UPNG acting chancellor Dr Nicholas Mann

One of the student leaders told Loop PNG: “The only problem with some of us fly-in students is that the admin is removing our boarding privileges and it has affected us big time”.

The student leaders were terminated by the UPNG administration due to their alleged involvement in the May to July student unrest. They took the matter to Court and were allowed to resume classes last month.

The following halls of residence are inaccessible: Toa 1, 2, 3 (senior male students’ dorm); Veari Village (for post-graduate students); Hetura (first year male dorm); Luavi (final year female students’ dorm) and the International Village.

“When students stay in one area, security will be able to monitor them,” acting chancellor Dr Nicholas Mann told Loop PNG.

“But if students stay all over the place, perpetrators and opportunists will come in and mingle with them. That’s why management made the decision to congregate students in one area.”

Dr Mann told Loop PNG that the administration, nor its staff, went around harassing and intimidating the students.

“The biggest enemy in the campus was not the staff or the security forces.

“The peace reconciliation must be between the students themselves; the different groups, the different factions, the pro-boycott and anti-boycott group and the different provinces.

“Students themselves had gone in and harassed lecturers and those attending class.”

The document, dated August 9, advised the students of their permanent exclusion from UPNG due to their involvement in the May to July student unrest.

In a letter to the administration this morning, SRC male vice-president Arthur Amos said the decision was harsh and unfair.

“Student leaders represent the voice of the students, who have given them the mandate,” Amos stated.

“The motives of the student leaders and students were pure and there were no political affiliations or attachments, as alleged by many.”

This was the assurance given today to Loop PNG by UPNG acting chancellor, Professor Nicholas Mann.

His statement was based on reports that students were not permitted to enter the main Waigani campus to hand in their resumption forms last week.

The students revealed that Uniforce guards turned them away at the main gate, advising them to return on August 29 (next Monday).