Interview with Change Bloc student representative

"What are the main aims and goals of your bloc?"

The main aim of our bloc is to affirm the Student Movement’s independence. The very complicated Palestinian political party structure is reflecting its complexes and failures on the student movement. To confront this, we aim to move towards the independence of the student movement from these outside structures. without trying to escape from any of our national commitments. What we would really like to see is a student movement which moves away from its ties with outside political parties and is free of any dictations of any kind. The student movement is now impotent because of this relation with the impotent political parties.

In regards to national goals, we see ourselves seriously participating in the struggle for national independence and freedom. The social, cultural and academic issues are issues we see as facing continuous failures and serious problems as a result of the student movement situation itself, as I said earlier. We hope to reach a state where every student has the opportunity to use his abilities, potential and creativity. Meanwhile, we are trying to present a new look for the student council and it's functional nature. This look is based on our aim to reach a professional student council in reflecting both the national concerns and academic and student life concerns.

"What do you think are the main issues facing students on campus?"

The unhealthy psychological atmosphere at the university does not help students in achieving their desired level of knowledge. The student blocs are partially responsible for these problems, while the remainder of the responsibility is on Palestinian society itself. We see this as one of the main issues students are now facing, since youth and university students are supposed to be able to generate solutions for problems facing society and political movements and be able to pull society out of the situation it is in now.

The educational system itself is also an issue, as it is still a traditional and empty one, dependent on the information fed from the lecturer or the textbook. It has been kept empty from any kind of encouragement and scientific research which makes the process of acquiring knowledge empty of its soul. We believe that all problems facing students and all the issues they are concerned about are of general character, i.e. they are generally problems of the society which are being reflected on the students.

"What is your opinion on the Oslo and Wye Agreements?"

We reject these agreements on the grounds that they do not satisfy even the minimum of our national rights and do not guarantee the achievement of the desired ultimate freedom. What has resulted from these agreements in confiscating the Palestinians’ right to struggle is very dangerous and should be re-assessed. We believe that the basic rights sought after in any agreement should be the right of return, self-rule, independence, the right to an independent state and the legitimate right to struggle. Any agreement or activity that does not address these issues is rejected.

"How do you see the role of women in Palestinian society?"

There is supposed to be a special situation for women at the university which is missing, thus reflecting the general situation of women in all of Palestinian society. Female students at the university have still not reached the same level of equality as male students in their roles and activities on campus, which underlines a serious problem since they are supposed to be leading the way for the rest of women within society. The participation of female students in student and university life, both in the quality of participation and in the quantity of participation, is much less than is supposed to be and does not reflect their abilities or percentage of the population. Again, the female students at the university are reflecting the situation of women in the society and not forming pioneering or leading figures, the university student’s situation is only a reflection of the society and not forming the turning leading points.

When asked to give the blocs 'word to the world', the student representative stated:

Our word to the world are the words of the general national discourse: "We are a nation that is looking for freedom and independence and believes in it’s ultimate right to struggle to regain its stolen rights."