Editorial: La Vanguardia

• The University of Barcelona (UB) presented to the Provincial Prosecutor's Office evidence of serious crimes linked to Sociology professor Ramón Flecha, accused of sexual and labor abuse over 30 years.
• Flecha was the founder in 1991 of the Research Community on Excellence for All (CREA), whose academic aims have been overshadowed by various complaints involving sexual, psychological, and labor coercion, mainly of young collaborators.
• Two previous complaints in 2004 and 2016 were closed. In 2015, CREA officially severed ties with UB but continued using its name.
• Despite alerts about Flecha's behavior to the UB's rectors, this inappropriate conduct was an open secret.
• Control systems have failed as Flecha was able to maintain his conduct patterns for a long time. Both UB, justice, and the Conselleria d'Ensenyament were insufficient to stop him.

Conclusion: The harm to the complainants and the reputation of the UB is significant and the case calls for reviewing practices, identifying and eradicating those who engaged in them to ensure they are not repeated and ensure that the university community is free from all suspicion.

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