Note from the GI: I started this post last week, but never got back to finish it.
See also:
• Old Vandals Association
Wow! This is a stunner.
The University of Ghana has approximately nine dormitories (called "halls") and hostels on campus. Commonwealth (all male--the members of this hall go by the moniker "Vandals.") and Volta (all female) are the most coveted halls by undergraduates. I lived in Commonwealth Hall during the 1997-1998 academic year. There is not, in my opinion, a finer group of young men on the planet than the Vandals. And, yes, everyone knows of the Vandal's reputation for rowdiness. But it is also true that the Vandals were at the lead of any issue concerning students' rights on campus. Living @ Commonwealth and being a Vandal from the Diaspora was one of the greatest experiences of my life. (My only complaint was thus: when I was a resident there, I appealed to the brothers to be more activist-minded about conditions in Ghana, Africa, and the black world generally--in other words I advocated for a more global pan-African vision). I am shocked and dismayed to read of the administration's decision to "convert" Commonwealth to a graduate coed hall. This is, in my opinion, shortsighted.
The real issue are thus: 1) a few individual students have engaged in inappropriate conduct. Commonwealth Hall should not be punished for the actions of a few individuals; 2) the University of Ghana is overcrowded. The administrators need to drastically reduce enrollment. But that would mean less revenue. And with less revenue it will be difficult to build more housing. Moreover, even buildings on campus that were constructed in the late 1990s are in disrepair. There hasn't been sufficient funding allocated for the maintenance of residence halls or any other buildings on campus. All that to say, it seems to me that the administration is seeking a quick fix when more comprehensive plans are needed. Of course, in fairness to the administration, they may have a more comprehensive plan in the works.
I, for one, would be saddened. If the administration goes through with its plans to integrate Commonwealth Hall.
***
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| Commonwealth Hall, University of Ghana |
• Old Vandals Association
Wow! This is a stunner.
I was disappointed to read of the University of Ghana officials' decision to "convert" Commonwealth hall to a coed graduate student dorm. It is hard for me to imagine the University of Ghana without Vandal City, as Commonwealth Hall is affectionately known. You can read more on the planned conversion @ Ghanaweb.
This must not stand! I pray to the Gods and Ancestors that justice will be served on 25 June.
The University of Ghana has approximately nine dormitories (called "halls") and hostels on campus. Commonwealth (all male--the members of this hall go by the moniker "Vandals.") and Volta (all female) are the most coveted halls by undergraduates. I lived in Commonwealth Hall during the 1997-1998 academic year. There is not, in my opinion, a finer group of young men on the planet than the Vandals. And, yes, everyone knows of the Vandal's reputation for rowdiness. But it is also true that the Vandals were at the lead of any issue concerning students' rights on campus. Living @ Commonwealth and being a Vandal from the Diaspora was one of the greatest experiences of my life. (My only complaint was thus: when I was a resident there, I appealed to the brothers to be more activist-minded about conditions in Ghana, Africa, and the black world generally--in other words I advocated for a more global pan-African vision). I am shocked and dismayed to read of the administration's decision to "convert" Commonwealth to a graduate coed hall. This is, in my opinion, shortsighted.
The real issue are thus: 1) a few individual students have engaged in inappropriate conduct. Commonwealth Hall should not be punished for the actions of a few individuals; 2) the University of Ghana is overcrowded. The administrators need to drastically reduce enrollment. But that would mean less revenue. And with less revenue it will be difficult to build more housing. Moreover, even buildings on campus that were constructed in the late 1990s are in disrepair. There hasn't been sufficient funding allocated for the maintenance of residence halls or any other buildings on campus. All that to say, it seems to me that the administration is seeking a quick fix when more comprehensive plans are needed. Of course, in fairness to the administration, they may have a more comprehensive plan in the works.
I, for one, would be saddened. If the administration goes through with its plans to integrate Commonwealth Hall.
***
Update from myjoyonline
The court rules in favor of Vandals!
Court stops Commonwealth Hall conversion
An Accra Fast Track High Court has ordered authorities of the University of Ghana to stop an impending conversion of the all-male Commonwealth Hall, popularly known as the Vandal City, into a mixed graduate hall.
In its ruling on Friday morning, the court said the university failed to establish a good basis for its decision, it also failed to prove that the conversion of the hall will help end indiscipline amongst students of the hall.
According to the school's authorities, the behaviour of residents of the all-male hall over the years has cast a slur on the image of the institute, justifying it with an incident at the last graduation ceremony where it was alleged students from the hall heckled former United Nations Boss and Chancellor of the University, Kofi Annan.
