Córdoba: FEL made its first appearance at FUC and brought Milei's ideas to UNC

Liberal Student Force (FEL) burst onto the university scene as the only liberal group that participated in the FUC elections. Organically linked to La Libertad Avanza, it brought Javier Milei's ideas to the political heart of the National University of Córdoba (UNC). In an environment traditionally dominated by leftist, Kirchnerist, and Radical structures, FEL decided to fight the cultural battle in the classrooms as well.

With an effective presence in five UNC faculties, these young libertarians marked a turning point. They managed to plant their flag in a territory historically hostile to liberal thought. We spoke with three of their leaders to learn how they experienced this first endeavor and why they believe their participation was a decisive political act.

"We're going to keep growing because we make people uncomfortable"

Maximiliano Rodríguez is a Law student at the National University of Córdoba. He was president of the La Libertad Avanza University Students list in the FUC elections.

What role does the FUC play in the university environment? Why is FEL's participation in these spaces important?

—The Córdoba University Federation is the highest student representative body at UNC. Its main role should be to defend the interests of students. However, for years it has been co-opted by groups that use it as a partisan tool and as a means of coercion against governments that don't align with their political color.

This is where our participation becomes essential. At FEL, we understand that it's necessary to fight the cultural battle within UNC to achieve a university free from indoctrination, audited, and of quality. We students deserve genuine representation, not a militant machine serving partisan interests unrelated to students.

What was the atmosphere like on FUC election day?
—Tense. We received insults, provocations, and even had water thrown at us. But nobody reacted: that shows there's a new type of activist, more convinced, more steadfast.

This demonstrates the paradigm shift, despite the aggressions from paid activists. Traditional groups can't stop more and more students from daring to raise their voices and defend the ideas of liberty.

What are your goals going forward?

—Our goal is clear: to consolidate and expand our presence in all UNC faculties. We aim to join the governing boards, and even the Superior Council.

Currently, we have an active presence in the faculties of Law, Economic Sciences, Exact Sciences, Social Sciences, and Medicine. We're going to keep working so FEL grows, fighting the battle in every academic sphere. The discomfort of the other groups shows us we're on the right path.

"The university is the mother of all battles"

Felipe Tapparo is in his fifth year of Law at UNC. He has been active in liberalism since 2019, and in 2022 he joined the university sphere alongside Jonathan Naselli, leader of the Fuerzas del Cielo in Córdoba. He was one of those who promoted the formation of FEL as the university arm of La Libertad Avanza.

Why is it important for FEL to participate in the FUC?

—With La Libertad Avanza's success in the national government and having a leader like Javier Milei, FEL's emergence is natural. As our president says, it's important to fight every battle, and the university is the mother of all battles because it's where we are educated. A university arm that represents the ideas and values of liberty was inevitable in a party that's growing by leaps and bounds.

The challenge is enormous, we're up against structures with decades of experience, millions in funding, and a system that keeps putting up obstacles.

Is there a change in mindset in the university environment? How do you experience it at FEL?

—Of course there's a change: students are starting to question certain issues that seemed already established and unchangeable. One example is the funding of student groups and their connections to their respective political parties, which they themselves try to hide. Where does all that money come from?

Obviously, our presence makes the groups uncomfortable. We expose these situations and propose an anti-system alternative that breaks with decades of the same proposals. During last year's occupations, we were the only ones who opposed the attempts by leftist and Peronist groups, while Franja Morada stood by in complicit inaction.

How did students receive you?

—The reception from students was excellent. Many had long been waiting for a liberal option to vote for and even to participate in actively. We noticed the most enthusiasmamong first-year students, where this change in mindset is most evident.

This year, we established ourselves as an alternative to the university establishment in four faculties: we were the third force and came very close to getting a representative on the Economic Sciences board. We also held an event with Deputy Gabriel Bornoroni and a lecture with the President of the Chamber of Commerce, Manuel Tagle. None of this would have been possible without the participation of students who believe a better University is possible.

"Many thanked us for daring to be there"

Francisco Sivila, also known as Francis, is 18 years old and studies Economic Sciences. In his first year, he is already part of what he calls "the most important battle": bringing liberalism to the university.

What was it like to participate in this election as the only liberal group?

—It was fruitful: the reception from students was excellent. They told us things like "finally, a different option!" Some even got emotional when they saw "El Javito" on our flyers.

What sets FEL apart from other groups?

—Our activism isn't paid. We're not here to stay at the university forever, we're here to graduate. From that standpoint, we invite all students to join the cause of liberty.

How did you experience the campaign? What about the electoral process?

—Our campaign this year was quite fruitful, since the student body strongly supported our presence. There were no major confrontations with other groups. Beyond the usual jibes about supposedly defunding or privatizing the university.

The electoral process was carried out properly, without irregularities, and thank God we had representatives to safeguard our votes. We encountered notable situations, such as students who openly rejected Franja Morada and approached us.

FEL at UNC

With more than 80 active volunteers, FEL already has a real presence in five UNC faculties: Law, Economic Sciences, Exact Sciences, Social Sciences, and Medicine. The group is led in Córdoba by Jonathan Naselli and serves as the university arm of Fuerzas del Cielo, the national group that includes "El Gordo Dan," Agustín Romo, and Lucas Luna.

FEL's emergence in the FUC elections was not anecdotal. It was a political statement: liberal students are no longer staying silent or outside the system. The cultural battle has reached the university, and libertarians are willing to fight it in every classroom, hallway, and student council.