Dear Editor,
As a law student of the University of Guyana (UG), my colleagues and I were greeted with some devastating news recently. Our head of department informed us that he has tendered his resignation after a short but impactful period. Amidst our shock we pleaded with him to reconsider, or at the very least explain to the student body why he intends to depart.
He obliged with the latter request and met with us, the students, to outline his reasons for walking away. Among those reasons, he indicated that several proposals were made to UG’s administration on ways in which the Department of Law, its curriculum and general operations could be improved. Many of these proposals, according to the head of department, were rejected.
He also intimated that there was a lack of respect for him shown by his colleagues, department staff and other personnel. Most students were appalled at these alleged actions. However, being unbiased is a practice of any law student so the student populace implored the University of Guyana Law Society (UGLS) executive to write the Vice-Chancellor (VC) asking for clarification of the matter.
It has been almost two weeks since that letter was sent and to date there has been no response.
I have several qualms about the administration’s silence. Are we, the students, to assume that this matter is not of importance to them?
Are we to believe that our head of department is being allowed to leave because he does not fit the proposed route that the university intends to take? I do not think that the VC would let us simmer in conjecture and rumours while they do nothing to address our concerns. Our head of department was an advocate for the students before he held that post, and he has amplified his advocacy skills since leading the department. We the law students, refuse to let him go before we know the truth behind his resignation.
I, for one, am willing to fight for him to remain because I fear that when he goes, so will our rights and liberties as students. We have had a tumultuous journey thus far and I would absolutely hate if our struggles were in vain because our head of department was too progressive for the liking of the administration.
If the Vice-Chancellor happens to see this letter, I hope he responds to the queries of the students.
Yours faithfully,
Patrice Wishart
Law student