UNAM: THE CENTRAL UNIVERSITY CAMPUS
(CIUDAD UNIVERSITARIA’S CENTRAL CAMPUS)

Do you study at Ciudad Universitaria (University City) of the UNAM? It is supposed you know the History of that amazing place where you are studying, working or furthermore, because you are Mexican। Don’t you? You are on time to read a little about Ciudad Universitaria of UNAM, the place where you spend the most of your time everyday। Have you ever wondered when your school was built? Or maybe who painted the murals on some of the buildings in Ciudad Universitaria? In this article you will found some basic information that an university student, professor or worker of UNAM should know.

The old university was located since the sixteenth century in the Centro Histórico (Historic Center) of Mexico City, in the same place where later was built the Suprema Corte de Justicia। Mexican government-financed university in Mexico City, founded in 1551. The original university building, dating from 1584, was demolished in 1910, and the university was moved to a new campus in 1954. Between 1553 and 1867 the university was controlled by the Roman Catholic church. After 1867, independent professional schools of law, medicine, engineering, and architecture were established by the government. The university was given administrative autonomy in 1929. It offers a broad range of programs in all major academic and professional subjects. In Benito Juarez’s time, that seat was closed and the schools were established in some ancient buildings around the Centro Histórico, such as the Escuela Nacional de Medicina (Medicine National School) occupied the old Inquisition Palace, the Engineering School in the Mining Palace, the ancient Law School in the Santa Teresa la Antigua’s cloister, etc. When Justo Sierra founded the New University in 1910 where added others seats like the Saint Charles Academy, in other words the Architecture School, Philosophy and Letters School and Science School. The main idea of Justo Sierra was the “spatial unity” of the University. But it was until the middle of the 1940’s when the University Council argued about the construction of the CU. On December the 31st in 1945, the Congress approved the Law of the Foundation and Construction of CU. In its planning, CU was devised to be of use for 25,000 students, as well as professors and the staff work. However, CU has lost none of its functional character today, even tough now the Cu’s population it is over 150,000.

UNAM Identity
Coat of Arms
During Director Jose Vasconcelos term in office, the University received the current design of its coat of arms, which shows a Mexican eagle and an Andean condor, a two-headed bird, protecting a Latin American map, from Mexico's north border to Cape Horn, a representation of the unification of Latin America people: "Our new and old continent, predestined to include the fifth race, a cosmic race, melting those scattered, and offering unity."

Goya Cheer
The origins of the Goya cheer are a little bizarre. In the early 1940s, a very skinny boy, Luis Rodriguez, was attending Preparatory School, who through time became the most enthusiastic cheerleader. He was nicknamed "Palillo" (stick). Palillo arranged entrance to the theaters for some students, who preferred watching movies than going to school, with the movie theaters' supervisors. The movie theaters close to the Preparatory school were: Rio, Venus and Goya. When some students wanted to go to the movies, they shouted out Goya! That is the story behind the university cheer, which now all university members echo.

¡GOYA! ¡GOYA!¡CACHUN, CACHUN, RA, RA! ¡CACHUN, CACHUN, RA, RA! ¡GOYA! ¡¡UNIVERSIDAD!!

The University City ensemble
The Ciudad Universitaria ensemble was designed by architects Mario Pani and Enrique del Moral. The CU, as most people call it, rises up above a sea of volcanic lava, where the volcano Xitle, today extinct, engulfed 2,400 years ago, and has been instrumental in the major urban growth that Mexico City has known in the second half of the 20th century: since the beginning of its construction, avenues have come into being, others have been enlarged, like the Insurgentes Avenue, one of Mexico City’s most emblematic.
The Central Campus encloses in a main east-west axis and other secondary north-south axis: the Rector Tower in the center; The Central Library, The Philosophy and Letters School, The Law School, The Economy School and The Deontology School in the northeast; The University Olympic Stadium in the west; The Architecture School, The Engineering School, The Chemistry School, The Courts (built with stone like the ancient Mesoamerican pyramids) and Sports Fields in the southeast; The Humanities Tower II (The ancient Science School) and the called “Islas” in the middle; and finally The Medicine School in the East.
The Central Library is the main symbol of UNAM. The author of that beautiful building is a Juan O’Gorman’s work, who was architect and painter. The most important character of the Library is the huge mural that covers its four facades. That is, the building has four murals with these themes: The north wall tells about the Prehispanic Past, the south wall the Colony Past, the east wall the Cotemporaneous World, and finally the west one about the University and Modern Mexico. All the murals are made with multicoloured stones from different regions of the country.
Another symbolic building is the Rector Tower which has three painted murals by a famous Mexican painter, David Alfaro Siqueiros. These murals include the painting, besides the sculpture. Others knowing murals in CU are the one of the Medicine School by Francisco Eppens, the one in the Audience “Alfonso Caso” made by José Chávez Morado and the ones which are located in the Stadium, work by Diego Rivera.
The University Olympic Stadium used for the 1968 Olympic Games and the 1986 FIFA World Cup, resembles a volcano surging out the of the earth. Like other CU buildings, it was constructed with volcanic stone from the Xitle. It was designed by the architect Augusto Pérez Palacios. In addition to Diego Rivera decorated its façade with a high-relief multicoloured mosaic symbolizing the homeland, peace, university and sports.
The Central Campus provides a space for leisure. Its platforms, talus and staircases, and the opened spaces remind the Mesoamerican cities, such as Teotihuacan , Monte Albán, Palenque and many others.
Through the time, many buildings were annexed. For example, the Centro Cultural Universitario which includes the Sala Nezahualcóyotl, Psychology School, Accountancy and Administration School, The new Science School, The Political Sciences School, The CELE (Centro de Enseñanza de Lenguas Extranjeras), The CEPE (Centro de Enseñanza Para Extranjeros), many Institutes, departments and museums like the Universum, the MUCA (Museo de Ciencias y Artes) and the new MUAC (Museo de Arte Contemporáneo).
The CU is a very big successful for The Mexican Plastic Arts owing to its wonderful architecture, sculpture and painting. The architecture of the Ciudad Universitaria is so admirable that all of those who are not students or are part directly of the University identify with it. Despite their mistakes, CU is an extraordinary construction, is an amazing place we have to learn to appraise and preserve.

EXTERNAL BUILDINGS
Palacio de Minería
Under the care of UNAM's Engineering Faculty, this beautiful colonial Palace of Mining is located in the historical center of Mexico City। Formerly the School of Engineering, it has three floors, and houses the International Book Expo ("Feria Internacional del Libro" or "FIL") and the International Day of Computing Security Congress ("DISC"), among regular events. It also has a permanent exhibition of historical books, mostly topographical and naturalist works of 19th century Mexican scientists, in the former library of the School of Engineers. It has also several exhibits related to mining, the prime engineering occupation during the Spanish colonization. It is considered one of the jewels of Mexican architecture of its period.

Museo de San Ildefonso
A baroque building in downtown Mexico City, held the first schools that later became UNAM.

Casa del Lago
House of the Lake, in Chapultepec Park – a place devoted to cultural activities like dancing, plays and ballet. It also serves as meeting place for University related organizations and committees.

Martínez Sosa Sandra Yazmín
Muñoz Cinta Jesús Antonio
Rubio Benítez Adela
Group 605