Journalist Ana Mitila Lora comments today in her ?Mochila al Hombro? column in the Listin Diario on news reports that it was business wheeler-and-dealer Luis Alvarez Renta who had requested that President Hipolito Mejia resign from his post. Lora says this should not surprise anyone, however, and she describes Alvarez Renta as a ?patriot.? The journalist says this description for Alvarez Renta is not hers, but rather that of US Ambassador Hans Hertell, who first labelled him so. Mitila Lora recalls that on 21 June 2002, on occasion of the farewell ceremony for 15 Dominicans who had received Fulbright scholarships, Hertell highlighted the success of the Alliance for Excellence Program. The US diplomat at the time pointed out that until 1999, the US government had funded 100% of the scholarships for masters studies at US universities. These funds were not enough, however, and thus an Alliance for Excellence was established with private businesses in the Dominican Republic which added 20% of the funds the US had contributed in order to increase the number of scholarships. Hertell at the time pointed out that the Alliance was able to raise US$125 million from the private sector and double the Fulbright scholarships. ?I am told at the US Department of State that the DR Fulbright Program is the fastest growing one in the world,? Hertell had proudly highlighted on that day, going on to mention the generous donors: Luis Alvarez Renta, Ramon Baez Figueroa, Vivian de Castillo and Arturo Pellerano, among others, calling them ?true patriots.? Months later the group of financiers would be accused of the Baninter and Bancredito bank fraud scandals.