Peru police armed with tear gas ousted more than 200 San Marcos National University students camped out in the dean’s office since Tuesday to demand that more free lunches to be served to low-income students.
The students, who also took two San Marcos University employees hostage for a few hours, demanded that free lunches increase from 1,800 to 3,500.
According to daily Peru21, 23 students were arrested during the police operation which took place early Wednesday morning.
UNSM was founded in 1551 by an order of Dominican friars headed by Tomas de San Martín and chartered that same year by a Royal Decree signed by Charles I of Spain as the Royal and Pontifical University of the City of the Kings of Lima. It is the oldest officially established university in the Americas, and one of the oldest universities in the world.
