In the city of Santa Fe, Argentina, a grim awareness of an impending military coup permeates society as of March 1976. The article articulates that the signs were apparent to all, from politicians like Balbín to ordinary citizens, who sensed the military's looming presence. This environment is contextualized within the disarray of the Peronist government, with Isabel Perón at the helm, and the active guerrilla movements, which fueled the military’s conviction that they were the nation's moral saviors.

As the narrative unfolds, the atmosphere in the Universidad Nacional del Litoral law faculty is palpable, marked by a stark contrast to the past vibrancy of student life. The writer shares moments of quietude disrupted only by discussions among student leaders, indicating a loss of spirit as the shadows of political repression begin to cast themselves over the educational landscape. Conversations with faculty leaders reveal the atmosphere of anxiety and uncertainty that students feel, amplifying the sense that the calm before the storm is coming to an end.

The piece serves to remind readers not only of the historical context of the 1976 coup but also explores the collective psyche and disillusionments of the Argentine populace at the time. It underscores the moral and political complexities leading up to the era of dictatorship, evoking a sense of nostalgia and foreboding as citizens prepared to navigate the turbulent waters of a military regime that was soon to rear its head.