The Academic "Messiah" of Our Time 

Fri

Daoda Carlon

       Friday, December 11, 2009 

There are times when silence is seen as betrayal. And that time has come for me not to remain silent but to commend Dr. Emmet Dennis, President of the University of Liberia for restoring a degree of academic transparency and accountability to the nation’s highest institution of learning.

 Oh! Let me not be too self-centered in my recognition of Dr. Dennis by leaving out those good people who worked tediously with the president in ensuring that the University redeems its legitimate status, most especially during the first entrance Exams administered since his inauguration as president of the University of Liberia. Had it not been for his intervention, many of us would not have passed the entrance to enter the university based on the doctrine of merit, which is often relegated by some university officials. But thank God that Dr. Emmet Dennis has come at such a crucial time to rescue and encourage the poor and the rich to learn and enrich their minds to be a part of the new Liberian landscape, and has discovered for us that the spirit of academic freedom is still alive. A spirit whose revolution killed many great men like Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, and I could go on down the list had it not been for the sake of time.  Hence, Dr. Dennis, you are indeed the new academic "Messiah" of our time. 

On the other hand, we the students, be it incoming, transferred and old students have our assigned roles to play in this rebuilding process of our nation’s premier University, and the nation at large. We must consider ourselves as architects in the process; and as architects, we ought to immediately put on our aprons to carry on the revamping campaign which has already begun. Hey, let us not get this whole thing wrong; for the fact I am writing from UL does not in anyway exclude those prudent students from Cuttington and the other universities in our republic---for we are all university students. Collectively, let us form an academic union in support of togetherness, which is the only weapon of redemption.

For those of us who have begun breaking our own silence in relation to academic malpractices, and are again tangled in a bigger net where academic malpractice is more or less legal are in accord with you, Dr. Dennis, to heal and save the souls of our nation in these tumbling hours. Every young man who finds this call must submit to its philosophy, and at the same time must refuse to succumb to unjust laws in our society without fear; for unjust laws are evil to the fulfillment of a dream.

However, this call is in fulfillment of one of my articles that was published in this paper a few months ago: i.e. 'The dream of academic freedom.' In that article, I reminded Liberians not to be deterred when they are not rewarded for the work they do. However, if we are to have a better future, the youth must be treated fairly for they are the parents of generations yet unborn.

I therefore salute you, Dr. Dennis, with the conviction that if Liberia is to have a bright future, credit must be given to those who champion the cause to improve the lives of students at the University of Liberia. It is no doubt that you are one of those who deserve such recognition.

Daoda Socrates Carlon attends the University of Liberia, and is President of Concerned Students for Illiteracy Reduction Strategy. He can be reached at daocarlon@yahoo.com.