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Montevideo, March 29th 2024 - 00:32 UTC

 

 

Top Uruguayan university dumps Dean on homosexual ‘anomaly’ controversy

Tuesday, July 17th 2012 - 01:38 UTC
Full article 5 comments
Dr Mercedes Rovira admitted that the ‘anomaly’ weighs at the moment of contracting teaching staff Dr Mercedes Rovira admitted that the ‘anomaly’ weighs at the moment of contracting teaching staff

The University of Montevideo accepted the resignation of who had been nominated as Dean following the controversy triggered when in an interview she described homosexuality as an “anomaly” and added this condition “hampers” teaching staff contracting.

Last Saturday Dr Mercedes Rovira communicated to the authorities of the University of Montevideo, UM, her resignation to taking the post of Dean of the University of Montevideo. “This was accepted” said the institution in a brief release.

Freedom of the individual and the search for the truth are the foundations of the university and its academic performance, “therefore the appreciations during the interview do not concord with the spirit or institutional culture of UM, which does not take sexuality into account at the moment of contracting staff”.

The institution with over 25 years in academic activity, 2.700 students, 300 collaborators, 600 teaching staff and over 3.000 graduates reiterates “its apologies to those people who felt aggravated and to public opinion” for the comments of Dr Rovira.

In an interview published last week, Rovira who this Monday was to take the post of UM Dean, made controversial statements regarding homosexuality and admitted that this condition “weighs” at the moment of contracting teaching staff.

UM which has in a few years a leading university in several fields, particularly business and law, self describes itself as an institution guided by the “moral guarantee of spiritual formation” delivered by the Catholic Church Opus Dei institution.

“Balck Sheep” a Uruguayan organization of lesbians, gays and transsexuals announced it will begin legal actions against what it described as “a clear expression of discrimination” and will report the case to the Human Rights Institute.
 

Categories: Politics, Uruguay.

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  • JohnN

    The “Balck Sheep” [sic] are the Ovejas Negras group (www.ovejasnegras.org).

    In a just-released letter to a student protester, Dr Mercedes Rovira appears to be apologizing for the way others interpreted her statement, not for the statement itself. Rovira says her best friend is homosexual, and she herself is anomalous because she is celibate.

    Mercedes Rovira habló tras la renuncia:
    http://www.elobservador.com.uy/noticia/228286/mercedes-rovira-hablo-tras-la-renuncia-/

    Jul 17th, 2012 - 03:14 am 0
  • Idlehands

    There's a woman that spends too much time worrying about other people's sex lives rather than concentrating on getting laid herself.

    Jul 17th, 2012 - 08:10 am 0
  • TreborDoyle

    At least she did the decent thing ... and resigned!

    There is no room for this homophobia in society, despite excuses of familiarity with homosexuals or celibacy. Its always the religious, the sexually repressed and the unintelligent who express views such as Dr Mercedes Rovira. It is such a shame, that an education such as she has received (doctorate) has failed to break these stereotypical ideas and cost her dearly (job and reputation).

    This should be a lesson to all bigots ... intolerance will not be tolerated!

    Jul 17th, 2012 - 08:23 am 0
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