The Université de Quebec a Montreal (UQAM) is seeking an injunction to prevent protesters from blocking school entrances.
Administrators said the court order was the first step in taking all means necessary to allow free access to classrooms, after small groups of protesting students blockaded multiple entrances to several buildings throughout the day on Monday.
The injunction demand lists five student groups which voted in favour of protest action, and specifically names 34 students who are accused of "committing illegal acts, namely blocking, obstructing and restricting access to the property and buildings of UQAM by threatening or intimidating others, and by threatening to assault anyone who attempted to enter UQAM."
School officials say the protesters were attempting to intimidate their fellow students in a bid to gain support for their demonstrations against the so-called 'austerity' budget implemented by the provincial government.
The protesters are also opposed to action UQAM is taking to expel nine students who have been very active in student protests for the past several years.
The nine students, including Justine Boulanger, a student who sits on the school's board of directors, were scheduled to appear before school hearings last week, but those hearings have been delayed until after April 24.
UQAM Management school suspended classes on Monday after the entryways were blocked by protesters.
The school's students, who voted overwhelmingly against the protest, expressed shock that they could not attend class.
Altercations between students were reported.
“Management will take every measure possible to prevent future blocking actions, both inside and outside the university,” the statement read. “We will take all necessary measures to ensure that classrooms remain accessible at all times.”
The UQAM School of Management Student Association (AéESG) had previously expressed solidarity with groups that oppose against austerity. However, it is opposed to the strike, instead relying on other strategies to raise community awareness of the consequences of austerity measures.
