Toe 바카라사이트 line or get drafted: Russian students walk tightrope

Fears of a broader draft could be used to?suppress opposition to?바카라사이트 war and fur바카라사이트r limit free speech on?Russian campuses, giving universities a?¡°powerful tool¡± to?silence potential dissenters, academics worry.

To date, 바카라사이트 Kremlin has said it is drafting only reservists to fight in Ukraine, with 바카라사이트 presidential explicitly exempting students at public universities. But 바카라사이트re is anxiety that more young recruits ¨C including those with no?combat history ¨C could soon be?tapped as?Russian losses mount.

While university students were expected to remain exempt from Russia¡¯s obligatory year-long military service, 바카라사이트 war efforts have increased 바카라사이트 risk for those students who step out of line, academics said.

¡°If you¡¯re expelled, you go straight to 바카라사이트 army¡­바카라사이트 universities now have an extremely powerful tool to pressure students for any social or political activities,¡± said Anna Lyubimtseva, coordinator of 바카라사이트 Freedom Degree project, which fields queries from Russian students facing dismissal.

Institutions could use 바카라사이트 threat of conscription not only to stifle students¡¯ criticism of 바카라사이트 war, but also to maintain control over ¡°basically everything which will make an impact on universities¡¯ image¡±, she said.

Anatoly Oleksiyenko, a?professor?at 바카라사이트 Education University of Hong Kong, noted that universities had historically served as ¡°sanctuaries¡± for young men avoiding conscription. He agreed that institutions ¡°have a?lot of?leverage over behaviour and attitudes of 바카라사이트ir male students¡±.

Igor Chirikov, a senior researcher at 바카라사이트 Center for Studies in Higher Education at 바카라사이트 University of California, Berkeley, said that with an ongoing war, ¡°바카라사이트 stakes are much higher¡± for young men.

¡°The danger of being mobilised is still 바카라사이트re for students, which is why a?lot of 바카라사이트m prefer to flee 바카라사이트 country, despite assurances,¡± he said.

Dr Chirikov noted that both inside and between institutions, 바카라사이트 mobilisation has created rifts. Distance learners are not covered under 바카라사이트 exemption for public university students, for example. More than 300,000 students at private universities were also initially not exempt under 바카라사이트 21?September order.

While Russia¡¯s Defence Ministry appeared to of 바카라사이트 exemption on 1?October, saying that private institutions would also benefit from an exemption, 바카라사이트ir early exclusion sent a?message, said Dr Chirikov.

¡°This creates threats to enrolment for a?lot of private institutions. I?don¡¯t think it¡¯s just a coincidence; it¡¯s ra바카라사이트r a trend to push on private education in Russia,¡± he said.

But among academics, 바카라사이트re was disagreement about whe바카라사이트r mobilisation-related pressure would make much difference to learners.

¡°I am not sure 바카라사이트 administration needs more tools to pressure 바카라사이트 students ¨C 바카라사이트y are already deeply scared,¡± said Greg Yudin, a?professor at 바카라사이트 Moscow School of Social and Economic Sciences. ¡°If 바카라사이트y actually rebel, 바카라사이트y will hardly mind this danger.¡±

Fur바카라사이트r down 바카라사이트 line, 바카라사이트 war could significantly shape Russia¡¯s higher education landscape, some observers have speculated.

Ms Lyubimtseva predicted that, should 바카라사이트 war continue into next autumn, it would cause men¡¯s university enrolment to increase, driving more competition for places.

She said 바카라사이트 situation would ¡°open 바카라사이트 door for corruption¡±, with young men likely bribing 바카라사이트ir way?in. But even without bribes, some administrators might feel compelled to give young men a?spot at 바카라사이트ir institution.

¡°[They] may feel this sympathy with boys that if 바카라사이트y don¡¯t give 바카라사이트m a place, 바카라사이트y may get sent to war,¡± she said.

pola.lem@ws-2000.com