And while tempers boiled over this afternoon at the Convention Hotel
in Belmopan when students and faculty confronted the board – they were
racing from this morning. That is because all classes at UB were cancelled as
of 11 am. It was to facilitate a meeting between the board and students. So
in preparation for that meeting – students converged in the Jaguar Auditorium
which is where their fury was unleashed. Only 7News was there to capture it.
Keith Swift Reporting,
The mood inside the Jaguar Auditorium this morning was contentious.
Student #1,
“I believe that nobody in here can afford an increase of tuition.
Are you with me now? Could you afford an increase in tuition? The board of directors
has already made up their mind, they’ve already made up their minds. Now
we can go into that room and try and dialogue with them. If they wanted to do
that they should have consulted us in July.”
Jackie Burns, UB Student
“We are not here today for consultation. Again we are not here today
for consultation as we believe the time has already past. We have assembled 
to make a bold statement of rejection of that increase in our tuition.”
And those tempers boiled over when students got the news that the board wasn’t
going to meet with them at 1 pm.
Steven Cho, Student Government President
“The Board is still in session, they are still in session, and because
of new discoveries and the magnitude of the decisions that need to be made,
we are waiting for the press release which is after the board finishes in I
would say in 30 minutes or an hour as soon as we establish a new room.”
Student #1,
“I believe the board has pushed us around enough and now they are
telling us we invite them to a meeting and they are not going to show up. And
then we need to wait on a press conference for us to get information? Is that
the way you should be treated? So as much as I respect the student government,
I believe we deserve more than this.”
Student #2,
“I just want to sink a little reality in. These teachers were told
that this increment freeze was a proposal. All of a sudden it happened. All 
of a sudden they di tell we that student increase was a proposal and all of
a sudden the board just every time can’t seem to be there with we. Next
thing you know it will be in effect. That is the next move. We need drastic
moves now.”
Student #3,
“I am totally not in agreement with this so called proposal that they
say they have placed on the table. I believe I have reached the point and I
am going to repeat what I said previously where I am sick and tired of being
sick and tired of being sick and tired of being sick and tired.
I refuse to be passive. I reach the point now that I think we need to do
some actions. I am serious. Revolution.
I’ve had enough. If you guys step down and don’t attack this
issue as it is an issue, if I have to die for my nation I will for this university.”
Student #4,
“We are not in their thoughts, they are not considering us and how
this will affect us. The time for discussion, conversation, consultation, negotiation
is over.”
Alex Anderson, UB Student
“I stand here and I say faculty, staff, and students will assemble
in the gymnasium at 1. We will be there. We will be the bigger persons together
and we will come out on top today."
But as expected – at 1 pm the students packed the bleachers in the gym
but there was no board – only about 4 hundred angered students and overwhelmed
student government leaders.
UB Board Chair Imani Fairweather Morrison says there was never a commitment
to meet with the students at 1 pm. She says she had been asked by student body
president Steven Sho to do it but it was never finalized.
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