MEDIA & SOCIETY Hooliganism At FBC Campus! Is the Administration a Toothless Bull Dog? Posted by on Feb 3, 2010, 01:56

The past week saw a cascade of ugly events breezing the ebb and flow of happenings on the shores of Fourah bay College. Simply put, the widely respected noble institution was littered with motherly invectives and barbarism by individuals who found themselves at Fourah Bay College by accident and claim to be students. This institution, with several things fraying around its edges, many of its ideals are inevitably crumbling and many more virtues are being traded for unwanted vices.

Many observers and our critics held the view that the college’s respect has considerably plummeted whiles some others share the opinion that the mammoth respect it has ratched throughout these years is only waxing and waning. The recent state of ugly events which have darkened the frontiers of our prestigious institution will render any counter-argument untenable if one attempts to conduct a fair assessment of the status quo. Without being judgmental of events, there is much empirical evidence as a leg to stand on with respect to the assertion that the college is navigating on tumultuous seas.

Last year more than 70% of the studentship was disenfranchised because the student Union election was conducted six weeks after the second semester examination. The administration, being part of the joint obnoxious enterprise embraced the illegal regime with euphoria whiles those students who exploited all avenues available to subscribe to the student union fund were robbed off their political rights. Today the consequences of that unhealthy arrangement are visible. Not long ago, a student echoed that the deliberate ploy by both the administration and the then S.U. government to disenfranchise majority of the students will have a devastating impact on not only the general studentship, but even the administration. The truism stashed in that statement has reverberated with members of the current student union government fast becoming notable for igniting trouble rather than effecting progress.

Currently, the so-called student union headquarter (Block J) has become the hub of unhealthy activities. Members of the Student Union government have indulged in the practice of importing prostitutes to the hostels without paying them. This has produced few embarrassing scenes where the poor girls have to shout for their money after serving the so-called ministers. It is very clear that the proceeds realized from the student union fund are being used for hiring prostitutes rather than meeting the needs of students.

Another unhealthy event was also recorded at Block J last Friday, when a group of students, mostly members of the SU government and associates converged to produce one of the most disgraceful episodes of the New Year on campus. This group of students, induced by alcohol and cannabis, were singing and chanting club slogans, in spite of the national ban on club activities. Apart from disregarding the authorities of the college administration, the events also affected students who were busy reading for the forth-coming exams.

An attempt by the dynamic warden of students to disperse them was met with fierce resistance, which led to police intervention. The aftermath of the police raid on the presidential villa in search of these hooligans saw the warden of students being subjected to host of unpleasant attacks ranging from motherly invectives which seems to be the official language of the SU government, to physical attacks on both his office and his house. His window was smashed and the doors were painted with feaces (to be more precise, KAKA). Apart from the warden of students, innocent students were also attacked.

Like any other institution, the college has progressed over the years with panoply of its academic excellence in its bosom while experiencing on the flipside, erosion of its cherished values most of which do not survive the fierce winds of the 21^st century academic environment and demands. The almightiness on which the institution’s nomenclature was built is slowly proving not invincible and the awe which separates this prestigious institution from other quasi-academic institutions has almost departed for the skies.

As I am putting pen on paper to produce this article, nobody has spoken to the studentship about the status of the SU buses, one of which is currently plying the Kalaba town route, sand the other one is nowhere to be seen, whilst students are finding it very difficult to get transportation at model junction. Against this backdrop and out of the desire to address the challenges that the institution is posed with in differing ramifications, I am calling on the administration to stamp its feet of authority to curb this college off hooligans.

The vision of this college must not be left to perish in the oceans of history. It has come a long way to die suddenly. The time to act is now! Because unless we genuinely discuss these things that have separated FBC from civilization, we would never have the required strength to hoist the institution from the social doldrums in which it continues to languish.

From:    A year 2 student,

                Faculty of Arts.

                History and Politics.