University launches book about its 165 years of institutional contribution and history

  • With the presence of the highest authorities of Universidad de Santiago and distinguished guests related to this University, Dr. Juan Manuel Zolezzi presented the book that was published by the Vice Presidency of Outreach and Engagement. In almost 200 pages, it shows the milestones and imprint left by the School of Arts and Crafts, the State Technical University and the current Universidad de Santiago de Chile.
  • According to President Zolezzi, this work “reflects a genuine institutional pride and its title summarizes very well our mission and history: Formando personas, transformando país (Formig people, transforming the country).”
  • This patrimonial book was published in the context of the celebration of the 165th institutional anniversary and it presents two types of narrative: a series of photographs that depicts the history of the University and a series of analytical texts (that were translated to English) organized in three chapters, under the responsibility of professors Carmen Norambuena and Cristina Moyano, and the collaboration of the designer Eduardo Castillo.


 

“This book is a collection of reminiscences that discover a history that belongs to us, that reminds us of our origins and shows us the way that we still have to go, with its risks, opportunities and hopes. It is a gift that we will be able to give with proud to those who we wish to know better about us.”

With these words, Dr. Juan Manuel Zolezzi, President of Universidad de Santiago, presented the institutional book called “Universidad de Santiago de Chile. Formando personas, transformando país”, a piece of work published by the Vice Presidency of Outreach and Engagement that, in almost 200 pages, depicts the main milestones achieved by our institution, heir to the School of Arts and Crafts and the State Technical University (UTE, in Spanish).

The book launching ceremony was held at the Salón de Honor hall and was headed by President Zolezzi. It was attended by the University’s highest authorities and distinguished guests related to this institution, like Tomás Ireland, the UTE’s former General Secretary and former member of the Teknos theatre group, and father Humberto Guzmán, who was in charge of the University’s pastoral care for 56 years.

During the solemn ceremony, President Zolezzi said that the patrimonial book’s title “summarizes very well our mission and history. In effect, our work as a public university is defined by the imperative requirement of promoting and cultivating the republican values such as pluralism, non-discrimination, laicism, democratic ideology, respect for human rights and commitment to the most vulnerable and unprotected groups of our society,” President Zolezzi said. 

For his part, Dr. Sergio González, Vice President of Outreach and Engagement, said that with this book “we update our institutional imprint, we introduce us to ourselves, to the new members of the University community, and, above all, to all who want to know about us and recognize us.”

The book, which was published in the context of the celebration of the 165 years of the University, presents several patrimonial photographs that depict life in the campus and the contributions made by the University to the community that surrounds it.

These historical images are presented together with analytical texts (translated into English), organized in three chapters and carefully presented in the book. The cover features Roberto Matta’s mural “Vivir enfrentando las flechas.”

Our history is linked to the country’s history

Dr. Carmen Norambuena and Dr. Cristina Moyano, both professors at Universidad de Santiago, were in charge of writing the texts on UTE and Universidad de Santiago de Chile, respectively, while professor Eduardo Castillo, academic at the Faculty of Architecture of Universidad de Chile, contributed with the information on the School of Arts and Crafts.

After the ceremony, Dr. Carmen Norambuena highlighted the role played by Professor Rafael Chavarría (Faculty of Humanities) in the process of arranging the texts.

Professor Norambuena, whose family and personal history is strongly connected to this University, said that the book “allows new generations to reencounter with a past that is necessary to know and revive.”

“For youngsters, it is very interesting to know the history of this University because, as the authorities said during the ceremony, it is linked to the history of the country. Every historical episode in the country is mirrored in this Higher Education Institution,” Dr. Norambuena said.


Translated by Marcela Contreras