SANTIAGO DE CUBA.- Since the 2021-2022 school year resumed in Cuba, university students from Faculty No.2 of Medical Sciences in Santiago de Cuba have been denouncing on social networks the lousy diet that they offer, many of them without fear of reprisals that the directors of this institution may take against them, as has happened before.
Such was the case of third-year student Ernesto Rizo, who was suspended from college for three years precisely for complaining about the food on his Facebook page. Last May, the young man, a resident of the Mella municipality, published a photo of the dinner they had served that day: white rice and a green mango as a main course.
As a result of the publication, he was interrogated by State Security agents and they agreed to decide his situation later. It was until a few weeks ago that the directors of the University, led by Dean Hubert García Zapata and Teaching Vice Dean Dr. Carlos Manuel Gonzáles Brisuela, decided to apply the arbitrary measure.
At that time, the Faculty published a statement on the same social network in which they denied the “disseminated false news” and affirmed that “this type of action” would not be repeated, since it would fight to “correct the errors, in the manner and by the corresponding established routes. Thus, as a “correction of errors”, the rectors of this institution classify the suspension of students for expressing their opinion.
A few months have passed and the food at this University, far from improving, has worsened greatly. The menu has been reduced to white rice, peas, jam and soup, almost every day, noon and afternoon. Some scholarship recipients have revealed to CubaNet their intentions to drop out if things continue like this.
“There is no one to support this,” denounced a third-year girl. “They give us rice, rice soup and mango jam, sometimes at noon and at night. Everything with a really vomit-like appearance and taste.” “How long will this be? Can you study in such conditions? ”, She questions.
“I am at the point of sitting at home, yes, one kills oneself doing work and when you graduate you don’t even make 6,000 pesos. That’s roughly 31 MLC as of now. What does one buy with that? I’m not going to go hungry anymore for fun, I’d better become self-employed,” said Alberto, a second-year student.
However, in the midst of the difficult situation, the direction of the Faculty insists on aggravating the displeasure of the university students. Last week, the 10th Congress of the FEU was held to discuss the problems that concern them. But the event did not transcend because of the results, but because of the comparisons that were generated between the food that was offered to the participants, all of them members of that organization and of the UJC; and the one they gave to the rest of the future doctors.
“Today at the FEU Congress: FEU food vs. the food the ugly”, reads one of the complaints attached to a photo of the dishes. While in one you could appreciate chicken, salad, soup, bread and jam; the other only had rice, some pieces of donkey plantain and soup, but this one was waterier in appearance.
Furthermore, earlier this month, the same management also decided to lease the school cafeteria. That means that the state offers that, although scarce, were cheaper, were forgotten. Now the options far exceed the possibilities of the majority, since the average weekly stipend guaranteed by parents is between 300 and 400 pesos, according to the testimony of those interviewed. This amount must cover not only food expenses, but also transportation.
“There they no longer sell anything state-owned, now everything is private, therefore, a pizza costs 40 pesos, a chocolate bar 25 pesos and a Pepsi Cola soft drink 165 pesos, just to give examples. In this way, studying becomes unsustainable,” lamented another third-year girl.
This reality is much harsher on the outskirts of the University, where all the points of sale and cafeterias are also private. A few days ago, the university students themselves announced the new prices after the start of the course. Now a bread with ham and cheese can cost up to 100 pesos, when a few months ago it cost 25 or 30 pesos, at most. In the same order, a box of juice costs 500 pesos and a can of condensed milk ranges between 300 and 350.
Private cafeterias. courtesy photo
Private cafeterias. courtesy photo
School cafeteria, now leased by outsiders (Courtesy photo)
In the current scenario, several students have decided to drop out with the aim of leaving the country. According to the sources, the desire to emigrate, specifically to the United States, is almost general. One of them revealed that at least 10 of his colleagues have left, but claims that this is only an estimate far below the real number.
“Every time a teacher asks about someone who is absent, there is silence in the classroom, because we don’t know if they didn’t go or if they left the country,” laments second-year Daniel.
In the month of July, the defection of Henry Silva, former president of the FEU in the Faculty, came to light. The fact surprised everyone, precisely because of his militancy in the organization, and because of his supposed political convictions in favor of the communist system. Silva himself posted images of his arrival in Louisville, Kentucky, while thanking God and his family for “promoting his desire and dreams of freedom.”
“It was difficult, I don’t deny it, days without eating, without drinking water, nights without sleeping, without bathing, but it was worth it,” said the former militant of the University Student Federation.
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