From Ms G. Tanti

Please allow me to express my utter disgust at the shameful behaviour of a number of rowdy students during the debate between the four leaders of the parties contesting the general election, which was held in the Sir Temi Zammit Hall at the University of Malta and organised by Insite, the students’ newspaper.

It was impossible to follow the debate. Students shouted and booed whenever Dr Sant spoke, drowning him out. Worse than that, and incredibly, they actually jeered when the Labour leader mentioned his personal experience of cancer. And while they never allowed Dr Sant to answer a question because they kept on interrupting him, they were respectfully silent every time Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi spoke, mainly to answer the questions put to Dr Sant.

In addition, the ushers, who were supposedly there to keep order, did nothing to stop the booing, shouting and general unruly behaviour of the pro-Gonzi crowd. But when students got up to clap for Dr Sant in an orderly manner, they were asked to sit down. I obviously obeyed but was disappointed that no one said anything to the other students who turned the debate into a noisy Nationalist Party meeting.

I was also very disappointed when KSU president David Herrera, who is supposed to represent all students, spoke in a very biased way. He said that he could not guarantee that Dr Sant would not reduce stipends; however he had never bothered to comment when Dr Gonzi’s government reduced the stipends in 2005. Furthermore, when the leaders were given a minute each to conclude, students started chanting “Gonzi, Gonzi,” upping the volume when Dr Sant tried to speak, and finally drowned out his voice altogether with a “countdown”.

Disgust was expressed not only by Labour Party supporters but also by other decent, well-mannered people who had attended to hear what the parties had to say. Some students were so disgusted that they left the hall early. Dr Sant even had to leave by the backdoor as a precaution. I never expected students who claim to be democratic and open minded to be so intolerant of and hostile towards people who have different opinions.

Graziella Tanti

(LLD 1st Year)

RABAT