PHOTO: Solo Otto Gaye, TU’s Spokesman
By Charles Gbayor, maorethason1997@gmail.com
HARPER, Liberia- The second state owned institution of higher learning in Liberia’s southeastern Maryland County, William V.S. Tubman University has come under criticisms in some quarters for allegedly endorsing a particular candidate in the December 8 Senatorial election, but TU authority has dismissed the claims.
The TU Communication Director, Solo Otto Gaye has said the institution is independent and that its doors are opened to accept any candidate wanting to promote and share their Political Manifesto with the students.
He said once such schedule is made, all candidates are free to use the institution’s facilities.
He said aspirants are to seek permission from the office (Public Relation Office of William V. S. Tubman University) before giving appointed time to go on the air to address the students.
Mr. Gaye lamented that it is only rumours that TU is Supporting the Coalition for Democratic Change Candidate And Secretary General James Popee Biney in the Upcoming special Senatorial Election to be held on December 8, 2020, describing such information “false and misleading”.
“If People are supporting Candidate James Biney or Senator H Dan Moria’s is been done on a individual basis, Tubman University is an education Institution not Political ,we are not supporting anyone,” the TU Spokesman said.
He also clarified that battle cry is not allowed during school hours.
TU has some student political parties (SUA and CSMTU) on the campuses, many of whom gather in large numbers given out battle cries for different political groups, which often disrupts the learning process.
But the institution’s PRO sais this will not be allowed.
He said the Department of Public Relations of the University will work with any Senatorial aspirants/candidates to make them aware of this.
The TU spokesman’s clarification comes a week after it was speculated on the Social Media including Facebook, that the University was fully supporting the candidacy of James Biney.