Female University Students Wearing Bikinis to School... Brazilian Students Protest Poor Learning Conditions

Heat Dome Effect Brings Feels-Like Temperature Close to 60°C
Poor Learning Environment... "Where Is Tuition Going?"

In the central-southern region of Brazil, a heatwave with a perceived temperature nearing 60℃ continues. Due to this, university students in S?o Paulo protested in bikinis, pointing out the poor learning infrastructure without air conditioning.

On the 20th (local time), the bikini protest held at the Catholic University of S?o Paulo, Brazil. [Image source=Instagram capture]

On the 20th (local time), Brazilian media outlet G1 reported that students at S?o Paulo Catholic University (PUS-SP) held a protest on campus wearing bikinis and other swimwear to express their dissatisfaction with the lack of infrastructure to endure the extreme heat and the poor learning environment. Maria, a first-year psychology student, said, "It's unbearably hot. Although Catholic University is an excellent educational institution, it lacks the infrastructure to withstand the heatwave," adding, "There are almost no classrooms with air conditioning. This is why we are wearing bikinis." Another student from the university criticized, "We pay expensive tuition fees, so we are fighting for our rights," and questioned, "Where is the money we pay every month going?" In their protest declaration, the students pointed out, "Students, teachers, and staff are carrying out their activities in hellish heat, which is not only harmful to health but also an inhumane situation."

The Brazilian Meteorological Agency reported that this week marks the third hottest summer in S?o Paulo's history. The central-southern region of Brazil is experiencing a heatwave due to a 'heat dome' phenomenon. The reason for this heatwave is explained as hot air masses from Argentina and Paraguay forming a heat dome that traps the hot air near the Earth's surface. In fact, the perceived temperature in Guaracibasi, located west of Rio de Janeiro, recorded 60.1℃ and 62.3℃ on the 17th. The heatwave caused by the heat dome is currently hitting not only Rio de Janeiro but also five Brazilian states including S?o Paulo, Rio Grande do Sul, and Patu Grosso do Sul.

An interesting aspect of this bikini protest is that it started through the campus-exclusive dating online page 'Spotted.' Over the past few years, students at S?o Paulo Catholic University have initiated protests related to student life issues such as ▲installation of turnstiles on campus ▲hiring of security guards ▲lack of air conditioning through this dating page. This protest also began on the Spotted online page and grew as the law school, social sciences college, and journalism college joined in succession.