PHOTO: Rep. Blalu (above) Flashback TU students recent protest
By Charles Gbayor, maorethason1997@gmail.com
HARPER, Liberia- In the wake of the ongoing strike action and student protest on the campus of the state owned Tubman University campus, the chairman of the Maryland County Legislative Caucus, Representative Isaac Roland Blalu says the caucus has resolved to intervene in the crisis for the resumption of normal academic activities.
The Karluway district 3# Representative made the disclosure when he addressed Reporters during a visit to the county recently.
Members of the Tubman University faculty association recently staged an indefinite strike action over alleged administrative miss management and other excesses, calling for the replacement of the University’s President, Dr. D. Elloitt Wreh-Wilson immediately before classes resumes.
On February 28, 2022, normal activities at the government’s second University came to a standstill and have been followed by several protest action by students.
Academic activities at a standstill @ TU
Rep. Blalu said that members of the caucus are not pleased with the current situation engulfing the second state-run University in the southeast and will try as much as possible to intervene.
The Maryland County Representative lamented that Tubman University, which supposed to be a ground of quality education provided to students, has become a ground of protest.
“I want to be clear here, what is happening at the University, as a caucus members and chair, we are not pleased. So, we will continue to pursue this in order to have a definite action or resolution because we need not have an institution in the county where every time there is noise or protest,” Rep. Blalu emphasized.
He said the recent disturbances at the TU campus don’t create a suitable learning environment for students.
“Disruption always because of protest at this higher learning environment in the southeast it’s not advisable nor conducive for the students. So, we the caucus will intervene strongly if it’s for Wreh-Wilson to leave or be retained, we will be left with no option but rather to do the right thing for the academic activities on the University campus to continue,” Rep. Blalu said.
When questioned how soon the Legislative Caucus will resolve the crises, he responded, “It’s some of the reasons why I am in the county and communicating with other caucus members”
“Senator J. Gblehbo Brown and I had a meeting to know the nature of the issues and we have noticed that the issues are greater, so we need to step in as Legislators of the county,”, Rep. Blalu told Journalists during an interview.
Speaking to this news outlet, on the University President, Dr. Elliott Wreh-Wilson’s alleged ranting of insults on faculty members and students, Rep. Blalu said, a university president should know how to encourage his people.
If what the faculty and the students are saying is true, the Lawmaker said, then he (Dr. Wreh-Wilson) needs to work on his attitude and build a better working relationship with his co-workers.
Meanwhile the TU President Wilson has denied both the faculty and students’ claim of insulting them.
Rep. Blalu said that constant go-slow presents a negative signal at the state’s second University.
The Maryland Legislative Caucus chairperson said, Tubman University is not only for Marylanders or Liberians. But he said it is universal and open to people from diverse backgrounds to pursue academic studies, saying “So wherein you will have these kinds of problems at the university, it doesn’t look good to the outside world.”
Rep. Blalu noted that if Dr. Wreh-Wilson is found guilty over claims by the faculty and students, he would either leave to have a smooth learning environment, but if the claims against him are false, those faculty members responsible will be asked to take their exit.
Meanwhile, a recent statement published on executive mansion website said that President George Manneh Weah encourages both the University students and Faculty members to returned to classes.
In the statement, the Liberian Leader set up an investigative committee that will investigate alleged administrative and miss management at the University at report in ten working days.