Preliminary manifesto, June 21, 1918 “Youth no longer asks. It demands that the right to externalize that own thought be recognized in the university bodies through their representatives. She's tired of bearing tyrants. If he has been capable of making a revolution in consciences, he cannot be denied the ability to intervene in the government of his own house”.
The student feat called the University Reform was born in Córdoba in March 1918, when a group of young people rose up against the conservative structures that they considered far from their time and the spirit of the University.
It was then that they began a strike to make their demands heard for a broad income to the houses of higher studies, an autonomous and democratic system. Two months later, the President of the Nation, Hipólito Yrigoyen, acceded to the students' demand, decided to intervene by the University of Córdoba to thus initiate a reform process that established the participation of professors in the university government, ending with the predominance of academies made up of life members.
However, when the assembly for the election of the rector was held, the most conservative sector triumphed, which is why the students were unaware of the result, the protests were radicalized and the idea that their participation in the university government was necessary to guarantee changes was reinforced. in college.
"Reformist postcards Córdoba 1918”
In this context, in June 1918 the emblematic "Liminal Manifesto" was published, which summarized the main reformist postulates, and expressed deep criticism of a conservative university, and of an academic regime that had led to "mediocrize teaching", to close and fight science.
Faced with student pressure, Yrigoyen intervened again at the University, which caused the resignation of many professors linked to conservative groups and the rector elected a few days before. The demand of the students was finally heard and reforms to the statutes were introduced so that from that moment the university government would be shared by professors (full and substitute) and students. Other changes were also made, such as voluntary attendance at courses and free teaching. In October, a new election imposed a reformist rector.
The student feat in Córdoba constituted one of the most relevant university transformation movements in the history of higher educational institutions in Latin America. He democratized the government of the universities, and opened the possibility to the middle sectors of accessing a university degree.
Historical Line "The days of the Reformation"
As of the reform, students were incorporated into the university government, and the Argentine University Federation was created, the highest representative body for all students at the national level. It brings together the federations of the Argentine National Universities.
The bases of the reform in Córdoba that later multiplied in the universities of the country were:
- Student co-government, teachers, graduates, non-teachers
- university autonomy
- Advertising of university events
- free teaching
- Academic freedom
- Secular education for all
- Research and science
- Extension and commitment to society.
The reformist movement expanded rapidly throughout Latin America and the world, laying the foundations and principles on which the Argentine Public University stands today.