Voting within the ?Claustro Mayor? (governing body) of the Santo Domingo Autonomous University (UASD) took place without incident yesterday, though only 1,811 votes were cast out of a total of 2,851 eligible. The results of the voting remain to be announced. However, it is expected that the reforms in the University?s basic charter will be overwhelmingly approved. The changes include an authorization to the UASD President to introduce civil authorities onto the campus if necessary, and the elimination of student and staff participation in the selection of the president. Students largely abstained from the voting on grounds that the ?claustro? was being held extra-legally. Around 33% of the votes in the ?claustro? are cast by student representatives, 2% belong to non-instructional, non-administrative ?staff,? and the rest are cast by professors, deans, and top administrators. An attempt to hold the ?claustro? earlier this week produced violent protests and resulted in the suspension of instruction and closing of the campus.
