Reservist students are angry at the student union in Haifa

The only one who didn't sign...

(haipo) - Students from the University of Haifa who serve in the reserves are angry at the conduct of the Student Association, after, according to them, a letter was sent to the universities' executive committee last week, demanding recognition of a reserve outline that is adapted to the situation. According to them, the letter was signed by all the presidents of the student associations in the universities in Israel, except for one: the student association of the University of Haifa.

Oral Vaknin, the chairman of the student council at the university and the leader of the struggle against the current association, revealed to the students the refusal of the Haifa student association to sign the letter and join the clear call to adapt the outline to the current situation.

Vaknin, himself a reservist, sent a letter to the committee of heads of universities in which he clarified that although the Haifa association refrained from representing them in the letter, the students of the University of Haifa request to join the call of the presidents of the student associations in Israel.

Oral Vaknin, chairman of the student council: "We are no longer surprised by the actions and omissions of the student union at the University of Haifa. It is a disgrace that they did not join the call of all the chairmen of the associations - but it is also not surprising, because since the beginning of the year they have not lifted a finger for the reservists. This is how it is when the welfare of the students is not a priority. Soon when there will be elections for the association, after years of no elections, we will replace this disgraceful association and return the student association - to the students.'

After the omission was revealed, the reservists at the university were outraged and united against the student union that is supposed to represent them. In a viral video that went up on social networks and gained thousands of views, likes and shares, the students are angry about the conduct of the association. Amit responded: "Where did you get the courage not to sign such an important letter?? This is how an association that does not feel obliged to give an account to its audience is run. That's how it's going to change soon.' Ariel also responded: "When elections are not held, one should not stand behind the decisions because there are no consequences! Soon there will be!' These comments join hundreds of angry comments.

Shai Shariki, a third-year student in PCM studies, a captain in the military and a reserve platoon commander in the 8211 GDSR, who served over 170 days in the reserves, said: "I see the service that my fellow students at other educational institutions receive from their student union and I am simply amazed, Because we did not receive anything from the association. I served during the year in the reserves, which probably hurt my ability to study continuously and raised various issues that I had to solve, but instead of having an association that would represent me in front of the university, I had to send emails from the field, call and try to help myself. After 150 days I returned to the university, instead of having an envelope that would receive me from the student union - I had to contact each lecturer separately in order to receive my rights. It's a shame that we don't have an association that represents us, but I hope that soon all this is going to change.'

Yonatan Maklis, a third-year student of the history of the people of Israel and political science, the commander of the platoon of infantry fighters in the 5th brigade, battalion 7020, who served over 120 days in reserve and was even wounded in combat, said:
"I returned from fighting in Gaza and I did not receive anything from the association. They did not contact me or talk to me. Any information or adjustments to which I am entitled, I obtained thanks to my and my friends' privacy invitation. The only ones who helped me were the lecturers and the head of the department in their free time. The student association did nothing for me Nothing! I don't even know who the representatives of the association are hiding behind their failure to do so.'

The student union at the University of Haifa responded:
"The Student Union at the University of Haifa is in direct and ongoing contact with the National Union of Students and the university administration, with the aim of creating an envelope that will provide a comprehensive response to all students from the reserve servicemen, the security forces and their spouses.

Since the initiators of the letter chose not to share with the institution of the national association and the colleges, and to ignore the parallel and main procedure that is being conducted on the subject, we decided not to lend a hand to the political war waged by several universities and to continue to focus on the main procedure in cooperation with the national association.

The Student Association of the University of Haifa believes that only as one united force can we achieve achievements and therefore chooses to cooperate with the national association and not conduct parallel procedures that may undermine the unity of the institutions, including the colleges, and harm the final result. We promise to stand firm until the best outline is achieved and make sure that each and every one of the male and female servants will be able to successfully complete their degree even in this complex period."