The Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo reopened after authorities and protesting students reached an agreement. The parties in dispute agreed to sit down to talks. The state university had been closed after university authorities requested the assistance of the National Police that closed barricaded the university, not allowing the unruly protesting students to leave. The measure considerably affected all those who live in the university area, as well as businesses in the area. The UASD has a special charter that impedes police forces from entering the campus. The university was closed when a small group of student leaders decided to protest supposedly for an increase in the cost of the summer course credits, from RD$15 to RD$40. University authorities said that there were commercial interests behind the protest, as protestors were known to have small businesses that were about to be evicted as a result of a general clean up of university grounds and buildings. Overwhelmingly, students were in favor of the increase in order to be able to start the courses, but the small group of unruly protestors imposed their will. A commission made up by representatives of the Dominican Medical Association, Dominican Committee of Human Rights, Association of University Employees, 13 congressmen and Priest Rogelio de la Cruz mediated. The start of the summer courses was left up in the air. As per the agreement, the unruly students will not be expelled. the students left the university. The decisions, nevertheless, will have to be ratified by the University Council.
