IPNews-Monrovia,Liberia-31 May 2018: The embattled President of the Cuttington University (CU), Rev. Dr. Herman B. Browne, have been indefinitely suspended by the Board of trustees.
The Board Trustees decision comes a day after President George Weah ordered an end to strike action on the Campus of the Cuttington University.
The decision to indefinitely suspend Rev. Dr. Browne, until a full investigation is conducted, follows more than five hours meeting with members of the Faculty Association, the Board of Trustees, including the Ministers of Justice and Education held on Wednesday May 30, 2018, at the main campus of the Cuttington University in Bong County.
“The Board of Trustees is aware of the public outcries and concerns about what going on the University main campus” said Bishop Jonathan B. B. Hart, the CU board chair.
The Board of Trustees wouldn’t explain the concerns that ultimately led them to Wednesday’s decision. Father James Tamba, the dean of the Cuttington University College of Theology, will serve as interim president.
The suspension of Rev. Dr. Browne, follows a long standing rift with the Faculty Association on numerous issues ranging from the lacked of administrative decorum and the making of unilateral decisions, resulting into series of strike actions by Students of the university for a week running leading to the hut of motorist and other vehicles from entering the Suakoko campus.
Minutes after the close door meeting, Justice Minister Cllr. F. Musa Dean and Education Minister Prof. Ansu Sonii, who led the mediation, told reporters the government of Liberia was constrained stepped in to resolve the standoff due to two separate engagements without a solution by the Board of Trustees.
Justice Minister Musa Dean: “We are government and it is the responsibility of the government to ensure that its citizens are at peace with each other. The intervention of the government and the cooperation of the parties have made us to reach a decision.”
The president of the Cuttington University Faculty Association (CUFA), Lepolu Torlon, described the decision of the Board of Trustees as “a victory”, adding, “this is the beginning of Dr. Browne’s departure from the institution.”
“At this time, it is important that the Cuttington University faculty remains focused on our top priority and greatest treasure, which is our students,” Torlon said in a statement. “I think it’s commendable the board had the courage to take action when there were some real mistakes made,” Lepolu Torlon added.
He disclosed that the teachers have agreed after the suspension of Dr. Browne to return into the classes beginning Thursday, May 31, 2018 and final exams will be administered the following week.
The students have been demanding Browne’s resignation on grounds that he has failed to live up to the task since he became president a year ago. They accused Browne, a 1986 graduate of Cuttington, of bad labor practices, poor management and dictatorial leadership. They have been marching across campus carrying placards that read: “Brown must go” and “No school until Dr. Browne resigns.”
The students’ action had resulted to the cancellation of final exams, which was expected to take place last week.
Four months into his tenure, Brown became embroiled in a heated argument with faculty members of the institution over his attempt to unilaterally reorganize the school’s administration. It was only one of many power struggles that eventually spilled into the media through a series of news conferences held by faculty of the university.
When contacted, Dr. Herman Browne, said he was very surprised and disgusted by still repects the decision of the Board of Trustees.
Rev. Dr. Browne: “I’m just digesting the news of today. I cannot speak to faculty’s perception of the board’s decision, as to what they mean. I can simply say I respect the boards decision; my feelings are irrelevant.”
Others in attendance included former Justice Minister, Cllr. Frederick Cherue; LNP Deputy Inspector General for Operations, Robert Budy; and the president of the Cuttington University Alumni Association, Charles B. Allen, Jr.
