On November 29, 2023, unidentified hooded people stormed Santander Industrial University (UIS) and vandalized several buildings in protest of a proposed change in the university’s tuition policy.

The group sprayed graffiti on campus buildings and threw potato bombs.

Scholars at Risk is concerned about the destruction of campus property and infrastructure in the course of a protest. Such acts erode the right to education, and diminish everyone’s access to a safe, free and open university space. State and campus authorities should take all reasonable measures to prevent and respond to such incidents, including ensuring campus security and conducting prompt and thorough investigations, as appropriate. In addition to the harm to the immediate victims, such actions undermine academic freedom and democratic society generally.

Sources:
*SAR identified this incident in data made publicly available by the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED)
https://www.wradio.com.co/2023/11/30/encapuchados-pintaron-grafitis-y-detonaron-artefactos-en-la-uis/
https://www.eltiempo.com/colombia/santander/encapuchados-se-tomaron-la-uis-por-supuesto-costo-en-matriculas-2024-831007