Mujica received this Wednesday, June 29, the title of Doctor Honoris Causa from the University of Río Cuarto, Argentina, due to his extensive career in political and social militancy and his commitment to public, secular and free education.
The event was held in the Auditorium of the University of the Republic (UDELAR).
Authorities from the University of Río Cuarto and UDELAR, and the general public participated.
“It is time for the universities to understand that they have the responsibility to gain intelligence and put it at the service of an America in which we were able to build many countries, but we lack the validity of a common desire that gives us a presence in the world,” he said. the former president in his speech.
He added: “Until now we have talked about integration in terms of: ‘I sell you so much, I buy so much from you,’ but if we don’t integrate intelligence, we will never liberate the body.”
Political and social militancy
The initiative had been approved by the Board of Directors of the Faculty of Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine. The then superior student counselors Camila Vicente and Julián Rooney, principal and substitute, respectively, made possible the idea that the students Sebastián Andrés Vila, from Agronomy Engineering, and Francisco Bertorello, from Law, all from Student Dynamics, had, informed the University of Río Cuarto .
“We believe that the figure of Mr. José Alberto Mujica Cordano, better known as ‘Pepe’, is worthy of receiving the highest distinction that a University can award due to his extensive career in political and social militancy”, indicated the promoters of the idea. .
They added: “Among his achievements, the various elective positions in the sister Eastern Republic of Uruguay can be highlighted. He was a deputy, senator, minister and finally president of said Republic during the period 2010-2015 ”, and they also remember that he was responsible for the opening of the Technological University of Uruguay (UTEC), free and free.
“His government’s social policy was aimed at the development of human rights, as well as strongly oriented towards achieving the unity of the Uruguayan people, and his equity and inclusion programs stood out,” they indicate.
Another aspect that stands out about the former president refers to his “great commitment in defense of free public education, which were the guiding principles of his administration.”
They also highlight his “clear, simple and profound communicative skills, becoming one of the main voices critical of the prevailing savage capitalism, promoting an example of austerity and sobriety in the face of consumer society.”
“’Pepe Mujica is an example of austerity, since during the time he occupied the Presidency of Uruguay he gave up the comfort that would be granted to any president. He continued to live in the same way in his simple farm, where he has the possibility of continuing to live in peace and without stopping practicing family farming, which has always been his way of life”, he highlights.
