Latest update December 23rd, 2024 2:52 AM
The ideology of students at UG or an ideology triggered by or initiated by a visionless administration?
EDITOR,
This is the conclusion of my two-part series (Part One in KN, Oct. 27) of writing about why and how some of the students at the University of Guyana think.
There was, when I arrived, and still there is, no facility on the campus ground for sports, openly neglecting the needs and wants that sports-oriented persons may have. The football field, cricket pitch, and the track that once use to be used for sports were all covered in high grass (until recently).
Basically, the University is implicitly saying that if you’re a student-athlete, the University might not or may not be the best place of interest for you to be at. The footballers settle for a little ‘knock’ on the grass in a corner even though there is a ‘stadium-sized’ football pitch staring them down in the eyes every day – weeded or not.
Of course, they might be tempted to appeal to administration for a facility, but the condition of the field is not a ‘one year ago’ thing, so they have seen the unwillingness of administration to change that and the ‘risk consciousness’ effect takes toll. The ideology then develops “UG doesn’t care, so as long as we have a place to knock, we good.”
There is no consideration to the development aspect of a player or future players. Through this initiative, UG is underdeveloping many talented players and will continue to do so as long as that empty space called a field continues to exist how it is (as a short cut). The saddest thing about this point is the fact that the University has a football team. That seriously made me laugh. Absolutely ridiculousness. The footballers should bow their heads in shame for accepting this, but to me, the administration has been very disrespectful to the students in their care. Let us continue, shall we.
Editor, just over three hundred students (combined) voted in the last student society election on both campuses. This process is needed, as it selects the students’ representation on the institution’s council and aid in policy making that will affect the students.
I am a student at the University’s Turkeyen Campus and we have in total over seven thousand students. Out of that, just over two hundred voted. Basically, what that showed is that the students on the said campus either do not trust the Students’ Society (a fact that can be substantiated), as the participants did not do enough to capture voter attention, another fact that can be backed (especially since the entire faculty of education did not voted). I side with them, even though I voted. Or we can conclude that all the campaigns were poorly managed and executed.
Either way, it shows a lack of interest or care by the students in electing a body that can or may affect their lives on campus. Be aware, rightfully or not so, because many persons cannot accept criticism. There will be a bunch of smart-mouthed responses to this. I have no problem with this, but this is the situation on the ground. Persons have, in most cases, accepted the poor services offered for their money.
Just recently, the man in charge of IT on campus stated that the University was given 85 megs by the government to be distributed to students throughout campus and to be used by the various faculties for administrative purposes. Of that 85 megs, 15 is distributed for the students’ use. He lamented that this presents a very difficult situation for students since at peak times, as many as 1600 students can be logged on to the internet at once, causing problem with the efficiency.
Just imagine 1600 students trying to get on to 15 megs of internet data. Laughable. He went on to state that the University will need about 350 megs of data to be running efficiently and ensure that students will be able to use the internet at all times, anywhere on campus. Total madness, because it then begs the question, what would be the proportion shared between students and staff.
We need better service for our money. More can be done and should be done!
Jafar Gibbons
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