Farewell to a lecturer that leaves his mark

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The university’s assembly hall has witnessed a heartfelt tribute to Ignacio Astarloa by the faculty, students, alumni and members of the academic community. A tribute in the form of a book, España: una democracia parlamentaria. Together with Astarloa, the rector of Comillas, Enrique Sanz; the dean of the faculty of Law, Abel Veiga; and the coeditors of the book, Maribel Álvarez, director of the department of common disciplines, and Federico de Montalvo, Vice-Rector for Institutional Relations and General Secretary of Comillas presented the book.

"This is the way lecturers do a tribute, with a book. A tribute of admiration and respect to a man, which is a very special way of celebrating his impact on society," said Maribel Álvarez. "You have been an example to everyone by teaching knowledge and values to your students, which have helped them in their professional and personal lives".

"There are people who leave a big mark, Iñaki has done so through his public service, his service in courts and his service in the university, but he has also left small marks on each one of us here, and it is therefore a very big mark," said Montalvo.

The dean thanked Astarloa for his "dedication, bonhomie and commitment". "He has contributed enormously in his decades as a teacher, in the service to others through the university," he added.

Ignacio Astarloa took the floor to express his gratitude to his colleagues in the public service and in the practice of law, as well as to the victims of terrorism, lecturers, Administration and Services Staff, students, alumni and his family. "This is a university that allows you to teach in freedom and for freedom", he said during his speech, in which he also spoke of the importance of "teaching to help grow with responsibility, sacrifice and perseverance".

In charge of closing the event, the rector said that Astarloa "is a born teacher, a brilliant professor, powerful and clear in his explanations. He is a magnificent communicator. He is also a valuable scholar and an important researcher. He is a convinced constitutionalist, who enjoys teaching. Above all, when he explains to his students that the 1978 Constitution is not the problem Spain has, but the starting point for any solution".