Stephen VasciannieIN RECENT years, the University of the West Indies has grown increasingly sensitive to criticisms from persons in the wider society. This, of course, is a good thing; for, given that the bulk of the university's resources flow ultimately from taxpayers within the region, the institution cannot remain aloof from the concerns of its main supporters.
Generally speaking, UWI has always been an easy target for the critics -- and this tradition continues, both from some political leaders and from persons beyond the political fray. Off the top of my head, I can remember that former Prime Minister, Hugh Shearer, described Mona as a den of communist hooligans at the time of the Rodney riots, and that the JLP Government of that time confiscated the passports of certain UWI lecturers, presumably on the basis that they were 'subversive' elements in the society.
Since then, the university has apparently sought to make peace with Mr. Shearer - in the decade of the 1990s, Mr. Shearer was given an honorary doctorate by Mona, and that fervent UWI supporter, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, took the opportunity at a recent function to mark the 50th Anniversary of Taylor Hall, UWI, to explain aspects of the Rodney Affair in tones that were quite conciliatory towards the JLP Government of the 1960s. (Gonsalves was President of the Guild of Undergraduates at the time of the Rodney Riots).
Still, it is not entirely clear how the current JLP leadership views the University of the West Indies. I do not believe Mr. Seaga is critical of the Medical Faculty and its activities, but there is some evidence that he views some other departments with scepticism.
Similarly, on the Government side, there seem to be mixed views on the role and functioning of the UWI. Some years ago (round about 1993), one very senior minister of Government expressed the view that very little was coming from UWI, as academics were afraid to enter the public sphere; and we all understand the sub-text of Dr. Omar Davies' discussion on the possibility of transferring funds dedicated to UWI students to other parts of the educational sector.
Beyond the political sphere, critics are in no short supply. So, for instance, at a recent conference on Governance at Mona, Oliver Clarke fired salvos to the effect that a disproportionate amount of work at Mona is concerned with slavery and colonialism. And, of course, rarely a week goes by without 'Mutty' Perkins mentioning that UWI is "the intellectual ghetto", presumably (at least in part) because he believes that Mona concentrates too much on the past, rather than on the future.
GLEANER AWARD
Even in a brief survey, it should be said that some of the criticisms of Mona are constructed on unsure foundations. Consider, for instance, the argument that UWI is not in the public sphere: this argument cannot hold water with respect to many very senior UWI administrators and academics, a point so obvious that perhaps I should not mention particular individuals. But, was it not the UWI Vice-Chancellor who received The Gleaner's Man of the Year Award last year for public service, and was it not the Dean of Social Sciences who received the Norman Manley Award for Excellence in the public sphere a few years ago?
And, if you are inclined to say that the people at the top of the hierarchy are in the public sphere, but others shy away from the public debate, then you do not read either The Gleaner or The Observer: Rapley, Buddan, Boxill, Geof Brown, Ivan Martinez, Roger Smith, Cooper, Gutzmore, are UWI denizens who have all written regular columns on public affairs in the Jamaican papers in recent times. Similarly, there are frequent exchanges on matters of public interest from other UWI lecturers in areas such as the arts (Professors Morris and Baugh come immediately to mind), and history (Professor Warner-Lewis' enlightening debate with Dr Afroz remains memorable, and seems to be continuing).
Moreover, the suggestion that UWI lecturers stand apart from the public debate in Jamaica cannot hold water if one examines the daily flow of talk radio. There are times when Professor Senator Munroe is ubiquitous. And at one stage, it seemed that the Breakfast Club was overpopulated by members of the UWI's Department of Government, with Dr. King and Mrs. McKenzie also making notable contributions in that forum.
RESEARCH DAY
In any event, the primary function of university academics should not be public talk; rather, it should be the pursuit of research and teaching in the broad range of issues that confront our societies - and the main method for the dissemination of such research remains the academic journal. The critics, then, really do not have a case until they examine academic output in journals, an effort that so far they have opted not to do.
Primarily under the guidance of Principal Hall, UWI will provide them with the raw material that they may wish to use for their purposes. As part of its Research Day Activities, UWI will once again be publishing a comprehensive listing of publications by UWI academics. This should go a far way in silencing the "intellectual ghetto" argument for those who wish to be fair.
For the Research Day as well, UWI will be hosting two fora on Criminal Violence in Jamaica on Thursday, January 30, with panellists including DPP Kent Pantry, Police Commissioner Francis Forbes, President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ian Forte, Earl Fearon, the Acting Commissioner of Corrections, Bishop Herro Blair, Horace Levy, representing Partners for Peace, Paul Burke of the PNP and Desmond McKenzie of the JLP.
On Day two, Friday, January 31, various faculties, including Humanities and Education, Medical Sciences, and Pure and Applied Sciences will be hosting public exhibits and lectures.
The University is reaching out to the wider society; I hope the wider society will continue to respond, fairly and carefully.
Stephen Vasciannie is Professor of International Law at the University of the West Indies.
