“An artist and activist in Chile has “freed” university students from their student debt by burning $500 million dollars in debt notes.

The action last week was the work of visual artist Francisco “Papas Fritas” Tapia, who took the debt notes during a student takeover of the University del Mar, burned them to ashes, and put them on display as an exhibit.

“Authorities began shutting down” the university “last year for financial irregularities and encouraged students to seek out alternative universities,” the Santiago Times reported, but “the university is still collecting on its student loans.” It is slated to close at the end of this year.”* The Young Turks hosts Ana Kasparian and Ben Mankiewicz break it down.

*Read more here from Andrea Germanos / Common Dreams:
http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2014/05/21-4