Mission Ollin: The Military Academy Under Fire
Military School Ollin Cuauhtémoc under Fire for Student Death: Controversy envelops the school due to alleged mistreatment following the demise of student Erick.
Nestled in the Santa María la Ribera neighborhood of Mexico City, at Dr. Mariano Azuela number 181, lies the Ollin Cuauhtémoc Academy. This militarized institution has made headlines due to a startling turn of events involving a 13-year-old student, Erick N.
Ollin Cuauhtémoc Academy isn't just an educational center; it doubles as a training ground, offering military training, prehospital medical care, first aid, and rescue services, amongst other skills. But it's the militarized approach that has sparked controversy.
This institution also provides secondary education, boarding schools, workshops, cultural and civic activities, and even technical careers like prehospital medical care and nursing. With an eagle emblem holding a book bearing the words "honor," "commitment," "responsibility," "love," "leadership," and "humanity," the academy proudly boasts of molding "winners" and "cadets with a high cognitive, critical, and constructive level."
However, all that glitters isn't gold, as the academy found itself in the crosshairs of public scrutiny after the death of young Erick at a camp organized by the institution.
Death in the Wilderness
On Wednesday, April 23, students from the Ollin Cuauhtémoc Academy embarked on a camp in Cuautla. Tragically, on Friday, April 25, Erick N, one of the students, met his untimely end. His mother, Erika Torbellín, recounted seeing Erick's body with clear signs of violence.
Following Erick's death, on April 26, the academy released a statement claiming that they had provided "moral and economic support" to Erika Torbellín and that Erick had received "appropriate medical attention." The academy also released a video of the authorities' communication with the boy's mother.
Amid protests from the family and civil society over allegations of mistreatment, the academy was closed down by the INVEA on Monday, April 28. On Tuesday, April 29, the State Attorney General's Office of Morelos—the jurisdiction where Erick N's death occurred—met with the family to investigate the case. The Attorney General, Edgar Maldonado, vowed to "exhaust all lines of investigation" in the case of the Ollin Cuauhtémoc Academy.
A Divided Community
The community's reaction has been split, with demonstrations both for and against the academy. This reflects broader societal tensions around militarized education and the role of such institutions in modern society. The future of the Ollin Cuauhtémoc Academy remains uncertain, as calls for greater accountability and transparency grow louder.
Related Topics
Mexico-News, Militarized Ollin Cuauhtémoc Military Academy, academy under investigation, student death, mistreatment allegations, militarized education, education reform, civil rights, community reactions
- The Ollin Cuauhtémoc Academy, a Mexican institution offering both education and military training, found itself under investigation following the death of a 13-year-old student, Erick N, during a camp organized by the academy.
- Amid protests and allegations of mistreatment, the academy was temporarily closed down by the INVEA, and the State Attorney General's Office of Morelos launched an investigation into Erick's death.
- Despite the controversy surrounding the academy, it serves as an educational and self-development center for entities such as cadets, offering secondary education, boarding schools, workshops, and technical careers.
- The incident involving Erick N has sparked broader debates about militarized education, education reform, and civil rights, causing a division within the community and raising questions about the role of such institutions in modern society.
