Late registration penalty burdens students

About forty precent of the WIUC students (total student population ±3000) is victim of the late registration penalty this semester, according to the Accountant department of the university. This means that many students have to endure the financial burden of paying their school fees ánd the penalty at the same time. Some late comers end up paying an extra 300 GHC.

Students are required to have payed their tuition within two weeks after school has resumed. After this deadline there is a penalty on top of the tuition that will cost a Ghanaian student 150 GHC extra and a foreign student 40 USD extra. But that is only the penalty when at least fifty percent of the student’s school fee has been payed. The full penalty for late registration is 300 GHC for Ghanaian students and 75 USD for foreign students. That amount is due when a student does not register after a month.  

            Students at the teller paying late registration penalties. Photo by Kweku Bempong

Most of the students, who found guilty of this late payment, explain they are dealing with financial difficulties. Boakye, a L300 BBS-student, has been a constant victim of this charge. After his father’s death he has not been able to pay his fees on time. “I’m now taking care of my 61 year old mother and her hospital bills. And I also pay school fees for my three younger siblings. One is in the university and two at senior high school. Plus, I am also the care taker of my own nuclear family,” he explains. “The school should understand that some of us are adults with huge burdens on our shoulders.”

Stephanie, a L400 BBS-student from Ivory Coast, is passionately against the late registration charges. She tells that her parents send her fees usually a few weeks after she has started the semester and that of course causes her delay. “Sometimes the pressure to meet the deadline becomes too much and then I start borrowing money from friends, adding it to my pocket money…,” she laments with teary eyes, “You can imagine how anxiously I am waiting every semester to hear from my parents.”

But not everybody is fully against the late registration penalty. Lawrencia, a L400 BBS-student, thinks that some students condemn the early deadlines for school fee payments. “Money these days is so difficult to come by. Of course, we will pay but the school should at least extend the late registration deadlines with a month or two. That can help hundreds of students who would otherwise be a victim of the penalty.”

Also Irene, a L200 Law student sees the penalty as an encouragement for students to pay their tuition on time. But she wonders if school activities would really be on hold if there are delays in payments. She suggests: “Maybe the school administration can tell the lecturers to wait patiently for their salary until the students have payed their fees.”

From the reporters: Kweku Bempong, Abena Nyarko Asamoah, Nzere Libe and Benedicta Offoh

Dress as you like not as THEY wish

This issue of what girls should wear and what is appropriate for girls to wear, in my opinion, is very controversial. Although the school has given us a dress code in the student handbook, chapter three, page twenty one, under the subtitle "dress code". The second paragraph states and I quote: “Students are expected to dress decently and appropriately. It also states that senior members reserve the right to call any indecently dressed student to order."

The issue here really is what is appropriate dressing? My definition of dressing appropriately might be different from yours. So, if I put on an attire in a way of my choosing, instead of being told to leave the class, or chastised or spoken to offensively, people should consider the point of appropriate dressing and consider the fact that everyone has their own style, background and beliefs.

However, the process of defining what is considered indecent or inappropriate can get quite murky. When ladies in higher institutions are being cautioned about what is appropriate to wear, it could get a little one sided. Authorities who are in charge of making decisions on whether or not an attire is appropriate to wear is usually based on religious backgrounds. They come up with all sorts of rules and they make you feel like a sinner if you are wearing something short or sleeveless.

One key concern is the implication that women should be hyper cognizant about their physical identity and how the world responds to it. These “senior members” correct you only on the bases that you are “exposing your body’ which then leads to the fact that you are creating attention for your own self. And with this kind of mentality if a student is to report to school authority about sexual harassment, do you think they will be taken seriously? Or do you think they will make comments like “are you sure it is not because of what you are wearing?”

It is presumed that women are the ones who need to protect themselves from unwanted attention.

It really is not the issue of formal dress code by itself that is so discriminatory, it is the message behind the dress code. The kind of dress you wear attracts the kind of attention you get, but I do not want to be categories because of how I dress, and based on the law of attraction, I think whether long dresses or short ones, you will get unwanted sexual attention, and it is not even because of how you are dressed it is because of the nature of men. I am not a girl who is battling for the right to come to school in a bikini!

By Becky Sorgwe Enime

“OUR BLACK AND WHITE DRESS CODE MAKE US LOOK SMART”- LAW STUDENT

WIUC has a couple thousands students from different disciplines walking around every day. But you could not have missed the ones who are studying Law. Why? Because they are always dressed in black & white. Our Lifestyle desk find out the reason behind the dress code and how it makes these Law students feel about themselves.

