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The university demiurge

by Miguel Antonio Bernal

Usually the demiurge is a person with many titles, endowed with a superior culture which is used to dominate, manipulate and control his creatures. On his other side, he is disposed to grant concessions, exalt his values and create total dependence by which he is perceived as the creator who can resolve all problems.

All of this is hidden by an excellent discourse that always leaves the impression of the best intentions, but the demiurge maintains unconfessable intentions to stay in power, which results in the anointment of a golem that he himself has created.

The complaints about false diplomas at the University of Panama more and more leaves the impression that behind all of this is a demiurge, creator of a golem in his image and likeness, but used for perverse ends.

Thus we have it that the current rector served in this post for two consecutive terms (1194-1997 and 1997-2000), and was then replaced by Julio Vallarino, a professor from the Faculty of Sciences, who in turn made the current rector an "aide" at a monthly salary of $2,000 on top of his professor's pay, and with private offices. When Julio Vallarino tried to be re-elected as rector it was as if he had tried to destroy his creator, who of course became implacable and at all costs blocked the chances of a project that lacked his approval maintaining power up on the hill. The self-proclaimed "Rector Magnifico" was newly anointed by the group that he dominates as a candidate for the rectory and withdrew his political support from Vallarino, who in turn fired him from his aide's position. Resulting from all this manipulation, the anointed was elected rector for the 3003-2006 period.

There is no doubt that the rector has demonstrated his ability as a demiurge. He uses his post and its attributes to dominate and to achieve his aims, and --- just like in mythology --- he must protect his victims. That explains why, in the face of overwhelming evidence of corruption at the University of Panama, he will take no drastic measures against the functionaries who have been implicated by the report of the Murgas-Marion-Morán Commission.

The demiurge stalks in search of victims, who have to have a certain profile, who would never dare to challenge power, who have little will and will submit to the dictates of their creator. In exchange for this attitude, the protected receive perquisites and concessions and get to taste the honey of power. When they feel insecure because they don't have the qualities to perform their functions, their creator will tell them, like Berna Burrel in "Envy is the Color of Arsenic," not to worry, what interests me is your company and your solidarity, and you will receive your full salary just the same.

This fiction explains why the University of Panama's finances are directed by an excellent epidemiologist, research by an English professor and the computer center by a biologist. It's why all the vice-rectors, the secretary general and the directors of the regional university centers, in addition to their handsome salaries have the use of personal cars with their private plates, to be used at their discretion at the university's expense.

We are denying our own values when the university produces professionals who have the qualifications to perform these jobs, but other criteria are used to fill the posts. Could it be that in our house of studies that they use "political spaces" and distribute posts in accordance with the support that has been given in the campaigns to elect the rector?

With what moral authority can we claim to the rest of society that our graduates have no opportunities for employment because the graduates of the Faculty of International Relations are not hired by the foreign service, that those educated as public administrators have no opportunities in the public sector, if we at the university don't set an example by the appointments we make?

 How far we have come from the dream of Harmodio Arias Madrid when he set the mission for the University of Panama!

So it shouldn't surprise us if there appears a communiqué from the Academic Council or the University General Council that tells the country to its face "Nothing has happened here, it's a misunderstanding, it's a campaign by the enemies of the university, it was an administrative mistake that has now been corrected." After all, Niccolo Machiavelli said that "Men are so simple-minded and so dominated by their immediate needs that a charlatan will always find many who are disposed to be deceived."