By Chernor Alimamy Kamara
Fourah Bay College (FBC) is set to investigate a fight that ensued recently on campus between two female students. A video which went viral on social media showed the two exchanging blows in the presence of many onlookers.
Commenting on the issue, Students Union (SU) President of FBC, Alfred Micah Sesay expressed regret for such a happening which he said was the least expected from any student on campus.
He encouraged students to desist from such attitude, saying they are expected to be the “crème de la crème” of society and should always lead by example. He said if students cannot settle their indifferences as educated people, what is expected of the larger society?
He alleged that one of the students is admitted at the school of communication on the campus whilst the other one is a certificate student, but could not pinpoint her department.
FBC Registrar, Brima Bah noted that the issue is with the Disciplinary Committee and they have to investigate and go through several processes before taking a final decision. He said that the two student’s behavior was unacceptable, saying some rules and regulations govern students on campus.
He stated that fighting, quarreling, and public use of abusive language are not tolerated in any public space, so they are not expecting students to behave that way on campus. He said that students are more than sensitized before coming on campus as all of them went through an orientation ceremony where the rules and regulations of the college were communicated to them. He added that lecturers and administrators always engage students on discipline and that above all, they are coming from schools and are expected to know about conduct. He promised that the college would take robust disciplinary action against the two students.
A final-year student from the Faculty of Communications, Media, and Information Studies, Abdulai Fasineh Dumbuya said that it is pathetic to see university students fighting on campus. He stated that much response is expected of the university administration to take a firm step against such “indecent behavior on campus.”
He noted that the viral social media video had people questioning how some students get into university “through illegal means as the event symbolized that there is little or no background check on students.”
Dumbuya explained that the incident had tainted the well-liked image of the college as well as dampened enthusiasm for some parents who might want their children to study a course at FBC. He urged the College administration to take stern measures against the very students who indulged in indecent acts on campus.
“On the whole, everybody is watching the administration on what they will do in response to the incident. Are they going to be tight-lipped over the issue that has caused inconveniences to the public, or are they going to come out to the public and condemn the incident out rightly?” he asked.
Abass Jalloh, a second-year student from the Faculty of Law noted that there is a university regulation that monitors the conduct of students where fighting on campus amounts to rustication and sometimes expulsion. He urged colleague students to comport themselves and to know that they represent the face of their families.
The college prospectus given to students upon gaining admission at FBC states that breaches of college regulations may result in the imposition of fines, loss of privileges, rustication, or expulsion.
The college in a recent press statement indicated they would strictly enforce a dress code befitting their students, an effort which according to the administration was to curb indecent dressing and instill discipline on campus.
Copyright © 2024 Politico (26/02/24)
