The Crusp Operation

An Assault to University Autonomy

Abstract

It is a fact that, despite the continuities in student articulation throughout the Brazilian military dictatorship, many of the activities carried out by the student category and the spaces marked by its presence would be disarticulated by repression. Through this article, we aim to shed light on the repressive process undertaken by the Brazilian dictatorial repressive apparatus on the university student category, showing its reflexes in the collective and individual spheres. In order to fulfill this purpose, we will look at the repressive attack launched on the USP’s Residential Complex (Crusp) in December 1968, as well as its subsequent effects; without ignoring, however, the historical importance of the place for the articulation of the opposition and for the university experience. To this end, we opted for the use of four distinct documentary typologies: documents produced by organs repressive organs of the State, newspaper documents, documents produced in the student environment and reports by former residents of the place. Indeed, through the selected case, benefited by the documentary opposition, we seek to contribute to the discussion around the institutional violence practiced during the brazilian dictatorship, as well as to raise points to outline some reflections on university autonomy; an issue that remains open today.