A presente dissertação tem por objetivo apresentar o processo histórico da maior ocupação por movimento de moradia do Brasil, o edifício Prestes Maia, localizado na Avenida de mesmo nome, n° 911. Desde 1999, quando o Movimento Sem Teto do Centro - MSTC apresenta interesse ao edifício (ocupado pela primeira vez em 2 de novembro de 2002), até o presente momento, o Prestes Maia foi palco de disputas e conflitos entre a atuação do poder público, o mercado imobiliário, os movimentos de moradia e sua pauta de reivindicação - habitação em área central para a população de baixa renda -, tornando-se emblemático na discussão do desenvolvimento de políticas habitacionais que incorporem esta demanda nos edifício s ociosos na região central de São Paulo. Durante os 20 anos em que o Prestes Maia está na pauta das discussões, foram inúmeros os programas e projetos habitacionais desenvolvidos (alguns com capacidade de absorção do projeto de reforma do edifício) pelas diferentes prefeituras que passaram pela cidade de São Paulo, Governo Estadual e Federal. Contar a história do edifício Prestes Maia neste trabalho, se tornou contar a história da Política Habitacional que atende a reivindicação de moradia central para a população de baixa renda. / The purpose of this thesis is to present the historical process of the largest squatter by Brazilian housing movement, the Prestes Maia Building, located on the Avenue of the same name, No. 911. Since 1999, (occupied for the first time on November 2, 2002), until the present moment, the Prestes Maia represents the disputes and conflicts between the performance of the public power, the real estate market, the housing movements and its statute of reclamation - housing in a central area for the low-income population -, becoming emblematic in the discussion of the development of housing policies that incorporaté this demand in idle buildings in the central region. During the 20 years in which the Prestes Maia is in the discussion list, there were innumerable housing programs and projects developed (some with capacity to absorb the building) by the different prefectures that passed through the city of São Paulo, State and Federal Government. Telling the history of the Prestes Maia Building in this work, became the story of the housing policy that meets the claim of central housing for the low-income population.

Universities have traditionally stood as bastions of academic freedom and forums for open discourse and free expression. In recent years, however, this role has been questioned in instances where university administrators have, either directly or complicity, denied students the opportunity to express certain viewpoints they deem “controversial”. This research paper explores whether a university, or its delegates, should be allowed to deny students access to campus facilities and resources solely on the basis of ideological viewpoint. The relevance of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, statutory human rights provisions, and common law doctrines to the student-university relationship are explored in turn. It is argued that, notwithstanding the fact that universities may be “private” actors to whom the Charter does not directly apply, they are institutions invested with a public interest, and as such ought to be subject to special duties of non-discrimination.

Universities have traditionally stood as bastions of academic freedom and forums for open discourse and free expression. In recent years, however, this role has been questioned in instances where university administrators have, either directly or complicity, denied students the opportunity to express certain viewpoints they deem “controversial”. This research paper explores whether a university, or its delegates, should be allowed to deny students access to campus facilities and resources solely on the basis of ideological viewpoint. The relevance of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, statutory human rights provisions, and common law doctrines to the student-university relationship are explored in turn. It is argued that, notwithstanding the fact that universities may be “private” actors to whom the Charter does not directly apply, they are institutions invested with a public interest, and as such ought to be subject to special duties of non-discrimination.