March 29, 2012
Saudi student’s election stirs interest back home
(Nancy Van Valkenburg, Standard Examiner) — When Zaynab Alshakhiss won her bid for the Weber State University student Senate, it didn’t draw much attention in Ogden, but when the news hit in Alshakhiss’ native Saudi Arabia, the media mobilized.
Over spring break, more than a dozen print and online newspapers approached Weber State representatives and Alshakhiss for the story of her groundbreaking win as the international student senator for the 2012-13 year.
Alshakhiss is, after all, a woman elected to represent not only female Saudi students at Weber State, but also male Saudi students. She will also represent non-Saudi international students.
Weber State has more than 500 international students.
“It makes it a big deal because I’m a girl,” said Alshakhiss, a 22-year-old computer science major.
“It’s unusual. Most of the time, leadership positions where I am from are for males. It makes it kind of a big thing. Most of the newspapers were actually supportive. They were so excited for the news.” More…
Posted by: psilberman
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