Stéphane Burgatt // Credits: CHRISTOPHE SIMON / AFP 6:42 a.m., February 16, 2024

In the Marseille city, students have to deal with the permanent insecurity that has plagued Marseille for several years. Deal points are even located in front of university establishments. A situation that had pushed the Colbert faculty threatened to close its doors. Europe 1 went there to see how fed up the students were. 

Stepping over syringes and walking past deal points: this is the daily life of students in the Porte d'Aix district to access their establishments in Marseille. This neighborhood had already been talked about last school year. Those in charge of the Colbert faculty had threatened to close their doors if the problem was not taken seriously by the authorities.

As a result, a police patrol has been present on the scene ever since. “It has moved the problem to the surrounding areas. To the surroundings of different establishments. Putting police trucks is good for the symbol but it is not the solution. In the evening, when they leave, the traffic starts again” laments Yann Solterman, president of UNI Aix-Marseille.

>> ALSO READ -

 “Ubershit”, promotional codes, internet referencing: the police facing the new tricks of Marseille dealers

The lump in the stomach

If the problem is resolved on the forecourt, it is ultimately moved elsewhere. In the neighborhood there are several private establishments in IT or art. Every day, it's the same observation and the same fears for this student: "We come a little with a lump in our stomach. To access our establishment, we go through 2, or even 3 deal points depending on the day. We climb over syringes. We pass by a public urinal with unbearable odors. There are also campfires sometimes early in the morning. We are afraid, because we never know what could happen to us."

Drug addicts “shoot” nearby

In the sector, there are several mobile deal points, but mainly drug users. The climate is heavy, this other student confirms. "Sometimes, in front of the door of our establishment, we see people taking drugs. Some are aggressive. We had a cleaning lady who was attacked. When we go out, they look at us strangely and offer us drugs. But we don't want to smoke, we want to go to class normally, without going through a climate like that. Personally, I've already been insulted and threatened," he explains.

A group of students organized an online petition which quickly exceeded 1,500 signatures. They also demonstrated at the entrance to the Marseille municipal council. Everyone is asking the public authorities for a clean-up and overall recovery of this entire sector of the city center.