58 days ago four courageous Tunisian student committed themselves to a hunger strike whose symbolism extended beyond that of the university, but was and is a statement about the heightened degree of repression in Ben Ali’s Tunisia. A fifth student joined them two days in.

The five students - Ali Bouzouzeya, Taoufik Louati, Aymen Jaabiri, Mohamed Boualleg, and Mohamed Soudani - were protesting their academic expulsion for their activism in the Tunisian Students’ Union (UGET). The Education Ministry stated that the students had engaged in illegal and violent activity; including blocking classrooms and kidnapping a dean. This accusation has not been independently corroborated [nor dis-proven] and the UGET issued the following statement, “Their only crime is to have acted as elected student representatives.” The UGET went on denounce what it called “illegal disciplinary councils,” the Education Ministry states the councils are perfectly legal.

Whether these students acted in accordance with the law in registering their frustrations is unclear, but what is indisputable is that Tunisians of all stripes are denied mediums to advocate change. Even those Tunisians who preach secularism are subdued for the Ben Ali is opposed not just to Islamist rivals, but all opponents.

The campus scene is Tunisia is despairingly moribund. The excitement of the Nasser days is far removed from today’s students. And that suits the ruling elite just fine. While one should always be cautious in making predictions, the February 11th, 2009 Hunger Strike may be the start of a student awakening.

On March 26, 158 Tunisians went on a solidarity hunger strike [organized via Facebook] and the secret police had to stand guard at the UGET premise to prevent sympathizers from reaching out to the five students aged between 23 to 27.

With the exception of the exceptional, in an objective sense, few sons and daughters of the elite with secured jobs upon graduation; Tunisian students are frustrated. Half of all college graduates do not find work within a year of graduation. A Tunisian student once told me how students often feel aimless going to college, because they know that no matter the effort and time put in the jobs market does not hold much promise.

The Ben Ali regime could create a stronger economy, but the privatization of state firms has been uncompetitive and based on a policy of nepotism.

Many great movements have been started by students, Moldovan students offer a live illustration. Although I remain doubtful that there will be a Tunisian student revolt, frustrations with unemployment are reaching a boiling point.

As for the five young men, their health has deteriorated so much that upon the advice of a doctor they have suspended their hunger strike. The Ben Ali regime can breath easy for now; it would have been a great PR disaster and a tragedy if the students had starved.

I hope that their anguish would not have been in vain.