[Isla Verde]

Students from the Escuela Normal Rural Vasco de Quiroga de Tiripetío took possession of 27 buses and their drivers yesterday (2012-03-15) in the bus terminal in Morelia (TAM). Apparently they were demanding scholarships and other benefits. They freed the buses and drivers today and the bus service should be back tomorrow. At least that is my reading of the news reports.

I've read that they've been holding protests like this for several years. One of their demands has been for anyone who applies to the school to be admitted, whether or not the school has the capacity to educate an unlimited number of students. This latest action of theirs has caused great harm to the already weakened tourist industry in Morelia.

 

[Isla Verde]

Yep, that was one of the stories. Thanks so much. It's hard to believe that students would do this. The other stories were much easier to believe; which is why they were floating around, I guess. Is this some sort of prank ritual or are the conditions at the universities that bad?:confused2:

Students at some Mexican public universities, or in this case normal school, have a tradition of carrying out these kinds of so-called political activities to have their demands met (or maybe to get out of going to class or to let off steam?). Conditions are probably not great at this particular school and no doubt the authorities have not really taken their demands seriously, but it seems to me (and to most of the people affected by the hostage- and bus-taking) that this time they've really gone too far.