Story By: Maja Mishevksa, Sub Editor: Marija Stojkoska, Agency: Newsflash
This university student who dressed up as a victim of femicide and seemingly mocked gender violence will have his degree revoked and be forced to attend classes on Gender Diversity.
Tomas Vidal had just finished a degree in International Commerce at the 21st Century University in the city of Cordoba, in the north-central Argentine province of the same name when he made headlines for his insensitive choice of graduation party costume.
Vidal was snapped wrapped in plastic with a rope around his neck. The student wore a green handkerchief which represents the movement to legalise abortion in South America and a sign reading “la culpa no era mia” (it was not my fault), a phrase linked with the Chilean feminist movement.
Local media report he was pretending to be a victim of femicide (the homicide of a woman) and the outfit has caused outrage.
The university has said that the student was sanctioned with a “serious fault” as the outfit was seen as an attack on women and the values of the university.
The serious fault means Vidal will now not be considered as having graduated as he will have to redo his final exams and present his thesis again.
The Dean of the university Maria Belen Mende said Vidal will be required to attend classes on Gender Diversity too.
Mende said the university authorities did not sign his thesis and it was then graded as a zero, requiring it to be redone, in the wake of the incident. She added that the “university could take measures as the party was thrown at the university facilities and the university was tagged in the pictures on social networks.”
According to local media, the student will begin legal action to appeal the sanction.
The university authorities are reportedly investigating the case to find out if other students supported the event and if they are found they will be sanctioned too .
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