August 4, 2011

Physically, the campus of the Universidad Nacional de Cuyo is a very depressing place, a world away from Whitman College’s lush, manicured grounds. The buildings are hideous and run-down, and in between them lies vast space filled only by brown grass and the occasional tree or bush.

However, the mood changes instantly upon entering the political and social sciences building. I first walked in the week before classes started, and already the building was filled with life. In the halls, people were hanging out, painting signs, etc. Little was left bare, every wall was filled with signs and some occasional graffiti. The most dominant presence was los Radicales, (translate: progressive) but the spectrum ranged as far as the leftist movement of the revolution.

Many of the groups are active on the university level as well. At UN Cuyo, students play a significant role in school governance. It is an inalienable right that they hold dear and fight for. If they feel they’re being treated unfairly they will barricade the school.

I love Whitman, but I was just about fed up with the narrow-range of political views and the PC culture. This, certainly, is a refreshing change.

Footnotes:

Defining ¨Radical ¨  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radicalism_(historical)