Hundreds of candidates in student elections Craving democracy at Taiz University [Archives:2002/20/Reportage]
BY RIDHWAN ASSALAHI
FOR THE YEMEN TIMES
Freedom is something desired by people in every nation of the world. People want to be free in their political thought and democratic life.
And elections are the foundation of democratic societies; elections without bias or harm.
Whats more significant for democracy than free and open elections?
In this respect, considering it has elections coming up with literally hundreds of candidates, the University of Taiz seems is a distinguished democratic campus.
These elections at the university have become a dream for all students in all departments, said Gebreel al-Ezzi, a representative of the students union.
Al-Ezzi notes the number of candidates reached 573 male and female students, before 107 students were withdrawn.
So, the rest of the candidates are competing with each other, he said.
Gebreel has called students to freely to choose the right person without fear of favor.
Eshraq Haza, a sophomore student at the College of Law said, The election process has witnessed a high attendance due to the legal right to choose the right person to represent them at the student union.
The large number of voters has been unexpected, and comes after some opposition from students with special interests. Their attempts failed.
The period of the previous union was passed and it is time to turn what some feel is a new page away from bias and favoritism, said Mohannad Ahmed Abdulkader, junior student in biochemistry.
As a female candidate, Ahlam Mohammed Abdulmalik commented that one can deny that democracy is not practiced in Yemen.
Those who oppose it have to think wisely that at least they have a right and choice to take part in the elections in a healthy democratic process, she said.
Some students complain theyve no signs of change have by the previous student union.
Representatives during the four previous years didnt do anything that deserve mentioning. All theyve done is provide the students with handouts at classes, said student Moneer al-Hasani.
The chief goal of the students elections is to find a unified entity for the whole students at the university. The need for the elections is a must, said history student Yasemeen Abduh Mohammed.
Yasemeen added further that the previous union has done nothing in response to renunciation of some students at the union, which has stirred discord instead of gathering students together.
Abdulgabbar Abdullah Hassan, junior student in biology, said those who oppose elections are sometimes trouble-makers.
We need a trouble-free academic atmosphere for all students through all their years of studies, Abdulgabbar noted further.
Mohammed Ahmed, a junior student of biochemistry, said he and his classmates have faced many difficulties during their studies at the university.
No one has showed a keen interest to prove himself to hold responsibility at the university campus, he said.
Im running for election on the motivation of my classmates. High attendance is clearly seen by both male and female students, Mohammed said.
Nadeem Faisal al-Qubati said Undoubtedly, university students have faced so many problems and I myself have faced them. So, we are optimistic to practice our democratic right in Taiz university.
The election process at the university was carried out in a healthy democratic atmosphere.
The election process at the university will try to bring solutions to the students concerns and problems. We hope that these elections will come up with fruitful results for the sake of students interests during their academic studies.
——
[archive-e:20-v:2002-y:2002-d:2002-05-13-p:./2002/iss20/report.htm]
