Minister to up student party security

French Higher Education Minister Valérie Pécresse has proposed a law making it compulsory for the organisers of student welcome weekends to declare the plans in advance, she announced Thursday on French television station Canal +.

AFP/Boris Horvat

Pécresse wants to place more police controls around people who supply alcohol to student patries.

The announcement follows the main recommendations of a report on possible measures for protecting students. A student died in December after being electrocuted on the Paris metro. Three months before that, a student was allegedly raped during a school welcome weekend in Grenoble.

“It’s the same system as for rave parties,” said Pécresse. “The idea is that, for example, car keys be taken away and only given back if the young people are in a state to drive.”

Parties and their surroundings will also be kept under observation.

“Schools that organise parties or integration weekends are responsible for security, surveillance and for making sure that the law against open bars be respected,” said Pécresse.