Concordia captain Schettino's uni appearance sparks furore

Disgraced official shares 'panic-management' expertise

(ANSA) - Rome, August 6 - Education Minister Stefania Giannini expressed dismay on Wednesday after it emerged that former Costa Corcordia captain Francesco Schettino spoke on "panic management"at a conference organised by Rome's La Sapienza University. Schettino is on trial on charges including abandoning ship and multiple manslaughter for the Corcordia disaster, in which 32 people died in January 2012 when he ran the huge cruise liner onto rocks off the Island of Giglio. "I find it disconcerting that Schettino took part in a conference organised by Rome's La Sapienza University," Giannini said. La Sapienza's Rector, Luigi Frati, said Schettino's invitation to an event staged by his university was "shameful and inopportune," adding that Professor Vincenzo Mastronardi, who allegedly asked the former commander to speak, had been reported to its ethics committee "for eventual disciplinary action". Outraged commentators suggested that La Sapienza university now invite Mafia bosses to lecture on legality. "Truly, everything in Italy is tragically possible," said Giorgio Innocenzi and Igor Gelarda, secretary and chair of CONSAP police officers' union. "Let's not forget that Schettino dealt with panic very well that evening. He made a quick exit from the liner". Grosseto chief prosecutor Francesco Verusio, in charge of the legal case against Schettino, said he was "truly outraged at what can happen in this country. Schettino gave a lecture and they also gave him a diploma. A diploma for what? What will the young people there have made of it? Let's hope they poked fun at him". Barbara Saltamartini, an MP for the New Centre Right (NCD) party, said the government should intervene to prevent the former cruise ship captain trying to cash in on his ill-gotten celebrity. "This is pure madness. We expect urgent and clear action from Giannini, not just a generic dressing down," she said.