Omertá (175): The abuse of power in the university, a normalized form of violence

In the university environment, where respect, collaboration and the joint construction of knowledge should prevail, deep-rooted practices of abuse of power persist. One of the most common, although silenced, scenarios is the treatment that many interns or trainees receive from those in senior positions. This type of abuse does not always take explicit or formally reportable forms, but it does leave deep marks on the dignity and professional development of those who suffer it. Scholarship holders are often instrumentalised to carry out tasks that exceed what corresponds to them, without due recognition and, many times, without real training support. Far from valuing their work, they are despised or ridiculed, either in public or, more commonly, in private conversations between people of equal rank. They laugh at their mistakes or insecurities, not to help them improve, but to reinforce a position of superiority. This type of attitude not only violates the right to learning in dignified conditions, but also perpetuates authoritarian and exclusionary hierarchical dynamics. In addition, those who abuse their power tend to build alliances with other colleagues of the same rank to legitimize this contempt, creating hostile environments where fear and humiliation prevent the academic and personal development of younger people. Often, those who try to denounce or simply express their discomfort are accused of exaggerating or not understanding «how the university works». Psychological abuse in these contexts not only affects those who suffer it directly, but also weakens the very essence of the university as a space for critical thinking, social justice and equity. University transformation requires an end to all forms of violence, including the abuse of power. Fortunately, there are networks, centers and research groups that are already developing and approving regulations and  that only by starting to consider doing so achieve more well-being in the group, especially among the people with most precarious positions as well as among those who support them.