-LINSU linked to the disruption normal academic activities
By Naway Gumeh,gumehnaway@gmail.com/ +231775032080
Calm has returned to the United Methodist University (UMU) campus in central Monrovia, after normal classes were disrupted on Wednesday as a result of a students’ protest that disrupted traffic on one of the Liberian capital’s main streets.
The protest was said to be in in reaction to the suspension of five senior students from the UMU.
Liberia National Student Union, (LINSU), the umbrella organization of all students and student organization on Wednesday July 10, 2019 The faith-based United Methodist University (UMU) had earlier issued three suspension letters for five graduating students for “gross misconduct” which will prevent them from graduating in August 2019.
But Liberia National Student Union barricaded the Ashmun street campus of UMU, disrupted normal academic activities and prevented the free flow of traffic on the Ashmun street route demanding that the UMU administration overturned the decision.
“Today, we are here in the very loudest tone that the suspension of our five graduating seniors be lifted,” LINSU President Mohammed Kamara noted.
The student movement further demanded authorities of United Methodist University to unconditionally release results of the just ended student leadership elections.
“Not only to reinstate those students but to unconditionally release results of May 31, 2019 UMU student leadership elections,” LINSU President added.
United Methodist University administration has however, put a halt to the results of the student leadership elections and further banned student politics on campus due to what is said to be malpractices that characterized the electioneering process.
LINSU said the protest was predicated upon UMU administration alleged refusal to give audience to the student movement for dialogue on the issues of contention.
After hours of demonstration on Ashmun Street, Marvin Sackor-Liberia National Police Deputy Inspector General for Operations led between mediation UMU authorities, LINSU as well as the five suspended students.
Minutes before asking protesters to disperse, LINSU President Mohammed Kamara however threatened to hit the streets with series of protests if United Methodist University authorities failed to heed to their demand.
“Any attempt by UMU administration not to heed to our demands in the coming days, not only there will be no graduation, but there will be no normal academic activities on this campus because we believe that our students’ rights have been violated,” the LINSU President warned.
The United Methodist University (UMU) is a private institution of higher learning certified by the Liberian government’s National Commission on Higher Education to grant both Bachelor and Master degrees.