THE EDITOR, Sir:

As a recent graduate of the Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences of the University of the West Indies, it disheartens me to see the recent changes to the aesthetics of the campus as well as the building of new infrastructure. These changes include the building of gazebos at the entrance to the Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences and also in the vicinity of the Commuting Students' Lounge building, the re-pavement of the sidewalks along Queen's Way with decorative bricks similar to those used for the re-pavement of the sidewalk along Chapel Crescent earlier this year.

Also a 'new and improved' multilevel University Bookshop with a spectacular fountain feature and an area for sipping coffee and perusing books was opened last year. It was recently reported that the University is trying to borrow approximately US$5 million from the Caribbean Development Fund to build a new vice-chancellor's building.

On seeing the changes of the Mona campus and on hearing of the future developments, I wondered - has the University of the West Indies cheated its students? Couldn't the University utilise the money in more meaningful ways? I am not discounting the importance of an attractive physical environment, but, I disagree with making these changes at this time when other areas of the university are deprived of well-needed resources. This, especially when more students are being admitted each year.

I can recall countless times when as a science student, I would hear lab demonstrators and technicians announce during pre-lab talks that students should work together in groups because of the lack of equipment or warnings to be careful in using particular apparatuses because of its scarcity. Some may argue that the deficiencies in lab resources are due to the lack of care by the students using them, but should the present day students be punished because of the ills of their predecessors? Aren't they also paying their tuition fee to get the 'UWI experience?'

Other areas I believe the University should look into are the dispensation of more scholarships and bursaries and the building of new halls of residence. There are a lot of hard working, needy students in attendance who are burdened with student loans and attaining allowances to carry them through semesters. These I believe help them to lose focus and not perform at their full potential. I believe attaining a scholarship would help to alleviate some of the burdens faced by these students.

Not enough accommodation

The university currently has six halls of residence which I feel is not enough accommodation to satisfy the influx of students admitted from the various parishes. Students also find difficulty in renting available rooms or studios in the vicinity of the university campus and are sometimes victims of extortion by their landlords. Some students are also forced to rent premises in nearby volatile communities. I know of two students who were sexually assaulted on two separate instances; one by a neighbour and the other by a robber.

I am not trying to berate the executives and administrative body of the University of the West Indies, but would like them to be aware of some of the resources which students lack. The heads of the university are seen as members of the intelligentsia of the society, but frankly, they would appear selfish and irresponsible if they continue on their spree of 'prettying up' the Mona campus.

I am, etc.,

BIANCA DALEY

bianca_daley@hotmail.com

Kingston