May 2, 2008

“Practicing Pluralism on the Ground”

Student Senate elections conducted at Bethlehem University – Voter turnout 82 per cent

April 21, 2008

After a two-week period of campaigning Bethlehem University students elected a new Student Senate on Thursday, April 16, with as much as 82 per cent of the students attending the voting booths and the Fatah Youth achieving a clear majority.

During the campaigning period before election day students of the three competing blocks showed enormous activity using a wide range democratic means to attract the votes of their fellow students: posters, flags, handouts, speeches and public debates.

“The elections are extremely important in my point of view, as the Student Senate serves as a channel of communication and participation between students and the University administration,” one student said.

Another student added, “Through the elections BU students have the opportunity to choose who they think is suitable to represent them and help them. It really is practicing pluralism and democracy on the ground.”

Throughout Thursday's balloting, students visited the University's auditorium where they registered for voting and filled out their ballots. When the polls closed at 4.30 pm , 1,926 of the 2,330 students eligible to vote had taken part in the election, making the voter turnout 82 per cent.

Even though classes had finished for the day at 4.00 pm , students remained on campus, eagerly awaiting the results of the election. The final distribution of the 31 available seats was announced at 6.00 pm with Fatah Youth winning a clear majority of 18 seats, while a coalition of the leftist parties consisting of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) and the Palestinian People's Party (PPP) won nine seats and Islamic Jihad won four seats.

For years, the Student Senate has been an essential part of Bethlehem University 's ambition to provide for its students an environment characterized by pluralism, openness and respect. It acts as a representing organ for the students coming together from various social and religious backgrounds, from cities, villages and refugee camps. It further aims to foster concern for the University and interest in academic affairs among the student body, to enhance the students´ sense of responsibility and leadership and to promote good relations among students and between students, staff and the University Administration. Finally, it enriches student life at Bethlehem University through various social, cultural and athletic activities.