UOB: Campus poll fever hotting up

From Gulf Daily News (5th May, 2005)
[Cached Version - With Images / Text Only ]:

-------------

By MOHAMMED AL A'ALI

<> POSTERS and banners are appearing all over both Bahrain University campuses, as students prepare to elect their representatives for the Student Council. Thirty-four students have already nominated themselves for the elections, which will be held at the Isa Town and Sakhir campuses on May 18. Although candidates can't play the party card, many have already aligned themselves in unofficial lists being distributed outside the university. Thirteen seats are available at the 22-member council, which also includes nine students representing the university's societies and clubs.

<>Seven of the nine will be society presidents, while two club presidents will be selected from the seven clubs, based on an agreement between the presidents. Elections for the societies and clubs will be also held on the same day, rather than the usual appointments in October. Elections committee chairman Dr Huda Al Khaja said elections were being held for the first time to elect board members for the societies and clubs.

"Previously, students with the highest grade point average (GPA) were appointed as college society and club presidents, those with the second highest as vice-presidents and so on," she said at a Press conference at the Sakhir campus yesterday.

"We changed the timing and made it with the main elections, to allow college and club representatives more time to work on their projects at the council, rather than being changed after two months, considering nothing is done during the summer."

<>The seven college societies are the College of Engineering Society, College of Science Society, College of Law Society, Business Administra-tion College Society, College of Arts Society, College of Education Society and College of Information Technology. The seven clubs are the Information Club, Theatre Club, Environment Friends Club, Chess Club, Music Club, Photography Club and Fine Arts Club. Dr Al Khaja, who is also student affairs dean, said that every 1,000 students were represented with one seat at the council, but the number of representatives would change based on the decrease or increase in the number of students in each college.

"A college with less than 1,000 students will be represented at the council with one seat," she said.

"We have more than 18,500 students, but this doesn't mean that everyone is eligible to vote, as those on academic probation or who have just begun their courses are not eligible."

<>Seats available through polls would be divided as follows: four for the College of Business Management, three for the College of Arts, two for the College of Education, one each for the College of Science, College of Law, College of Information Technology, College of Engineering and the College of Science. Five students have nominated themselves for the College of Arts, five for the College of Law and five for the College of Engineering, four for the College of Education, three for the College of Information Technology and the College of Science. Three students have also applied late yesterday, which was the deadline for applications and their applications are being studied. <>

Dr Al Khaja said that candidates and those campaigning for them were free to use the election media centre at the Isa Town campus from 9am to 7pm, from Saturday to Wednesday and from 1pm to 7pm on Thursday. Students have until May 15 to withdraw from elections. For more information visit the elections website.

UOB: Sacked teacher backed

From Gulf Daily News (7th May, 2005)
[Cached Version - With Images / Text Only ]:

---------------

A group of supporters plan to sue Bahrain University for sacking activist teacher Dr Abduljalil Sanges, it was revealed yesterday. Dr Sanges was the head of the mechanical engineering department. Several prominent lawyers, including Sami Siyadi and Abdulla Al Shamlan, have offered to represent him in court. A campaign expressing solidarity with Dr Sanges, who is a board member and media committee head of the Al Wefaq Islamic Society, will also be launched at the university.

UOB: Students to discuss key issues with officials

From Gulf Daily News (23rd April, 2005)
[Cached Version - With Images / Text Only ]:

---------------

By MOHAMMED AL A'ALI]


<> STUDENTS are to meet with government officials and business leaders to discuss various community issues. Twenty Bahrain University students will be chosen for a delegation to liaise with the government and private sector. The delegation will visit ministry officials and company representatives to discuss employment, training and development. It may also take part in international conferences, under a scheme to give students a chance to play a more active role in the community. The delegation's programme is under the theme Know Your Country.

"The students will meet with the concerned officials to discuss issues related to employment, training, youth facilities and future developmental projects," said university student affairs dean Dr Huda Al Khaja.

"We are also planning to send the students for youth conferences and meetings abroad."

<>Students applying for the delegation should be studying at morning classes and have already completed 30 credit hours. Registration begins tomorrow and ends on May 11. Dr Al Khaja said applicants should take into consideration that their grade point average (GPA) must be above two.

"They will be brought in front of a special committee, which will take the final selection decision," she said.

"Applicants should take into consideration that representing the university is a responsibility."

Dr Al Khaja said that the goal behind the formation of the delegation, which is in its third round, is to bring young people into discussions about the latest developments.

"It also aims to involve them more in community life - for their benefit as well as others."

UOB: Activist to appeal university ruling

From Gulf Daily News (14th May, 2005)
[Cached Version - With Images / Text Only ]:

-----------

<> A TOP human rights and political activist, who was removed from a senior post at Bahrain University, has won the right to appeal.Former mechanical engineering department head Dr Abduljalil Al Singace is due to appear in court on May 28 for the first hearing, writes Monther Al Arrayed. Dr Al Singace, who is also a board member and media committee head of Al Wefaq Islamic Society, continues as a lecturer.

