(AFP Photo)
University students expressed their objection over the Supreme Council of Universities (SCU) decision Monday to postpone Student Union elections for a third year.
The SCU decided to further postpone student union elections to next year. This is due to the nomination period, which was scheduled to take place at the beginning of the semester, that ended according to the universities bylaws. As such, if the elections took place, then it would be void, according to a joint statement by several student movements Tuesday.
The Student Union elections have not been held since 2013.
Students belonging to the Revolutionary Socialists movement, along with the Strong Egypt (Misr Al-Qawia) Party, 6 April Democratic Front, 6 April Youth Movement and the Dostour Party students questioned, in their statement, on whom the responsibility lies for “deliberately disrupt[ing] the elections in the first semester under the pretext of the bylaws”.
The students noted in their statement that they have reiterated their call for the establishment of a student union since the first semester, which was spent writing down the bylaws. They further questioned the intention to hold elections, given that they were not stipulated in the bylaws.
The undersigned parties’ students noted in their statement that “the current regime” is aiming “to get rid” of all movements criticising it, and that “it prevents millions of students from upbringing in a democratic atmosphere in which they can exercise political action”.
The statement finally noted that students will not depend on the current regime or the Ministry of Higher Education to gain their rights. They noted that the movements will continue with their fellow colleagues “to struggle” against the general crackdown on student movements within universities.
