THE PARROT SPEAKS

THE PARROT SPEAKS

CHRONICLE OF THE SENATE AND AN EXECUTIVE MEMBER: AN INSIGHT

It is no longer news that the Senate of  the  Faculty suspended  the Association of Veterinary Medical Students (AVMS) Public Relations Officer (PRO), Adeleke Ayomide Richard, indefinitely for allegations of "gross misconduct and  disrespect to  the  Senate  Council." Sequel to this happening and a subsequent press release by Veterinary News Organization (VNO), it  triggered questions among many  members of the association: Does the AVMS PRO deserve the punishment or the Senate  was just  too harsh  on him?

It was on the evening of Wednesday, 27th of June 2018, during the Senate meeting that  the Senate suspended the AVMS PRO indefinitely in accordance  with the Section IV subsection I(a)  of  the  Constitution  of the Association of  Veterinary Medical Students (AVMS). According to an extensive research and interview, observers present at the Senate sitting were divided into two based on the verdict  reached. Some felt it did not worth suspension as they viewed the disposition of the PRO as just being derisive and should not result into such punishment. They furthered that the   PRO took  permission to  use the  restroom, which they felt was a matter of urgency, but the Senate delayed the approval of the PRO to exit the sitting. This, which may be a result of nature reacting to the situation, triggered the PRO to exit the meeting without proper approval by the house which made the majority of the Senate  to move a motion to suspend  him. They also opined that his suspension was not as a result  of his behavior that day but because  they  had  been piling  up  a file  of his "misconduct" and that file just eventually exploded  that  fateful day.

The other  set of observers are  in full support  of  the verdict reached  on the AVMS  PRO emphasizing  that  he had to be suspended that day. They furthered that he had been showing behaviors of  misconduct  and the  one  he did during  the  Senate meeting was just  at its peak and they  could take it no more . Buttressed with this point is the fact that he was once a senator of the house and obviously knows exactly how the Senate operates. They added  that his reluctance to bow to  the  maze and other misbehaviors he exhibited were enough to suspend him as directed by the Constitution. Mr Ayomide was clearly told by the Senate President to exercise some patience when he took permission to use the restroom during the Senate sitting but he had to disobey a direct order which led to his suspension. They added that Mr Ayomide did not show any iota of remorse after the suspension and he picked up his bag and "arrogantly" left the premises.

The AVMS Vice President, in accordance with the section IV, subsection  1(b) of the AVMS constitution was immediately appointed as the acting PRO of the association.