Independent committee will consider the matter of alleged racism by a UniFiji academic

The University of Fiji says an independent committee will consider the matter of alleged racism by an academic.

This is after the Acting Vice Chancellor, Registrar, Executive Director Finance, Deans of Schools and the Centre for I-taukei Studies Director, Dr. Litiana Kuridrani and President of the Samabula Law Students Association Filipe Bainivalu and his executives met at the Samabula Campus yesterday.

It is alleged that Dr. Kuridrani told Bainivalu to ‘ stop barking like an Indian Dog’.

In a statement the University says that the committee will provide a report to the Acting Vice Chancellor.

The Acting Vice Chancellor has urged all parties to await the results of the investigations and to refrain from making any public statements until the investigation was completed.

The University management had discussed the issue with both the students and Dr. Kuridrani, as well as received opinions and views on the matter from University stakeholders with a view to addressing it within the internal procedures of the University adding they hoped to resolve the dispute through mediation and internal dispute resolution mechanisms.

Meanwhile Human Rights and Anti Discrimination Commission Director, Ashwin Raj confirms that they have received an official complaint by University of Fiji student, Filipe Bainivalu.

Raj says they will now contact the relevant authorities to provide relevant statements as procedurally required.

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