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| | Statement by University Management Concerning Recent Events Involving Commonwealth Hall |    | | | Following the decision of the Executive Committee of the Academic Board about the future of Commonwealth Hall, there have been a number of reactions from some students, alumni of the Hall and the general public. In view of the fact that some of the sentiments are informed by inaccurate and conflicting messages as well as speculation about the motives behind this decision, the management of the University of Ghana would like to clarify matters to the University Community and to the general public.
At a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Academic Board held on March 15, 2010, a number of issues came up that led the Executive Committee to take certain decisions, including redefining the composition of junior members in Commonwealth Hall. The University Residence Board was then charged with ensuring that steps be taken to implement whatever measures might follow from this review in a smooth and harmonious manner.
At the Residence Board meeting of 29th April, 2010, a five-member sub-committee whose membership include student representatives was set up to pursue this mandate. The Committee is yet to begin meeting and present its report.
However, following the Residence Board meeting, a faction of students have been making public statements, expressing disagreements and objections prematurely. A petition written by the JCR Commonwealth Hall was received in the Vice-Chancellor’s Office on May 4, 2010 indicating among others that students would embark on a peaceful procession to present their concerns to His Excellency the President of the Republic of Ghana. Subsequently the SRC also presented a petition to the Vice-Chancellor on the following morning of May 5th, 2010 who has acknowledged receipt of both petitions and promised to bring the issues raised therein to the attention of the Executive Committee.
Earlier that morning of Wednesday, May 5th, a group of students from Commonwealth Hall descended upon the ‘New N’ Block and disrupted scheduled examinations. They confronted the Chief Invigilator, and carried answer booklets away. The ensuing commotion traumatized the candidates, leading to a late start of the examinations before the mob was later dispersed by the police.
Again, on the next morning of Thursday, 6th May 2010, students from Commonwealth Hall marched through campus to present copies of their petition, addressed to His Excellency the President of the Republic of Ghana. A copy of this petition was presented to the Dean of Students amidst foul and abusive language directed at him.
Later that day the students marched in similar manner to the Convocation Group of Buildings to present a copy of this petition to the Vice-Chancellor, carrying placards which bore insults at specific university authorities, including the Vice-Chancellor. This presentation was aborted simply because the students could not agree to allow their elected representatives to submit the petition on their behalf in a proper and decorous manner, as they had been asked to do.
It is important to note that the students had not sought permission to undertake any of these processions as required by University regulations. Further, the general comportment and demeanour of the demonstrating students in all these instances was threatening and abusive, without due respect for common decency or the normal operations of a university.
University Management wishes to emphasise that the decisions made by the Executive Committee were taken in the overall interest of students, the University as an institution, and the nation at large. These decisions were arrived at after due consideration of several critical issues that have engaged the concern of the University for a long time.
Even though these decisions were precipitated by growing indiscipline in the Hall, made evident by the disruptive behaviour of Commonwealth Hall students on many occasions, the university over the period has been contemplating various interventions necessary to arrest deteriorating conditions within the halls of residence, largely caused by congestion. This had been underscored by the report of the 2007 Visitation Panel, which had indeed recommended the ‘evacuation of the halls particularly Commonwealth Hall’, for rehabilitation. The University’s decision thus implies a programme of action to rehabilitate the Hall, prior to its conversion to a graduate hall, with mixed gender and double occupancy.
The University understands the nostalgic and sentimental feelings of the students and alumni of Commonwealth Hall in opposing the proposed changes. It is important to note that Commonwealth Hall will, by this decision not cease to exist, and neither will it undergo a name change. It is only being restructured and reconstituted in response to changing times and emerging realities in the University, of which the growing female and graduate population are a part. Currently the female population in the 2009/2010 academic year is 41 per cent compared with 9.1% in the 1960/61 academic year. In 1960/1961, graduate students were only 6. Today the University has over 2,800 graduate students.
This indeed is not the first time the University is reconstituting a hall of residence, and neither will it be the last time. In the mid 1990s, it reached the turn of Akuafo Hall and Legon Hall, which were originally male halls, to be converted to halls of mixed gender. Recognising that traditions everywhere are not sacrosanct, the respective halls recognised the changing realities, and changed with the times.
University education is not just about the acquisition of knowledge but also about the development of the whole human being. The University therefore deems it important that members of the academic community even in cases where there are divergent views, exhibit at all times civility and mutual respect, as well as due regard for the rules and regulations that bind everybody.
Meanwhile, the Academic Board at a meeting held on Friday, 7th May, 2010 ratified the Executive Committee decision.
The University would like to assure the community, alumni and the general public that it is taking all steps necessary to secure the safety of all persons and property and to ensure that the ongoing examination exercise, as well as the completion of the second semester of this academic year, will proceed in peace and tranquillity.
J. M. BUDU
REGISTRAR
May 10, 2010 | | | | Date Published: 10/05/2010 | | | |   |
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