MONROVIA, Liberia – The University of Liberia Student Union, ULSU, has condemned in strong terms, the recent violence staged by a group of students at both campuses of the university.

In a statement issued on Oct. 26, ULSU scolded students who were involved in the violent demonstration that led to the disruption of classes and impeded the operations of the university.

The statement, signed by ULSU’s Acting Secretary General, Eriah Gbah, was approved by the Acting President Daniel Woart. They distanced the union from the recent protests for the reinstatement of student Alvin Wesseh. The university expelled Wesseh for allegedly organizing and leading violent campaigns that have disrupted normal activities at the university as well as destroyed properties.

“We frown on the misguided actions of few students who are persistently and consistently engaged in ruthless advocacy to desist as the union is in no support of the manner in which they are handling the expulsion issue,” the statement read. “ULSU distances itself from any act that may have the propensity to defame the unimpeachable and unmatchable integrity and records of the University of Liberia students.”

The ULSU leadership said considering that the university has been closed for an extended period due to the setback of the Ebola crisis, it believes that the expulsion of Wesseh can be resolved in a peaceful manner without any disturbance.

“As we remain vigilant in the vanguard of robust advocacy for our fellow students, we will not tolerate violent posturing, arrogance and false pomposity that tend to create instability and unfavorable learning environment for students at the university,” the ULSU leadership said.

ULSU also asked students of the school to remain calm and continue attending regular classes. It says it was holding discussions to examine Wesseh’s expulsion. The organization said that the University would not close its doors.

Meanwhile, ULSU has invited Wesseh to meet with the leadership as the union was exhausting every effort to probe into his case.

Further, ULSU’s interim leadership in a statement listed several achievements it has made through engagements with the university’s administration and stakeholders.

The leadership among other things revealed that it has generated L$500,000 (US$5,682) towards the construction of a student technological resource center, over L$7 million (US$79,545) to aid the payment of students fees and tuition, the extension in the registration period, and the waiver of the L$42 million (US$477,273) debt it owed the university.

When contacted by The Bush Chicken, Wesseh declined to comment on his expulsion. He said he had no authorization from his legal counsel to speak on the matter.

“I don’t have the authority now to speak on this matter; we will do so later,” he said.

However, a group under the banner of Students Solidarity Action for the Reinstatement of Alvin Wesseh has called on the university’s administration to reinstate Wesseh or grant him due process by giving him fair judgment.

Moses Yamiam, Member of the Students Solidarity Action for the Reinstatement of Alvin Wesseh. Photo: Gbatemah Senah

Moses Yamiam, a member of the group, said on Tuesday that Wesseh’s expulsion was illegal.

“We believe that Alvin Wesseh was illegally expelled,” he said.

He said Wesseh has done no wrong that warrants his expulsion from the university. According to him, Wesseh has over the past advanced advocacies to ease difficulties with student transportation, hike in tuition, and for increased budgetary allotment to the University among others. He said every advocacy effort by Wesseh had been in line with the rules and regulations governing the state-run institution.

“We from the solidarity movement feel that advocating for the improvement of students transportation is no crime that warrants expulsion. We feel that advocating for a decrease in fees and tuition for students at the University of Liberia is no crime, and we also feel that advocating for increments in the budgetary allocations to the university is also not a crime that warrants expulsion. So to come out and say the students activist who has been very vocal in the interest of the students has been expelled is a complete attempt to silence the voice of advocates at the University of Liberia,’” he explained.

Yamiam said that his group will seek a petition with the Faculty Senate of the University to intervene and ensure that Wesseh is accorded justice and reinstated as a student of the university.

“If the Faculty Senate will not address our concerns within an ultimatum that it will be given, we will be left with no option but to take the university to court,” he disclosed.

However, he distanced his group from last week’s violent protest on the campuses of the University. He said the solidarity movement was a new formation that seeks to ensure the reinstatement of the expelled student advocate.

Featured photo of Alvin Wesseh during a protest earlier this year by Jefferson Krua