Mr. Ampem Darko (300L)

What is the dress code about?

 “Law is a professional course. We are required to dress as lawyers, and also learn how to conduct ourselves. We do this from the very beginning, to get used to it. It is said, that black is a strong colour. It’s not easy to change it into another colour.  It stands for the strong will of the judges and the decisions they take. The white stands for how pure their decisions are.”

Do you freely interact with other students on campus? 

“Yes, I think the way you interact is a personal thing. If you want to engage freely with other students, you can. There’s nothing special about it. I have friends in other faculties.”

       Mary Darkwa (200L)

What happens when a law student is not in the prescribed attire? 

“You will be asked to walk out. Its part of the faculty requirements. The reason behind it is to make us look more formal as law students and as future lawyers.”

       Ms. Eunice Osafo (300L)

How do you feel about the dress code?

“I believe the dress code make us smart, and connotes some kind of discipline in us. The law profession is such, that if you’re not disciplined you’ll not be able to practice it. It makes me humble and honoured, because we’re the only department that dresses this way.”

We have also spoken to Dr. Peter Wiredu, Assistant Dean for the Law Faculty:

How significant is this dress code to the practice of Law?

“The use of the dress code by lawyers dates back to ancient times. It is colonial inheritance in Common Law countries, countries colonised by the British. 

Historically, the use of the black robes was to distinguish members of the legal profession in the courtroom from the public. Lawyers wear the black robes in addition to white tunics and bibs as well as the wigs. 

Traditionally, the courts in the UK use the same costumes as the lawyer’s apparel. Generally, Magistrates and Circuit Court Judges use the same dress code, except that superior court judges use red robes when sitting on special cases or for ceremonial purposes.

Just as Ministers of Religion in various Christian churches traditionally wear robes and cassocks to distinguish them from the general congregation. Indeed, a lawyer who appears before a judge without appearing the appropriate attire is often said to be ‘naked’.”

Lifestyle Desk Reporters 

Cynthia Asare Ansah (photo credit)

Ishmael Saforo

Joseline Nartey

EBONY'S DEATH SADDENS THE HEART OF STUDENTS ON CAMPUS

With the unexpected death of the Dancehall songstress Priscilla Opoku Kwarteng, popularly known as Ebony, students on Wisconsin International University campus are wondering if there will be anyone as vibrant, creative and passionate as her. In interviews students have expressed how broken hearted they are about her demise and how they still cannot believe she is gone forever.

Ebony took Dancehall music to the next level. She always knew how to capture the crowd with her sensational voice, performances and outfits. “I really love Ebony, because she was always herself and her performance was awesome during one of our SRC Week celebration. Especially when she gave one of the students a lap dance”, recalls Bridget Bonnie, a L300 Communication student.

Many students were expecting more crazy tunes from her this year. It was never a dull moment listening to her songs such as Kupe, Poison, Sponsor, Date Your father, Hustle, Maame Hwe, Aseda and her latest tune Konkonsa Police, released after her death. Bernard Kwame Dzakapsu, a L200 BSC Economic student said: “Ebony's songs were also educational, especially Maame Hwe, which was attributed to stop violence against women. She was very creative with her lyrics in a tricky way. It is very sad she had to die young at the peak of her career’’.

Ebony performing at WIUC SRC week 2017

Students on campus really love Ebony for her songs and love the energy she has on stage. But some students criticises the fact that she wore revealing clothes that exposed her body. But apart from that they really liked her for being herself. 

Kwame Bello Junior, a L300 Communication student reflected: “In life, death is inevitable and her absence is really being felt”. Ebony left a legacy behind and that is something that keeps people going. Like some have said: ‘Her stage name was Ebony Reigns, she will reign forever in our hearts’. May her soul rest in the bosom of the Almighty.

Culture Desk Reporters: Abigail Agyekum, Amanda Aseidua Vanderpuye, Geneivee Cooper

Love brewed between Wisconsin students

Some students of Wisconsin International University College (WIUC) in Accra have found their love partners here on campus. We have done a couple of intimate interviews in where they shared their most exciting experiences with us. There were mixed reactions when we talked with them. Some criticised intimate relationships on campus, while others welcomed it as a makeweight to their schoolwork. “A guy from campus can help me with my studies.”

