Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (UC): Waiting for the constitutional proposal
The rector Ignacio Sánchez highlights the efforts that the university has made to contribute to the Constituent Convention in the drafting of the new Fundamental Charter. Unfortunately -he points out in a column in La Tercera-, the draft proposal delivers negative and extremely worrying signals. “I would like to highlight in a special way the installation of free abortion, in the current text without restrictions and without even considering conscientious objection. Likewise, the insufficient protection and care of the freedom of education, of the freedom of parents to choose the education of their children, and in particular the role of the State in its duty to support that choice with financing”, he underlines.
“On July 4, the proposal for a new Constitution will be presented to be evaluated by all the inhabitants of our country. According to a detailed analysis and reading, citizens are expected to make their decision regarding the options presented to us. In this process, since its inception, the university directed great efforts to contribute to the Constituent Convention in the drafting of the new Fundamental Charter. There have been more than twenty working documents that have been prepared by nearly eighty professors in the UC Constituent Forum and the UC Public Policy Center, which have been delivered to all the constituents, who have had the responsibility for leading this process and preparing the final text.
Along with this, academic seminars, colloquiums and debates have been held at the university, including in the Honorable Superior Council and in the UC Forum , to advance pluralism and wide diversity of opinions of the members of the university community, which It is made up of more than forty thousand people, including teachers, students, professionals and administrators. This large group is joined by thousands of former students who have been permanently collaborating with the university in this exchange of opinions.
“There have been more than twenty working documents that have been prepared by nearly eighty professors in the UC Constituent Forum and the UC Public Policy Center, which have been delivered to all the constituents, who have had the responsibility of leading this process and preparing the final text”- rector Ignacio Sánchez
It is evident that each member of our university must define their option in the exit plebiscite on September 4 in a very free and sovereign manner. For this, it is up to the university to open the debate of ideas and have a broad plurality and academic and expression freedom that enriches the discussion. In the Senior Management and with the support of the university community we have worked very actively on this task since the beginning of the process. However, along with promoting this fruitful dialogue, those of us who represent the institution must highlight and emphasize the aspects that are of particular importance to our university and that are related to the founding principles that have accompanied us since the beginning of our contribution. to the country, 134 years ago.
A new Fundamental Charter must define a system of government, the general foundations of community life and the rights and duties of individuals. It must be a new Constitution that unites us, that produces a true national reunion and that leaves behind the divisions of the past. Unfortunately, the process that we have been able to observe has not been like that. The proposals and what we have learned so far have had a clear tone of revenge, of new winners and losers, which is of particular concern to our country and is reflected in the surveys that we know of. During the process, the spirit of reunion that was sought when thinking about a new Constitution has not been seen, an idea that had a very majority support in our country.
“During the process, the spirit of reunion that was sought when thinking about a new Constitution was not seen, an idea that had a very majority support in our country” – rector Ignacio Sánchez
The great issues that motivate us at UC to present our positions are, in particular, respect for life and the dignity of the person; public education and freedom of education; the view of higher education and science in the country; respect for religious freedom; respect and development of native peoples; the concept of plurinationality and its implications; sustainability and integral ecology; among others. Of course, this must be in accordance with a political system that accounts for adequate participation and respect for democracy, together with the presence of balances in a future system of government and a justice system that respects international treaties and is fully autonomous. Without a doubt, social rights must be very present in the proposal,
In several of the aspects mentioned, the draft proposal provides signals that seem negative to us and that we have described as extremely worrying. I would like to highlight in a special way the installation of free abortion, in the current text without restrictions and without even considering conscientious objection. Likewise, the insufficient protection and care of the freedom of education, of the freedom of parents to choose the education of their children, and in particular the role of the State in its duty to support that choice with financing, is also negatively highlighted. In higher education, the constitutional proposal that we have known so far ignores the history of Chile, by not mentioning the support and promotion of traditional universities that have been a fundamental part of the country’s development for much more than a hundred years.
“In higher education, the constitutional proposal that we have known until now ignores the history of Chile, by not mentioning the support and promotion of traditional universities that have been a fundamental part of the country’s development for much more than a hundred years” – rector Ignacio Sanchez
When describing these concerns, of course, I am not only writing about the future of our university -Chile’s heritage and key to its development since its foundation-, but also about the future of regional institutions, which have been started as part of citizen initiatives, which without belonging to the State have been key in the understanding and growth of Chile and its inhabitants. With the proposals that we have seen so far, -which affect the heart of UC’s values and educational proposal to the country-, it is impossible to support a constitutional text that goes against our deepest principles and against higher education that the country requires and demands”.