UNIVERSITY OF SIERRA LEONE

PRESS RELEASE

The public, parents, guardians and sponsors are hereby informed that a number of students at FBC have openly defied the Administration by refusing to vacate the hostels they have been illegally occupying for almost a month, despite several press releases and warnings. At the outset, the administration empathized with the several appeals made by the students to allow them to stay in the hostels during the conduct of examinations. The Students Union President who is a member of the University Court agreed that all the hostels would be vacated immediately after the examinations were concluded.

However, recognizing their refusal to vacate the hostels, several warnings have been issued highlighting their indiscipline and open challenge to the authority of the administration and advising them to leave the hostels. These warnings have been rebuffed through a counter press release issued by the students’ union executive, which at best is confrontational and disrespectful. Their press release also contained an ultimatum which has implications on national security.

The University Court has been working with the University Administration and Government to raise funds to rehabilitate the hostels so that they will be habitable. Many of the hostels are inhabitable largely due to students’ vandalization. The sanitary conditions are also deplorable and pose health hazards to students and the community.

Information reaching the administration has revealed that the illegal occupants are also accommodating females as well as others who have no business with the college. The public will agree that this is an unhealthy situation and cannot be condoned as it has very far reaching implications with respect to safety and health.

Their continuous illegal occupation of the hostels, further delays the commencement of the rehabilitation process.

The University of Sierra Leone hereby announces that all students illegally occupying the hostels at Fourah Bay College and defying the University authority will stand expelled from the University with effect from Thursday, May 10th 2012.

Parents, guardians, sponsors, well wishers and friends are requested to advise the students to leave the premises they are illegally occupying with immediate effect.

Please note that this is the last warning to the students who are resisting the discipline of the University.

Issued this 8th day of May, 2012, for and on behalf of the University of Sierra Leone.

Sign:

Prof Jonas A.S. Redwood-Sawyer

Vice Chancellor and Principal

University of Sierra Leone