Chihuahua, Chih.- The rector of the Autonomous University of Chihuahua (UACH), Luis Rivera Campos, said that there is concern among the country’s public universities about what appears to be the intention of some local governments to interfere in their autonomy.
He explained that in Sinaloa (governed by Morena) a reform to the Organic Law of the Autonomous University (UAS) was approved so that the election of the rector is by open vote, but the problem is that people who are not part of the academic or student community will be able to participate, since it will be enough for them to have a relationship with the institution, such as an external supplier.
On September 20, in an extraordinary session held in an event hall, the 64th Legislature of Sinaloa approved the reform to 53 articles of the Organic Law of the UAS to restore universal suffrage in the election of the heads of the Rector’s Office, directors of academic units, as well as the members of the University Council.
Rivera Campos added that this was one of the issues discussed at a meeting of the National Association of Universities and Higher Education Institutions (Anuies), because it is a situation that could affect everyone.
He warned that violating the autonomy of institutions with the argument that it is a matter in favor of democracy, may become a trend, since the decision was made by the Congress of this state, without carrying out any consultation to validate this process of selecting the rector.
He added that it is no secret that there is a confrontation between the rector of the Autonomous University of Sinaloa and the governor, Rubén Rocha Moya, so it could be a personal matter that is behind the reform to the Organic Law of the highest house of studies in that state.
He stated that this is not the first time he has seen an intention to intervene in the autonomy of universities, since at one point the President of the Republic, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, sought to have influence in the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), but was unable to achieve this.
He said it is important for governments to respect universities in terms of their autonomy, since they are the foundation and the compendium of different ideologies.
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