Academic Staff, Students To Hold Dialogue

The Dean of the University of Fiji’s School of Law, Shaista Shameem, is aware of the accusations of racism and discrimination against a senior academic that have sparked a new row at the university.

Ms Shameem declined to comment on the issue, however, saying the university would have dialogue with the students in the coming days.

This was after Filipe Bainivalu, the president of the UniFiji Justice Devendra Pathik School of Law Students Association at the Samabula campus blasted senior academic staff member Dr Litiana Kuridrani for making inappropriate comments against him, labelling him an “Indian dog”.

It all began around Easter weekend when the law student body and other student bodies raised some issues with university executives in a petition.

The petition was jointly made by the university’s Law Students Association and the Centre for iTaukei Student Association (Samabula).

It was filed with the university’s registrar.

Dr Kuridrani decline to comment on the issue, but told Mr Bainivalu in an email that the iTaukei language she used was an idiom.

Meanwhile, Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission director Ashwin Raj has strongly condemned the accusations.

Mr Raj said there was no room for racial vilification irrespective of who the recipient of the racial slur was and “I hope that the institution in question will take the necessary disciplinary action against the academic”.

Edited by Epineri Vula

Feedback: selita.bolanavanua@fijisun.com.fj