(AFP Photo)
Minor clashes broke out at Helwan University on Sunday between students affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood and revolutionary students a few hours prior to the student union elections beginning in the university.
Students of Soot El-Talaba (The Students’ Voice) coalition held a march at the campus of Helwan University, where some chanted against the Muslim Brotherhood. Eventually, confrontations broke out between the chanting students and students affiliated with the Brotherhood, according to Wessam El-Bakry, spokesperson of Soot El-Talaba.
El-Bakry said the students who chanted against the Muslim Brotherhood used to participate in student activities such as theatre and scouts, which was restricted when the Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated students won the previous year’s student union elections.
Helwan University student union elections are scheduled to start on Monday.
Amr Hamdy, former head of Helwan University’s student union, said this year’s elections feature two main competing student coalitions; Soot El-Talaba, including revolutionary, leftist and liberal students, and the Muslim Brotherhood coalition. “I believe that out of Helwan University’s 20 faculties, Soot El-Talaba will win elections in 15 faculties.”
In Cairo University’s faculty of economics and political science, four student coalitions are competing for student union seats, namely El-Taraf El-Rabei’ (The Fourth Party), Stop, Agmal Hayah (The Prettiest Life), and Erada (Willingness).
The four coalitions held a debate on Sunday, to convince students of their abilities and aptitude to represent them in the student union.
Cairo University student union elections will also start on Monday.
Results of student union elections held in several universities indicated the Muslim Brotherhood’s popularity has declined on campuses, who secured easy victories in the previous year’s elections.
Revolutionary groups won the majority of student votes in universities of Assiut, Ain Shams, Alexandria, Menufiya, Banha, and Minya.
