University of Ghana
Loading
25th March, 2010
AT CAPE VARS, AND AT LEGON
An event took place at the University of Cape Coast at the weekend which confirms our hope for the future.
The Students Representative Council of the university has accessed credit from a private bank to begin a hostel project to accommodate the hundreds of students who, year after year, are compelled to go through the painful and time-consuming ritual of searching for accommodation off campus, putting them at the mercy of shylock landlords in the municipality.
For every Ghanaian who has followed student activism over the years, this act by the Cape Coast University SRC is almost unbelievable.
The picture of the Ghanaian student, over the years, has been that of a class of young people perpetually at war with university authorities in an endless clamour (mostly alutas) for one facility or another; never what the students could (can) do themselves.
That picture has changed with this singular act of mature reasoning and decision making.
By the initiative of the Cape Vars SRC, the students have sent out a message: that yes, the government is supposed to ensure the development of infrastructure in publicly-owned tertiary institutions; but “when the there is not there” in typical student parlance), the students are now ready to help if they can.”
For students of this university, the maxim is: “Not so much what the state can do for us, but what we can help to do for ourselves and for generations unborn”.
This is responsible leadership in its embryo. The action is a sign of people who are ready to take their bull by the horn.
The authorities of the Cape Coast University must be very proud indeed, that this initiative is coming from their stable.
The economic wisdom that dictated the initiative must be credited, not only to the good business sense of the SRC leadership, but also the practical nature of the tuition available at the university.
As the students graduate into the real world of business, they are ready to face that world.
Bravo and kudos.
This, however, is only one side of the ‘Ghanaian student leadership’ coin.
The other side is the ugly scene that took place at the University of Ghana, Legon, on March 13 when a group of students so misconducted themselves that their behavior has soiled the image of the university beyond repair.
From the narrative presented by the Legon authorities (please, turn to our front page), the shameful behaviour is unprecedented in the annals of congregations at the university.
There is nobody who has gone through any of the universities in Ghana who will not admit to some amount of tomfoolery and even a little bit of mischief. These are allowed because even the most unsmilingly serious book-worm acknowledges that these acts release tension.
It is another thing altogether if tomfoolery is allowed to get so completely out of hand!
For any respectable prominent persons who receive invitation from the university to be guests of honour at any future ceremonies anywhere on the campus, the first thoughts that will run through their minds are considerations for their personal safety and the need to avoid embarrassment.
Enough is enough, we say.
It is time to let students of the university appreciate that impunity is unforgivable in university relations.
The university authorities say they will be coming out soon with the appropriate sanctions. We hope that will be sooner than later.
The Students Representative Council of the university has accessed credit from a private bank to begin a hostel project to accommodate the hundreds of students who, year after year, are compelled to go through the painful and time-consuming ritual of searching for accommodation off campus, putting them at the mercy of shylock landlords in the municipality.
For every Ghanaian who has followed student activism over the years, this act by the Cape Coast University SRC is almost unbelievable.
The picture of the Ghanaian student, over the years, has been that of a class of young people perpetually at war with university authorities in an endless clamour (mostly alutas) for one facility or another; never what the students could (can) do themselves.
That picture has changed with this singular act of mature reasoning and decision making.
By the initiative of the Cape Vars SRC, the students have sent out a message: that yes, the government is supposed to ensure the development of infrastructure in publicly-owned tertiary institutions; but “when the there is not there” in typical student parlance), the students are now ready to help if they can.”
For students of this university, the maxim is: “Not so much what the state can do for us, but what we can help to do for ourselves and for generations unborn”.
This is responsible leadership in its embryo. The action is a sign of people who are ready to take their bull by the horn.
The authorities of the Cape Coast University must be very proud indeed, that this initiative is coming from their stable.
The economic wisdom that dictated the initiative must be credited, not only to the good business sense of the SRC leadership, but also the practical nature of the tuition available at the university.
As the students graduate into the real world of business, they are ready to face that world.
Bravo and kudos.
This, however, is only one side of the ‘Ghanaian student leadership’ coin.
The other side is the ugly scene that took place at the University of Ghana, Legon, on March 13 when a group of students so misconducted themselves that their behavior has soiled the image of the university beyond repair.
From the narrative presented by the Legon authorities (please, turn to our front page), the shameful behaviour is unprecedented in the annals of congregations at the university.
There is nobody who has gone through any of the universities in Ghana who will not admit to some amount of tomfoolery and even a little bit of mischief. These are allowed because even the most unsmilingly serious book-worm acknowledges that these acts release tension.
It is another thing altogether if tomfoolery is allowed to get so completely out of hand!
For any respectable prominent persons who receive invitation from the university to be guests of honour at any future ceremonies anywhere on the campus, the first thoughts that will run through their minds are considerations for their personal safety and the need to avoid embarrassment.
Enough is enough, we say.
It is time to let students of the university appreciate that impunity is unforgivable in university relations.
The university authorities say they will be coming out soon with the appropriate sanctions. We hope that will be sooner than later.
Popular stories from Editorials
