Facing Disciplinary Action for Political Speech at University of Warsaw
Recently, Oskar Szafarowicz, a University of Warsaw student and active member of the PiS Youth Forum, announced on social media that a new case had been filed against him. The charges were described as activities connected to electoral engagement and presenting a political position within the framework of parliamentary elections and the national referendum. The post highlighted that the case had nothing to do with campus activities alone and was directed at his broader political involvement outside the university environment.
Szafarowicz, who is part of a youth wing aligned with Law and Justice, stated that the university authorities punished him for his political and social work within the party’s structures. He noted that more than a month had passed since the University of Warsaw Disciplinary Commission issued its ruling and that he received a written justification only after the formal two week period had begun, describing the timing as happening amid a pre-Christmas atmosphere.
He pledged to publish the full reasoning of the Disciplinary Committee along with the defense he prepared during the appeal process. His core argument centers on a fundamental value held by the university itself: the freedom of expression and the freedom to exchange ideas within an academic setting.
Szafarowicz labeled the disciplinary action a potential disciplinary tort and explained that the commission deemed his public political activity, though conducted outside the campus walls, to be within the scope of university regulation. He summarized the commission’s conclusions as portraying his political involvement as reprehensible and scandalous, and he quoted the court’s note about a preventive function intended to create a chilling effect on students who share similar views and styles of expression. The punishment, according to the student, serves as a clear signal that the university community condemns this behavior and will not tolerate it in any form.
He confirmed that additional disciplinary proceedings had been initiated again against him at the University of Warsaw, accusing him of electoral activities in connection with recent parliamentary elections. The ongoing exchange from the disciplinary committee reflected a broader debate about the boundaries between political speech and academic life in a modern Polish university setting.
The remarks from the disciplinary committee surfaced as Szafarowicz described ongoing proceedings that accused him of political activities tied to the parliamentary elections and the national referendum. The student activist from the PiS camp stated that these actions were taken as a measure against the exercise of political influence by students and graduates within the campus and beyond.
In a closing reflection, Szafarowicz offered a stark picture of a free and democratic Poland where conservative voices and patriotic values can advocate for their ideas openly, even amid strong opposition. He urged that perseverance, hope, and faith are needed to engage in political life with conviction, even when faced with formal restrictions or criminalization of political participation within the university system. The remarks were attributed to the activist in multiple social posts and interviews around this ongoing case.
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— The head of an advisory cabinet issued a defense in support of certain voices, while others questioned the role of informants in campus discourse.
— A prominent UW instructor faced criticism for policy proposals seen by some as overreaching, sparking debate about property rights and legal consequences for students. These discussions illustrate the heated climate surrounding free expression on campus.
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