By Tamim Elyan
CAIRO: Protesting students at Cairo University decided late Wednesday to end their sit-in and to continue protests demanding the resignation of the university’s president, Hossam Kamel.
The students said in a statement that the decision comes in support of the resumption of academic life in the university and efforts to maintain stability in the country.
“We are adamant in our situation and will continue protests everyday for a limited period of time, but we decided to end the sit-in due to the ongoing situation in the country,” said student Islam Imam.
“We are urging everyone to attend their lectures,” he added, explaining that putting academic life back on track is a priority.
Student protests swept across Egyptian campuses demanding the discharge of university presidents and deans of faculties as well as issuing new regulations for students.
The university administration announced a date for new student unions elections later this month; however Muslim Brotherhood (MB) and a number of activist students said they were still discussing participation as Kamel remained in his post.
Registration for candidacy will start March 13 and will continue for three days. The first phase of the elections is set to begin on March 22 and end on March 29 to choose members and general secretaries of the student unions in faculties and the university’s union.
Student groups who want to boycott the elections expressed concerns about vote rigging.
The university said that the elections will be monitored by a committee formed of seven elected students and a professor to ensure its fairness.
Students said that they await the response of Minister of Higher Education Amr Ezzat Salama to their demands, which is expected next Tuesday.
A delegation from students met with Salama last Tuesday to present their demands. He asked them to give him a week to negotiate these demands with the Supreme Universities Council and the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces.
Meanwhile, students at Ain Shams University continued their sit-in for the second consecutive day demanding the resignation of the university’s president, Maged Al-Deeb, and deans of faculties.
The dean of the Faculty of Engineering resigned Wednesday following student protests.
