UNAM, in the defining stage of rector

Next week, the 15 members of the collegiate body, in charge of appointing the rector of the University, for almost eight decades, will deliberate and subsequently designate the person who will head the highest house of studies for the next four years.

The deliberation process will conclude once the plenary session of the Governing Board reach the vote of 10 of the 15 members in favor of one of the 10 candidates for the Rectorate. Then, it will be announced who will replace Enrique Graue.

Last Tuesday, after concluding the interviews with the 10 candidates for the Rectorate, the plenary session met to outline the appointment and there was a break for the Day of the Dead long weekend.

In the 2015 succession process, the Governing Board required more than a day to agree on Graue's appointment. The bets then were on Sergio Alcocer, but a group of university students who considered him an imposition of the then PRI government threatened to destabilize the University if he was named rector.

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Now again, Alcocer seeks to become the rector, confident that the “ghost” of eight years ago has disappeared.

So far this century, the Board has chosen the rectors after very rapid deliberations. After the resignation of Francisco Barnes, in the middle of the strike that paralyzed the UNAM for 10 months in 1999, Juan Ramón de la Fuente was appointed in less than four hours.

A total of a little more than seven hours were required to carry out the process, in which five candidates were interviewed at the Mining Palace due to the prevailing situation at the University. For De la Fuente's re-election, the full Board discussed less than three hours.

In 2007, for the election of José Narro, the 15 members of the Board took almost six hours to reach an agreement; just over three, after concluding the interviews with the candidates and two more the next day. Already in his re-election, only two hours were enough to reach the agreement.

Former members of the Board informally said that the debates that take place are intense before achieving the majority for the appointment.

THE MISSION OF JUNTA CREATED IN 1945

In addition to appointing the rector, the Governing Board has the power to appoint the heads of the faculties, schools and institutes as well as the members of the University Board of Trustees.

But in addition, it is in charge of hearing about the resignation of the rector or removing him for a serious cause. She is also tasked with resolving conflicts that arise between university authorities.

Its members are appointed by the University Council, from proposals made by the rector in office.

In accordance with its internal regulations, the Governing Board has an ordinary meeting once a month and meets when called by its president, the rector or by five members of the Board itself.

It can validly meet with the attendance of half plus one of its members and cannot do so with an attendance of less than six.

Unless it concerns the election of the rector, the acceptance of his resignation, his removal or the resolution of a conflict between authorities, he makes his decisions with an absolute majority of votes of those present.

Their votes are nominal, unless two of the members of the Board request that they be secret.

According to the Organic Law, members of the Board may only hold teaching or research positions within the University and may be appointed rector or director of faculties, schools or institutes until two years have passed after their separation.

To constantly renew itself, each year, the University Council elects a member of the Board to replace the one with the oldest appointment.

STABILITY AT UNAM

This year, the Board celebrates 78 years of being in charge of appointing the rector. Since then he has appointed 15 rectors.

On its website, it highlights that, since its creation, it has played a fundamental role in guaranteeing stability for the University and has avoided interference from external interests, preserving the independence and prestige of the highest house of studies.

Before its existence, between 1910 and 1944, that is, in 34 years, there were 19 rectors.

Among the new features of this Board are that, for the first time in its history, it is made up of more women than men.

In March of this year, with the appointment of Margarita Luna Ramos, retired minister of the Supreme Court, it was made up of eight women and seven men.

With the exception of Gina Zabludovsky Kuper, who has been a member of the Board since the rectorship of José Narro, and current president of the body, the rest of the members were appointed during this rectorate.

GOVERNING BOARD MEMBERS

• Accountant and doctor in Administration Juan Alberto Adam Siade.
• Biologist Ana Rosa Barahona Echeverría.
• Bachelor of Administration Enrique Cabrero Mendoza. Former director of the National Council of Science and Technology.
• Economist Jorge Cadena Roa.
• Engineer Elena Centeno García.
• Doctor in Medical Sciences Patricia Elena Clark Peralta.
• Engineer Luis Armando Díaz-Infante Chapa.
• Doctor of Sciences Marcia Hiriart Urdanivia.
• Physics Rocío Jáuregui Renaud.
• Biologist Rafael Lira Saade.
• Doctor of Law Margarita Beatriz Luna Ramos.
• Biologist Alberto Ken Oyama Nakagawa.
• Graduate in Hispanic Language and Literature Vicente Quirarte Castañeda.
• Mathematician María de la Luz Jimena de Teresa de Oteyza.
• Sociologist Gina Zabludovsky Kuper.

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