SU President Wants to Redefine the Union

By: Yasmin Nabil
@Yasminn04114245

Student Union President Sherif Elnaghyhas been applying his slogan of “Redefine”to digitize the SU’s experience, enhance networking and empower the student body since he assumed the leadership role last June.

Elnaghy has included three different operational scenarios – on ground, online or hybrid – in his action plan so that the union can quickly mobilize if and when the university announces a new teaching modality.

“Our biggest challenge is to implement all the suggestions included in our action plan. This would need a lot of effort, but I promise to be working toward accomplishing all the students’ requests till my very last day in directing the SU,” Elnaghy said.

He said that the union is currently working on engaging the rest of the extracurricular entities and the associations of the different schools in taking decisions. Monthly meetings are held with their representatives to monitor the progress of this initiative.

Inclusivity and diversity are key elements of Elnaghy’s vision.

“This year’s SU recruitment process was different, and this is because we accepted all of the candidates on a first come, first serve basis, in order to enhance diversity among the union,” said Elnaghy.

This has already started to resonate positively with students. Sohaila Tamer, a Graphic Design junior, said that she can see many improvements in the union this year, from representing the students to
bringing the campus back to life, and all in the midst of a pandemic.

The SU launched a new committee, Design (DSGN) Studio, last year, that didn’t operate due to the pandemic. With the return to campus, the DSGN Studio organized an Experimental Art on Fabric and Garment workshop, featuring Amina Salem, the founder of “Funkducaire” on Tuesday, October 5.

“As someone who loves art, it was very interesting to see how the DSGN studio was providing opportunities to art enthusiasts, who were previously disregarded in student activities,” Tamer said.

She explained that she finds the fact that the union has established a new student lounge and a new SU market kiosk very efficient. Computer Engineering junior Linah Rashed, agrees that the SU is exerting more effort in servicing and entertaining the students than in previous years, despite the social restrictions of the pandemic.

“They’re offering face masks at the gates, which I find useful. They’re constantly doing huge stunts in the plaza, in addition to events like the open-air cinema, which is very creative,” stated Rashed.

Joaquin Jarcea, an exchange student, explained that he appreciated the SU’s efforts to make international students feel more welcome.

“The university didn’t provide any activities for international students, but the SU put all the effort in organizing these activities for us, even though the trips were a bit expensive but they did the job,” Jarcea said.

Jumana Safwat, a Construction Engineering senior, said that one of the changes she noticed in this year’s SU members is that more students have been recruited to join the union than in previous years.

“If the university decides to shift back to online learning, I’d be expecting the SU to voice our refusal, as we were all forced to take the vaccine for the sake of us getting back to campus and receiving the education we deserve,” added Safwat.

Elnaghy explains that if Covid-19 infection numbers continue to increase, the university wouldn’t switch to being fully online, but rather a hybrid.

“There is a good percentage of the student body and faculty who actually want to go back to online learning. However, there is no possibility of switching back to being completely online and this is because it will be based upon each department’s decision, in addition to the fact that the government itself is opting for the hybrid option,” stated Elnaghy.

In the meantime, challenges remain. Omar Youssuf, an undeclared freshman, explained that he was frustrated to see how unclean the prayer rooms are, where the carpets are torn up and are not being cleaned regularly.

“I reached out to the SU and they promised to inform the facilities and asked me to keep updating them on the case. I’m not sure if I’m responsible for keeping them updated, but I do know that if it was about a concert, they would’ve given it more attention,” added Youssuf.

Elnaghy explained that the SU has reached out again to the administration and informed them about the cleanliness of the prayer rooms. The administration replied and promised that the hygiene of the prayer rooms will be improved soon and that going forward, the rooms will be monitored regularly.

But Nada Elshennawy, a Computer Engineering senior, is hoping for tangible solutions to what some students see as academically existential challenges. She would like the SU to help improve the course registration process in upcoming semesters, believing that there must be a better registration system that could help students take the courses they want.

“I’m sure that I’m not the only student who suffers from the lack of coordination between the professors in setting the mid-term and final exam schedules. I wish the SU could help us put an end to exam clashes,” Elshennawy added.