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From KATANGA: A Letter To The Residence Committee Chairman, KNUST

By Edwin Kotey
Opinion From KATANGA: A Letter To The Residence Committee Chairman, KNUST
FEB 19, 2018 LISTEN

As students and affiliates of the University Hall, we greatly express our discontent for the announcement made by the Vice Chancellor, Professor, Kwesi Obiri-Danso, and the Dean of Students at the Students’ Chaplaincy Council (SCC) meeting on the 28th January, 2018. It is the intention of the aforementioned persons to convert the University hall into a mixed hall beginning next academic year.

This forms part of the Vice Chancellor’s directive to increase female enrolment in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) related programs by 40% before 2025, which all well-meaning persons will agree is a very laudable initiative. This will represent an obvious increase in female-student population in the said years and an increase in the general student population. Apparently, there appears the need to meet the directive of the National Council on Tertiary Education to attain “50-50” enrolment with respect to sex.

However, we believe, in implementing this laudable idea, the Vice Chancellor’s approach of converting male halls to mixed halls, in anyway, is not an underlying measure to reaching this goal. It is our candid and humble opinion, that the solution being proposed by the Vice chancellor, does not solve the underlying problem which has confronted and bewildered the administration for years – which is the building of affordable accommodation for students on campus.

We humbly argue that, the best way to increasing the population of females in the university is not by converting male halls to mixed halls, rather, by increasing and providing affordable housing units for equal access to all students, not just for the first year, but till the end of their program as off campus is deemed unsafe for students. This will in no way hamper the already set out statute of halls on campus and also go a long way of providing lasting solution to this conundrum, as done by a sister university, University of Ghana.

We also humbly posit, that care should be taken in order not to deny qualified male candidates the opportunity of having access to tertiary education by means of their gender for the sake of meeting a target. It must be a fair opportunity given to each person, no matter the gender, race, or colour as the constitution of Ghana upholds.

It is also our candid and humble opinion, that by converting the University Hall into a mixed hall, it presents an opportunity to gag students in matters of activism and lawful protests and demonstrations to issues affecting students, which every well-meaning democratic society upholds, so far as it is done within lawful means. It is a known fact, that most, if not all lawful protests, which is a democratic right of students, have been spearheaded by this noble hall. This conversion will contribute to a society where the silent obedient consent of students are indirectly demanded and implemented.

We are a hall of real gentlemen and a united family of brothers who rest not in pushing foreword the belief of KATANGEISM which is mainly is to provide positive dynamism through solidarity for the benefits of all students.

Part of our known initiatives in student activism include: The construction of the Students’ Clinic, the formation of NUGS, the construction of speed rumps and the introduction of one-way traffic system to control over speeding and the introduction of more taxis and shuttles to address transportation challenges on campus, and many more. Our unique and educative hall week celebration dress codes have been used to encourage religious cohesion and the Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education. These are just to mention but a few, on what we as students have been able to achieve for the benefit of all students and not just for ourselves.

Furthermore, quite recently, the Fellow’s Classic (FC) Friday was launched by the students of the hall to address social, political and economic issues. The maiden edition was used to address the increasing suicide rate in the school and nation at large. During this occasion, neatly and gently dressed students were out in the university to carry out this sensitization which went viral on social media, increasing the impact and target audience.

Based on our positive strides made in the history of the school, quite recently, the immediate past Vice Chancellor of the school, Professor W.O. Ellis attributed 78% of his success to Katanga. The hall should then be seen as bedrock and not a burden. In line with our mantra, “the destiny of the University lies in solidarity, positive dynamism and for that matter, KATANGEISM.”

Aside the above, we also have suspicion to believe that the main cause of converting the University Hall to mixed hall is mainly as a result of unfortunate clashes with brothers from another hall. It will be unfair not to address such in our petition and as part of entirely eliminating future occurrence, measures have been put in place by leaders of the respective halls as well as a truce. We are committed to giving KNUST a reputable image and provide an ambience of harmonious living and studying for all on campus.

We bring this situation to your kind attention, hoping for the best way forward in finding an eternal solution to a perennial problem without discrimination to any gender. We trust that your capable office will be able to address this situation.

We are in full support of increasing access to education for females in Ghana and as a hall known for its activism, we will support it in the best way possible, but not at the expense of our identity and tradition, more so, the tradition of that uniquely identifies KNUST as having the best (male) hall in Ghana.

We would much appreciate a response from your noble office, for we trust your devotion for the concern of students. That said, we are open to an invite from your noble office to have a discussion on the best way forward.

Regards,
Students/Alumni,
University Hall.
cc:
The Chancellor, KNUST
University Council, KNUST
Vice- Chancellor, KNUST
Dean of Students, KNUST
Students’ Representative Council, KNUST
Entire Student Body
All Media Houses

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