Every November 11th, the Unicaucana community and all those who feel this Alma Mater as their own, celebrate the anniversary of this house of study, which is #PatrimonioDeTodos (Heritage of All). And rightfully so, because for 197 years, the University of Cauca has been transforming lives and making the dreams of students, professors, and staff come true. To celebrate this important date with enthusiasm, a remarkable agenda of activities has been organized, activities that we hope will be enjoyed by all, in the company of family and friends, because everything has been prepared for you!

 

“Today, our responsibility and task is to continue resisting, through diligent thought, the irrationality of violence and war, to keep building with hope, formative alternatives that allow us to transform lives, and to continue generating opportunities for a country and a region that call for the sensitivity and intelligence of this institution that belongs to them," were the words chosen by the rector of the University of Cauca, Deibar René Hurtado Herrera, to begin the commemoration of the Alma Mater's 197th anniversary.

And indeed, among its many efforts, this institution of higher education is committed to mitigating the violence that plagues our department. As a representation of this commitment, an agenda has been organized, focused on commemorating, building, and strengthening a legacy that is approaching its bicentennial, centered around what truly matters.

"Our best offering is to call upon the most brilliant among us, the most tolerant, the most hopeful, the most perseverant, the most supportive, the most sensitive and committed, to remain in our university endeavor to honor its name and perpetuate its legacy, with the conviction that we have and belong to a great institution that compels us, both in thought and heart, to redeem human pain. With the certainty that we transform lives and realities, and with the pride of being Unicaucano, I can only say: Happy 197th Birthday, my beloved University of Cauca," continued the heartfelt message from our rector, before extending an invitation to participate in each of the activities and events that have been organized with great care and dedication.

Thus, this week will begin with a special gift for the University of Cauca on the occasion of its 197th anniversary, a gift that is the result of the work of the Centro de Investigaciones Históricas José María Arboleda Llorente (José María Arboleda Llorente Historical Research Center). The Colonia section of the Fondo Antiguo (Ancient Archives) of the Central Cauca Archive, which is safeguarded by our institution, has officially been registered in the Programa Memoria del Mundo para América Latina y el Caribe (Memory of the World Program for Latin America and the Caribbean – MoWLAC). To commemorate this achievement, the “Primer Coloquio José María Arboleda Llorente: Archivos Regionales y Laboratorios de Historia” (First José María Arboleda Llorente Colloquium: Regional Archives and Laboratories of History) will be held. The event will begin with the official registry presentation on Tuesday, November 12 at 2:30 p.m. in the Paraninfo Francisco José de Caldas and will continue on Wednesday, November 13 at the new headquarters of the Faculty of Human and Social Sciences.

"Today is a day of celebration! We are proud to announce that we have been included in the Memory of Latin America and the Caribbean list, and for that reason, we invite you to reflect together on the richness and value of our documentary heritage," stated Beatriz Quintero, director of the Historical Archive of the University of Cauca.

And since this year we have decided to center our celebration around music, for a reason that fills us with excitement but that we will announce in the coming days, the festivities will continue with a magical concert, an unprecedented performance! On Wednesday, November 13 at 7:00 p.m., we invite you to the Teatro Municipal Guillermo Valencia to experience an unforgettable evening with Litoral Sinfónico. Thus, the University of Cauca continues to celebrate its 197 years of history with a masterful fusion of our Orquesta Sinfónica, regional musicians, and artists from the Programa Presidencial Sonidos para la Construcción de Paz (Presidential Program Sounds for Peace Building), who, to the vibrant rhythms of the Pacific, will sing for this house that is a symbol of identity for Cauca and the Southwestern region. Like each one of us, it is part of the symphony that gives life to Unicauca. Together, we are the harmony that has made this nearly two-century legacy possible.

“It will be a celebration full of color, music, vitality, and rhythm. With this, we aim to transmit the unity that will help us move forward as a region, as a country, because by joining efforts, our impacts, from the smallest yet most significant tasks are the most powerful in our territory,” emphasized Diego Hernández, principal conductor of the University of Cauca Symphony Orchestra, who, together with Salomé Gómez, will conduct the concert.

On Friday, November 15, we are indeed called to build collectively. Starting at 9:30 a.m. in the Paraninfo Francisco José de Caldas, we will hold the event Encuentro: Todos Somos Unicauca (Meeting: We Are All Unicauca), a space to reflect on the financial challenges faced by public universities. “We invite everyone from the Cauca department, local leaders, government authorities, mayors, the governor, council members, deputies, professors, students, workers, the general community, business unions, unions, and social organizations to join us in seeking solutions to the university’s financial crisis, which must, of course, be accompanied by a change in educational policy through the 1992 Education Law (Ley 30),” stated Emanuel Espinel, student representative on the Academic Council of the Alma Mater.

It is important to mention that this space is being driven by the Rectory of this institution, in collaboration with its Peace Commission, the Asociación Sindical de Profesores Universitarios (ASPU), the Sindicato de Trabajadores y Empleados Universitarios de Colombia (SINTRAUNICOL), the student movement Unicauca Unida, El Palenque Universitario, and the Organización Colombiana de Estudiantes (OCE), which is why everyone is cordially invited to participate.

Later that same day, at 3:00 p.m., the oil portrait unveiling ceremony of former rectors Harold Muñoz Muñoz and Danilo Reinaldo Vivas Ramos will take place in the Salón Fundadores of the Claustro de Santo Domingo. This will be a noble occasion through which we express our gratitude to these individuals who have played an important role in the recent history of the University of Cauca.

As you can see, with this special agenda, we once again invite you to join us in celebrating with joy the legacy of this house of thought, a symbol of our region, which every day strives to provide opportunities not only to the youth of the country but to all Colombians who participate in its activities, research, and projects. Let us say in unison: Happy birthday, Unicauca! and let us enjoy this significant date through the activities we have organized.

Additionally, we say goodbye by announcing that we are preparing a gala event for the end of the year, with the goal of honoring our most valuable assetour people and we will share more details with you soon.

 

Written by: Communications Management Center.