The foundation of a public university had been an old dream of the population of Campos dos Goytacazes, State of Rio de Janeiro (RJ), when the mobilization of an organized section of the town's society managed to include a popular amendment to the State's Constitution of 1989, which stipulated the creation of State University of Northern of Rio de Janeiro, UENF. The initiatives involved social organs, associations and political leaders. At least 3,000 signatures were needed, but the organizers obtained 4,431, apart from several thousands of other signatures that did not qualify for the petition.