The university decision followed a faculty committee inquiry into Dr Al Singace's travel to the US in February to take part in political and human rights activities. Dr Al Singace, who has retained a high-profile defence team of Abdul Shaheed Khalaf, Ahmed Al Arrayedh, Abdulla Al Shamlawi, Sami Siyadi and Radhi Khalil Ibrahim, said he will fight to get university president Dr Shaikha Mariam bint Hassan Al Khalifa's decision.

"The aim of the case will be to assert that the university should abide by its rules and regulations," said Dr Al Singace.

"The president claims that her decision was based on an 'assessment of interests'. However there is no such clause in any of the university's rules and regulations."

UOB: Funds shortage 'curbing research'

From Gulf Daily News (19th April, 2005)
[Cached Version - With Images / Text Only ]:

---------------

By MONTHER AL ARRAYEDH


<>A LACK of funds is strangling academic research at Bahrain University, according to a senior lecturer. The university allocates a budget of BD70,000 to finance research every year, but that is not enough, according to vice-president for academic programmes and scientific research Dr Mohammed Hassan Al Sayed. He now wants the government and firms to consider using the university's resources to conduct research instead of appointing private consultants.

"In light of the current direction towards decreasing the university's budget by BD3 million for 2006 and coming years, scientific research will be the first victim," he said.

"The Scientific Research Deanship has to think of alternative sources for funds.

"We have to open up to society and gain the trust of companies, establishments and ministries and get them to sponsor scientific research.

"Why do they resort to international advisers and not approach us?"

Over the past five years Bahrain University professors published 1,348 research papers - 775 of which were published in international scientific magazines and 573 at international conferences, said Dr Al Sayed.

"What is the fate of these papers and how many of them were ever implemented practically?" he asked.

"In my view, the greatest obstacle for the university's scientific research is funds.

"The BD70,000 the university is spending on research is not enough - but that is all the university is capable of."

<>Dr Al Sayed was speaking at the university's First Annual Scientific Research Conference, which was launched yesterday at its Sakhir campus. The two-day conference, sponsored by Bapco, is organised by the university's Scientific Research Deanship in collaboration with all university colleges. It is being held under the patronage of university president Dr Shaikha Mariam bint Hassan Al Khalifa under the theme Towards Distinguished Scientific Research. In addition to the conference, an exhibition of outstanding graduation projects opened at the university's administration hall, in Sakhir.

UOB: New university council elected

From Gulf Daily News (19th May, 2005)
[Cached Version - With Images / Text Only ] :

-----------------

By MOHAMMED AL A'ALI

BAHRAIN University students expressed mixed emotions yesterday as new candidates were elected onto the Student Council. Some were encouraged by the calibre of the candidates and said the election process was well-organised. However, others questioned whether they have enough power to make a difference.

"This doesn't mean those running for elections have a serious agenda," said 22-year-old English literature student Noor Bader. "What is the use of the council if we don't get what we want?" <>

There was talk yesterday of student candidates affiliated with the National Democratic Action Society withdrawing from the race to make way for those linked to Al Wefaq National Islamic Society. However, College of Law student Mahmood Al Oraibi, 21, said he was impressed with the pedigree of those who stood for election.

"I never thought the council was useful or up to expectations," he said.

"I was among those who boycotted elections and until recently I never thought anyone was qualified enough to develop the council.

"But [this year] everyone has excellent agendas. They are easy to write - what matters is whether they can fulfil their promises."

Meanwhile, sociology student Mariam Ahmed, 20, said preparations were better than last year and reported a stronger turnout.

"Turnout this year was even better than last year - something that shows raised awareness among students about their rights at the university," she said.

Those sentiments were echoed by 19-year-old community service student Ayman Al Qassab, who described preparations as "fantastic".

"This year we have a better quality of candidate," he said. "Unlike previous years where no deserving candidates were elected."

College of Arts information student Khadija Abdulla, 21, said she voted for her candidate because of their qualifications - not their political affiliation.

"It doesn't matter what group they belong to - the most important thing is they represent students well," she said.

"We want solutions to our problems and we hope our candidates solve them."

However, accounting student Ahmed Mandi, 19, said the elections didn't matter to him - adding he was only there because others were casting their votes.

"Who cares about the council, has it done anything for students?" he asked.

Caught in the Net: Bahrain

From Foreign Policy (Issue May/June 2005) [Cached Version - With Images / Text Only ] :

-----------------------------------------

Bahrain trumpets itself as one of the Middle East’s most wired countries. But some Bahrainis are fuming after their government recently shut down two popular Web sites whose discussion forums contained criticism of the current regime. On one forum, www.bahrainonline.org, which received about 200,000 daily hits, users had made allegations of state corruption. The government’s response? “There are no limits to freedom,” said King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa, “but this freedom should be based on patriotism.”

FP invites readers to suggest incidents in which a government, corporation, or any organization is involved in a unique technological abuse at caughtinthenet@CarnegieEndowment.org.