Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara – A campus demonstration by angry students rallying to demand the resignation of their university rector turned violent Monday when the students clashed with security guards.

Students at Kupang's Widya Mandira Catholic University rallied on campus for the ouster of their rector, Cosmas Fernandez, who they accuse of authoritarian, arrogent behavior.

The demonstrators were involved in a clash with university security guards when they stopped the rector's car from entering the campus, some climbing onto the vehicle.

Accompanied by security gaurds, the rector slipped through the crowd during the melee and students chased after him. Others later tried to enter the administration building but were deterred by the guards.

Students have been calling for Cosmas to resign since last week, with one group holding a weeklong hunger strike on campus. The rector has refused to meet them or hear their demands.

The university's senate held an emergency meeting last week to discuss the students' demands. However, no decision was reached because 15 of the 30 senate members and representatives of the foundation that manages the university boycotted the meeting.