scarlsson@watdaisy.UUCP (10/22/87)
SANTIAGO DE CHILE, OCTOBER 1987
TO THE INTERNATIONAL ACADEMIC COMMUNITY
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After 14 years of direct intervention by the government, the University of
Chile in Santiago, Chile, has been recently re-intervened following the
appointment of a new President of the University, Mr. Jose Luis Federici,
against the decision of the University Council and of the University Board.
Mr. Federici was appointed with the mission of drastically "rationalizing"
the university through substantial reduction of academic staff. The University
of Chile is the largest university in the country, holding altogether about
18000 students and 2500 equivalent full-time professors. This university is
still the stronghold of creative and independent thinking in Chile, producing
nowadays more than one half of the post-graduate degrees and research
publications of the country. It was founded in 1843, being still one of the
most prestigious universities in Latin America in spite of important reductions
in size and budget suffered over the last years. These features plus the
cohesiveness of the academic community represent a threat to the ruling
government that they are not willing to accept under the present circumstances.
In September, Mr. Federici has forced the Deans of four Faculties (Law,
Engineering, Philosophy and Architecture), who had been previously appointed
by their peers, to resign. Besides this, he dismissed 35 professors who are
elected leaders of the Association of Academics. Among them, there are many
full-professors with the highest academic qualifications including doctorate
degrees from the best universities in developed countries. Additionally he
has recently dismissed another 50 professors from the faculties of Dentistry,
Philosophy and Architecture, and suspended indefinitely 150 students, without
any explanation. It is said that the full list of academics to be discharged
contains about 800 names.
We are making an appeal to the international academic community to help us stop
this destructive madness before it is too late to preserve our university.
Solidarity can be expressed by sending letters and telegrams of support
denouncing this violation to the United Nations, the Minister of Foreign
Affairs in your country, the Minister of Education in Chile and the President
of Chile, General Augusto Pinochet. Copies of these letters with lists of
supporters should be sent to the news media in Chile, and to the Association
of Academics.
THE ACADEMIC COMMUNITY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CHILE.
Addresses:
1.- Sr. Juan Antonio Guzman
Ministro de Educacion
Ministerio de Educacion Publica
Av. Libertador Bernardo O'Higgins 1371
Santiago
CHILE
2.- Su Excelencia General Augusto Pinochet Ugarte
Presidente de la Republica
Palacio de La Moneda
Santiago
CHILE
Send copies of your letters to:
1.- Diario La Epoca
Olivares 1229
Santiago
CHILE
2.- Diario El Mercurio
Av. Sta. Maria 5542
Santiago
CHILE
3.- Profesor Patricio Basso Gallo
Presidente
Asociacion de Academicos de la Universidad de Chile
a/c Colegio de Ingenieros de Chile
Av. Libertador Bernardo O'Higgins 1170
Santiago
Chile
4.- Prof. Atilano Lamana Pola
Decano Facultad de Ciencias Fisicas y Matematicas
Universidad de Chile
Casilla 2777
Santiago
Chile