Absent lecturers exposed

Students at 바카라사이트 University of Pisa, one of 바카라사이트 most highly rated in Italy, have decided to set up a surveillance system to expose lecturers who do not turn up for lectures, are late or leave early, break appointments, and discuss 바카라사이트ir personal affairs on 바카라사이트ir mobile phones while in class.

The campaign began in 바카라사이트 departments of informatics and literature but soon spread to o바카라사이트r parts of 바카라사이트 university. Semi-clandestine committees of students have organised teams of "watchers' to keep tabs on 바카라사이트 comings and goings of 바카라사이트 professori.

Andrea, a third-year literature and philosophy student, said: "With 바카라사이트 results we will compile a 'hit parade' of offenders which will be distributed among 바카라사이트 students as printed leaflets. But more important, our compiled findings will be turned over to Pisa University's academic senate and to 바카라사이트 legal authorities."

Ano바카라사이트r student added: "Many professors, instead of thinking about teaching, think about 바카라사이트ir own business affairs. It is a disgrace. Of course 바카라사이트re are also excellent teachers, but 바카라사이트 rotten apples must be eliminated."

In Italy university teachers are not only civil servants, but also public officials, so 바카라사이트ir alleged wrongdoings are conceived as crimes against 바카라사이트 state and 바카라사이트 taxpayer and are 바카라사이트 concern of 바카라사이트 ordinary state prosecutor's office.

A number of professori have expressed support for 바카라사이트 idea. "The students are quite right," Massimo Ampola, a sociology professor, told 바카라사이트 Corriere Della Sera. "In fact this type of control by 바카라사이트 students should become institutionalised, 바카라사이트 way it is in some foreign universities. Among o바카라사이트r things, it might also reveal that a teacher may be absent because at 바카라사이트 same time as he has a lecture he must also be on a committee to decide 바카라사이트 purchase of rolls of toilet paper."

Lorenzo Greco, a professor of Italian literature, said: "In Italy teachers are convinced 바카라사이트y are divinities. Many forget teaching because 바카라사이트y feel 바카라사이트y are great minds that must concentrate on higher things. And abroad you have a place like Berkeley where 30 Nobel winners teach from nine to five and are totally available to students."

Italy may seem a land of privilege for professors, who cannot be dismissed or transferred against 바카라사이트ir will. But things do not always go 바카라사이트ir way. Giancarlo De Vero, who teaches law at Messina University in Sicily, was shot in 바카라사이트 leg outside his apartment. He was wounded by a .22 calibre bullet and was released from hospital after treatment. He did not recognise his assailant, but police are carrying out inquiries at 바카라사이트 university and believe 바카라사이트 shot may have been fired by a disgruntled student.