-Promises New Chapter
By P. Clarence Jackson in Bong, Liberia
Photo Credit: Moses Bailey
SUAKOKO, Bong– The President of Cuttington University (CU), Dr. Herman Browne, has promised to include everyone including members of the faculty and students in making decisions that will affect the University.
Dr. Browne was recently re-instated at the weekend by the University’s Board of Trustees following his indefinite suspension last May, after a series of violent protest by students on the campus of Liberia’s oldest faith-based institutions of higher learning operated by the Episcopal Church.
CU Campus in Suakoko, Bong County
He told a gathering during a program on the Cutting University’s main Campus in Suakoko, outside the provincial city of Gbarnga, that the forward march of CU requires the inclusion of all.
Dr. Browne’s suspension was triggered by students and faculty protests over what they call limited electricity supply, delay in salary payment and poor living condition on campus, among many others.
During his reinstatement last Friday, Rev. Browne acknowledged that one of his failures was his ability to communicate effectively with members of the faculty and the students, the importance of some of the decisions and stances he took as administrator.
Also speaking at the reinstatement program, the secretary of the Board of Trustees of the Cuttington University, Benoni Urey assured CU students and members of the faculty that the board is concerned about their issues, but noted that it will require time and finance to effectively address the concerns.
Mr. Urey said Cuttington University currently faces financial challenge to immediately address the concerns of the students and faculty.
CU Board of Trustees secretary Benoni W. Urey
“We are appealing to all of you with to remain on Cuttington, go to school; the instructors will stay on campus and let’s teach our children. We are looking into all your complaints, and we are working on it,” Mr. Urey told students and faculty members.
He said the board has mandated Browne to be more consultative and include everyone in decision making processes that affect the school.
For her part, Bong County Superintendent Esther Walker comended the students, faculty and staff of Cuttington for “exercising maturity” throughout the crisis.
“I want to say thanks to all of you because it would have been very difficult for us to reach thus far without your support”.
“As the Board look into your concerns, let’s put aside everything and make Cuttington University great again,” the Bong Superintendent said.
Bong County superintendent, Esther Walker
Superintendent Walker told the students and some members of the faculty whop at the program that President George Weah was concerned about the situation at Cuttington, considering the university’s long outstanding role in educating Liberians.
Meanwhile, the President of the Cuttington University Faculty Association Lepolu Torlon told www.newspublictrust.com that the faculty will not work with Dr. Browne.
“As far as CUFA is concerned, Browne is still suspended,” Torlon said. “We will not return to the classroom once Browne remains at the helm of power at Cuttington,” Mr. Torlon said.
The CUFA President claimed that the board is not taking the right measures in its effort to resolve the crisis by reinstating Browne without a clear roadmap as to how the several issues raised by the faculty will be addressed.
One of the counts of the faculty is that Dr. Browne be audited for the period he served and finding of the audit be made public.