#Breaking! It is dangerous and impossible to act against conscience. Here I am, here I am – I cannot do otherwise. – Es ist gefärlich und unmöglich, etwas gegen das Gewissen zu tun. Hier stehe ich und kann nicht anders. – It is neither safe nor right to act against Conscience. Here I stand, I cannot do otherwise. (Martin Luther, April 18, 1521, Worms)!
When I wrote yesterday on another occasion that „the spirit of the Higher Education Act and university regulations is clear: political agitprop has NO place on university territory„, I had no idea that I had prepared the ground for today’s events…
So, dear colleagues, friends, acquaintances and strangers, early this morning the so-called Prime Minister visited the institution where I work – the University of National and World Economy. The reason for his visit was to consider the so-called „newest building“ – the same building for which (already former) ministers of the same so-called Prime Minister in 2019 brought the university to an unprecedented financial and image crisis (contrary to all rules and agreements – I know this well, because at that time I was asked to investigate the case and make a written objection, as I did).
But it doesn’t matter who was right then and who was wrong; The important thing is that a Bulgarian university was allowed to become a film set for #ZhipkaTV. I find this offensive to the autonomy as a whole, to so many people who work or study here and who feel, to put it mildly, uncomfortable being inadvertently hosted on a campaign tour on the last day of the Political GERB party.
SHAME!
The universities with which my life has been connected since my youth and where I have studied, the wonderful students I work with, and the laws of Conscience do not allow me to ignore this – otherwise I cannot. For this reason, as a symbolic expression of disagreement and protest, I hereby declare that:
- I am resigning from the „managerial“ position of „Secretary General for Web Communications“ of the University.
- I am retiring as a member of the editorial board of „Scientific Papers“ and „Yearbook of UNWE“.
- I am retiring as a member of the attestation commission of the Faculty of Economics of Infrastructure.
I want to say in advance that I know what it will be said: „But this is not political agitation, we were just looking at a building.“ I answer: let’s not pretend and talk like men, please.
Today’s footage from the university yard, in addition to the photos of former and current members of the Student Council and university management in the Ceremonial Hall, and at the main entrance of UNWE with inscriptions „Bulletin №28“ and „For GERB education has always been a priority“ are a shameful page in the history of this institution. This is not even about the fact that specifically #OurUniversity was ruined during this very rule; it is not a question of the fact that if there is a Bulgarian politician who is as alien as possible to the idea of a University at all, it is precisely this politician. This is about the fact that it is hellishly rude, anti-university and brutal to introduce agitprop on university territory.
(I apply photographs from the previous visit with the jeep of the above-mentioned in the newest building. Then he came, made us walk like cattle through mud, called his ministers and ordered them to „release“ the money they had previously suspended.)
Source: Martin Osikovski
