BaretNews talked to a university official
on the issue of university student delinquency and he had the following to say....Read
on
BaretaNews: Who is Che Eugene?
UB Official: Well, I work
as the Guidance Counselor of the Faculty of Social and Management Sciences in
the University of Buea. As you well know, it's one of the biggest Faculties in
terms of programmes and student numbers. Some students have referred to it as
the biggest ship on land.
BaretaNews: Have you
heard about the Buea girl who allegedly drugged a certain bushfaller while
stealing from him?
UB Official: Well, I
learnt, just like everyone else did through viral audio and video posts on
social media about the sad incident of a girl busted for allegedly drugging and
trying to extort money from her boyfriend, after they had philandered at the
hotel. Well, it's true that everyone quickly attributed it to UB girls -
whatever that means. Anyone can, actually, as long as they live in Buea, claim
to be from UB. I know lots of friends whose FB profiles show very interesting
organisations where they work, albeit the fact that some have never as much as
owned a CV. Well, not to say that the concerned girl might not have been from
UB, but to say that UB is the place to be, with every effort directed towards
grooming intellectuals of the heart and head, and where such behaviour is not
welcome.
BaretaNews: It is alleged that UB girls have contacts in most
hotels, any truth in it
UB Official: Well, about
UB girls having ready contacts in hotels, I cannot independently verify at the
moment. But as I mentioned earlier, a student residential area like Molyko can
be a melting pot for so many things. You've heard about religious fanatism
around here, cultism, philandering, you name it. It would seem like students
find new freedom away from their parents to indulge in despicable things. Then
out of sight becomes out of control. Today, a parent was visibly dejected to
learn that there was a first semester break for almost three weeks, and her
daughter never bothered to return home just in nearby Douala. Rather, she had
been asking for more pocket allowance. And behold when we checked into her
results, she had passed in only five out of the twenty one courses she had
registered for in the past two years. Is that who you refer to as a UB student?
I guess no.
BaretaNews: What is UB doing to put some morals into her
students?
UB Official: In relation
to UB'S work towards moralizing the students, we're doing our best, albeit the
fact that we can't do very much. Most students enroll here with an already
formed character. Secondly, they're frenzied by new found freedom, peer
pressure, a new environment, you name it. Someone once said you cannot turn a
pope into an Imam overnight. The University organizes induction and orientation
sessions for students every year. But this only has an impact for those who
have ears.
BaretaNews: The university is supposed to protect her students,
do they have any insurance policies? What have the student affairs done in
light with the student being arrested. Has the University tried to identify the
student if she is truly a UB student
UB Official: I guess it's beyond my scope. Reason being that
they are more within the scope of central administration, and I really wouldn't
have information even if there was a meeting to that effect.
BaretaNews: What is the University doing to clear her
name
UB Official: Well, clearly, the University of Buea dissociates
itself from anyone, be it student or not, whose actions are such that will
jeopardise the image of this beautiful university. Of course as students, you
have rights, but also duties and responsibilities. One of the responsibilities
is to behave responsibly. You may want to know that when the said incident was
being reported, the University of Buea was on Easter break. Students were
supposed to be on break, and observing the festivities of Easter. If a student
decides to leave his or her place of sojourn for the break, and get involved in
extra - student activities, it is but normal that they cannot be under the
cover of the good will of the University. Students are therefore hereby
cautioned to act responsibly. I used to tell my students that the same UB whose
name you're destroying could well be the same UB where you could be called to
lead as Dean, HOD or vice chancellor tomorrow. I take myself as a glaring
example. I left UB in 2008, and just 3 years after in 2011, I came back to work
there. What if I had vomited on the road? I would have come back to clean it
sooner, if at all.
BaretaNews: Thank you for talking to BaretaNews
UB Official: It was a pleasure. Thank you for your concern
about our work as stakeholders in combating student juvenile behaviour.
Hopefully, together, we will be able to go a notch higher. Thanks indeed!
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