Juliet, a L200 Rural Development student, met her IT-student boyfriend during their exams for the Matured Entrance classes. When we asked what brought them together, she said: “His attitude, the way he relates to people, that is what drew me to him. During the matured classes he was our class representative. I really liked the cordial way he relate to us. He was very kind and very helpful too. He did his best so that all of us passed through the exams successfully.” Juliet also noted that her love relationship on campus has really improved her academic performance. “Last semester I had four A’s and two B+’s. He wasn’t so happy about it, he said I could have done better if the B+ would have been an A. So that kind of motivation and encouragement has really improved me academic performances.”

Judith Asante, a L400 Business Accounting student, says the same. “A relationship is very helpful since he has been helping me with my studies. And it is also fun to be with him.”

Susana, a L300 Human Resource (HR) student also noted that: “It is always fun with him. We go out in the evening after lectures, he will call me and take me out”. She said their relationship also involves sex. “I went to his house and it just happened. I live alone and he also lives alone but we always have sex in his house”, she added.

Experanza Yeboah, a L200 BA communication student however, holds a contrary opinion that there is no point dating on campus and that she prefers to date someone outside campus. “Because campus guys usually have nothing better to offer rather to help me finish my course”, she said.

Human interest desk:

Freda Senanu Gleve, Emmanuel Frimpong Mensah, Joyce Hasen Addy

school's clinic

flowers

NABIA SULLEMAN WINS MISS WISCONSIN CONTEST

For the first time since its existence WIUC has its very own Miss Wisconsin. Out of ten contestants, Nabia Fairuza Sulleman (L200) has emerged as the winner of this distinguished title. The event was organized by the Women’s Commission in collaboration with X Base as part of the SRC Week Celebration.

Deborah Anderson (L300) became the first runner up whilst Nana Ama Boateng (L100) was the second runner up. According to the jury, Sulleman stood out during the modelling contest, questionary and her acting performance. The judges were Salma Mumin(actress), Maame Yaa Asante (peace ambassador 2017) and Zimran Clottey also known as King Aluta (actor).

Sulleman did a presentation on how to improve the school’s car park and outlined ways to end the mud slides. She promised street light in the area if she would be crowned queen.

 Winner Nabia Sulleman. Photo:Michelle Etornam Aboadi

With her performances she won a cheque of 1000 GHC, a 50 per cent discount off her school fees for a year, a full spa treatment, a laptop and she automatically qualifies for Miss Tourism Ghana. The first and second runner up were awarded 700 GHC and 500 GHC respectively, a laptop and a full spa treatment. There were also awards for Miss Sociable, Miss Discipline, Miss Elegance,  Miss Photogenic, Miss Eloquent and Miss Talent.

Online registration in the pipeline

WIUC’s online registration will come up during the start of the next semester, September 2018.That has been confirmed by the Registry. The online procedure can help students to reduce stress and frustration during their registration. In interviews with some of them they welcome an easier way to register for courses.

Often, students have to go through long queues at the bank hall, the accountant’s office and the registration hall before they can start classes. Princess Ifeoma from Nigeria is a L300 Communication students, who wishes to come to Ghana a week after school re-opens. But to avoid late registration and penalties she travels back and forth to finish her work at home which is very inconvenient and a waste of time and money.

Students in the queue to register.  Photo: Sarah Gyamfua-Dah

Also from Nigeria is Happiness, L400 Human Resource student. Her responses: “I always come to school the first week of registration so unlike others I do not face any challenges. Nevertheless, I welcome the online registration because I could register in the comfort of my home. It would be a plus for Wisconsin.”

The online registration involves all faculty heads and the Information Technology (IT) department, the technical brain behind the project. According to Mr. Thomas Bruce, IT personal (Registry) the digital registration cost over five thousand (5000) U.S dollars that includes security software to prevent hacking.

Hard News Desk Reporters:  Maame Birago, Darko, Dorcas Sarpomaa Appiah, Sarah Gyamfua-Dah and Precious Amedume. 

Berla Mundi storms SRC Week Celebration

The  upcoming  15th edition  of  the  SRC week celebration commence this week from Monday the 12th  to Sunday the 18th of  March. The  Girl  Code  with  Berla  Mundi  will be  the  starter  for the celebration.  Berla  Mundi  is  an award  winning  broadcast  journalist  and an  inspiration  to  the  younger  generation. She encourages  them  to  pursue  their  dreams  and  attain  success in  various  fields  of  endeavour.  September last  year, she  launched ‘The  Live  Girl  Code  Project’ at Live  91.9FM. The  Live  Girl  Code  Project  has  been  touring  at various  tertiary  institutions  and  their  next  stage will be WIUC. 

This  SRC  Week Celebration  is  also filled  with  other educative and entertaining programmes. The line up is as follows: