The University of the West Indies (UWI) Cave Hill Campus in Barbados has dissociated itself from a newspaper report which involves a Dominican student that was reportedly attacked in that country.
On December 7, 2015, the Daily Nation Newspaper ran a front page article quoting anonymous sources which said the alleged attack was fabricated because of the poor academic performance by the student.
The newspaper said an anonymous security officer pointed out that the incident was reported because the student “was asked to withdraw from the Cave Hill Campus because of poor academic performance and the need for her to find an excuse to return home prematurely.”
The Daily Nation also reported that a check was made with a senior administrative official at the campus who confirmed “that the student’s grade point average was not up to requirement and she has indeed been asked to withdraw.”
But in a statement, UWI said that all academic records of students are confidential.
“The Unversity wishes to assure the public that all that the academic records of all students are confidential and released under very strict protocols. It is not the practice, therefore, for officers of the campus to offer public disclosure of any student’s academic performance,” the statement said.
The university went on to say in this regard, it is dissociating itself “from the mentioned reference and again assured the public that all academic records are treated with utmost confidence.”
UWI also made reference to comments which was attributed by the newspaper to a member of staff to what it describes as an “ongoing police investigation.”
“The University considers such improper, as it does general criticisms of the students attributed to the report’s source,” the release said. “The University dissociates itself from such action.”
According to reports, the student was allegedly attacked on November 12, 2015, when she was walking home after a class. She was reportedly hit at the back of her head with a blunt object and dragged into a bushy area while receiving injuries in the process.
It is further alleged that the student’s arms, legs and mouth were bound with duct tape and her clothes ripped apart while she begged her attacker not rape or kill her.
On November 17, the Daily Nation reported that Chief of Security at the UWI, Cave Hill Campus, Oral Reid, confirmed a report was made and the police were investigating the matter.
Barbados is a country known from protecting itself from stories like those. Remember the country is tourist oriented and if half of the crime news is reported tourist will withdraw.
But yet again students do all sorts of stuff to cover up there deeds and its also conflicting and confusing to believe that someone will abduct a student on the UWI Cave hill campus grounds..
There are several points at issue here. The disclosure made by both individuals seems to provide a justifiable rational for the young lady’s allegation, and of course the disassociation by Cave Hill was expected. Now lets attach some analysis to the story. She was abducted, tied up, robbed, the culprit tried to set you on fire but was not successful, however he did not attempt to engage in any sexual misappropriation with her being tied up as she claimed? Did she go to the hospital? Were they able to verify marks left as a result of her being tied up? Her story never made sense to me. Although the security and university employee had no business making the student’s academic record public -this information could come only from the university itself, which may have engaged in a surreptitious disinformation campaign, and it should be held liable – the disclosure of the young lady’s academic performance, in my opinion, is disinformation by the Ministry of Tourism and UWI-Cave Hill.
All parties involved are just as guilty, including DNO, UWI could not have confirmed the incident took place if there was no evidence; so for DNO to pick up that article from Barbados and run and put it online without finding out whether the information was correct was/is sickening.
When a supposed mature colleague mentioned this, I rejected it vehemently, there must be an explanation, and prior to knowing the facts, this is a sensitive case, I think it is wise to get the facts, and not the beff.
Thanks UWI ! My point exactly!
The issue here is confidentiality. not whether she lied or not. UWI feels like it is being attacked for disclosure of info pertaining to grades, therefore, distancing itself from the whole story.
Its obvious that UWI will diassociate themselves. Dominicans we are far smarter than that
Exactly James. Please what else can they say.
SMH and some of us were there crucifying the poor child, Bruising her all over again, Doh worry my dear, A “Rose is still ROSE” keep your head up high
This makes more sense. Now time for the student to take legal action. Good thing DNO removed that trash.
hmmmmm this ‘anonymous’ security officer should be investigated! ….seems he’s going to great lengths to discredit the student .
Dominica authorities need to Put pressure on UWI and the BARBADOS AUTHORITIES AS WELL . DON’T LET THIS GO WITHOUT PROPER INVESTIGATIONS AND JUSTICE FOR OUR DOMINICAN STUDENT…..
What else do you expect UWI to say?