Universidad Austral de Valdivia has been shrouded in silence for a week following a physical assault on the Minister of Science, Ximena Lincolao, on university grounds. Both the institution's board and the primary labor unions have avoided all direct contact with the press, limiting their communication strictly to written statements.
Nearly seven days after the incident, it has been impossible to establish a dialogue with university officials. Board President Marcela Villenas issued a signed statement expressing her apologies to the Minister and stating her support for all necessary measures to determine responsibility for the attack.
However, access to information remains restricted. This outlet attempted to reach Villenas—who served as the Regional Secretary of Transportation during Sebastián Piñera’s second administration—via phone calls and text messages, but received no response.
Faculty criticism
The university's faculty union has also opted for silence in person. In a written statement, the organization condemned the acts of violence but questioned the university administration's decision to invite Minister Lincolao to the campus.
Faculty members described the invitation as an incoherent move, "disconnected from the reality" facing the academic community. The union based its stance on recent policies from the Ministry of Science, specifically the elimination of overseas graduate scholarships and new restrictions on free tuition for students over the age of 30.
The union's position was blunt, stating that the Minister possesses no merits that would justify recognition by Universidad Austral.
Furthermore, the union directly criticized the university's leadership. Faculty representatives argue that the administration failed to meet the demands of the situation, failing to ensure the Minister's protection and safety during her visit.
Geovana Casanova, president of the faculty union, did not respond to interview requests from this outlet. Through her communications advisor, the organization confirmed they would not participate in direct conversations with the press.
The institution's National Workers' Union No. 1 maintained the same stance, making any formal discussion regarding the incident impossible.
As the silence persists, both internal investigations and those led by the Prosecutor's Office are ongoing. The goal of both investigations is to identify those responsible for the serious assault on the Minister.