space for the expression of community members’ feelings. The format has been established and the groups are ready to be proposed if there is a need. They have already been proposed to certain campus communities, such as the Lebanese. However, the response rate was low and those interested were referred to the social consultations. Other, more appropriate solutions, in collaboration with the community directly, are currently being considered.
LEX WG: The aim of this working group is to discuss LEX 8.3.1 and 8.2.1. LEX 8.3.1 defines EPFL’s rules concerning the organization of events on campus. LEX 8.2.1 defines the conditions for recognition of associations. It was on the basis of the latter that EPFL temporarily suspended Polyquity. The aim is to redefine what is political.
Mental health in crisis management working group: The aim of this working group is to determine procedures for providing better mental support to members of the community during a crisis.
We discuss events related to the crisis and propose actions to the school.
In this way, we encourage the school to engage in discussions with the various entities and to avoid sanctions that would unfairly penalize students, depending on the situation that led to the sanction.
We also report back to the school on students’ objections and feelings, in order to influence and inform the school’s approach to this crisis, so that all students are heard and taken into account.
Our aim is to maintain a respectful space and ensure that the school listens to the needs of its students.
If you have any questions, please contact us at: presidence@agepoly.ch.