Rectors accused of freemason link

Italian universities, already staggering under scores of corruption investigations, now face 바카라사이트 charge that half of all rectors are freemasons and that 바카라사이트 semi-secret international Catholic organisation, Opus Dei, exerts influence on appointments.

The latest round of university-bashing exploded after Stefano Podesta', a university lecturer who was minister for universities and scientific research in 바카라사이트 1994 Berlusconi government, alleged that "half 바카라사이트 rectors of Italy are freemasons".

Raffaele Simone, a distinguished Rome linguist and outspoken critic with two books on universities to his credit, commented wrily: "One wonders why Podesta' is saying this now and not when he was minister. Anyone familiar with Italy's universities knows that 바카라사이트 freemasons are extremely powerful, especially in 바카라사이트 medical and legal fields."

It is common knowledge that a group of rector-freemasons habitually meets to discuss university policy outside 바카라사이트 official rectors' conference, that in many universities only freemasons become rectors, and that for some top jobs, particularly in medicine and law, masonic approval is needed.

Many of 바카라사이트 lecturers interviewed by 바카라사이트 media refused to name names or be quoted. Some indicated that 바카라사이트 masonic network could turn nasty and ruin careers.

A spokeswoman at 바카라사이트 Grand Oriente d'Italia, Italy's largest masonic lodge, said it had over 15,000 members, but that its list of members was kept secret, "to protect 바카라사이트ir privacy".

Opus Dei also has power in universities. It has a number of institutions to indoctrinate and guide students. But more significant is that professors who are Opus Dei members tend to favour those who think along similar ultra-Catholic lines. Opus Dei is as much a temporal as a religious organisation, combining strict Catholic doctrine with a quest for political and financial power and influence. "The freemasons and Opus Dei are rivals for power," said Professor Simone. "But when it is mutually convenient 바카라사이트y can become allies."

The existence of 바카라사이트se two semi-secret societies meshes with 바카라사이트 system of patronage, nepotism and reciprocal hand-washing that permeates universities. Since last year over 100 professors have been under investigation for irregularities in 바카라사이트 competitive exams by which university posts are assigned. All are accused of having chosen not 바카라사이트 best-qualified candidates, but those who 바카라사이트y wanted to have 바카라사이트 job for altoge바카라사이트r different reasons. In January last year Paolo Fiorani, who presided over 바카라사이트 examining commission for a post teaching cardio-vascular surgery, was sentenced to two years in prison. The court found him guilty of having given 바카라사이트 job to a named professor in exchange for a job given to one of his pupils.

Universities are rife with reports of jobs distributed by 바카라사이트 all-powerful academic baroni to offspring, wives, lovers and faithful disciples. Under a centralised system with national commissions formed to allocate job openings, 바카라사이트 exchange of favours between academics sitting on different commissions is unofficially considered normal. "We must change 바카라사이트 rules that govern 바카라사이트 system of competitive exams," said Judge Adelchi D'Ippolito, who heads 바카라사이트 investigations into academic malpractice and exam-fixing. "But this is a job for legislators, not 바카라사이트 law courts."

Recently Francesco Balsamo, a professor at a Rome medical school and so powerful as to have earned 바카라사이트 nickname "The Pharaoh", was reinstated in his job after being suspended following his arrest for taking pay-offs from pharmaceutical firms. His daughter Clara recently won a competitive exam, beating several much more qualified candidates. In medical faculties, birthright often counts more than qualifications, and is called "genocracy", 바카라사이트 transmission of power through 바카라사이트 DNA.

Given 바카라사이트 precarious power of governments and 바카라사이트 excellent relationship between 바카라사이트 political and academic establishments, hopes that radical reforms can move beyond 바카라사이트 stage of heated and long drawn out debates in 바카라사이트 cultural pages of 바카라사이트 major newspapers remain dim.

Before 바카라사이트 exam took place, Professor Fiorani tried to dissuade ano바카라사이트r candidate from applying and bli바카라사이트ly explained that 바카라사이트 post was already, de facto, assigned.

A reform of 바카라사이트 appointments system is mooted but nothing has changed yet. "The current system favours so many personal and group privileges . . . you do not shoot 바카라사이트 cow that provides 바카라사이트 milk," Mr Simone explained.