Uni administration wants year to end

DISRUPTIONS to lectures have not swayed University of Technology administration from its resolve to see the academic year through.
The administration and academic board are still of the view that the academic year was still salvageable, given the decision to extend the academic year by two weeks at the end to make up for the lost time.
Vice-chancellor Misty Baloiloi said following Tuesday’s fight on campus between Sepik and Highlands students, normal lectures would remain suspended until the academic board and the standing committee meet today and tomorrow to consider options on the academic year back and completed.
In answer to a petition from Highlands students yesterday, Dr Baloiloi told the students that the academic board and council would deliberate on the issues raised and respond by tomorrow.
In the meantime, he urged the students to use the next few days to “cool off” and prepare for the resumption of classes, hopefully early next week.
He said the administration had invited guest and was facilitating the travels of the provincial administrators of both East Sepik and Chimbu to be on campus in the next few days to assist in bringing the two groups to reconciliation.
The provincial government representatives will meet with the groups to urge them to reconcile.
The reconciliation is headed by the peace and reconciliation committee, under the chairmanship of Insp Noah Joseph of the police community relations unit.
Dr Baloiloi urged the students to cooperate with police and administration to allow for the issues to be addressed and to get the academic year back and completed properly.