New Chairman of the Student Union at Kiryat Ono: Rachamim Hayon

After an exhausting and emotional election, The new Chairman of the Student Union at Ono Academic College's two branches- in Jerusalem and in Ohr Yehuda was elected today (Monday).

Rachamim Hayon, a student of Business Administration from the branch in Jerusalem, and the former chauffeur of Rabbi Shlomo Benizri, swept students to victory.

Five people signed up for the prized position: Rachamim Hayon, Yair David Warshavsky, Ruth Elbaz, Menachem Zaida and Eliyahu Harar. The last two only received a few votes (4 and 1 respectively).

Out of 506 votes, Hayon swept 300, leaving dust for his opponents; Warshavsky (with 117 votes) and Elbaz (with 85 votes). In the Jerusalem branch alone gaps were much larger: 159 of 164 men voted for Hayon, and 66 out of 70 women.
In an interview with B'Chadrei Charedim Hayon speaks about the struggle, his feelings and objectives.

• What does the actual role entail beyond the status?

"Chairman of the Association is actually the teeth of the students opposite the campus, a single student who comes in front of the board has almost no one to talk to, and the role of the chairman is to represent everyone on every issue, especially on issues that belong to everyone, such as increases in prices or anything internal.
"In addition, we help students when they go out for apprenticeship. There are many law students or accountants who we find them student jobs and internship in various offices which are adaptable to their studies. Another thing the chairman is responsible for is social formation, through various activities for students, evening formations, Shabbos unions and so forth."

• Are you planning a change or any dramatic move?

"No dramatic change at this point, in any case we still have 18 days of school which I will be overlapping with the previous chairman of the Association."

• How do you explain the landslide victory? Were you expecting that?

" The boys and girls - especially in the Jerusalem branch – united completely to support me; I thank everyone for the determination and support. Special thanks go to my friends who helped me in the elections."

Hayon notes that the election is 'historic' in terms of the campus: "This is the first time a student of Business Administration takes the role and not a jurist, and the first time a candidate was selected from the Jerusalem branch and not from Ohr Yehuda."

• An appeal has been presented on the outcome of the election, are you worried about?

"There is an appeal filed by one of the contestants trying to eliminate the election through the court. I'm not afraid of that, because I am convinced that everything took place in the most democratic way, and as is customary and necessary. Some people find it difficult to lose and you cannot change that apparently."

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!