Events and factors leading to the 1986 uprising among French university students are outlined and discussed. The protest and its tragic results occurred because of a sometimes misunderstood new plan to restrict admissions and impose higher fees in order to make the system more efficient. (MSE)

The circumstances in France surrounding the reform of the third and fourth years of university study (the second cycle) are considered. It is suggested that if the original problem stemmed from the expansion of university enrollments and the shortage of graduate jobs, the proposed solution called for vocationally oriented diversification; the…