The Federation Dominican of Students (FED) returns to the polls on October 18 to choose its new presidentseven years after the last elections. Although their statutes They establish that they must be biannual, this contest was delayed four years; a lack that guild He attributes it to the COVID-19 pandemic and the virtuality of teaching.
The FED is a guild student founded in 1961, whose foundations were laid at the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD). Although it represents all university students of the country, its functions are limited to the Primacy of America.
It started as a movement student powerful and unified in the Republic Dominicanemerging as a crucial voice in the defense of the rights of students and exerting influence on affairs politicians and social of the country.
At his peak, he led important protests and made significant progress in improving educational conditions. However, over time, the organization faced a decline marked by internal divisions, accusations of corruption and politicization, which eroded his credibility and diminished his impact and relevance as a representative of the student body.
Your current president is Yimmi Shoewho recently graduated in Psychology, and has presided over the FED for seven years, of which he spent a year and a half in prison, accused of falsifying documents.
The candidates
For their upcoming elections, 11 students They seek the favor of the vote of the approximately 182,000 enrolled in the UASD, since the only requirement is to be an active student.
The candidates are: Yoel Jiménez, from Student Vanguard Dominican (VED); Pedro Martínez, alias Fonsy, for the Social Democratic Student Front (FESD); Estalin Quezada, for the Flavio Suero Student Front (Feflas); and Edison Padilla, for the Student Liberation Front (FEL) and the Independent Student Group (GEI).
Also, Estefanía de la Cruz, alias Tefa, for the Youth Force Dominican (FJD); Eliana Tineo, from the Student Meeting Point (PE); Robmariel Berroa, from Dominican Student Renacer (RED); Samuel Mojica, from the Popular Revolutionary Student Front (FERP); Carluis Álvarez, from the Amín Abel Student Liberation Front (Felabel); Luisandel Espinal, from the Advanced Student Current (CREA); and Carlos Fitch, from the Independent Student Liberation Movement (MIEL 19).
In the electionsin addition to the president of the federationthe 13 members of the Executive Committee are chosen, who are representatives of the groups students who obtained higher vote. The representation is also chosen student in the different organizations that form the co-government of the UASD such as the University Council and the Senate.
Your current role
This guild is in charge of looking after the students university students at the national level, and its functions range from managing the resolution of issues studentssuch as the lack of sessions, classrooms and teachers, to completing the improvement of areas on campus.
Stalin Martínez, Secretary of Press and Propaganda of the FED, points out that the guild also provides advice to students in subjects where they perform poorly.
Shoe adds: “The federation of students Dominicans represents a great importance since, through this, we can help thousands of young people who seek to get ahead, with their development personal and political, in the case of young people who can occupy a position in this guild student“.
He budget The FED consists of a voluntary contribution by students of approximately 50 pesos per student, which is paid semiannually to the university, which administers said funds.
The political influence
As with others guildsthe matches politicians influence these electionssince they have representation in most groups studentsso the elected candidate would be his delegate in the federation. However, some associations of students They allow “plurality” in political preferences, says Martínez.
For example, the ruling Modern Revolutionary Party supports the FESD, the People’s Force supports the VED, the Communist Party of Labor supports Feflas, the Social Christian Reformist Party supports the GEI, the Force of the Revolution supports the FJD and the Dominican Popular Movement supports Felabel. .
“The matches they dispute the federationlike others guildsthat is something historic. The groups students They are in front of the matches and the federation It is a power that moves masses,” explains the Press Secretary.
While Shoe indicates that the majority of members of matches politicians support the candidates determined because they are aware of what the federationHowever, they do not have a political participation in it.
The scandal of its current president
Shoe He began his mandate in 2017, after the departure of Ambiorix Rosario, known as “the eternal UASD student”, for taking 20 years to complete his medical degree. He was elected in elections chaotic events that culminated in the death of a person.
Shoewho is a member of the FESD, graduated on August 15, 2024. But his presidency has not been completely smooth. He was arrested in 2018, accused of using false documents, for a scam involving 19 students of the UASD who paid to participate in a United Nations (UN) activity in New York, and were later deported due to irregular documentation. He was released a year later, after being discharged by the Court of Appeal.
Among the achievements of his management quote the donation of tablets by the government so that students access virtual classes, in addition to the construction of a new building for the federation and the donation of more than 60 buses for associations studentsso that students belonging to these could Travel to the university.
Candidate proposals
The proposals of the candidates They explore different aspects. In the case of Estalin Quezada, Feflas candidate, he seeks to make the card important studentwhich is required to enter the university, to prevent outsiders from entering and attacking students.
Also that institutional links be carried out so that benefits are provided to students in libraries and transportation. In addition, recover sports spaces, improve laboratories and classrooms, and hire more teachers so that there is more availability of sections.
While Yoel Jiménez, candidate of the VED group, states that he will fight so that all students have the same payment category, they are given a higher importance to teacher evaluation, and improve the conditions of common areas such as the dining room and the library.
It also indicates that it will ensure that the students have access to scholarships and jobs, and have government organizations support them. Proposes aid programs studentbeach cleaning days and environmental protection activities.
For his part, Luisandael Espinal proposes scheduling subjects by block so that there are subjects at all times, and to prevent students from students They must wait long days to receive their next subject. It also proposes a change in the teaching periods, so that instead of semester it becomes quarterly, as in other universities in the country.
