The University of Liberia, the nation’s most prestigious institute of higher learning, has cancelled all classes and suspended all campus activities until further notice.
Trouble began brewing in mid-November when the university announced that a certain scholarship would be discontinued due to late registrations. Then, in a later press conference, faculty members called for Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA) & Provost, Madam Wade Elliot Brownell, to resign. According to ULFA, the academic standards of the institution had been in sharp decline since Brownell’s tenure.
Two days after the announcement, students began protesting in the streets. Some held up a casket with Madam Brownell’s effigy. Police forces entered the protest to reinstate order.
Alexander Williams, spokesperson for concern student movement of the University of Liberia, said of the mock funeral, “Dr. Brownell was given one intellectual and revolutionary shot by the students that have led to her demise. Her body will be taken far away from the main campus because she cannot be buried on the University of Liberia Campus, because it will cause chaos because even her ghost will not be welcomed here.”
The chaos has left 1,000 expected graduates clueless as to the certainty of attaining their promised degrees.
The University has instructed all students are personnel to stay away from the campus premises, to allow for a full investigation of the recent riots. Some point to the recent tumult as unprecedented and perhaps the most serious spurt of violence in the last five years.
Creative Commons Love: mjmkeating on Flickr.com
Written by Sean Yi