COLTEC IN RETROSPECTION

It is with but a great privilege and opportunity that I write this piece to garner home among other things, appreciating, the remarkable initiatives that the university authorities are putting in place to better the lives of students. Indeed, the university is the students and the students are the university as postulated by the College Vice Dean Students Affairs on 4th October, 2018 when he met student leaders at the new auditorium.

 There is a popular saying in my local parlance, that he who does not appreciate depreciates. I guess that we wouldn’t like to behave like the hawk whom however beautiful the chicken dances before it, it wouldn’t appreciate. We the students of COLTEC must not depreciate and so we must appreciate.

Not too long ago within the first semester of the 2018/19 academic year we had two significant meetings. One of which we held with the Vice Dean of students Affairs  (VDSA) and the other with the Vice Chancellor of the university. I must admit without a shroud of doubt that these encounters with our superiors have whipped our interest and enthusiasm not only in full participation in activities of the college but also to boost the zeal to lead ourselves and aim for academic excellence.  This, I must indicate, gives us an introspection and an opportunity to have a critical self examination of our conduct especially student leaders, after all, Socrates opines that the unexamined life is not worth living.

Even though this piece might have come late considering the brief ideas I want to share before I get into the substantive matter, I will take solace in “better late than never.”

Well, for the two meetings held, one by VDSA and student leaders and the other was between the university’s VC and the entire student body all at the new auditorium. The venue for the latter obviously, was very small to contain all the students. That I have to indicate that it was one of the weaknesses of the organizers that I will delve into in the course of time. I believe that leaders present at the first encounter relaid what was discussed to the students but too much meat, they say, does not spoil soup.

On highlighting some of the issues, Mr. Osei Akoto, the estate officer hammered on the the fact that religious groups that normally hold service or mass in the various lecture theaters should be cognizant of their use of the theatres and the furniture.

Besides, he reminded students of a reality on campus that I have always personally condemned. The issue of taking, studying and abandoning the furniture outside the lecture theatre and exposing it to the mercy of the weather. He condemned it in no uncertain terms particularly patronizers of then Faculty building now Renault Okai’s building.

Also, the Vice Dean of Students Affairs spoke dispassionately about the very numerous programmes and events organized by religious bodies  and associations on campus. He explained that the university’s facilities were limited and that there is so much pressure on the limited facilities, for that matter, he encouraged associations and religious bodies to consolidate certain programmes to ease the pressure of the facilities.

These were among other pertinent and equally important issues discussed. I doff my hat to the call made by authorities on the student body to be circumspect and mindful in their activities and conduct on campus.

I shall be back with the second part of this piece which you cannot afford to miss. More revealing stuff.

Gabriel Amologu
gabbydina75@gmail.com
0249042313