After 200 Day Student Strike, Mexico State University's Rector Building Returned to Become Cultural Center

This article by Israel Dávila originally appeared in the November 21, 2025 edition of La Jornada, Mexico’s premier left wing daily newspaper.

Toluca, Mexico. This Friday, the student movement calling itself the Unified Student Swarm handed over the facilities of the Rector’s building of the Autonomous University of the State of Mexico (UAEMEx) after 200 days of holding it, since May when the student strike began.

The handover of the property was agreed upon with the new university authorities, who pledged to rehabilitate this space to turn it into a Cultural Center serving the entire university community.

In a statement released on social media, UAEMex reported: “A few moments ago, the Rector’s Building was handed over to the UAEMex Central Administration. This action, it was affirmed, was the result of dialogue and agreements. The commitments established with members of the student movement guarantee follow-up and attention to the community’s demands.”

The peaceful handover of the property was highlighted, and the authorities reaffirmed their commitment to begin the rehabilitation of the site.

@elaventadoescutia
Yo no nací sin causa #uaem #uaemex #paro #universidad #facultad
♬ Un Derecho de Nacimiento – Natalia Lafourcade & Panteón Rococó

Likewise, a commitment was made to initiate the corresponding administrative and legal actions to delineate responsibilities and complete the corresponding accountability processes regarding the state of the University’s finances, since a handover with the previous administration could not be carried out due to the student strike and the occupation of the Rector’s building, which the Unified Student Swarm has renamed “The Student House”.

The University reiterated that dialogue, teamwork, and shared responsibility are the only way to advance the transformation of the state’s leading institution of higher learning.

After the withdrawal of the slightly more than 20 students who remained inside the Rector’s Office, the UAEMex authorities entered the building to conduct a review of the building’s structural conditions; as well as to receive the keys to the main entrance and the keys to the main offices where the university cabinet works.