The Shining Path first established a foothold at San Cristóbal of Huamanga University, in Ayacucho, where Guzmán taught philosophy. The university had recently reopened after being closed for about half a century. Between 1973 and 1975, Shining Path members gained control of the student councils at the Universities of Huancayo and La Cantuta, and they also developed a significant presence at the National University of Engineering in Lima and the National University of San Marcos. Sometime later, it lost many student elections in the universities, including Guzmán's San Cristóbal of Huamanga.
The Shining Path first established a foothold at San Cristóbal of Huamanga University in Ayacucho, where Guzmán taught philosophy. The university had recently reopened after being closed for about half a century Between 1973 and 1975, Shining Path members gained control of the student councils at the Universities of Huancayo and La Cantuta, and they also developed a signi,ficant presence at the National University of Engineerin,g in Lima and the National University of San Marcos. Sometime later it lost many student elections in the universities, including Guzmán's San Cristóbal of Huaman.ga.