-UL President Discloses As She Condemns Attack on VP Konneh
By Jerromie S. Walters
Monrovia, Liberia – The University of Liberia (UL) is reeling from a violent protest on Monday, with President Dr. Julius J.S. Maparyan issuing a warning that students found responsible for attacking Vice President of Student Affairs Prof. Sekou Konneh and vandalizing campus property will face expulsion.
In a statement dated Monday, April 28, 2025, Dr. Maparyan condemned the actions of members of the Student Unification Party (SUP), who allegedly stormed the Office of Student Affairs at the Fendall Campus, brandishing knives and sticks, and physically assaulting staff—leaving one requiring medical treatment.
Zero Tolerance for Weapons, Violence
The UL President emphasized that bringing weapons onto campus is an expellable offense, with no prior warnings necessary. “If reports prove true that SUP members armed themselves with knives and sticks, they will be expelled,” Dr. Maparyan asserted. She reminded students that this policy was explicitly stated during last month’s Student Town Hall.
The protest, which disrupted classes on both Fendall and Capitol Hill campuses, was labeled as “fear-mongering” and antithetical to UL’s educational mission. “The University is not a political playground,” Dr. Maparyan noted, warning that further disruptions could lead to suspensions.
Failed Dialogue, Escalating Tensions
The confrontation follows SUP’s grievances over alleged unfair suspensions and blocked student IDs, which they claim were issued without due process. Last week, SUP staged a peaceful protest outside Dr. Maparyan’s office, where he promised an investigation. However, tensions flared when SUP members later clashed with Student Affairs staff, leading to injuries.
Matters worsened over the weekend when SUP circulated a “Wanted” poster targeting VP Konneh on social media—a move Dr. Maparyan called “unwarranted and unlawful.” She stressed that only the UL President holds authority over vice presidential appointments, urging students to allow due process.
A Call for Restraint and Reform
While condemning the violence, Dr. Maparyan extended an olive branch to peaceful SUP members, urging them to champion nonviolent activism. “There is so much we could do together if the violence stops,” she said, invoking revolutionary icon Che Guevara’s words: “The true revolutionary is guided by great feelings of love.”
She challenged students to consider: “Everyone wants a better UL—but who will actually bring it about?”
The UL administration has launched an investigation into the incident. Depending on findings, students involved in the attacks could face expulsion, while others may be suspended for violating protest policies.
