Published: February 25, 2025
MONROVIA – The campus-based Student Unification Party (SUP) has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the administration of the University of Liberia (UL) to resolve ongoing student challenges, including the absence of the “Add & Drop” button on the e-portal platform, as well as inadequate chairs and buses.
On Monday, February 24, 2025, SUP members staged simultaneous protests on the Capitol Hill and Fendell campuses, demanding immediate action from the administration. Their demonstration disrupted normal academic activities, prompting students and lecturers to vacate classrooms. The Liberia National Police (LNP) intervened swiftly to restore order.
System Vulnerability and E-Portal Issues
Boima J. Passewe, SUP’s Assistant Secretary-General for the Bureau of Propaganda and Research, told reporters at the Fendell campus that IT vulnerabilities have compromised UL’s e-portal system, preventing the display of the “Add & Drop” button.
“The infiltration of the system is affecting over 20,000 students seeking tertiary education at UL. This is a major issue that the administration must urgently address,” Passewe stated.
He urged the UL administration to strengthen its cybersecurity measures to prevent further disruptions that remove students’ planned courses from the system.
“The Student Unification Party is tired of this situation. Students continue to experience these setbacks, and today we are here to inform the administration that their failure to act is an infringement on our right to education. We will continue demonstrating until they take the necessary steps,” SUP declared.
The students also questioned the practicality of UL’s recommendation for those facing e-portal issues to report to the enrollment office. They argued that, with over 22,000 students, such a measure is unrealistic.
Concerns Over Student Transportation
Addressing the issue of transportation, SUP Secretary-General Odecious Mulbah criticized the administration for failing to provide sufficient buses, particularly for students on the Fendell campus.
“The issue of student buses remains a significant challenge. Some days, buses are available; other days, they are nowhere to be found,” Mulbah lamented.
He explained that the lack of reliable transportation forces many students to arrive late, causing them to miss quizzes, assignments, midterms, and final exams.
Threat to Resist Midterm Exams
SUP has warned the UL administration that failure to address these concerns will lead to resistance against the upcoming midterm exams, scheduled for March 17, 2025.
“We cannot sit idly by and allow midterms to proceed while these pressing issues remain unresolved,” Mulbah emphasized.
With midterms fast approaching, many students are still unable to finalize their course selections due to e-portal issues.
“If these conditions are not met, we cannot guarantee the smooth conduct of midterms,” he warned.
According to SUP, multiple communications have been sent to the UL administration regarding these issues, but no action has been taken.
Allegations of Political Interference
Additionally, SUP accused the UL administration of politicizing student affairs and vowed to resist any political interference in academic matters.
“We will not tolerate any form of political interference. When we raise concerns affecting the children of market vendors and ordinary citizens, the administration must address them instead of engaging in political distractions,” Mulbah asserted.
SUP assured students that it will not relent until tangible actions are taken to resolve these pressing concerns.
“What affects the students also affects the Vanguard Student Unification Party,” Mulbah stated. “We have written to the administration countless times regarding the ‘Add & Drop’ issue, the lack of chairs, and the inadequate transportation system on the Fendell campus, yet no concrete action has been taken.”
He condemned the administration’s reactive approach to student grievances, calling it an affront to students’ rights.
“We are not moved by mere words; we demand action. If the administration fails to initiate immediate steps to resolve these concerns, we will take decisive action,” Mulbah concluded.
Meanwhile, efforts to contact UL Vice President for Public Affairs, Mr. Norris Tweah, for a response were unsuccessful, as his mobile phone was switched off.
Discussion about this post