Police remove students from occupied Paris university site

French police removed students from a Paris university building Friday that had been occupied for a month to protest admission changes that also are causing turmoil at other campuses.

Paris police said the clearing of the Tolbiac Center, a 22-story tower in southern Paris affiliated with Paris 1 University, went "without incident."

Security guards stand next to walls covered with graffiti by students after police broke up a protest inside the Paris Tolbiac university, France, Friday April 20, 2018. French police have evacuated a Paris university site occupied for a month by students protesting against admission reforms. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)

Police officers walk past walls covered with graffiti and tags by students after police broke up a protest inside the Paris Tolbiac university, France, Friday April 20, 2018. French police have evacuated a Paris university site occupied for a month by students protesting against admission reforms. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)

A police officer takes pictures of petrol bombs and fire extinguishers stockpiled by protesting students inside the Paris Tolbiac university, France, Friday April 20, 2018. French police have evacuated a Paris university site occupied for a month by students protesting against admission reforms. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)

Interior minister Gerard Collomb said in a tweet that "the rule of law will be restored everywhere."

Students have blocked access or disrupted classes at several other campuses in France to oppose the changes that they fear threaten public university access for all French high school graduates.

Paris 1 University President Georges Haddad said no students were injured during the eviction operation. He told reporters he felt "great relief."

He said police discovered "more than 10 Molotov cocktails" at the center. He estimated the occupation had caused damage worth "hundreds of thousands of euros" and said the site would remain closed until further notice.

The new system of admissions would allow universities to rank applicants based on their own criteria, which could lead to some prospective students being turned down and referred to other programs, if there are not enough places. French high school graduates are guaranteed free university access regardless of their grades.

Lila Le Bas, president of the UNEF students' union, called the evacuation "unacceptable." She criticized the government for refusing to respond to the demands of the occupiers.

"It prefers to send police forces to universities," Le Bas said on FranceInfo television.

Government spokesman Benjamin Griveaux said police would intervene "on a case by case basis" to ensure end-of-term examinations can be held.

The university occupations come amid a string of protests and strikes against changes President Emmanuel Macron plans to make in France's rail, hospital and justice systems as part of his economic agenda.

Thousands of people marched across France on Thursday as rail workers resumed their rolling strikes aimed at fighting Macron's plans to revamp the national railway company SNCF and open the train network to competition.

Macron has repeatedly said he won't cave in under pressure, arguing that he was elected last year to reform the country.

Walls covered with graffiti by students are pictured after police broke up a protest inside the Paris Tolbiac university, France, Friday April 20, 2018. French police have evacuated a Paris university site occupied for a month by students protesting against admission reforms. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)

Police officers walk past walls covered with graffiti by students after police broke up a protest inside the Paris Tolbiac university, France, Friday April 20, 2018. French police have evacuated a Paris university site occupied for a month by students protesting against admission reforms. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)

Police officers stand guard after police broke up a protest inside the Paris Tolbiac university, France, Friday April 20, 2018. French police have evacuated a Paris university site occupied for a month by students protesting against admission reforms. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)

A street art graffiti depecting French President Emmanuel Macron is pictured inside the Paris Tolbiac university, France, after police broke up a student protest, Friday April 20, 2018. French police have evacuated a Paris university site occupied for a month by students protesting against admission reforms. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)

Police officers inspect the Paris Tolbiac university after the evacuation of protesting students, France, Friday April 20, 2018. French police have evacuated a Paris university site occupied for a month by students protesting against admission reforms. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)

A graffiti written by a student reads "the free commune of Tolbiac will live ", after police broke up a protest inside the Paris Tolbiac university, France, Friday April 20, 2018. French police have evacuated a Paris university site occupied for a month by students protesting against admission reforms. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)

HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — The second half of last season took on a familiar routine for Las Vegas Raiders pass-rush maniac Maxx Crosby.

Sit out the week of practice and be ready on Sunday.

Bad knee and all, Crosby was ready and played in all 17 games. But he also knew he needed to get healthy after the season, and Crosby said Monday as the Raiders began their offseason program that he's done exactly that.

“Rehab has been incredible,” Crosby said. “I just did my conditioning test last week and smashed it, and I’m feeling better than I ever have. So it’s been an incredible offseason so far.”

A healthy Crosby is bad news for the rest of the NFL.

Even at far less than full health last season, he still finished with career highs of 14 1/2 sacks and 90 tackles. He was sixth in the league in sacks.

“I look at myself like a warrior,” Crosby said. “You’re going to have to kill me to take me off the field, and I tell my coaches that. It sounds crazy, but it’s the truth. I don’t look at this like a game. This is my life. I put everything into it. I work literally all year round.”

His work ethic is revered around Raiders headquarters, and coach Antonio Pierce has noted more than once that Crosby is on a different level when it comes to his commitment to getting better.

Crosby remains in Las Vegas during the offseason to work out at the team facilities, arriving at 6 a.m. each day and leaving at 2 p.m. Pierce asked Crosby to take the lead in asking more of his teammates to also remain in town, and about 30 did so.

“AP challenged me early,” Crosby said. “It’s not just about me. There are a lot of really good players, but the great ones bring others up. I took that personal. It helps when you’ve got (veterans) coming in because it gives the young guys no other option but to be here.

“I feel like this team has all the potential. We have more than enough talent to go out there and achieve great things, but all that is (expletive) unless you go out there and do it yourself. So we’ve got a lot of work to do.”

Crosby, a big fan of combat sports, boxed three or four times a week this offseason as part of his training regimen and even sparred with MMA bantamweight Dominick Cruz about a week ago.

He also attended Saturday night's UFC 300 in Las Vegas and saw a bit of himself in Max Holloway. Despite being on his way to winning on the judges' cards, Holloway challenged Justin Gaethje to go all out in the final 10 seconds. After a flurry of punches by both fighters, Holloway knocked out Gaethje with 1 second left in the five-round bout.

“That was one of the coldest things I’ve ever seen with my two eyes,” Crosby said. “Being right there, seeing it in person, I literally was just saying, ‘Oh my God,’ for 10 minutes straight. I could not believe that happened. ... That’s what I love about fighting so much, and Holloway is just a prime example of ‘I don’t care, I’m not here to just win, I’m here to put (a) stamp on this and be the baddest dude in the game.’ And he proved that times 10 on Saturday night."

Crosby knows the Raiders, who went 8-9 last season, have plenty to prove as well, and while he said he likes the pieces that are on this roster, none of it matters if the work doesn't get done.

It was that work where Crosby wanted to place his focus, not what happened in the Raiders' stadium in February. One of Las Vegas' fiercest rivals, Kansas City, won the Super Bowl at Allegiant Stadium, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling planted a Chiefs flag on the field.

“If you’re worried about and thinking about the other guys, you’re wasting time and energy,” Crosby said. “At the end of the day, he wouldn’t plant a flag on a Raider logo, I guarantee you that.”

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FILE - Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) lines up before the snap during an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts, Dec. 31, 2023, in Indianapolis. Crosby played through the pain of a knee injury much of the 2023 season, usually not practicing so he could play on game days. He said Monday, April 15, 2024, that he is now healthy. (AP Photo/Zach Bolinger, File)