On July 5 the University of Papua New Guinea Council (UPNG) made a decision to terminate the 2016 academic year.

The decision comes after more than six weeks of protest and boycotts over the prime ministership of Peter O'Neill.

The Bishops' Conference recognises the difficulty of the situation.

However it thinks the UPNG has not looked into all possibilities in addressing the situation.

General Secretary of the conference Fr. Victor Roche said the closing the academic year and sending the students back home is a big financial loss to the students and the government.

Roche said if 5000 students go back to their villages and towns to do nothing for the rest of the year, there would be more likely social issues brewing over the recent issues and can go out of control.

The Bishops' Conference is appealing to the University Councils and administration to seek the help of the Chaplaincies or the Conference itself to assist with a process of reconciliation.

It has also called for a proper inquiry into the whole situation by a neutral party for a peaceful solution and a way forward.

The UPNG Council also suspended of the Student Representative Council (SRC) and for ordered students to leave the campus by Saturday.

Source

• news.pngfacts.com
• asiapacificreport.nz
• Image: asiapacificreport.nz

The representative Student Association General Assembly voted 16-11 in favour of a motion supporting students carrying legal firearms.

The vote came in the wake of fierce debate following the Virginia Tech shootings in 2007, which saw 32 people killed, and the 2012 Sandy Hook massacre.

But a spokesperson for the university's administration said there are no plans to change the rule that bans the carrying of firearms on campus.

Even the campus security at the Catholic University of America is not armed.

But a sponsor of the student motion, Matt Hanrahan, said even if students won't be allowed to carry guns, at least a conversation about safety on campus will have been started.

"We don't live in the safest place," Mr Hanrahan said.

"There have been armed robberies in the area around the school. Who knows who can come onto our campus?

"Metro police could be on campus within minutes, and lock the campus down, but police are only going to be able to react to a situation that has occurred."

Another student, Kyle Phanard, said he would back security guards being armed on campus rather than students.

But student Katie Bogdan said the student association proposal is polarising.

"The student body as a whole did not know about this until the decision was made," she said.

But the parent of a prospective student said the university should consider the allowing the motion.

"With the Second Amendment, it should be considered. And if the right security practices are put in place, perhaps it could be allowed," said Paul Eells

Because campus police are not armed, the school works closely with the city police department.

Carrying a legally purchased firearm is legal in the District of Columbia.

Sources

• Washington Post
• CBS Baltimore
• Image: Prairie Village Post