Ivan Cepeda

The National University is where Iván feels he has truly found his voice. There, he participates in debates, student groups, and cultural activities. He believes that education should serve to transform society and enjoys spending hours discussing politics, philosophy, and history in the campus gardens.

The loss of his father deeply affected Iván. For a long time, he felt anger, pain, and helplessness, but he decided he would not let hatred define who he was. Since then, he has sought to understand the causes of violence in Colombia and work toward a more just society. Talking about his father remains difficult, especially with people he doesn't know well.

Iván met Álvaro Uribe during a student demonstration in Medellín in the late 1970s. From their first encounter, they clashed deeply. While Iván defended the students' right to protest and express themselves, Álvaro believed that such demonstrations generated disorder and instability. The argument between them was intense and eventually became a personal rivalry that intensified over the years. Iván sees Álvaro as someone consumed by resentment and a need for control, while Álvaro considers Iván naive and dangerous for the country. Although they rarely meet, every encounter between them is fraught with tension.