By: Melvin Flomo
The University of Liberia President, Dr. Layli Maparyan, has strongly condemned violent actions carried out by members of the Student Unification Party (SUP) against Vice President for Student Affairs, Professor Sekou Konneh, and staff on the Fendall campus.
In a stern statement issued Monday, Dr. Maparyan described the acts of aggression, destruction, and intimidation as "unacceptable and punishable" under both the University’s regulations and Liberian law. He warned that students found guilty of bringing weapons such as knives and sticks onto campus will face immediate expulsion without prior warning, noting that such acts breach the student code of conduct.
“If reports prove to be true through legitimate investigation, you will be expelled from the University of Liberia,” Dr. Maparyan emphasized, adding that students were reminded about this policy at a recent town hall meeting.
According to the University President, the disruptions to academic activities on both the Fendall and Capitol Hill campuses, driven by fear and intimidation, were not only unjustified but a violation of the University's mission of education, not politics.
Dr. Maparyan acknowledged previous protests by SUP members outside his Capitol Hill office, where they alleged due process violations by the Office of Student Affairs concerning suspension letters. While affirming students' rights to raise concerns, he criticized the group's escalation into violence, citing physical assaults on staff, threats against VP Konneh, and the circulation of a “Wanted” poster on social media.
“Today's attack shows you are not interested in dialogue or problem-solving, but rather theatrics of so-called revolutionary action,” he said, quoting revolutionary leader Che Guevara’s call for revolutionaries to be "guided by great feelings of love" rather than violence.
She stressed the importance of proportionality in responding to grievances and urged members of SUP committed to peaceful change to stand firm and dissuade their peers from violent behavior.
“The University of Liberia is committed to building a better institution," Dr. Maparyan concluded. "The question is, who among you will actually help bring it about?"
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