Título en español.

Abstract

In 1953, on the fiftieth anniversary of the University of Puerto Rico, Provost Jaime Benítez, pointed out in his commemoration speech three areas: the University‘s origin, its democratization, and its autonomy. After a century of its founding, these three areas are central as defining aspects of the institution. In his speech, Provost Benítez, described the founding of this Institution as "the most important event in the cultural history of Puerto Rico." Benitez added that "the University was the first institution created on the edge of the narrow governmental structure of the Foraker Act. Five years since the regime change, Puerto Ricans establish the first public corporation of Puerto Rico..." In 2001, the Senate Commission on Education, Science and Culture argued along similar lines when pointing out that the University of Puerto Rico "was born on 12 march 1903 through a legislative act." Jaime Benítez as well as the aforementioned Senate commission ignore the fact that the military occupation of 1898 was followed by the organization and implementation of the Island‘s governing structure, and that the 1903 founding of the University was an integral part of the state. Moreover, Benítez argues that this period witnessed the development of a democratic and autonomous university. This article argues that the historical evidence describes the UPR, during its first fifty years, as the institution responsible for implementing the educational policy of the United States in Puerto Rico. The evidence also shows an entity subordinated to the state and lacking both democracy and autonomy.