On May 26, a reporting and election conference of the staff of Lesya Ukrainka Volyn State University took place. More precisely, only its reporting part. \n \nIn addition to the report of the already ex-rector of VSU Ivan Olekseyukfor the past five years, rather interesting information was announced about the trip of the university delegation to Kyiv and the meeting with the Minister of Education and Science Stanislav Nikolayenko. \n \nAs reported in her speech by academic secretary Mariya Moklytsya, the minister asked the delegation to convey double apologies to the university staff. The first time he apologized for the fact that the appointment of the acting rector caused such a reaction from the university's academic council. \n \n— He did not expect that such a reaction was possible,— said Mariya Moklytsya,— he did not give due weight to the selection of the candidate, he believed that this was a temporary appointment, clearly limited by the term of the competition. The minister has already signed the order announcing the competition, we are only waiting for the newspaper “Osvita Ukrayiny,” in which the order will be published. From this moment, the counted time of the acting official's tenure in this position begins. The second apology sounded like this: forgive me, please, but I will not change the order, I consider it inappropriate, it will further complicate the situation. Instead, the minister guaranteed us that he would certainly take into account the position of the staff. \n \nAccording to the academic secretary of VSU, Nikolayenko promised that he would make every effort to ensure that the election of the university rector would be democratic. He also promised to expand the quota for the election conference for electing the rector. \n \nMuch more harshly and frankly regarding the meeting with Nikolayenko was expressed by another member of the delegation, dean of the Institute of Social Sciences of VSU Volodymyr Polyakov. “Lutsk Investytsiynyi” quotes Mr. Polyakov's speech verbatim. \n \n“The meeting lasted 12 minutes. Indeed, the minister brought apologies to the staff. But he emphasized that the main influence on his position was caused by the insistence of Bondar Volodymyr Nalkovych, who assured that he knows the Volyn State University very well, knows the person of Kotsan well and is interested in this person. And therefore he insisted on the minister's appointment. \n \nIn addition, Volodymyr Nalkovych and the minister agreed that no competition would be announced, that acting official Kotsan is appointed to fill the position, that is, for two years. And if the competition is not announced, then further as well. \n \nThe position of the university's Academic Council influenced him; he stated that he had expected 5-6 votes, but he had not expected anything like a unanimous vote, it was a shock for him. And of course, he urgently announces a competition in order to normalize the situation. \n \nMoreover, he stated that Bondar simply set him up. And after that, when he said that he was announcing the competition, he emphasized a very simple thesis: now, he says, everything depends on you. \n \nI did not hear from him any assurances about democracy or support. Moreover, he said that if three of your people each get 30 percent, then I will support the one who is pressured more. Therefore, if you have “good guys” who cannot agree and get 27% of the votes, then I will appoint the one who is a “bad guy” but who gets 30.1%. Understand me, he says. \n \nIndeed, the minister admitted his mistake in this personnel appointment and emphasized that this was a good lesson for him and in the future he would act taking this moment into account. He decided in the future to appoint an acting official who would not aspire to the rectorate. Well, that is, of course, in Ukraine in other educational institutions. Of course, this does not threaten us. He said: understand me correctly, I do not want to be a laughingstock — to issue an order and cancel it a week later. Therefore, if your staff is so unanimous, you must unite. \n \nFrom myself I will add only one sentence: if we are a staff, we must be united. There are many of us, and we cannot be overcome — remember this!” \n \n As the newspaper “Volyn” reports, the conference also approved changes to the charter. According to them, the new rector will now be elected by a conference of the labor collective, at which 50 percent of the labor collective itself must be present. \n \nAs for the position of acting rector of the university Ihor Kotsan, in his speech he, in particular, also uttered these somewhat mysterious words: “I have not yet told anyone that I will put forward my candidacy and participate in the competition.” \n \n \nRead also: \n\nIvan Olekseyukis no longer rector. Is it Bozhydarnik's turn?.. \n\nAfter the battles at the Academic Council of VSU, its most authoritative members were invited to the Kyiv Maidan \n\nBondar asked not to dramatize the situation that has developed around the appointment of Ihor Kotsan