USP Visual Arts Students Plan Protests After Course Cuts

Visual Arts students at the University of São Paulo's School of Communications and Arts are planning protests starting Monday, July 14, following the cancellation of 11 courses just a week before the semester begins. The cuts, affecting one-third of the program's curriculum, resulted from the non-renewal of temporary teacher contracts in the Department of Plastic Arts. Students and faculty accuse the university administration of neglect, arguing the move jeopardizes graduation prospects for many. The Visual Arts course was the 12th most sought-after in USP's last entrance exam, with nearly 31 applicants per place. A protest was held last Friday, July 11, on Avenida Paulista, supported by groups like Juventude Já Basta! and the ECA's Technical Administrative Commission. Students reported difficulties enrolling in required courses, with some facing delayed graduation. Further strain is anticipated with up to five retirements in the department by 2026, potentially impacting the Digital Modeling and Fabrication Laboratory and scholarship programs. The situation reflects broader cuts across other ECA programs like Music, Performing Arts, and Journalism, alongside reductions in student housing and scholarships, raising concerns about institutional degradation despite USP's ranking as Latin America's top university.