The rising wave of university dissent in Cuba has taken another turn as students from the Biology Faculty at the University of Havana formally distance themselves from the national president of the Federation of University Students (FEU), Ricardo Rodríguez González, and express their support for the protests against ETECSA's imposed tariffs. In a statement read from a classroom, Biology student representatives stated that the FEU president "does not accurately represent our opinions nor does he reflect the voice of our student community."
Moreover, they reaffirmed their backing of statements previously issued by the Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science (MATCOM), which remains on an indefinite academic strike. "We reflect the genuine sentiment of the people we belong to," the document asserts, openly challenging official attempts to silence critical expressions within the universities.
The Biology Faculty's Rejection of Official Narratives
In their declaration, the students robustly refuted accusations made by official media and Rodríguez himself, who, during a Monday appearance on Mesa Redonda, suggested that the protests were the result of manipulation by "enemies of the revolution." The Extended Council rejected this narrative, asserting that their stance is "not influenced or manipulated by external agents," and condemned government efforts to label their voices as false or foreign-funded. "They represent the true assembly of critical thoughts and social commitment from the students of each faculty," the text emphasizes.
Strong Critique of ETECSA: "No Crisis Justifies Insensitivity"
Beyond the internal conflict within the FEU, the Biology statement delivers a strong condemnation of ETECSA's measures, noting that they "widen social gaps, restrict fundamental rights like communication, and impact students' and professionals' access to essential digital resources." While acknowledging the country's economic challenges, the students caution that "no crisis justifies insensitivity towards the needs of the people," accusing ETECSA of straying from the Martian principle of acting "with all and for the good of all."
Proposals from the Classroom: Dialogue with the Government and Multidisciplinary Team
The FEU Council in Biology did not limit itself to criticism. They called for direct dialogue with the Council of Ministers, seeking "constructive bilateral exchange" where students can be heard as legitimate actors in building solutions. Furthermore, they supported the University of Havana rector's initiative to create a multidisciplinary team comprising all faculties to analyze the current crisis and propose viable alternatives.
Full Text of the FEU Declaration from the Biology Faculty at the University of Havana
"University of Havana
Biology Faculty
Official Statement from the Extended Council of the FEU – Biology Faculty
Classroom 4A, Biology Faculty – June 4, 2025, 9:00 a.m.
After extensive consultation with students from our Faculty, the Extended Council of the Federation of University Students convened to express the predominant sentiment of our young university members.
We express our disagreement with the stance adopted by the national president of the FEU, who does not accurately represent our opinions nor does he reflect the voice of our student community.
We fully support the statement issued by the FEU of the Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science (MATCOM) through its official Telegram channel, acknowledging that it genuinely represents its students' sentiment. We refute any attempt to delegitimize or undermine its position through unfounded accusations aimed at silencing the student voice.
We embody the genuine sentiment of the people we belong to, with the Federation of University Students serving as the channel through which we express our commitment to the needs and aspirations of our society.
Our opinion emerges from the Federation of University Students of the Biology Faculty and is not influenced or manipulated by external agents, which is why we denounce the statements disseminated by official media that label our communications as false or foreign-funded, when they constitute the authentic gathering of critical thoughts and social commitment from the students of each faculty.
We categorically reject ETECSA's measures as detrimental to social justice, as they widen social gaps, restrict fundamental rights like communication, and affect students' and professionals' access to essential digital resources. Although we understand the financial difficulties, no crisis justifies insensitivity towards the needs of the people, contradicting our principle of acting "with all and for the good of all."
We request direct bilateral exchange with a representation of the Council of Ministers, with the aim of establishing a constructive dialogue where we can convey our concerns. We require institutional support and, fundamentally, to be heard as legitimate actors in constructing alternatives that benefit the entire society.
We support the proposal from the Rector of the University of Havana to create a multidisciplinary team integrating all faculties to provide optimal solutions and jointly analyze the current situation in the country."
An Institutional Break
The statement from the Biology Faculty intensifies the crisis of legitimacy facing the national leadership of the FEU. President Ricardo Rodríguez, also a member of the Council of State, has been heavily criticized for his passive and government-aligned response to ETECSA's "rate hike."
Rodríguez accused independent media and "opinion puppets" of inciting "hatred" and "treason" in the university. "I am here to continue the Revolution for which our martyrs died," he declared defiantly.
On Monday's Mesa Redonda, he claimed that student grievances had been used by external actors with "very bad intentions" to distort the legitimate stance of the university students, who, he asserted, have maintained an attitude of respect and dialogue.
Rodríguez defended that the FEU has acted "within the revolution" and stated that there have been numerous spaces for exchange between students, ETECSA executives, Communist Party representatives, and ministers to channel the discontent.
On Monday, the Faculty of Philosophy, History, Sociology, and Social Work (Humanities) issued a statement demanding the immediate resignation of the leader, deeming him incapable of representing students' interests in the current crisis.
The FEU described his attitude as "complacent, passive, and uncritical" towards the discontent generated by ETECSA's new rates, which exclude millions of Cubans without dollars from Internet access.
"Our students choose not to trust symbolic and non-binding commitments… they choose to engage, participate, and act," the text states.
This unprecedented mobilization within Cuban universities responds to the new restrictions imposed by ETECSA, which limit service in Cuban pesos while offering broader plans in dollars.
Amid widespread outrage, ETECSA announced a partial response, offering an additional 6 GB package for 360 CUP exclusively for university students, along with free access to more than 40 educational sites.
However, the students reject mobile data packages solely for themselves and emphasize that they are not seeking sectoral privileges but rather social justice and equity in Internet access for all citizens.
Amid the growing tension in Cuban universities, the provincial coordination secretary of the FEU of Havana, José Alberto Almeida Cabrales, assured that the student movement will not lead to chaos.
In a statement, Almeida defended the path of consensus and structured debate within the universities. "We are revolutionaries. We want solutions in peace and with everyone. The FEU will never allow petty quarrels to be stirred among its members," he declared, apparently responding to the growing student strikes and public statements from several faculties.
What began as a specific complaint about tariffs has evolved into an unprecedented student uprising in post-revolutionary Cuba, raising not only the struggle for Internet access but also the crisis of representation and the urgency of new university leadership.
Key Questions about the University Protest in Cuba
Why are Cuban university students protesting against ETECSA?
Cuban university students are protesting against ETECSA due to the increased tariffs that they believe widen social gaps, limit fundamental rights like communication, and affect access to essential digital resources.
What is the stance of the Biology Faculty at the University of Havana?
The Biology Faculty at the University of Havana has distanced itself from the FEU president's views, supporting the protests against ETECSA's tariffs and calling for a more representative and independent stance for the student body.
What are the students demanding from the government?
Students are demanding direct dialogue with the Council of Ministers to engage in constructive exchanges and seek institutional support as legitimate actors in crafting solutions for societal issues.
How has ETECSA responded to the student protests?
In response to the protests, ETECSA offered an additional 6 GB package for 360 CUP exclusively for university students and free access to over 40 educational sites, but students have rejected these measures as insufficient.