Giving 2-Day Ultimatum, But UL Authorities Accept Petition Without Making Promises
By Kelvin Gonlah, gonlahkelvin1995@gmail.com
Normal classes at the University of Liberia (UL) Fendell campus outside Monrovia was today, Wednesday disrupted, as students of the College of Agriculture and Forestry (CAFSA) staged a protest, giving the authorities a two-day ultimatum to address their grievances.
This is the latest in a series of students’ protests at this state-owned university since the current academic semester began weeks ago.
Marching with palm branches and leaves and chanting slogans, the students went from one building to another while some classes were in sessions, disrupting normal academic activities for a brief period, in some cases.
No physical violence was reported and the Agriculture students demanded that UL President DR. Julius Nelson Sarwolo and that his administration immediately allows the University buses to pass through the Project Management Unit (PMU) Campus in Fendell, the provision of more security personnel at the PMU campus and the electrification of the PMU Campus.
The PMU campus farther away from the administrative offices which is closer to the main Kakata highway.
According to the students, latrine facilities are also inadequate and that the UL authorities need to ensure proper placement of their students on the PMU campus.
Reading the petition on behalf of the student, the Secretary General of the College of Agricultural and Forestry Students Association (CAFSA), Mohamed Ibrahim Nyei said the Students of the William R. Tolbert Jr. College of the University of Liberia (UL) have complained and they have written a series of communications to the office of Student Affairs concerning the lack of reliable transportation services for them.
Many of them leave from the University bus pick up point near the Benson Hospital in Paynesville to the PMU campus of the University of Liberia daily.
“This situation has not only affected the transportation of us the students but also affect our ability to attend classes during the rainy and dry seasons whereas, most students get wet and dusty depending on the weather condition of the day and the access to other campus facilities. We believe that this situation does not only affect our learning activities but also contributes to environmental concerns and hinders the overall success of learning activities at the College of Agriculture”, CAFSA Secretary General asserted.
He added: “Furthermore, we have observed that the inadequate electricity supply and security on campus poses a threat to the safety and well-being of all students of the PMU campus. The absence of proper latrine facilities is a violation of our basic human rights and a hindrance to our overall health and sanitation. Therefore, we urged the UL Administration with immediate effect to solve or handle the situations surrounding electricity, security, and latrines at the PMU campus, or else expect an unspecified action by us, in the coming days.”
The protesting Agriculture students, who were carrying banner with an inscription, “Please Pay Attention To PMU”, added that their attention has been drawn to the fact that Freshman and Sophomore students are being placed far away from the PMU campus of the University of Liberia to the Science College and the Academic Building commonly known as the AB-Building, thus making their students not be acquainted with the limited facilities available on the PMU campus. Because of this, students are getting less involved in activities carried out by the college student leadership.
“We also request that the University administration takes into consideration the addition of the department of aquaculture to the College of Agriculture. The field of aquaculture is of immense importance in today’s world, and the addition of this department will provide students with a unique opportunity to study and research in this field; will also help to keep the Agriculture College of the University of Liberia on par with current trends in the field of Agriculture.
Last year, a team of UL Journalism students did an investigative report in which Agriculture College students complained of not being able to practicalize the theory they were learning in class. UL Agriculture College Students Longing For An Active Farming Program – News Public Trust
“We strongly urge the University Administration to take immediate action to address pressing issues and to prioritize the needs and well-being of the College of Agriculture. We the students of the College of Agriculture, deserve to have a safe, secure, and comfortable learning environment and we demand that the university administration take immediate steps to provide us with such an environment”, CAFSA SG lamented.
UL accepts petition but makes no promises
Accepting the petition on behalf of the University of Liberia (UL), Cecelia T. Reeves, the UL Counsellor said that the students are the nation’s builders when everybody should have grown old, the responsibility will be in their hands.
She added that the students are important and to in the future come, they will be responsible to move the country forward.
“The key to moving this country forward is to work in harmony peacefully with education, however, in times of peace, there can be obstacles, there can be problems, but we come together as educators, and we know we can resolve them. I will get back to the vice president with this petition and your words have been heard,” Cllr. Reeves informed the petitioners.
Cllr. Cecelia added that the petitioners have given the University of Liberia 2 days which she said is not in compliance with their working days.
She stated that it’s obvious that Sunday is not a working day, but she will accept the petition and hand-deliver it to the Vice President of the University of Liberia.