The unfortunate confrontation between the students and university authorities has culminated in the latter's sudden announcement of a closure of the Buet sine die and asking the students to vacate the campus immediately. In no way can we condone the anarchy, vandalism and violence that a section of the students resorted to on hearing the news of the authorities' negative reaction to their demand for deferment of the scheduled exams. Suffice it to say though that no consultative process has worked among the students, teachers and the university administration as to the question of the length of preparatory leave (PL) before the final exams. What is at issue is whether the preparatory time for two weeks was enough considering that class performance carried 30 percent of the burden as distinguished from 70 percent burden placed on final exams. This, surely, is a matter that cannot be settled through slogging matches. Dialogue is the prime necessity.

The upshot of it all is the automatic postponement of the examinations for an unstated period, which in turn, is destined to create sessions jam. Buet, once the symbol of academic continuity and an oasis amidst session dislocations that deflected other institutions of higher learning off course, seems headed for losing out on its exceptional status. What a pity!