EXPULSION LOOMS IN DELSU AS STUDENTS DARE VARSITY AUTHORITIES

Students of Delta State University, Abraka yesterday threw caution to the wind and defied authorities of the university by continuing their ritual of pouring dirty water and other liquid wastes on matriculating students.

Our investigations around the Abraka Campus of the university showed countless number of old students who were submerged in the euphoria of ‘baptizing’ new entrants of the school with substances as paint, water mixed oil palm, broken bottle and sand among other things. However, all hostels on campus were calm. 

At some of the private hostels visited, fresh students were lined up at early hours of Saturday morning and paraded round neighbouring hostels and streets of the university town. They were made to chant solidarity songs that had no bearing on their academics, just as the older students offered words of prayers against failure and unnecessary hitches throughout their academic stay on campus.

Some matriculating students of DELSU being poured different waste liquid substances 

If management of DELSU is to fully implement its decision, then there is a high prospect that many students of the university may practically be on their way out since authorities of the university had earlier frowned at the act and consequently placed a ban on it, describing the ritual as “barbaric” and “unwholesome”.

According to a statement issued by the Public Relations Division of the Vice-Chancellor’s office, the University Senate, in its 144th regular meeting held on January 28 last year, noted that the pouring of waste liquid substances and other “unwholesome activities before, during and after matriculation are banned and remain banned” forever.

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Specifically, the apex policy making body of the university warned that “any student caught in such dehumanizing activities would be arraigned before the Students Disciplinary Committee (SDC) and, if found culpable, would be immediately expelled and his/her name uploaded in the university portal/internet”.

But some students of the university, especially the stale ones, seem to be unperturbed by such threat as they still found pleasure in the act which they vigorously participated yesterday.

Some of them claimed that the ritual is innocuous and had been in existence in virtually all universities in the country.

A 200 level student of the university who craved anonymity said the ritual has remained a tradition in the university and it is way of welcoming all new students into the university as well as to pre-inform them of the diverse hurdles they are likely to face throughout their academic programmes. “We pour them dirty water during matriculation to tell them that DELSU is not easy but at graduation, we pour them clean water to wish them favour in the outside world”, the source explained.

DELSU VC, Prof. Victor Peretomode 

Contacted, the Dean of Students’ Affairs of the university, Prof. Augustus Atubi said the university’s laws are very clear on the issue, noting that there won't be compromise for any culprit.

Atubi pleaded with our correspondent to provide details of those involved in the act for the university authorities to take necessary actions, noting, however, that the act attracts four semesters rustication which translates to two years suspension.

His words: "Once they are apprehended with evidences and we get their faces and hostel addresses, we will publish their names for people to come and identify them. Once they are identified, the law is very clear, it is four semester (rustication); there is no pleading.

"We cannot be everywhere at the same time, so if you have any information of such, please furnish us with it".

Efforts to get comments from the Public Relations Officer of the university, Mr. Monday Agbure were unsuccessful as his mobile telephone line could not be reached at press time.

Also, the mobile telephone line of the Students Union President of DELSU, Comrade Kalusi Otighoarievwe was switched but the Chairman of the National Association of Nigerian Students in Delta State, Comrade Ejiro Ayigbe called for calm among students of the university and advised them to refrain from acts that will be counterproductive to them.

Meanwhile, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has lambasted the management of Delta State University accusing it of insincerity when handling issues of students alleged misconduct.