MONROVIA, LIBERIA – The University of Liberia has reaffirmed students’ right to protest and criticize university decisions while warning that freedom of expression cannot justify conduct that threatens civility, dignity and institutional order.
The position follows the University’s public apology to Representative Thomas Romeo Quiah after some students confronted him during a visit to the Capitol Hill campus.
Quiah, who serves on the University of Liberia Board of Trustees and is a member of the 55th National Legislature, encountered what the University described as an unruly gathering involving heckling, booing, insults and other disrespectful behavior.
The confrontation reportedly became serious enough for the lawmaker to leave the campus.
In a statement issued Wednesday, August 26, 2026, UL President Dr. Layli Maparyan said the administration regretted the treatment Quiah received and condemned the conduct involved.
But beyond the apology, the University used the episode to address a broader question facing academic institutions: where should the boundary lie between legitimate student activism and unacceptable behavior?
The administration’s answer was that students must be free to raise concerns and express disagreement, but those freedoms must be accompanied by restraint and respect.
The University maintained that disagreement is not only permissible in an academic environment but necessary. However, it said protest should not descend into personal attacks or conduct that undermines the dignity of members of the university community.
Quiah’s presence on campus was linked to his responsibilities as a member of the Board of Trustees, according to the administration.
The University therefore said it was particularly concerned that an official performing institutional duties was subjected to treatment that ultimately interrupted his visit.
Although a private apology had already been offered, the administration decided that a public statement was warranted because the confrontation itself had taken place openly and involved members of the university community.
The administration expressed regret to Quiah and reaffirmed its respect for his role and contribution to the institution.
It also highlighted his support during the transitional process that preceded the installation of the current administration.
The University’s response places renewed emphasis on the responsibilities that accompany student activism.
At universities, disagreements over policies, leadership and institutional decisions can generate strong emotions. Students often rely on protests and public demonstrations to make their concerns heard.
But UL said those forms of expression must remain consistent with the principles of peaceful engagement.
The administration called on students to pursue grievances through dialogue and other constructive channels rather than allowing disputes to become confrontational.
It also appealed to faculty, staff, administrators and other stakeholders to contribute to an environment where differences can be debated without hostility.
The University stressed that its commitment to student rights remains intact.
At the same time, it said protecting students’ voices does not require abandoning the rights and dignity of other members of the university community.
That balance, according to the administration, is essential if the University of Liberia is to serve as a model of democratic engagement.
The incident involving Quiah therefore extends beyond an apology to an individual official. It has triggered a broader institutional reminder that the university must provide space for dissent while ensuring that dissent remains responsible.
For UL, the challenge is to preserve an academic culture where students can challenge authority, question decisions and demand accountability without allowing disagreement to become personal hostility.
The administration concluded by urging the entire university community to protect the institution’s reputation through tolerance, dialogue and peaceful engagement.
