The lecture with the controversial topic was posted on the social networks of the educational institution
Rio Grande do Sul State University (UERGS) has backtracked after one of its 23 teaching units gave a lecture extolling slavery. In the note, the institution said it was against making any excuses for the matter.
“Due to the publication of a conference whose topic mentions slavery as something positive, the State University of Rio Grande do Sul (Uergs) makes it public to clarify that any apology of slavery or a topic that harms Human Rights is against to the values of the University”, said Fernando Guaragna Martins, rector of the UERGS.
Shortly after the announcement of the conference The importance of slavery in the world economy, the university unit was notified and removed the promotional material from the air. According to the university, the published title was a mistake and informed that the intention of the conference was to demonstrate the horrors and abuses of slavery around the world.
“Uergs does not condone any racist or prejudiced attitude and apologizes to all people who have been directly or indirectly affected. We cannot forget history, much less praise something so harmful and having such a negative impact on all of humanity. We cannot condone and we cannot tolerate”, reiterates the rector.
Through a press office, the educational institution reiterated that the university courses have autonomy for carrying out extracurricular events, such as lessons and seminars, provided they are not contrary to the values of the Uerg and no apology is made for themes that are contrary to human rights, for example.
In charge of organizing the conference, Professor Oberdan Teles da Silva said the title was wrong: “It was really inappropriate and does not demonstrate the content that will be addressed. A new title was thus structured: ‘The sad history of slavery in the world’.
Source: Terra
