MANSOURA: Violent clashes erupted yesterda at Mansoura University as students continued demonstrations calling for the resignation of all deans and university leaders associated with the previous regime. The violence began when students demanding the resignation of one dean in particular, Mohamed Ghoneim, were confronted by unidentified assailants just outside the College of Arts. The “thugs” – whom some students believe to be called upon by Ghoneim – were armed with tasers and wooden sticks and descended upon demonstrators in a chaotic scene that witnessed chairs, belts, and other ad hoc weaponry thrown around in confusion. When the violence cleared, 30 students were reportedly injured, many of whom were brought to the university hospital for treatment. The demonstration directed at Ghoneim comes in response to an incident three days earlier when a vehicle carrying him and the Dean of Veterinary Medicine crashed into a crowd of protesting students. The collision occurred as students attempted to block Ghoneim's car from entering the campus during the university's presidential election. After a thirty-minute standoff in which students continued to strike at the vehicle, the driver accelerated into the crowd, injuring 15. The students' action was motivated by a belief that Ghoneim as well as the Dean of Veterinary Medicine would be using their votes to support El Sayeed Abd El Khaleek, a candidate widely associated with state security forces under the previous regime. As per university election procedures, the top three vote getters – one of which was El Khaleek – were submitted to the military council following the election. Under the previous regime, the president had authority to choose among the three recommended candidates. Filling this role, the military council chose El Sayeed Abd El Khaleek, who also received the top number of votes. On Sunday, one day after the car incident, upwards of 20 thousand students demonstrated on Mansoura University's main campus to show their disapproval for the elections results and to voice their anger at the previous day's events. In response to the student outcry, five deans, including the Dean of Veterinary Medicine, submitted their resignations, but Mohamed Ghoneim remained in his post. Yesterday, and as a result of Ghoneim's intransigence, students at the university specifically targeted his college for a demonstration, and began amassing in and around the Faculty of Arts campus until the clashes broke out. After containing the violence, military police closed off the entrance to the college. Ghoneim has refused to tender his resignation and students are continuing to call for him as well as the newly elected president, El Sayeed Abd El Khaleek, to step down. BM
