The UVic-UCC University Senate endorses the manifesto ratified by some universities rejecting the sentencing of the Spanish Supreme Court

The University Senate of the University of Vic - Central University of Catalonia (UVic-UCC) has voted to endorse the joint manifesto of some Catalan universities rejecting the convictions of Catalan political prisoners and the judicialisation of politics, with 223 votes in favour, 10 votes against and 8 blank ballots. The text of the manifesto, which was presented to the Board of Governors by the representative of the Administrative and Service Staff (ASS), Josep Bisquert, states that it is impossible for the university as an institution to remain silent "in view of the current situation of repression and erosion of freedoms and civil rights," calls for the "immediate release of people who have been unfairly convicted, and the return of those in exile," and expresses support for "civic and peaceful demonstrations" in favour of civil rights and freedom for those who have been convicted.

The manifesto, which recalls that the statutes of universities advocate "freedom, democracy, justice, equality and solidarity," also rejects repression and police violence, and expresses the conviction that "in a mature democratic culture, dialogue is the only way to resolve conflicts and political differences."

This manifesto was issued after the Board of the Rectorate issued a statement on Tuesday, which expressed its "disagreement" with the convictions, and which also called upon all those involved to "create a space for dialogue based on trust, to solve a problem that should never have left the political arena." Last Friday, the Board of the Rector's Office and the Deans of UVic-UCC agreed to provide flexible conditions for students in terms of compulsory attendance and activities subject to assessment until 10 November.

Alícia Casals - the new ombudswoman

The University Senate, which met on Tuesday afternoon in the Aula Magna at UVic, also approved the candidacy of the lecturer of the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC) Alícia Casals as the new ombudswoman, replacing the current Ombudsman, Antoni Serra Ramoneda, who had held the position since 2013. The Board of Trustees of the Balmes University Foundation will now appoint her at its next meeting.

Meanwhile, Ana Palomo, a lecturer in the Faculty of Business and Communication Studies (FEC), and Lluís Jurada, of the ICT Area, will be the new representatives of the teaching and research staff on the Board of Trustees of the Balmes University Foundation and of the administrative and service staff on the Board of Governors of UVic-UCC, respectively, replacing Ángel Torres and Josep Bisquert, who have completed their terms.

In his opening speech, the rector Josep-Eladi Baños described the main projects and objectives in the areas of research, teaching, teaching staff and governance for the 2019-2020 academic year. As regards governance, he stressed the importance of the imminent approval of the new Organisational and Operational Regulations (OOR) agreed upon by the Balmes and Bages University Foundations, in order to "bring the community together and foster integrated actions between the two foundations."