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Hi. My name is Franco Quaranta.
I’m a researcher in the Naval Engineering Department
of the University of Naples in Italy.
I’m here to introduce you to this website.
In the site you’ll find information
about a competition that took place at my University
for the position of Associate Professor.
The competition began and ended strangely.
From the very beginning it was clear
this was the type of “beautiful competition” (Bel Concorso)
that has, sadly,
made Italy and its university system
so infamous abroad.
The facts are documented on the site.
I won’t go into details here.
chi è interessato entrerà e troverà la documentazione.
I just want to call your attention
to two central points of this “Bel Concorso”.
First, the results of the competition were known in advance
not just to the decision makers
but to the competitors
and anyone else
who cared to look.
That’s why I began collecting the facts from the beginning.
We all knew something very wrong was taking place.
Once I had collected more than enough evidence of what was taking place
I went to the authorities who were supposed to police the situation
both in the university system
and at the public prosecutors’ office.
Perhaps it won’t surprise you to
know these authorities had no interest.
Without investigating anything,
they said everything was just fine.
Such situation made the people
who were adjusting the competition to their wishes particularly comfortable
and, of course,
the competition ended as planned.
In my opinion, this story is very sad:
if somebody is discovered while trying to do something wrong
it’s a shame if nothing is done
in order to stop him in time!
Second,
no one received the position
for which the competition was supposed to take place.
It shows a “contra personam” attitude,
the Commission worked not in favor of somebody
but against those that were considered academically “unacceptable”,
in order to stop their career.
I think that academic people
taking advantage of their pre-eminent position
are very noxious for the University in general.
The University is now under strong attack; deprived of resources
in trouble for simply its everyday activities: research and didactics.
When funding for that system is challenged (as it is every day)
how can we answer when
critics say the universities only waste money?
So, I think we should have the courage
to pinpoint and stop behavior and situations like the “Bel Concorso”.
In my honest opinion,
it’s time to stop University manipulated competitions!
What’s more,
such behavior may damage anyone.
I think that many people,
when listening to my words, nod and think
“Yes, I know these things may happen!!”
The purpose of this website is
to stir the consciences of readers so that we can join together
to stand against this situation,
which degrades Italian universities.
I thank you for entering the site
and wish you easy navigation.
Thank you again.