(Source / AP)

(San Francisco | June 5, 2001) University of San Francisco graduate Alejandro Toledo, once a poor shoe shine boy, was elected Peru's new president June 3 in a close race. The 55-year-old Toledo became the first president of Indian descent in Peru, a country with a large indigenous population.  Toledo defeated former president Alan Garcia.

When Toledo came to the University of San Francisco in 1967, his family remained in Chimbote on Peru's north coast. His home there had no running water or electricity. The roads were unpaved and there was a large open sewer behind his house.

The University awarded Toledo a scholarship in a special program for non-English speaking students. Violette Jacob, former director of the USF foreign students office, remembers him as a very good student and a very good listener. "We offered Alejandro the scholarship to come to the U.S. because we saw he had big potential," she said. "It is the University of San Francisco's mission to welcome diversity and to recruit students like Alejandro who come from different ethnic backgrounds."  Jacob said it was clear that Toledo felt proud of his Indian ancestry.

Donato Tapia, Toledo's USF roommate for two years, also remembers him fondly, but says Toledo hadn't developed political aspirations yet. "Alejandro never thought of being president. He just wanted to be a businessman. Back then, he cared much more about girls and his soccer team than about the intrigues of politics."

Soccer coach Steven Negoesco said Toledo was aggressive and determined. "Alejandro was a really short guy, maybe five feet five," Negoesco remembers. "This could have been a drawback for a soccer player, but he used his intelligence and enthusiasm to overcome his disadvantage in height."

Toledo's picture, along with those of many other former players, are plastered on the walls of Negoesco's office. The coach still calls them "his boys," even though many are now in their 40s and 50s.

Toledo graduated from USF in 1971 with a degree in economics. He also earned degrees at Harvard and Stanford before becoming an economist with the World Bank.

"This is an example of the positive effect of a USF education," said Gerardo Marín, senior associate dean of the University of San Francisco College of Arts and Sciences. "It's an education that emphasizes educating the whole person and training leaders who will make a difference and promote social justice." 

Toledo and his centrist party Peru Posible has pledged to improve social conditions in Peru, particularly in the areas of health, education and nutrition.  "I would venture to guess that his experiences at USF had something to do in promoting or strengthening those concerns," Marín said.

Political analysts agree that Toledo faces an uphill battle. The economy is plunging and democracy there is fragile. He also takes charge amid political scandal. His predecessor, Alberto Fujimori, is accused of violating human rights, selling influence in his government and rigging the last election. 

"People are expecting a radical change," says David Hidalgo, a reporter with the La Republica newspaper in Lima. "They are tired of being fooled and of so many problems, and they are very skeptical for now.  Let's see if Toledo can really fulfill their expectations for an improvement of social well-being."