The Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei told members of the High Council for Cultural Revolution (HCCR) here on Saturday that they should take the necessary measures to prevent the universities from turning into political clubs.

The Leader stressed that he has always advocated the participation of students in political activities and their involvement in issues facing the country. But he warned that the universities are currently turning into political clubs, with various student groups affiliated to different political parties in the country.

The students are expected to watch the performance of the government, pinpoint the flaws and shortcomings in different government organs and point out those inefficiencies to the relevant officials. However, when the students become affiliated to certain political factions and parties in the country, they will naturally refrain from criticizing some blameworthy officials if they belong to their own political party or faction.

Another dangerous point about the turning of universities into political clubs is that certain vested interests may easily sow the seeds of discord among various political groups in universities and pit them against one anther. Thus, the students who are the best supervisor of the government's performance will become engaged in fighting among themselves and will be prevented from supervising the performance and policies of the government.

The student movement in Iran in the post-revolution era has been mainly characterized by its critical attitude toward misguided policies and inefficient officials of any government that took office after the victory of the Islamic Revolution. In other words, the students neither singled out any official for criticism, nor did they condone the faulty policy or performance of any government.

However, following the election of President Khatami in 1997, it seems that the critical attitude of the student movement has been influenced by its factional leanings. This factional approach is indicated by the fact that although some officials in the government of former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani were severely criticized by the student leaders for their weak performance, the same officials who are now holding high positions in the present government do not draw the least criticism from the students.

The students should once again assume their supervisory role and set aside their factional leanings. Otherwise, the universities will be reduced to political clubs affiliated to different political parties in the country.