Mandarin (1)
On the occasion of our telephone contact a few days ago [with Eustáquio Gomes], I was asked about facts that occurred at Unicamp in the 70s, which constituted a true internal crisis, of which I participated in some and was unaware of others mentioned in your report in the edition 322. Initially, I would like to thank you for the fidelity of the statements regarding my participation, which, although not complete, portray a part of the episodes I experienced. Surprised by your phone call and asked about facts so distant in time, although still alive in my memory, I was worried about not being able to document statements I made but which gained credibility through what was published.

I then went to my archives and found some documents relating to the facts that involved my removal from the management of the Hospital de Clínicas at Unicamp, from the position of professor of surgery responsible for pediatric surgery, and from being a member of the Council of the Faculty of Medicine. It is worth remembering that after the meeting with the Dean, in which I was offered the direction of the Faculty of Medicine, I went to Dr. Pinotti, then director, and made him aware of the current situation, informing him of my departure of the position of director of the Hospital to which he had appointed me. As there was a Council meeting a few days later, I waited for the date to present a document pointing out irregularities in administrative and ethical conduct at the Faculty, to encourage political maneuvers in the interest of the rectory. As the main person responsible for such attitudes was Dr. Antonio A Almeida, I asked him to remain at the meeting so that I would not mention him in his absence. The document was read and its inclusion in the minutes was approved. Days later, when checking the minutes, with sad surprise, I discovered that such a document had been withheld from the minutes, and then, through a judicial notification, I questioned the then director of the college, Dr. Lopes Faria. The excuse given then was that “the original of my statement had been lost”!

My request to resign from my role as professor came in anticipation of the “punishment” already announced as was customary at the university, whose lack of institutionalization led to the use of “iron hands” to hand over power to those who shared the situation. and punish those who dreamed of the democratization of the institution with dismissals or “termination of contracts”.

The long period of meetings of Unicamp professors who fought for institutionalization has multiple chapters of which I met and participated in some, not all, and the one reported in your report focuses on a peak of crisis treated with “iron and fire”, but which, although describing the victory of a battle, did not prevent the final predominance of the idea that the University would overcome the personalistic and dictatorial phase of managing its destiny. The victims who were scattered along the way, I am sure, would not hesitate to take part in a similar struggle again if they were called upon to do so.

Finally, and reiterating my thanks, I would like to make myself available for any clarification deemed appropriate.
Gustavo AS Murgel

Mandarin (2)
I have been an employee at Unicamp since April 1978 and I had the privilege of meeting Professor Zeferino Vaz. Not that I worked directly with him; I worked at the old DGA-12, today called DGRH, but during our lunch break, when we sat on the tree walls of Praça das Bandeiras, we often saw him crossing the square or even leaving in an official car. What a fragile figure and at the same time so strong, as he conveyed respect to us. Sometimes he would give us an almost paternal look. That's why I'm looking forward to receiving the next edition of Jornal da Unicamp to read, remember and often update myself on facts that happened at that time that didn't reach us. I never imagined that he had gone through so many problems at the Rectory. What a strong man! I would like to congratulate you on the excellent report, as I witnessed many of these incidents.
Maria Angela Gabeto Baldin, secretariat of the Cecom/Unicamp Coordination

PET beer
I read the news “Beers enter the PET era” (edition 329). I would like to clarify that I think research in this area of ​​creating new materials or new uses for already known materials is extremely important, but in most cases I do not see the environmental issue being considered. Let me explain: in the news, there is no consideration of the environmental cost of the new product, just a quote: “... with the detail that the material also has increasing recycling rates”.

If this material is launched without studies of this type, wouldn't we run the risk of placing a product on the market that, after use, will not be as interesting for recycling, generating a much greater amount of waste compared to current aluminum cans? The news only addressed the economic advantages of the product. I would love to know whether research also follows this line or not.

Here at the Ministry of the Environment we have worked hard to try to incorporate environmental issues into all government policies and society's actions. Which is not simple, as it implies changes in behavior. I understand that it is essential to have universities as allies in this initiative.
André Afonso Ribeiro, geologist and environmental analyst at the MMA Secretariat of Environmental Quality

ANSWER: One of the reasons for the existence of the public university is to be able to think, work and develop, freely, technological alternatives based on society's demands in order to meet emerging situations, based on principles of evolution in the field of food and environmental security. This research specifically was based and motivated by demands from social entities in order to provide security alternatives, whether in the food, nutritional, physical, transportation, storage, environment, among others, particularly concentrated in packaging for alcoholic beverages. Traveling around the world, we will certainly find different brands of beers packaged in PET packaging in many countries, most of the time launched as an alternative to provide consumers with a free and safe choice, looking from all points of view.
Carlos Alberto Rodrigues Anjos, professor at FEA

Chemistry Meeting
This initiative to bring together teachers and researchers in chemistry education is quite interesting and fruitful. I am a former student of the Institute of Chemistry and the Faculty of Education at Unicamp and a teacher at a public elementary school and I feel the need to learn and share my anxieties, doubts and needs with the university.
I believe that the university-primary school connection is becoming increasingly necessary and urgent. We need to value, increase, and expose what public schools do in their daily lives because I believe in the potential of several teachers from different areas of knowledge. It is necessary to seek more effective political instruments for its revitalization. Congratulations to the coordinators of this event.
Dulcelena Peralis Corradi

WRONG
Unlike what was published in the article “Appearances are deceiving” (issue 330), the 2006 Unicamp entrance exam had 49.606 registered candidates, 24.898 of whom were women (50,2% of the total).