The Faculty of Law at the University of Chile is grappling with a long-standing reputation for institutional instability, a perception rooted in a series of student occupations that began in 2009. While current administration figures, including Dean Pablo Ruiz-Tagle, argue that the school is recovering its standing, internal documents and academic critique suggest the institution remains haunted by its history of protests and perceived ideological polarization.
The 2009 Turning Point and Institutional Fractures
The modern era of unrest at the Pío Nono campus began in April 2009, when a student movement led by then-fifth-year law student Gabriel Boric occupied the faculty for over 40 days. The primary demand was the resignation of Dean Roberto Nahum, who faced accusations of poor management and plagiarism. According to a member of the faculty, this event marked the beginning of an era where academic relations were “dictated at the rhythm of the students.”
Historian Alfredo Jocelyn-Holt, a vocal critic of these methods, argued in his 2015 book La Escuela Tomada that such actions transformed the institution into a “school taken” rather than a university. The 2011 student mobilizations further entrenched this reputation. Data from the Barómetro de Educación Superior once placed the faculty as the best in Chile, with an 82% favorable perception among high school students, but internal critics claim this prestige has steadily declined since the occupations began.
Did You Know? Before the 2009 occupation, the Faculty of Law at the University of Chile held an 82% favorable perception among 3rd and 4th-year high school students, according to the Barómetro de Educación Superior.
The 2018 Feminist Protests and Administrative Turmoil
Tensions resurfaced in 2018 during a feminist movement that saw the faculty under occupation for more than 70 days. The trigger was a delayed nine-month sumario regarding a sexual harassment accusation against professor and former Constitutional Tribunal president Carlos Carmona. Dean Davor Harasic resigned on June 11, 2018, citing the risk of the “validation of the takes” by university leadership. Professor Rodrigo Cooper noted that Harasic’s administration left a polarizing mark, as his perceived support for earlier student movements contrasted sharply with his later warnings about the risks to the faculty’s future.
Debate Over Academic Standing and Data
A recent controversy involves data from the platform Nodo Educacional, which indicates a shift in student preferences. By 2025, that trend reversed, with the PUC at 49% and the University of Chile at 28%. Dean Ruiz-Tagle has challenged these findings, arguing that the data fails to account for changes in admission tests—including the transition from PSU to PAES—and omits positive trends from the 2026 admission process.
Expert Insight: The persistent tension between the faculty’s historical prestige and its recent reputation for instability underscores a deeper conflict regarding the role of student activism in university governance. While administrators point to administrative stability and updated admission data as signs of recovery, the ongoing discourse among faculty members suggests that the “fracture” created by years of occupations remains a central challenge to the school’s institutional identity.
Future Outlook and Continued Friction
The faculty continues to face scrutiny regarding its political climate. Following the June 2026 incident where Representative Javiera Rodríguez was harassed during a campus visit, the administration issued a statement condemning the violence but also criticizing “the method of provocation.” Some faculty members maintain that the response lacked the necessary firmness to address a community they describe as “fractured.” As the administration attempts to move past this “black cloud,” the institution must reconcile its internal goal of restoring traditional institutional authority with a campus culture where student-led protests have historically been a primary instrument of change.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the primary goal of the 2009 student occupation?
The occupation led by Gabriel Boric aimed to secure the resignation of the then-Dean of the Faculty of Law, Roberto Nahum, due to allegations of plagiarism and poor management.
Why did Dean Davor Harasic resign in 2018?
Harasic resigned due to the pressures of a 70-day student occupation linked to a feminist movement and his disagreement with the university rector regarding the “validation” of such occupations.
How has the administration responded to claims of declining prestige?
Dean Pablo Ruiz-Tagle has questioned the methodology of studies like those from Unholster, citing changes in admission test systems and arguing that 2026 data shows an improvement in student preferences for the University of Chile.
How do you believe academic institutions should balance student advocacy with the preservation of institutional authority?
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