For so long, the state run University of Liberia has been plagued with
serious problems dating back to the hay days of Samuel Kayon Doe to
Charles Taylor and the onset of the Ellen led government under Dr.
Al-hassan Conteh
The problems then range from, poor salaries for instructors, constant
disruption of classes as a result of student riots and the incursion of
the UL campus by armed SATU men under Doe
SODs under Taylor and the brief appearance of the ERU’s and PSU’s units under President Sirleaf amongst others.
As a result of this, the UL then faced, the open- closed, open-
closed, open- closed, open- closed and open again scenario, leaving
lecturers to down their tools due to poor incentives.
This Ugly scenario led to students taking to the streets, and those
who put on their brave hats to dare the powers of the armed militants
were severely beaten by the Samuel Doe’s SATU even on the main Campus
where it was reported that women were also raped.
The SODs then referred to as SONS OF THE DEVIL, played their roles
when they also invaded the campus and hardheartedly beat students per
the orders of their political and Military god-fathers.
Then in recent by the PSU’s and ERU’s who intervened in the recent UL
stalemate, and was reported that they unfeelingly jostle students for
siding with their lecturers calling for the resignation Dr. Brownell
who many saw in different ways, some as a transformational leader and
others the worst the UL had ever produced.
These precarious situation on the UL campus scared several student
leaders like Now Foreign minister Augustine N’gafuan, Alphonso Socrate
Nemene amongst others. They fled the country fearing the brutality of
the muscular, dreadful and robot like SODs
Prior to the coming into being of the Taylor’s regime, the UL
experienced several other disturbances from the hands of the Military
coup leader ( Samuel Doe) who militarized the University and made the
students his beating drums whenever they raised concerns on poor
governance of the state and other matters.
Similar situation that engulfed the UL under the Taylor’s regime,
had in recent past shown its ugly face at the UL with faculty
Association Members also laying down their tools in demand of salary
increase and resignation of Dr. Brownell amongst others, which they
succeeded in doing.
The UL has not experienced such an ugly situation like riot by students
and strike by professors and lecturers for a long time now since Dr.
Dennis and his able lieutenants took over the helm of leadership.
The fact remains, that these same professors who earned not more than
one hundred US dollars during the Taylor’s regime are now earning at
least one thousand US dollars or more monthly.
This in the minds of conflict resolution experts and well calculative
individuals is another means of maintaining peace in a conflict
explosive zone, especially the UL that has been a battle ground from
unsatisfied UL staffers.
Dr. James Okoyo, a Kenyan Communication expert said in one of
communication classes at the Radio Waumini Tanning College in Nairobi
Kenya: “You can only have peace, when those who make you happy, are in
return made to keep the smiles on their faces.” He said smiling at the
little class of twelve communicators.
This saying needs to be applied in our professional areas, even after
nine years of studies at Waumini; Dr. Okoyo’s words still remain fresh
in my ears.
As if the well erudite sate men (Dr. Dennis) had been a member of the
class lectured by Dr. Okoyo , many including this writer still thinks
the peace being enjoyed on the UL campus is because the workers are
satisfied, even if there have been some smaller disillusionments.
Dr. Emmett Dennis who is referred to as the “Academic Messiah” has
ensured that the campuses of the UL remain peaceful through engagements
with various student leaders, interaction with the students’ body, and
making upward adjustment in salaries of professors.
This has maintained the peace and stability of the UL which we think must be upheld and the UL team be lauded for.
UL students need to remain peaceful and channel their astringent
grievances through the proper channel for redress instead of getting
involved with lawlessness that will not help their resolve their
problems.
For we believe, that agitation, riots and street demonstrations did not help us in the past and will not help us even now.
Politicians must stop using our students to accomplish their selfish
political agenda, but rather help them achieve their dreams of becoming
national leaders through the non violent approach.
The UL students and lecturers must be hailed for relaxing their
multiple demands that saw the reopening of the state run university, and
we beseech them to continuously dialogue with the Emmett Dennis’
administration when itchy face problems spark off to disrupt the gains
made by the “Academic Messiah” and his co-workers.
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