WHILE many seem comfortable with the prevailing physical conditions at the University of Guyana (UG), a bulk of students, led by the UG Student’s Society (UGSS), on Friday evening held a candle-light vigil for what they say is a “dying University.”

The prevailing conditions at the university ignited the flames within the hearts of roughly 200 students who on Monday stood in solidarity with the UGSS to demand respect for their education, from the university’s current administration.
Simultaneously, staff of the institution on the same day embarked upon a “sit-in” whereby they refused to work following what they described as “victimization” by the university’s administration.
The staff members’ reaction came in response to an imposed workload policy by the Vice-Chancellor (VC), Professor Jacob Opadeyi, a refusal to improve their salaries by 68 per cent and refusal to recognise the UG Senior Staff Association (UGSSA) as a body.
As a result, the decision was taken by the unions, the UGSSA and the UG Workers Union (UGWU) to enforce their demands through this form of industrial action.
At the same time, the UGSS had expressed concerns regarding the delay in commencement of the new academic term. The UGSS body also seized the opportunity to make their demands known by standing in solidarity with the staff and demanding that the council and administration “respect their education.”
Monday saw just over 100 students dressed in black, led by UGSS President Joshua Griffith, covering a ‘University of Guyana’ billboard with a black cloth which bore the words: “Respect our education #UGRevolution.”
The student body then made a collective decision to write the VC demanding a meeting of the council by Friday last. This request was respected and as was promised by the VC, the meeting was held subsequent to a protest by the staff outside the Education Lecture Theatre (ELT).
During the highly controversial meeting however, where council members were asked to leave because of the idea that a “conflict of interest” would have arisen, the few hundred united students lit their candles and assembled in front the ELT.
Singing and chanting echoed through the atmosphere as the students, supported by some of the staff, bowed their heads in disappointment at the conditions which made them conclude that the university is dying.