jordan pulse -

Dr Louay Bowa'neh

I will not tire myself or readers repeating the familiar Jordanian record on causes of student violence. I will not enter theorising or hunting for social-behavioural fixes to justify avoiding punishment of students. Topic already debated, researched, and discussed at length without meaningful result. Conferences held, funds spent on studies to cure campus violence, all with little benefit. Sociology professors argued much, tried to reform offenders via seminars or by easing penalties to avoid turning students into future criminals, to protect scholarships and reputations and spare innocent parents — all without meaningful effect. They failed, whether they admit it or not. They insist on their academic, philosophical positions, claiming violence is societal and students merely product of that society, forgetting proverb: 'He who feels safe from punishment misbehaves'.

University of Jordan, 'mother of universities', has right to offer students safe campus free of fights, thuggery, chaos, irresponsibility, ignorance. University has right to restore prestige at home and abroad by applying law to any student involved in a brawl or campus violence, whatever cause. University has right to impose maximum penalties on those who no responsibility, who reject rule of law on campus and believe in bullying, force, influence as means to get their way, terrorising students as if living in a jungle called University of Jordan created for them and others like them. This is a university, not battlefield; whoever wants war should leave peacefully to pursue hobbies elsewhere. This university founded in era of late King Hussein bin Talal was product of his care — jewel of achievements of Wasfi al-Tel and Habes al-Majali, meant to give Jordanians knowledge instead of weapons. It was not created to be battlefield for a faction that fails to value it, but to serve those who nurture and belong to it.

University of Jordan, like other Jordanian universities, suffered from groups of students rallying to attack another group over trivial disputes — a seat, a glance, or any other reason meaningless in society. Often they receive logistical support from relatives, friends, and townsfolk relying on 'faza' system, ignoring core values of authentic Jordanian society, trampling legacy of patience, wisdom, tolerance, aid to needy, and hospitality. After damage done — disruption of study, university closure, intimidation of women, reputational harm to university, administration, staff — some say 'we all err' and plead forgiveness.

We all support protecting universities, students, and right to education, but we also demand universities free from violence and its champions. We want campuses free from mediation and interference, because such practices harm social and academic fabric and corrupt generation by entrenching nepotism and favouritism, excuse violence as 'youthful folly', and undermine rule that no one stands above law. Everyone falls under law's umbrella. Whoever errs must face university disciplinary procedures first, then Jordanian judiciary.

We commend University of Jordan and student disciplinary committees for identifying perpetrators of that brawl and urge applying law to all proven guilty, including permanent expulsion, to set example and deter others. Let our Jordanian universities remain beacons of knowledge and research, not arenas for sticks and stones. Muscle-flexing belongs outside university walls. Inside those walls: knowledge only, nothing else.

Academic, Al-Balqa Applied University