Since the beginning of the new academic year, experts along with university professors have been warning authorities of an alarmist tone about the instability in the country's campuses. For the past two years, since the 2011 revolution, academics have been more genuinely worried about universities and students. Concerns escalated following the wider outbreak of violence starting this academic year. Tension escalated noticeably at university campuses, with scuffles breaking out between Muslim Brotherhood supporters and their opponents, usually following protests by the Brotherhood whose members were ousted from power in July. Violent clashes erupted among hundreds of students who are anti and pro the ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi at Cairo, Ain Shams, Helwan and Zagazig universities. Students threw Molotov cocktails and some had guns. Pro-Morsi protests have taken place in a number of universities across the country since the academic year kicked off on 21 September, as supporters of the deposed president continue to protest against what they describe as a military coup. On 25 September, violent clashes erupted among students at Ain Shams University and at Zagazig University where hundreds of Morsi supporters chanted against the military and Minister of Defence Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi, thus provoking anti-Morsi students to chant back against Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood as a whole. At least 12 students were injured at Ain Shams and 15 others at Zagazig as a result of these clashes. Students of Cairo University clashed as pro-Morsi students were chanting slogans against the Armed Forces and Al-Sisi such as “Down, down with military rule”. They attempted to open the university's gates to continue their protest on the streets. Security employees locked the gates, and the students dispersed after two hours of continuous protests. At Alexandria University, a number of students were injured after clashes between Morsi's supporters and his opponents. At Tanta University two students were injured in clashes. Demands from several universities across the country came to the fore of this week's violent clashes among students. Students as well as university professors have been asking for better security at university campuses. Awatef Abdel-Rahman, a professor at Cairo University's Faculty of Mass Communication, said there should be tighter security measures at university campuses. Since university security guards were substituted by civil security men and, “the gates of universities have been opened to anyone and to any activity, including drugs and harassment. We are witnessing things now which were never present in the past,” Abdel-Rahman said. “I don't approve of powers of arrest which were granted to a number of civil security employees because they might misuse them. Meanwhile, students are not going to accept any ban on their freedom of expression. They want to express their opinions and to practice politics within the university premises,” said Abdel-Rahman. “University regulations contain tighter measures, if applied, which are capable of preserving order, peace and security in the university community. I wonder why such regulations are not applied?” she asked. In 2008 a court annulled the 1980 decree stipulating the protection of universities by security personnel affiliated to the Ministry of Interior. Adel Mustafa, a member of Students against the Coup, claimed that clashes that occurred at a number of universities were because the “university security allowed in thugs who used Molotov cocktails against students. Everyone has the right to express his opinion. Politics is based on differences of opinions,” he added. At the same time, Tharwat Ishac, professor of sociology at Ain Shams University, believes that the only solution to preserve security at universities is to apply powers of arrest. “It would be better to give this responsibility to the Interior Ministry security personnel,” said Ishac. Students are not used, according to Ishac, to practicing democracy or even to express their opinions in a civil manner. “They have to be treated firmly in order to stick to university regulations and be obedient,” he added. Yet, Alia Al-Mahdi, professor of political science at Cairo University pointed out that the only way to solve the problem is to increase the number of security personnel and properly train them. “University security should be restricted to protecting students against all that directly threatens them without intervening in student activities,” said Al-Mahdi. Al-Mahdi fears that students affiliated to the Muslim Brotherhood along with other non-partisan students might cause disturbances in the university due to the protests against the Armed Forces. “Muslim Brotherhood students are expressing their opinions violently and in an unacceptable manner. They intentionally violate university regulations,” said Al-Mahdi. Al-Mahdi, who agrees with Abdel-Rahman on the importance of activating university regulations, stated, “Peace and security will return in no time. Students who will violate university regulations will be subject to a one-week dismissal from university. This penalty is increased every time the student violates the regulations until the student is barred from sitting for the final exams for two successive years.” “There is no need at all to use external powers such as providing civil security personnel the right to arrest. University rules are more than enough if applied,” added Al-Mahdi. Abdel-Hakim Khalil, president of Tanta University, stated that the justice minister's decision to provide powers to security personnel coincides with the students' welfare. “The decision aims to prevent the sabotaging of institutions and assaulting of university faculty and students. Not all security personnel will be granted this power; only half of them,” said Khalil. At the same time, he denied any intention to bring back State Security personnel to safeguard universities.
