 The university has a student body deeply involved in social activism . Its origins can be traced to the early years of the university . In 1954 the first national student congress took place in Cali , where the main issues that the student movement would tackle were defined : the university 's autonomy , and the freedom and democratization of education . Then , in 1957 , the National Union of University Students was established . The university would become an important member of this organization , whose first significant action would take place in May of the same year that ended the dictatorship of General Gustavo Rojas Pinilla . The events started with a strike by students of the university , followed by students of private universities in Bogotá , and then by workers in the industrial , transportation , financial , and commercial sectors . 
