Candidates Play it Safe in SU Debate

By: Farah Rafik and Basant Samhout

@frhrfk @basantsamhout

The Student Union (SU) Presidential Debate kicked off at Bassily Auditorium on March 27.

The format was designed to give each presidential candidate six minutes to present their vision and mission for the SU, followed by questions and cross-examination.

The focal points of the debate centered around presidential candidates Youssef Abdel Kader’s and Mohamed El Fiky’s reasons for running, their visions for the SU, and how they would regain student trust.

Abdel Kader focused on his campaign slogan Altering Perceptions and his achievements which he said made him the right candidate to lead the SU.

“Over the span of my three years in this university, I have never seen this solidarity and unity between the student body. Different sectors stood as one. Both camps stood as one. Most importantly, the student body stood as one.”

Abdel Kader was joined on stage by his choice for Vice-President (VP) Lamis Sallam who briefly spoke about their vision for the SU.

Sallam explained how they would be using technology as a way to make the SU more accessible.

Fiky then took the floor and spoke first about personal trauma.

“After my near death experience in 2016, I asked myself if I’m getting the most out of university experience. So I decided that not another day was going to pass me without contributing to my growth and that of my society,” Fiky told the Bassily audience.

“What we can promise you, is that we vow to utilize what we have of skill, knowledge, expertise, and power to enhance our university experience. We vow to build a student-centric SU that focuses on students. We vow to build a union of solving our short-term needs without compromising the future of our upcoming generations,” Fiky said.

During the cross-examination, the questions came quick and hard.

Vice-presidential candidate Sallam scrutinized Ehab’s slogan of Include, Innovate, Impact by asking how her time as student-led campus organization Mashrou’ Kheir’s president lived up to this mantra.

“Seeing as you have been Mashrou’ Kheir’s president for more than a semester, can you please specify four outcomes, other than TEDx, through whichw you were able to include, innovate, and impact your team?” Sallam asked.

Ehab explained the role Mashrou’ Kheir played as a community development organization and how it was inclusive with team innovations and projects.

She then fired back by asking Abdel Kader why so many members of his team resigned when he served as associate Political Representation Committee Chairperson in the SU.

“Despite your statements highlighting that nothing you have accomplished was on your own, for the past two years, your associate general manager quit, your associate chair [Nada Samy] resigned,  and your initial vice president dropped out. How does this speak to your leadership style?” Ehab asked.

Abdel Kader said that Samy resigned from the position due to a medical condition which he would not divulge to protect her privacy.

When approached by The Caravan, Samy confirmed the reason for her departure during the fall semester, but added that given the option to return to her position, she opted not to.

The candidates then fielded questions from the audience. One of the question directed at Fiky asked how he would be inclusive with all departments, as he is a Science major running alongside Ehab who is a Humanities major.

“The mandate of my work being the Academic Chairperson in the SU does not limit me to a specific major, but rather, we cater to all students available on campus. We are inclusive, and we plan on sufficiently representing all students on campus.”

Mariam Salem, a political science junior said  the debate did not help her decide who to vote for.

“Both candidates were making wide brushstrokes on topics that concern the students that needed to be narrowed down.”