SUP HANGS ON UL ADMINISTRATION NECK TO FIX ALL CAMPUSES …Threatens Unspecified Actions If

By: Jerromie S. Walters

Capitol Hill, Monrovia: The Vangard Student Unification Party (SUP) has threatened unspecified actions if the Administration of the University of Liberia refuses to adhere to the “fix the University Campaign”.

SUP is one of the leading student’s group at the State-run University (UL). The Students’ Movement launched the campaign following the university’s failure to ensure a comfortable learning environment for its students, an agreement reached between both the administration of the University, its faculty association and the party in October of 2021.

Addressing a news conference early Monday April 4, 2022, SUP Chairman Mustapha M. Kanneh sharply warned that students will not return to regular classes if issues surrounding unconducive learning environment, lack of electricity, Pipe-borne water, modern library, internet service, computer lab, and proper restrooms among others are not adequately addressed.

The group however commit to remain relentless and uncompromising in their quest, and maintained their readiness to resist to consequences the campaign might result to.

“We commit to resist any attempt to reopen the school without carrying out renovation to improve the learning environment to a conducive one. SUP maintains that the university would not afford to resume schooling in an environment that lacks needed facilities and equipment to complement education,” SUP Chair Mustapha M. Kanneh
noted.

The “Fix the University campaign”, as portrayed from its kickstart late 2021, is a radical approach that is centered around the halting of regular classes at the various campuses of the UL. It endeavors to ensure that the University campuses are comfortable for learning.

“As a way of stopping the huge protest action promised by the Student Unification Party and endorsed by the overwhelming student populace, and also part of efforts to end ULFA’s strike actions, the university’s authority entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with SUP and ULFA leadership thus committing to renovate the university’s edifices,“ Kanneh highlighted.

Following mounting calls and concerns about the ridiculous and unhealthy condition of the university campuses late last year, UL President Dr Julius Sawolo Nelson disclosed the availability of an initial commitment of about US$375,000 provided by the government of Liberia, in order to commence renovation works at the university various campuses.

“Thanks to His Excellency, Dr. George Mannah Weah, President of the Republic of Liberia and Visitor of the University of Liberia, an initial commitment of US$375,000 has been committed to commence the first phase of renovation works which is expected to last at least five weeks,” Dr. Nelson announced.

As it stands, the administration of UL is yet to kickstart works as structural looks of the various campuses of the university are still the same, though funding has been made available.

However, SUP described the university administration’s failure to renovate the school’s campuses as disheartening and frustrating, considering the fact that they committed to doing so during the October 1. 2021 memorandum of understanding.

At the same time, the Campus based political party condemned alleged brutality against members of the campus based party which was reportedly masterminded by Monrovia City Mayor Jefferson Koijee during a honoring and home going ceremony held in honor of the late Prof. Dr Amos Sawyer, at the main campus of the a University of Liberia on Thursday, March 31. 2022.

The group alleged that their office was attacked, while several of their colleagues were terribly beaten by an enforcement crew named and styled, ‘Sabu and Zebra Unit’, following mandate from the Mayor, after they were denied from paying tribute at the occasion.

SUP further disclosed consultations with their legal team in filing an official complaint to the Justice Ministry and other legal international groups, in order to have the Thursday’s dispute at the University’s campus properly probed.