Amir Kabir University Students' Hunger Strike for Bam Earthquake Victims Ends

Yesterday, a large number of students from Amir Kabir University (Polytechnic) in Tehran ended their hunger strike, which they had initiated in opposition to the acceptance of paying students at the university, by donating their meals to the earthquake victims in Bam. Following the university authorities' plans to accept free students, several students established committees under the title 'Committee for the Support of University Credibility' and held a freedom forum in protest against this approach last week, which included the suspension of classes. According to reports, after the university officials insisted on their decision to hold a separate entrance exam for accepting paying students, the committee designated Tuesday afternoon for the hunger strike. The cafeteria officials, aware of the potential for this action, prepared a sealed can of tuna for each person for lunch that day. The striking students, who initially lined up their meals in the university courtyard as in previous strikes, after a few minutes, at the suggestion of a few students, took the cans, packaged them in boxes, and sent them to help the earthquake victims in Bam. According to the Baztab website, an independent entrance exam for accepting free students at Amir Kabir University is scheduled for next Friday (January 1), and some students plan to sit in front of the university to prevent it from taking place, which raises the possibility of conflict.