The Nicaraguan government has seized a prominent Jesuit-run university in the capital Managua, in President Daniel Ortega’s latest effort to lash out against the Catholic Church. The Central American University (UCA) announced on Wednesday that all classes and administrative activities were suspended after a criminal court ruled its property and financial accounts were being transferred to the government. Story from: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/8/17/nicaragua-seizes-catholic-university-accused-of-being-centre-of-terrorism
That's pretty damn horrible - but not surprising. I was going to say I'd rather he shuttered Universidad Central de Nicaragua - but no. I loathe that school, but what has it really done wrong? I understand they serve their own Nicaraguan students pretty well - and only use their double and triple awards, profuse "parterships" and cross-validated thingies to get money from credulous offshore people. Giving the "rich" foreigners what they'll eagerly buy. In a poor country, that's not so bad. Nicaraguans are, on the whole, very good people, who have suffered greatly, for centuries, under the domination and rule of very bad people. It continues. I think Ortega sees himself as a saviour, by going after Catholic institutions. He figures the Church holds a big part of the responsibility for the continuing plight of Nicaragua's people. I can see how he arrives at that. But he's no saviour. More like a warlord. His methods prove that. Edit. I said Nicaragua was a poor country. How poor is it? Google: "Nicaragua remains the second poorest country in the Western Hemisphere with significant social inequities, particularly in rural areas. According to the International Monetary Fund, Nicaragua's economy contracted 3.8 percent in 2018, 5.8 percent in 2019, and an estimated 3.5 percent in 2020."
Ortega went to this school, the Central American University (UCA). What’s the over/under that Ortega seized the place so that he could put a lockdown on his sub-par academic record, ensuring his transcripts won’t get out?
Possibly - just. But not all bad leaders are Donald Trump. Trump's university records ARE of course, "hermetically sealed in a jar on Funk and Wagnall's porch" (old Johnny Carson line). Article here: https://www.forbes.com/sites/christopherrim/2019/02/28/heres-why-donald-trump-doesnt-want-anyone-to-know-his-grades-or-sat-scores/?sh=30b2f33764b7 Donald? Yes. Daniel? I think he's too busy for that kind of trivial stuff. Unless he's left it in the hands of a colonel in his Secret Police. Those guys are good at making records (and people) disappear. Way too good.
I still don't think so. Ortega's school records - he can make disappear ANY time. He can make a LOT of things and people disappear. But the Catholic Church? It's so HUGE! Making that disappear is a tough order. He figures seizing a Jesuit-run University is a good start. That's my take.
