LAMEZIA TERME Culture as «preparation for engaging in social life», but also «a great rigorous concept of legality and the possibility of suggesting behavioral indications to institutions», the university as «catalyst of outlets, positive outcomes for human wealth». On 6 February 2017, the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella marks another stage of his attention towards Calabria by participating in the inauguration of the academic year of Unical in Arcavacata di Rende. Another day imbued with Mattarella’s strong message to an excellence of the South which – he will say – “has a number of particularly relevant, innovative and emblematic elements”.
The tribute to Andreatta
Mattarella dedicated his first thought, almost a duty also for a common political affiliation, to Beniamino Andreatta, first rector and “founding father” of the University of Calabria…. «The victory in the chess match against Kasparov does not belong to the computer but to those who programmed it», explains Mattarella after thanking the institutions present and underlining «the awareness, fortunately growing again in this season, of the uniqueness of knowledge». «Not only – adds Mattarella – because modern, new means pervade every sector, from medicine to the economy, to the social dimension, to the domestic one, but because in reality that form of intelligence, that application of it is inevitably the effect of a combination of culture and science, between philosophy, mathematics, logic, in reality between the entire complex of sciences… Even in this Andreatta was emblematic because he had an eclectic propensity, overall approach to culture and his intuition, his commitment to this University is representative of this open-mindedness that is needed. Andreatta – notes the President of the Republic – is a man from the North, from Trento, he carried out his academic activity mainly in Bologna, but he was actively committed in concrete terms to the creation of this University which has a number of particularly relevant, innovative and emblematic and among these I would like to highlight the presence of many students from other countries.”
The role of culture and the university
These were the years of the crisis in Syria and the destruction of Aleppo, and a student from Aleppo enrolled at Unical was invited to speak at that ceremony. Mattarella remembers this by observing that the young man «comes from a city like Aleppo, which is one of the highest points in the history of human civilization, an example of coexistence and which today is a depressing sign of these times and of how it could become a victim of intolerance and violence. This University has many particularly significant and important characteristic elements. Naturally, not everything works perfectly, there are problems, and it is good to remember that the economic crisis of recent years has marked our coexistence, particularly in the South, and has also created problems for universities throughout Italy, particularly those in the South. Therefore it is also good to clearly indicate deficiencies, gaps and needs in order to be able to address and remedy the former and satisfy the needs that exist, but it is always good to keep a close eye on the results achieved, which is what this University represents». For the President of the Republic «our country as a whole and its South, which is an essential and decisive component for the recovery and progress of growth, has a quantity of energy that we see in this territory, as in the whole of the South, but also in many territories of the North, manifested by the many well-trained young people who have studied but cannot find work or employment. Our country – claims Mattarella – needs, particularly in these areas, catalysts to create opportunities, positive outcomes to this human richness that lies within. One of these catalysts is the university, it is the culture from which derives not only the drive, the preparation, the abilities, the refinement of the aptitudes to engage in social life, but also a great rigorous concept of legality and the possibility of imagining , plan, suggest behavioral indications to the institutions”. Mattarella’s closure is «a great wish and appreciation for what this University does in this territory and in our country. Best wishes and thanks for what is being done, with the belief that the prospect of growth, recovery and a better future derives from the cultural fabric of our country in which this University is largely well placed”. (a. cant.) (Photos taken from the Quirinale official website)
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