University leadership in quandary as campus uproar grows over professor's controversial remarks
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Oleh Davydchak, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs of Lviv Polytechnic National University, met with students on Nov. 14 as they rallied for the dismissal of linguist Iryna Farion, who teaches at the university, news outlet Novyny.Live has reported.
Davydchak said that a decision to dismiss Farion would be "difficult." In order to take it, it is necessary to "study all the materials, circumstances, listen to the teachers, Farion herself, and the students," he said.
"You came to us to express your opinion, and we’re listening to it. The same as with the opinions of other teachers and other students," he said.
Davydchak also added that "according to the questionnaires," there has been no negative feedback to Farion from students so far.
Students in Lviv are demanding the firing of Ukrainian language professor Iryna Farion from Lviv Polytechnic National University after she made disparaging comments about Russian-speaking Ukrainian soldiers, public broadcaster Suspilne reported on Nov. 14.
The professor sparked a wave of criticism after she responded to the fact that some military brigades of the Azov Regiment and the 3rd Separate Marine Brigade speak Russian, stating that she cannot "accept" that such fighters be called Ukrainians.
She was speaking during an interview with Ukrainian journalist and television presenter Yanina Sokolova on the YouTube channel Rendezvous on Nov. 5.
Students from Lviv Polytechnic, Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, and Kyiv National University of Technology and Design, among others, participated in the protest. The protesters brought posters with slogans such as "Farion out", and "Iryna Farion disgraces Ukraine" as seen in a video provided by Suspilne.
She is currently a lecturer, associate professor, doctor of philology, and professor of the Ukrainian language department at Lviv Polytechnic.
Later, representatives of Lviv Polytechnic University invited the students to meet with administrators.
On Nov. 7, Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets appealed to the police, Ukraine’s SBU security service and the National Council for Television and Radio Broadcasting over Farion's statement.
On Nov. 8, Farion published a letter from a student in the temporarily occupied Crimea who supported her position on the importance of the Ukrainian language and said that he was looking forward to the liberation of his hometown, Kerch. Farion did not conceal the student's personal information, including his name and the city where he studies.
On Nov. 13, the pro-Russian Telegram channel “Crimean SMERSH” — a network of informants seeking out Crimean pro-Ukrainian individuals to instigating occupying forces against them — published a video in which a young man named Maxym Hlebov identified himself as the author of the letter to Farion.
In the video, Hlebov apologized for the letter and said that he had renounced his views. The caption under the video stated that the Russians had found Hlebov thanks to Farion's post.
Farion herself said that she is supported by "hundreds of people." She called the incident a "regular provocation" organized by Russian propaganda.
Later, Ombudsman Lubinets said that he had again appealed to the SBU about Farion.
Lviv Polytechnic University said that it "does not bear responsibility" for Farion's statements and that the university students have contacted law enforcement.
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