Egyptian college argues over Mubarak posters

From Al Masry al-Youm:

A heated discussion broke out between the dean and vice dean of the University of Alexandria’s Faculty of Engineering over the removal of posters of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak which cover the wall of the dfean’s office.

Vice Dean Hamdi Seif had called for the removal of Mubarak posters from five faculty offices and replacing them with the Egyptian flag. Meanwhile Faculty Dean Adel al-Kurdi refused the proposal, claiming the posters were put up in accordance with official directives.

Seif said since Egypt is embarking on a new era, what he described as “outdated thoughts” must be deposed of. He went on to say that whether or not Mubarak remains in power, posters of presidents should not be hung on walls and that this practice is only found in third world countries with totalitarian governments.

“We spend thousands of pounds each year to renew the president’s posters in all institutions,” said Seif, pointing out that the Engineering Faculty alone had 15 old posters of the president in their warehouses and that replacing one poster costs LE500.

500 Egyptian pounds is about $85.

I wish I had that gig - selling posters of dictators to thousands of institutions that are forced to hang them, changing them every year, and charging inflated prices for them!