Researchers, workers and students from over 30 academic institutions voiced the need for the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) to reform the democratic processes within the institution to avoid authoritarian practices, mainly from directors.
The current conflict at the National Polytechnic Institute (IPN) generated sympathy and support from other public universities in the country to defend democratic processes within each of them.
With over 100 presentations a four debate tables, the UNAM seeks that the first “Deliberative Forum: The University we want” reunites proposals that will invite the authorities of the UNAM to take into account the voices from all the university community.
Members of the Polytechnic General Assembly (AGP) and the National Coordinator of Education Workers (CNTE) called for a union of the movements to support the causes of every organization.
“What matters is to generate a coordination among universities, this is a forum in the UNAM that covers the specific situation of the UNAM, but in the end it generates a panorama of what is happening in all the structure of the republic”, stated Omar López, from the AGP of the IPN.
Alfonso, a teacher and member of the university council pointed out that the promotion processes within the university depended on directors of educational authorities, whom he qualified as “viceroys”.
Researcher John Ackerman, one of the forum organizers, said that this exercise sought to “shake decades of authoritarian inertia in university management, renovate the participation within the university, in favor of a more participative university, more critical and transparent that defends and protects university human rights of every member of the university community.”
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