The university year started as much politically as academically. Some balances of powers prove their strength, others were weakened while a third category was born. Consequently, March 14 scores a student majority at the USJ. 

Portraits of political leaders, banners, billboards, revolutionary songs, multicolored flags… Traffic jams everywhere… Roads blocked… Unlimited lines of pedestrians and paralyzed cars along Monot Street… all of them were taking the same way and heading to the same campus. Cops standing everywhere and strict securing and traffic measures implemented… No, it was not a national strike but a strongly politicized student action. 

Mobilization at the USJ
Tuesday, November 3rd, the Saint Joseph University opened its gates, all over its campuses, to its students who flowed massively to vote for their representatives in the respective committees. It was the most awaited political but student event of the year. In fact, alumni elections would determine, otherwise, the image of the new political equilibriums within the various Jesuit campuses, for the university year 2009-2010. For several years, the USJ kept its leading status among the other universities in Lebanon. it was always the leader of student demonstrations and movements on whatsoever occasion. Alumni elections showed to be the yearly event awaited by the students and the political leaders as well. 

Balances of powers upside-down
March 14 coalition won, at first, at the northern Lebanon and Zahle campuses, mainly the Faculties of Agronomy and Business. The coalition scored, in fact, consecutive victories in these two campuses during the past few years. As for the Capital, it witnessed a true electoral battle. The Lebanese Forces led the fierce battle of the coalition. 

The long time (campus) stronghold of the Free Patriotic Movement witnessed a significant upheaval in 2009 in the campus of Sciences and Technologies. The Lebanese Forces candidates swapped a big victory against FPM candidates at Faculty of Engineering (ESIB) and won the faculty’s seats for the first time in 18 years. March 14 also won in the Enterprises Management Institute (IGE). However, March 8 coalition scored a victory at the National Institute for Information Communication (INCI). 

From the engineering to the medical branch, the electoral outcome of the diverse faculties was divided between the political groups. At the Medical Sciences campus, March 14 won the Midwife Faculty (ESF), Medical Analysis Laboratory Technicians School (ETLAM), Physotherapy Faculty and Nutrition Faculty, while it lost the Dental Faculty and the Medicine Faculty to March 8.

As for the Human Sciences Campus, it was a electoral surprise as March 14 won the Cinematography Institute (IESAV), the Lebanese Institute for Educators (ILE), the Translators and Interpreters School of Beirut (ETIB) and the Education and Sciences Faculty (FSE). It was an uprising within the campus. However, no elections were held at the Oriental Languages Institute (ILO) by virtue of a USJ administration order. 

Huvelin Campus: the mother of all battles
After rolling over the different USJ campuses, one would remain the core of the electoral process. The Social Sciences Campus is the most populated, active and politicized among all. The results had March 14 coalition triumphed, thanks to the strong basis of the Lebanese Forces, The party led there the “mother” of all battles. The coalition scored a victory at the Faculties of Economy (FSE), Insurance and Political Sciences (INSSA). However, the Business and Management Faculty (FGM) favored March 8 coalition instead. There was no 100% March 14 victory in the campus.

Patience…. Independents had their faculties too
Despite the results favoring March 14 coalition and the rival coalition, however, some important faculties voted for independent candidates. The Faculties of Psychomotricity and Orthophony from the Medical Sciences Campus, and the Faculty of Business and Management and Faculty of Law from the Social Sciences Campus, voted for independents. It was a long-drawn-out and patience process. But, would the final results radically change the political equation in the future? 

The outcome in figures:
North Lebanon Campus : 5-3

Zahle Campus:
Faculty of Agronomy : 9-1
Faculty of Business : 4-2

Beirut Campuses:
Campus of Sciences and Technologies:
ESIB : 9-6
FS : 6-9
INCI : 3-5
IGE : 5-3 and one independent

Campus of Medical Sciences:
Pharmacy : 6-9
Medicine : 6-7-5 independents
Midwife : 7-1
ETLAM : 6-2
Nursing : 6-4
Dental Faculty : 6-5 and 2 independents
Physiotherapy : 4-3 and one independent
Nutrition : 6-2
Social School: 2-2
Psychomotricity : 8 independents
Orthophony : 8 independents 

Campus of Human Sciences :
FLSH : 10-7
IESAV : 5-2
ILE : 8-0
ETIB : 7-3
FSEDU : 6-0
ILO : 0

Campus of Social Sciences:
FSE : 7-6
FDSP : 4-4-3 independents
Insurance : 9-1
Political Sciences: 6-5
FGM: March 8 coalition