The students, therefore, initiated the court action after the authorities insisted they would go ahead with the conversion.
The court ruled in favour of the Vandals, saying the hall should remain as it was for the 2010/11 academic year.
Meanwhile, counsel for the Commonwealth Hall students, Nana Ato Dadzie, and students of the Commonwealth Hall have applauded the ruling.
Even though the university authorities have started assigning fresh students to the various halls, they have left out the Commonwealth Hall, but a member of the students’ legal team Egbert Faibille says with the latest development, they will go for another court order to compel the university to reassign the freshers.
He reiterated that the ruling restrains the university of Ghana, its executive committee, as well as its Pro-Vice Chancellor, Prof. Kwesi Yankah, from going ahead with any steps towards the conversion.
He criticized the authorities for failing to consult the Old Vandal Association in its decision to convert the hall. However, he said the association is “prepared, willing, ready and able” to assist the university to ensure that the hall “remains the bastion of excellence at the university at whatever levels of study”.
He admonished the students to be disciplined at all times, adding that the true meaning of their ‘vandalism’ is not about “destruction, it is about excellence, going forward within the law to seek your right”.
Mr Faibille hinted: “We have picked signals from the university authorities that they would want the matter to go to full trial. Well, whatever happens, we are ready, as lawyers for the Junior Common Room of the Commonwealth Hall to ensure that the case is prosecuted to the very end for the right thing to be done.”
JCR president of the hall Samuel Larbi has commended the court for the decision, saying “the ruling today is joy to everybody not only Vandals but to the youth of Ghana…that justice still exist”.
He said since there are signals that the university was bent on implementing its decision, they will also “press on” for justice. “What we are saying is that if there must be justice, then there must be complete justice.”
Story by Isaac Essel/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana
tags: ghana, university of ghana, education
Source: Myjoyonline
Image source: Travelblog
The court rules in favor of Vandals!
Court stops Commonwealth Hall conversion
An Accra Fast Track High Court has ordered authorities of the University of Ghana to stop an impending conversion of the all-male Commonwealth Hall, popularly known as the Vandal City, into a mixed graduate hall.
In its ruling on Friday morning, the court said the university failed to establish a good basis for its decision, it also failed to prove that the conversion of the hall will help end indiscipline amongst students of the hall.
According to the school's authorities, the behaviour of residents of the all-male hall over the years has cast a slur on the image of the institute, justifying it with an incident at the last graduation ceremony where it was alleged students from the hall heckled former United Nations Boss and Chancellor of the University, Kofi Annan.
The students, therefore, initiated the court action after the authorities insisted they would go ahead with the conversion.
The court ruled in favour of the Vandals, saying the hall should remain as it was for the 2010/11 academic year.
Meanwhile, counsel for the Commonwealth Hall students, Nana Ato Dadzie, and students of the Commonwealth Hall have applauded the ruling.
Even though the university authorities have started assigning fresh students to the various halls, they have left out the Commonwealth Hall, but a member of the students’ legal team Egbert Faibille says with the latest development, they will go for another court order to compel the university to reassign the freshers.
He reiterated that the ruling restrains the university of Ghana, its executive committee, as well as its Pro-Vice Chancellor, Prof. Kwesi Yankah, from going ahead with any steps towards the conversion.
He criticized the authorities for failing to consult the Old Vandal Association in its decision to convert the hall. However, he said the association is “prepared, willing, ready and able” to assist the university to ensure that the hall “remains the bastion of excellence at the university at whatever levels of study”.
He admonished the students to be disciplined at all times, adding that the true meaning of their ‘vandalism’ is not about “destruction, it is about excellence, going forward within the law to seek your right”.
Mr Faibille hinted: “We have picked signals from the university authorities that they would want the matter to go to full trial. Well, whatever happens, we are ready, as lawyers for the Junior Common Room of the Commonwealth Hall to ensure that the case is prosecuted to the very end for the right thing to be done.”
JCR president of the hall Samuel Larbi has commended the court for the decision, saying “the ruling today is joy to everybody not only Vandals but to the youth of Ghana…that justice still exist”.
He said since there are signals that the university was bent on implementing its decision, they will also “press on” for justice. “What we are saying is that if there must be justice, then there must be complete justice.”
Story by Isaac Essel/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana
tags: ghana, university of ghana, education
Source: Myjoyonline
Image source: Travelblog
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