IPNEWS: The President of the Grand Bassa University (GBU), Dr. Samuel Monwell has vowed to discipline any student involved in the disruption of classes at the institution during the course of their protest.

The GBU President issued the threat after he came under intense pressure from protesting students who were calling for his dismissal. The aggrieved students announced a 72-hour ultimatum for Dr. Monwell to resign or they would resort to unspecified actions.

The action of the students led to the disruption of normal learning and administrative activities at the university. The protest occurred at a time students at the university were writing their midterm examination.

During the protest action executed on Monday, July 18, 2022, the aggrieved students blocked the bridge connecting Buchanan to the main campus of the university to Pensberry.

Dr. Monwell also stands accused by the aggrieved students of engaging into what they term as tactics and gas lighting so as to sweep their concerns about poor learning conditions under the carpet.

Speaking on behalf of the protesting students, Tyrom Gofa Dopoe alleged that Dr. Monwell has failed to improve the nursing department, thus prompting the Liberia Board of Nursing and Midwifery (LBNM) to shut it done.

Dopoe said, “We have come to demand the immediate removal of Monwell as President of our university on grounds that he is damaging the image of our school.”

Doepoe, who read their 15-count resolution, also alleged that Dr. Monwell is bent on collecting fees from students despite public pronouncement by President George Weah about free tuition for all public schools, colleges and universities.

The spokesman of the aggrieved students also accused the GBU President of singlehandedly withdrawing US$30,000.00 from the university’s account under the pretext of purchasing a brand-new bus, only to end up securing a used one that operated for six days and later got grounded.

Dopoe also said, “The bus purchased by the local authority of this government is being used as a private car of Dr. Monwell, while students are struggling to pay L$250 daily to be on the university campus, which is a clear indication of bad leadership.”

But while threatening to take punitive measures as a consequence for their protest, the GBU President claimed that those who were carrying out the protest are not current students but are instead recent graduates of the university. Not stopping there, the embattled GBU President has threatened to revoke the degrees of students who were involved in the protest action.

He then denied claims listed in the petition of the students and bragged that the elevation of the institution to university level represents good administrative skills.

Although Dr. Monwell said the administration is opened to protest, he frowned against the setting up of roadblocks, thereby impeding the movement of other students.

Speaking to reporters, he added, “I do want to encourage all of us, as a community, to be thoughtful about that because that self-hate does bother me in terms of how we go at each other.”

The GBU President disclosed that the university has addressed several complaints and other cardinal issues. Yet, he failed to comment on the alleged withdrawal of US$30,000.00 from the university’s account to purchase a bus for the students. Instead, Dr. Monwell asked reporters to look at the bus under repair that belongs to the university.

As part of their 15-count petition to justify the removal of Dr. Monwell, the students expressed disenchantments about the closure of the College of Health Sciences as indicated in a communication to Dr. Monwell dated June 6, 2022, wherein the Liberian Board for Nursing and Midwifery said for an institution to be accredited and recognized to operate nursing and midwifery school in the country, it must meet 80 percent of the required standards.

Notwithstanding, the Board pointed out that the GBU Nursing Program has met only 69 percent of the standards with 543 verification criteria, thereby being denied accreditation.

According to the communication, schools denied accreditations are to desist from conducting recruitment and indexing of new students. They are also not to allow graduates coming out during a denied period to be eligible to sit the National State Board Exam.

The Board stated that institutions falling in such category are barred from operating Nursing/or Midwifery educational and clinical activities such as capping, oath, honor and graduation.

Dopoe, as spokesman of the students, further spoke of the indefinite closure of some TVET programs, misplacement of staff and the forceful payment of extra fees by students.

For this, the protesting students vowed not to rest until they have Dr. Monwell removed as President of the university, while threatening to embarrass the entire county as long as he remains in office.

However, the protesting students were later asked by the Grand Bassa County Attorney, Randolph Johnson, to calm down, as he told them to refer their petition to the office of the county administration.

Johnson informed the students that the act of preventing their colleagues from learning was not a solution to their problems but to rather meet the county administration for dialogue and subsequently find a way forward.

The petition was later received by the Grand Bassa County Commander of the Liberia National Police (LNP), William Johnson, who promised to deliver it to the relevant authorities.

The County Police Commander then appealed to the students to be peaceful and exercise restraint as they go about their engagement.