By: Jacob Kermue
Bong County Reporter
0775187091/0888809944
jacobkermue4@gmail.com
Phebe, Suakoko District — Following a protest by students at Lutheran University Phebe Campus, Bishop G. Victor Padmore, who leads the Liberian Lutheran Churches, is asking students to give a week’s time for their concerns to be addressed.
The students from the newly established Lutheran University in Phebe took to the streets on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, expressing their worries about the way things are running at their school.
The protest saw a crowd that included various respected figures in the community, like Regional Police Commander Douwue Goldoe, Bong Police Commander Fasu V. Sheriff, and Bong County Administrator Sam B. Elliott, all of whom came to show their support for the students.
During the protest, Abraham Kollie, who represents the students, shared a resolution that outlined all their concerns. This resolution was first handed in to the school’s administration on May 25, 2025.
The students laid out several important points that they felt needed to be addressed. They’re calling for the resignation of Mrs. Ida A. C. Brown, the Assistant Dean, as they believe she hasn’t been a positive force for their student life. They also want the 2025 academic calendar to be adjusted so it matches the timeline given to them earlier. Clarity on the registration fees is another request, along with updates on the accreditation for the Laboratory Department and the Medical Laboratory Practicum area.
Their resolution also touched on the upcoming graduation ceremony, including how associated fees will be handled. They stressed the need for qualified instructors in the lab and improved customer service, especially at the admissions office.
Students are also asking for urgent upgrades to dorm conditions, like better cleanliness and living standards.
There’s a call to increase meal servings for those paying USD 325, who currently only get one meal a day. They want any new policies to be communicated before they are put into effect and for student ID cards to be issued.These cards have been held up for three semesters even after payments have been made.
The protest also highlighted issues around the academic policies that haven’t been followed, especially with course offerings that are essential for graduation and the process for improving GPAs.
An assessment team was put together during the protest to look into the claims made by the students. Their report confirmed many of the issues raised, showing that dorm conditions were not up to par, with kitchens, bedrooms, and bathrooms in need of serious attention.
At the end of the assessment, Bishop Padmore, along with local officials and security, spoke to the students. He recognized how serious the concerns were and asked them to be patient, assuring them that steps would be taken to tackle their issues within a week.
County Administrator Sam B. Elliott voiced his frustration about how things are currently. Parents are putting in their hard-earned money for their kids to attend Lutheran University Phebe, and to see them living in these terrible conditions is unacceptable, he said, calling for immediate improvements.
Both police commanders praised the students for keeping the demonstration peaceful and agreed that major changes are needed to make life on campus better.
As the university waits to see how the administration will respond, students are holding on to hope that their voices have been heard and that they will see real changes happening soon.
