Art History Students at University of Oriente Stand Against ETECSA's Price Hike: "We Will Not Settle for Crumbs"

Students enrolled in the third and fourth years of Art History at the University of Oriente have publicly denounced the recent policies set by the Cuban Telecommunications Company (ETECSA), declaring they will not accept "crumbs" that only benefit a select few. In a statement released on social media this past Sunday morning, more than half of the Art History students announced their support for other university students across the nation protesting the communications monopoly in Cuba, clarifying that their stance is not influenced by any external forces.

The students criticized ETECSA's decision to limit national recharges, labeling it an "outrage," and argued that the company's alternatives, like providing Wi-Fi and data to students, serve only a minority. "These measures infringe upon our right to communication, and we demand their repeal. We refuse to settle for the crumbs offered to a small portion of the population as they only benefit a select minority, creating social inequality, which contradicts the very principles of our country's ideology that advocates for social equality and the absence of class distinctions," they wrote.

Their statement underlined their sole wish as students: to continue their education in Cuba without barriers or complications. In closing, they issued an ultimatum to the company, demanding the reversal of these policies and threatening to join the university strike called by the Faculty of Mathematics and Computing at the University of Havana if their demands were not met within five days.

"We demand a clear and satisfactory response to our requests, with concrete solutions within a strict deadline of five days (until June 13, 2025). Should no favorable response be provided within this timeframe, we will irrevocably join the UNIVERSITY STRIKE initiated by the Faculty of MATCOM at the University of Havana on June 4, 2025," they warned.

Students from various faculties across the country have spoken out against ETECSA's steep price increases, arguing that the new tariffs severely limit their opportunities. They claim that the higher costs for digital services hinder their academic and professional pursuits. The student movement calls for more equitable pricing and access to information and communication technologies, as the recent changes have dramatically raised the cost of mobile data services, making it challenging for them to fulfill their academic responsibilities.

Below is the full statement:

UNIVERSITY OF ORIENTE
Santiago de Cuba, June 8, 2025

We, over 50% of the Art History students currently in their third and fourth years at the University of Oriente, join today with other university students across the country expressing dissatisfaction with the measures implemented by the Cuban Telecommunications Company (ETECSA) on May 30, 2025. We clarify that we are not being manipulated by any external media; we are merely young individuals pursuing the dream of becoming professionals.

Quoting Martí's words enshrined in the Constitution within Article 1: "With all and for the good of all," not everyone benefits from foreign recharges, and only that segment of the population is favored by ETECSA's new measures. Others receive recharges through the efforts of our parents, who, using Transfermóvil, send money to our phones. On what statistics were these measures based? Mobile network consumption exceeds 8 GB among the general population, and is even higher among students, who need to download bibliographies, send assignments, and primarily use the internet for research, due to insufficient and outdated information in university libraries or services. We speak for many working on their theses, where 90% of the information is found on digital platforms.

Our current curriculum promotes self-directed learning. In classrooms, we are given basic guidance to embark on our research journey and enrich our knowledge. But how can we access information? How will students living far from home communicate with their families? If we devote our data, still insufficient, solely to academic matters, we won’t be able to keep in touch with them. Information seeking and communication are also "Rights of the people."

In the meeting with ETECSA and our faculty, we did not receive answers; it merely reiterated what had been previously stated in the media. ETECSA was accused of encouraging the informal market for balance sales, with 360 pesos of balance now costing 1500 pesos. It was also noted that Fidel, at the start of the Revolution, stated that even the most minor law should be consulted with the people, which was not adhered to. As mentioned earlier, none of this was addressed, leading us to believe these meetings are mere façades, making us think our demands will be considered when they won't be.

These measures are an assault on our right to communication, and we demand their repeal. We will not settle for crumbs offered to a small sector of the population, as they only benefit a minority, fostering social inequality—a principle not promoted by our country's ideology, which has always advocated for social equality and the absence of class differences.

We also ask that our voices not be minimized and that the cries of the country's future be heard, taking measures in line with our requests. We are not against any party, nor do we insult leaders, but rather follow the example of Mella, Guiteras, and Villena, students like us who fought for their rights. It all began there: in the universities.

We, the new generation emerging amidst difficulties, surrounded by many nonsensical feelings of belonging with no desire to plant roots in this country, simply ask to be allowed to continue our studies without further obstacles or hardships. We want to keep believing that university is for everyone, not just for those who receive foreign recharges.

Through this document, we express our full support for the faculties that have already raised their voices, as we fully share their demands. We demand a clear and satisfactory response to our requests, with concrete solutions within a strict deadline of five days (until June 13, 2025). Should no favorable response be provided within this timeframe, we will irrevocably join the UNIVERSITY STRIKE initiated by the Faculty of MATCOM at the University of Havana on June 4, 2025.