UNAM postpones decision on the Esquivel case

In relation to the alleged plagiarism of the professional thesis that Minister Yasmín Esquivel Mossa, candidate to preside over the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN), presented in 1987, Enrique Graue reported that in the face of “contradictory facts and without being certain of the dimension of plagiarism expressed in the testimony” of former student Edgar Ulises Báez Gutiérrez, “who supported his thesis in 1986”, it is “evident that it is necessary to collect additional information to deepen the documentary analysis and, if necessary, call the parties involved”.

Through a statement released on UNAM’s social networks last Saturday, addressed to the university community and Mexican society, the rector of the highest house of studies specified that “a few hours before starting their meeting, the Academic and Scientific Integrity Committee from the (Faculty of Higher Studies) FES Aragón received a notarized testimony containing a letter from the person who supported his thesis in 1986, stating that he used several references, texts and important parts of the content of the thesis published later, in 1987”.

As well as that “it was learned” of the public pronouncement of “a former student”, in reference to Minister Esquivel Mossa, dated December 30, whom he does not name, nor Báez Gutiérrez.

In his seven-point statement, the rector cites: “1. That after the analysis of the documentation by the Committee and based on the high level of coincidences between the theses under review, greater than 90%, the existence of plagiarism is evident.

“2. That the academic review of the contents of both theses, their publication dates, as well as the physical and digital archives of the University, lead us to presume that the original thesis was the one supported in 1986”.

According to Graue, the UNAM “will carry out a series of actions to avoid the repetition of reprehensible events like these. These measures could include reforms to university regulations and prevention strategies, using specialized digital tools to detect possible irregularities”.

rolando.ramos@eleconomista.mx