At the end of the first semester, Majed, a 19-year-old first year student in electrical engineering from Jabalya refugee camp in Gaza, had a firm sense of accomplishment. He had done well in his courses, learned new skills, and adjusted well to University life. He was even enjoying his cultural studies class on ancient philosophy and his English language class much more than he had expected. He got in the taxi to Gaza already anticipating the second semester.

But the second semester began without Majed. Like other students from Gaza, Majed is banned from leaving Gaza in the wake of a new and even more restrictive closure orderd by the Israeli authorities in the wake of the 25 February massacre in Hebron. Majed spent the next three months at home, frustrated, restless and angry. Ancient philosophy and computer circuits seem far away. In late May, he was among the fortunate group of students accorded permits fat least fourteen Birzeie University students were denied permiesl. He registered for the summer session with a feeling of unease: his right to education was subject to an arbitrary process beyond his control.

For other students who were more fortunate and returned to campus on 16 March, several weeks behind schedule due to the prolonged curfew in most parts of the West Bank, the "other" world of insecurity and arbitrary harassment continues to affect them on campus. Birzeit University exists two worlds. A lively and successful first semester witnessed a flowering of public lectures, seminars and conferences and a development of new academic programs geared to new possiblities for the future. The second semester opens minus almost 20% of the student body from Gaza and the city of Hebron. Campus life and study continue to be marred by detentions of student and staff, which reached 62 in the first semester alone. While both Palestinians and the world at large anticipate peace in the Middle East, Palestinians under occupation live another, harsher reality where familiarity does not breed content. For students and faculty at Birzeit University, normal academic life is a goal that continues to be obstructed and the right to education is a basic pre-requisite that still needs to be defended.