Once in a while, we are presented with the oppourtunity to stand up for an higher ideal and -even if briefly- shed a little light on an otherwise dreary world. It could be while doing something as simple and indivdualistic as helping an elder with a heavy burden, or even something historic as toppling a long time dictator through the power of mass action. Regardless, what the two widely disparate scenarios have in common is this: they show the power to make a difference of individuals who decide to take a step and stand up for an ideal, be it singly or en masse.

This semester, an arbitrary step was taken by one of the departments in the faculty of science,University of Lagos - the department of microbiology; lab manuals sold at the onset of the semester were declared obsolete mid-session, without prior notification , and it was decreed ALL students were to buy the new ones or else lab work (accounting for about 30 percent of total C.A) would not be graded.
The reason for this, at first very baffling, becomes plain when one realizes there is no SUBSTAANTIAL difference between the old and new manual and in fact, the new manual is meant to be used for only a semster - where the old one could be used for 2 sessions - and yet is being sold at the same price as the former! Plain old money-grabbing at the expense of the most vulnerable.
How else do we call this but an extortion? the leverage the authorities have on us (being in the position to award marks on academic performance) is being used to bilk us! Even a tout is far more forthright in comparison - and will settle for a cheaper fare, at least not #1500, that being the price of the manuals.
What then do we do? This is not time to wring our hands and hang our heads; muttering under-breath at the Nigerian problem of corruption at the grass root and how ,even if we were to speak out, nothing will be done. No! This is a time for passive resistance; of testing the 'open-door policy' authorities in charge claim they practice as we innuduate our course advisers, heads of department, ULSSA representatives and even -yes- the DSA with calls to investigate and repeal this draconian fiat.
A democratic society -one we profess to live in- places the onus of protection of individual rights at ALL levels on the citizen themselves and also guarantees them the right to do so. Except we choose to speak up and exercise this right, showing the power that can only spring forth when you fight for a cause that is right, shedding light-however minuscle- even for a moment on a sordid society, we are no different from them that live under the harshest dictatorship.

K