MONROVIA – The Vice President and Dean of Students Affairs at the University of Liberia, Associate Professor Sekou Konneh, has asserted that the administration is committed to resisting any “gangster paradise” on campus, particularly activities led by the Students Unification Party (SUP).
Mr. Konneh’s statement came in response to a protest by SUP members on the university’s main campus in Monrovia on Wednesday, July 10, 2024. The protesters blocked the road leading to Capitol By-Pass, disrupting traffic, and demanded Mr. Konneh’s immediate resignation or removal by the interim leadership of the university. They accused him of corruption, aligning with former Monrovia City Mayor and CDC Secretary General Jefferson T. Koijee, and infringing on students’ rights.
SUP has threatened to disrupt the final exams for the academic semester, scheduled for Monday, July 15, 2024, if Mr. Konneh remains in his position.
In an interview with The Liberian Investigator, Mr. Konneh recounted recent incidents of violence and misconduct on campus, including a brutal attack on a female student. “A male student nearly stripped a female student in public,” he said. “The Dean of Students’ office is always open to address these matters.”
He also described other incidents involving students cheating, fighting lecturers, and engaging in violent behavior, which he termed as “complete gangster behavior.” He emphasized that his office, in accordance with the UL Student Handbook, had taken stringent actions against those involved in such acts to restore order to the university. “If those protesting are among those punished, I have no regret,” he added.
Mr. Konneh clarified his position regarding the calls for his resignation, stating, “I was not appointed by students to demand my resignation. My appointment was approved by the Board of Trustees; if they see fit, that’s a different matter.”
Regarding the SUP’s threat to disrupt the final exams, Mr. Konneh stated that the group represents only a fraction of the student body. “No one has the power to disrupt the exams, and that’s why we have the Liberia National Police to put mechanisms in place. We’ve informed the government, and they’ve responded appropriately,” he asserted.
Mr. Konneh also addressed allegations of corruption, denying any involvement in collecting students’ graduation fees. “This office has absolutely nothing to do with money,” he said. “Students Affairs regulates activities, but the Business and Finance department handles payments.”
In response to accusations of political alignment with the CDC and Jefferson T. Koijee, Mr. Konneh dismissed these claims as baseless. He urged students to use dialogue to resolve their issues rather than disrupting classes and making unfounded allegations.
On the government’s Tuition Free Policy for UL students, Mr. Konneh expressed support but suggested that a minimum GPA of 2.5 per semester should be required to ensure students value the opportunity. “Anything that is just free is not respected. There should be a standard to ensure students appreciate the benefits,” he noted.
Mr. Konneh also criticized the university administration’s leniency in dealing with unruly students, calling for stricter enforcement of disciplinary actions. “This issue of leniency in decision-making is harming us,” he said.
He reiterated that the suspension of all political activities on campus, instituted in June 2019, remains in effect. “We are identifying students involved in political activities and dealing with them according to the handbook,” he stated. “Due process will be accorded to them, but we must maintain order.”
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