That all may be well with AFAS: reviewing the issues at hand

There are different plays that occur within the students association of Faculty of Arts in an academic session. Every year, one way or the other, there is one issue or the other that is worthy of going through the perusing eyes of AFASites. Not to pontificate on who is to blame, AFAS certainly is one union that gives everything and anything one can ever imagine and not imagine.

At recent times, we have left to bemoan and perhaps worry how the state of things would look like at the end of the academic session. It is not the faults of AFASites if they become skeptic regarding what will happen. The engrossing image that displayed at the close of last session is one big reason why this is a genuine reason. It has become a case of worry if truly, AFAS, at any session, would go through a seamless session where there is no political rancour. Whilst it is impossible to have an answer to that pondering, we can only but reflect through the different issues rearing its head and take a cursory look at the steps taken to ensure that these issues do not happen again.

Ad hoc committee and the ‘forever-ness’

During the afternoon hours of Saturday, 12th of November, AFAS FLC decided to create an ad hoc committee to look into the suspension of the Sports Director, Alawiye Isreal (Prime), after receiving a letter from the executive council on the suspension. The house created a 3-man adhoc committee to investigate the issue for a period of 7 days, and postponed the upcoming super 4 competition and the proposed inter level competition. Consequently, Prime was asked to vacate office pending the outcome of the investigation. It is important to realize that it has been 18 days since the House set up the committee and last held a plenary. AFASites are left in the dark about what would become of Prime because the committee has not presented her findings given that they cannot divulge the result of the investigation before the house sits, as confirmed by the Speaker. The house seems to think that AFASites can wait till kingdom come for the house to sit and deliberate on the issue of the Sports Director.

The office of the sports director is one important office, because it is a common universal knowledge that sports unite people. In the ongoing Seals cup, people from departments that are not playing could be seen coming to the SUB pitch and Awo stadium to watch the match, cheer for their fellow AFASites and then have moments to discuss. It is therefore suffice to question how the house views the office of the sports director. Shouldn’t the house have held a sitting for the committee to present her findings since the house gave the committee a 7 day period to investigate. Not holding a plenary for a lengthy period of 3 weeks when there is clearly an issue that warrants attention hangs a question mark around AFAS FLC.

Hint at the future?

The house released a notification for her sitting which is to be held on Saturday, 3rd of December, and as part of the agenda, there is the presentation of the Super 4 and inter level competition budgets. This certainly shows that certainly, someone would present the sports budget. Who would present the budget still remains unknown. However, this could be a hint that suggests that the ad hoc committee has concluded her ‘lengthy’ investigation, and it would seem the committee has found Prime innocent of all charges. Whatever the case is, AFASites would get to know come Saturday, if the sitting is not canceled just like the last one lasted for last Saturday as announced last week.

President and Management

Many times when students have issues with the management, it either bodes well for the student if such student have absolutely no blemish, or results in relinquishing of studentship for a certain period of time. There is never a stalemate, there always emerges a victor. Following the issuance of summons to both the President and the General Secretary of the association regarding the organization of the call off party, there appeared to be that some certain issues are investigated by the management if the President’s claims are indeed true. The President stated that both staff advisers were informed of the event and is against the claim as stated in the summon letter that the staff advisers were not carried along. So, is there a miscommunication somewhere or is there a case of deception? There are certain dimensions coming into the frame regarding the issue, and there are investigations underway regarding the issue.

Is all really going to be well?
To many, they certainly do not want a session filled with dramas and rancour. There is the need for all to be well with AFAS affairs as that is what would ensure that all students of Faculty of Arts have a fun filled and satisfying semester. But since the session started, there have been different cases, that hint that things might take turns AFASites might not particularly like. Just this semester, the President and General Secretary have received summons from the faculty, the Sports Director have been suspended, the FLC has placed a ban on the executive council from taking out money from the association purse, and football competitions were suspended. The issues keep mounting and we seem not to have a hint if that would be the last case.

However, whilst we might want to have an optimistic mind that all will be well with AFAS and we would enjoy a stress free semester, we cannot wait forever for us to see signs that truly there is a change in the air. AFASites can only hope that all becomes well.