Universidad Autónoma Benito Juárez de Oaxaca

Infobox_University
name = Universidad Autónoma Benito Juárez de Oaxaca


caption = U.A.B.J.O Main Campus
motto = "Ciencia, Arte, Libertad"
("Science, Art, Freedom")
established = January 8, 1827
type = Public university
endowment =
president = Rafael Torres Valdez
colors = Blue & Gold color box|Bluecolor box|Gold
city = Oaxaca de Juarez
country = flagcountry|Mexico
students =
undergrad =
postgrad =
staff =
campus = Urban
free_label =
mascot =
free =
website = [http://www.uabjo.mx www.uabjo.mx]

The Universidad Autónoma Benito Juárez de Oaxaca (UABJO) is located in the city of Oaxaca de Juarez in state of Oaxaca, Mexico.

The University was founded on January 8, 1827 as the Oaxacan Institute for Arts and Sciences. Initially courses were offered in Medicine, Surgery, Civil and Natural Law, Public Law, Canon Law and Ecclesiastical History, Political Economy, Statistics, Geography and Physics, Mathematics logic, ethics, English and French. [ [http://espanol-idiomas.uabjo.mx Facultad de Idiomas de la Universidad Autónoma "Benito Juárez" de Oaxaca] ]

History

In December 1943, governor Major General Vicente Gonzalez Fernandez decreed that the Institute of Arts and Sciences would be granted autonomy. Then on January 18, 1955 General Manuel Cabrera Carrasquedo enacted a law elevating the Institute to University status. The school then became known as Universidad Autónoma "Benito Juárez" de Oaxaca. The university was named in honor of the full-blooded indigenous national to become president of Mexico, Oaxacan native Benito Juárez (March 21, 1806 – July 18, 1872). [ [http://espanol-idiomas.uabjo.mx Facultad de Idiomas de la Universidad Autónoma "Benito Juárez" de Oaxaca] ]

2006 Oaxaca protests

In May 2006, a teachers' strike began in the Zócalo in the Mexican city of Oaxaca, Oaxaca. 2006 was the 25th consecutive year that Oaxaca's teachers have striked. Previously, the protests had generally lasted for one to two weeks and had resulted in small raises for teachers. The 2006 strike began in protest of the low funding for teachers and rural schools in the state, but was prompted to additionally call for the resignation of the state governor Ulises Ruiz Ortiz after 3000 police were sent to break up the occupation in the early morning of June 14, 2006. A street battle lasted for several hours that day, resulting in more than one hundred hospitalizations but no fatalities. Ortiz declared that he would not resign.

On November 2, 2006, Federal Preventative Police advanced on the University, occupied by students and displaced protesters from the Zocalo. Since the University is autonomous, the police are forbidden from entering the grounds, unless invited by the Rector [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6112142.stm BBC NEWS | Americas | More violence in Oaxaca protest ] ] .

Thousands of protesters arrived in the following hours, surrounding the police and eventually forcing them to withdraw from the area surrounding the university. The Asamblea Popular de los Pueblos de Oaxaca had received permission by the university rector to broadcast their messages through the university radio, which they used to criticise political parties, the Institutional Revolutionary Party specifically. Opinions against the APPO were quickly taken off the air [ [http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/nacion/145225.html Radio Universidad, voz estratégica de APPO - El Universal - México ] ]

After criticism by the private sector, political organizations and the press (specifically Grupo Formula's news anchor Denise Maerker) for his remarks towards the APPO the rector declared that he had requested respect for the rights of students and faculty [ [http://www.noticias-oax.com.mx/articulos.php?id_sec=1&id_art=48536&id_ejemplar=1276 Exige rector de la UABJO a Segob se respeten garantías individuales] ] and that a tentative operation by the Federal Police would not be a solution to the issue [ [http://www.oloramitierra.com.mx/?mod=read&sec=general&id=9420&titulo=Busca_el_rector_de_la_UABJO_reestablecer_actividades_en_Ciudad_Universitaria Busca el rector de la UABJO reestablecer actividades en Ciudad Universitaria] ]

Current status

An agreement was recently signed with the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) establishing the CEC (Center for Continuing Education) that allows the university to offer additional baccalaureate degrees in conjunction with UNAM.

In 2001, the UABJO's School of Languages initiated a study abroad exchange program with the College of the Mainland, in Texas City, Texas, USA. This has led to increased exposure for the university as well as helped to further the mission of university's School of Languages. [ [http://www.com.edu/teams/socsci/oaxaca.cfm COM/UABJO Study Abroad Exchange Program] ]

Noted alumni

Several prominent figures in the political life of Mexico have been alumni of UABJO and its predecessor, the Oaxacan Arts and Science Institute:

Presidents of Mexico [ [http://espanol-idiomas.uabjo.mx Facultad de Idiomas de la Universidad Autónoma "Benito Juárez" de Oaxaca] ]

* Benito Pablo Juárez García (President of Mexico 1858–1872)
* José de la Cruz Porfirio Díaz Mori (President of Mexico 1876–1880 & 1884-1911)

External links

* [http://www.uabjo.mx/ Official website] es icon

References