Keeping politics off campus
Union activism within the country’s universities has done little to benefit the students or the quality of their education. In contrast, it has given rise to a regime of give-and-take between those currently studying and the graduates who pull the strings of student union groups and the administrations of universities, and has also contributed a great deal toward many cases of corruption and abuse of power at Greek tertiary education institutions.
Elections for student councils that include the participation of party-backed student groups have become a ridiculous and nonsensical process. They also provide fertile ground for violent clashes between rival groups and for the littering of campuses with leaflets, graffiti and placards.
It would be really good news if the trend that began to emerge in the most recent council elections, which saw candidates backed by political parties out of the race, were to take a more general form. This would allow students to finally acquire some real representation and would eventually push political parties off student campuses, as is the case in most civilized nations.
