Scandal at UNC: adverse ruling against former Dean Parisi due to serious irregularities

The National University of Córdoba issued a scathing report against the former dean of the Faculty of Communication Sciences, Mariela Parisi, after detecting serious irregularities in her administration. The Internal Audit Unit's document detailed nine critical points regarding expenses, contracts, and purchases made without adherence to current regulations. The investigation was sent to Rector Jhon Boretto and paves the way for possible legal action due to the seriousness of the findings.

Among the most notable irregularities is the hiring of her husband, César Barraco Mármol, for an extension course without the required qualifications. The report states that the requirements set by university legislation regarding academic and administrative criteria were not met. Additionally, unjustified expenses and trips that lacked authorization from the institution's Superior Council were identified.

The report also questions purchases of equipment and tickets acquired from a faculty member close to the administration, for amounts in the millions and without any bidding process. It points to the reimbursement of personal expenses, such as supermarket purchases, dinners, and fuel, many of which were billed during weekends. The audit emphasized that "in certain expenses, the current legal provisions were not fulfilled," exposing the administrative shortcomings.

Complaints and maneuvers detected

The complaint accompanying the report was filed by Lucas Gonzalo Valdés, an opposition member in the faculty, represented by attorneys José D’Antona and Camila Cornú. There, it is maintained that there was "an alleged scheme of exploiting public office for the personal benefit of the dean and those close to her". According to the plaintiffs, Parisi's role as dean and member of the SRT board allowed her to favor family members and allies.

In this regard, they emphasized that while layoffs were taking place at SRT, Barraco Mármol's radio program was being expanded with official resources. They also indicated that the former dean "hired her own daughter as a paid intern to work on said program", a fact that reveals blatant nepotism. Added to this is the self-assignment of teaching hours to meet requirements and the manipulation of competitions in favor of allied groups.

The complainants warn that the maneuvers could constitute crimes of "embezzlement," "fraud against public administration," and "abuse of authority". The lawsuit requested that Parisi be prosecuted based on the abundant documentary evidence collected in resolutions and records of the UNC. Meanwhile, the Federal Prosecutor's Office headed by Enrique Senestrari has not yet decided whether to initiate action or press charges, although it is assessing the scope of the report.

Parisi's statements before UNC

The former dean replied to the report by asserting that the observations are "procedural" and do not constitute any embezzlement of public funds. In her statements, she argued that some purchases were made with personal funds due to urgency, which would explain the informality of the receipts. Regarding the hiring of Barraco Mármol, she replied that since it was an extension course, it was not essential to have the required qualifications.

Regarding the questioned trips, she claimed that administrative processing delays justified the lack of prior authorization from the Superior Council. Faced with taxi expenses without a log, she admitted that records were kept for subordinates, but not in her particular case. She also acknowledged the omission of documentation in resolutions, although she stated that corrective measures were already underway before the report.

However, the audit's findings leave no room for doubt about the opacity with which the faculty's resources were managed. The case demonstrates a discretionary use of public funds and the violation of basic university regulations. Situations like these confirm what President Javier Milei keeps: it is essential to thoroughly audit all universities to prevent such abuses.