The council meeting, for the first time since the Rodney Affair, discussed several critical issues, including the urgent creation of a professional code of conduct for academic staff, with an emphasis on security.The council also proposed that the contributing governments convene in 1969 to assess the university's future role. Notably, undergraduate representatives from the university's campuses attended the meeting for the first time, contributing to discussions on the ongoing crisis. Despite some tension, the meeting was described as productive, with a spirit of cooperation prevailing among most delegates.

Published Wednesday, November 13, 1968 

Academic staff should undertake to draw up 'code of professional conduct'

University regrets October 16
Wants rules of behaviour for students, too

Council asks governments. to meet 1969 on institution's future 

THE COUNCIL of The University of the West Indies (UWI) expressed regret yesterday at the “tragic events” of October 16 in Jamaica, as it held its first meeting since the Rodney Affair.

The meeting yesterday also decided that the academic staff of the university should undertake to draw up as a matter of urgency an effective code of professional  conduct for members of staff of the university which, inter alia, would deal with matters relating to security issues.

The council noted that, with regard to this decision ,the drawing up of a code of behaviour for students would be followed up with the Guild of Undergraduates through the senate and its committees.

The council also decided that the contributing governments to the university should be asked to meet at an early date in 1968 to consider the future of the university, its rule and character.

Observers described the meeting as “highly productive”.
Nine of the contributing territories were represented at the meeting, which was presided over by the Vice Chancellor, Sir Phillip Sherlock.

The council's decisions are out in the following release issued last night:

“The Council of the University of the West Indies, at its meeting on 12th November 1968, took the following  decisions:

“1. That the Aademic staff should undertake to draw up as a matter of urgency an effective code of Professional Conduct for members of staff of the UWI which inter alia would deal with matters relating to Security issues.

 
“2. That since the procedure for dealing with security issues was the Responsibility of individual Governments and conjoined action on their part was unlikely, the UWI should approach the individual Governments in an effort to agree on a set of security procedures that would be applicable in each territory. 

“3. That the contributing Governments to the UWI should be asked to meet at an early date in 1969 in order to consider the future of the University of the West Indies, its role and character. 

“In respect of 1. Above, Council noted that the drawing up of a code of behaviour for students would be followed up with the Guild of Undergraduates through  Senate and its Committees.
“Among others the Hon Edward Seaga, territorial representative on Council for Jamaica, gave council a summarised account of events connected with the exclusion from Jamaica of Dr Walter Rodney.
“Council also expressed its regret at the tragic events which had taken place in Jamaica in the wake of the protest demonstration by students at Mona.”

Students
Sources close to the council said that the meeting was conducted amicably and in a spirit of cooperation, with the exception of the instance shortly before the luncheon break when it is reported a criticism from one delegate directed at Jamaica's  representative, the Hon Edward Seaga, minister of finance and planning, brought a sharp reply from Mr Seaga.
The meeting adjourned for lunch at 1:50 p.m.

It is understood that, upon resumption, the meeting passed the resolution on the agenda, embodying its decisions. 

The meeting ended at 3:50 p.m.

Represented at yesterday's council meeting for the first time were three members of the undergraduate body, from each of three campuses. They were Messrs Ralph Gonsalves, Mona; G.I. Granger, St Augustine,  and M.D. Smith from Cave Hill.

Their attendance at the meeting followed a decision taken at the September meeting of the council to have undergraduate representation at the council's meetings.

It was learnt that submissions on the Rodney Affair came from the student representatives, as well as from Mr Seaga.

The questions considered at yesterday's council meeting arose out of the events occurring during the Rodney Affair, which began when, on October 15, the Jamaican government barred from the entry into the island, Dr Walter  Rodney, 26 year-old Guyanese lecturer in African History. This action resulted in student demonstrations through the city on Wednesday, October 16, coupled with acts of vandalism and violence.

Among those who attended the meeting were the Rt. Hon Sir Hugh Wooding, chief justice of Trinidad.

Government representatives were: the Prime Minister of Barbados, the Hon Errol Barrow; the Hon D.A. Henry, Grenada; the Hon W.S. Stevens, Dominica; the Hon Edward  Seaga, Jamaica; the Rev. Canon A.E. Hatch-Syrett, Montserrat; the Hon. Fitzroy Bryan, St.Kitts; the Hon. J. H. Francois, St Lucia; Dr. J. P. Justice, St. Vincent; and Senator the Hon Donald Pierre, of Trinidad and Tobago.

For feedback: contact the Editorial Department at onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com.