The final sprint for the election of the rector at the University of Messina gets underway. Over 500 people filled the two main rooms of the Department of Economics for the pre-entry of the professor’s program. Michele Limosani, candidate for Rector for the next six years. The meeting was coordinated by Prof. Augusto D’Amico, former Director of the same Department.
Opening the evening, reversing the programme, was the speech by Chiara Furlan, student of Medicine and Surgery, confirming how the centrality of students – said Limosani – in her vision of university is not a simple slogan, but a real own value. Talking about Prof.’s program. Limosani, then the professors spoke. Fortunato Neri, full professor of the MIFT Department (for the Science and Technology Area); Elena Caliri, full professor Department DICAM (for the Human Sciences Area); Giovanni Squadrito, full professor of the Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine (for the Life Sciences Area); Maria Castriciano, researcher of the CHIBIOFARM Department (for researchers); the engineer Francesco Oteri (for technical administrative staff).
Some key concepts of the program were highlighted, such as the idea of returning to a University government based on discussion and full involvement of all components of the communitythe maximum attention to be paid to legality, the importance of inclusion, the need to be competitive in terms of research and teaching.
“I asked myself – began the prof. Limosani – faced with what has happened in recent weeks, if this University had the strength to start again. Today, seeing all these people, the energy they transmit, listening to those who spoke before me, I say without any doubt, yes, we will make it.” Limosani highlighted some data that shows how Unime’s growth rate, both compared to other universities in the same territorial basin and that of the Centre-North, has been significantly lower in recent years. For example, by referring to the three most important measures designed by the national government for the university system with PNRR funds (Extended Partnerships, National Centers and Innovation Ecosystems), the University of Catania managed to bring home 88 million, the University of Palermo 77 million and UniMe just over 21 million (Samothrace project). A rather disappointing result.
Limosani also focused on the reputational crisis that the University is going through, stating that his candidacy today is the only one in discontinuity compared to the others, given that both still represent continuity with the previous administration. “I am not – continued Limosani – the person who came to avenge the defeated, but the representative of all those who, in silence, with their daily work try to make the University of Messina great”.
Limosani then summarized the key values of the program: respect for people and rules, autonomy of the Departments, separation between political and administrative power, valorization of merit, inclusion and participation, aggregation and organization of the University by disciplinary poles.
“Let us rediscover together – concluded Limosani – the pride of belonging to a great community, to a great institution, to a great tradition. Long live our academic community, long live the University of Messina.”
