By Akinpelu Yusuf Imagine humans cannot speak or write. Imagine the love of preservation of man’s cultural and environmental heritage cannot be. Imagine lawlessness and recklessness have no correction whip that can silent them. No doubt, the imagination of these is seemingly too far from mental grasp. However, the closest imagery that the mind’s eye can view would be a world not so different from that of animals. Man would only be an ‘erect animal’ whose reasoning capacity, compared to animals, is like the darkness in late evening, and night – much difference cannot be spotted. As a leeway from the gory path of such, man has grown through the growth of writing, speaking, and most importantly, interactions between one another. And we are where we are today just because we have tapped into this arsenal of development. In the quest to keep this ground of development flying, mastery of the art of information reportage, record keeping, analytical deductions based on objectivity, and serious checkmating of authorities should and must be upheld. Where else can life be breathed into this inclination than in our anti-mediocrity community: our institutions, particularly the tertiary institutions wherein the realities of life tends to flip on the faces of many students. Behold, Campus Journalism is a perfect nostril to breathe life into this quest. Before digging deep into this course, which hammers a society into an ideal one, we can take a cue from the saying of the Yorùbás that, ‘a rope cannot be too long not to have its starting point.’ As a result, history of the turbulent and violent strides Campus Journalism has battled must be unveiled. Then, its transformational prowess can follow. HISTORY. In the account given by Prof Sheriff, a former president of the Union, Campus Journalism was said to be as old as the University of Ibadan itself. Since the period the University College Ibadan began in 1948 at the old site in Eleyele, a group of students had started a magazine called The University Herald. For five years of its subsistence, the magazine treated various social issues: issues ranging from students, staff members, and every other campus matters. And as expected, various writers, editors, columnists engineered the continuity of this magazine. Few, among these intellectual colossi, who would end up to become bigwigs in their profession of choice were: (Ambassador) Iyalla, (Prof) Chinua Achebe, (Chief) Bola Ige, (Mrs.) Mabel Segun, (Prof.)J.F.A. Ajayi, Gbajabiamila, (Prof.) Wole Soyinka, (Prof.) Olikoye Ransome-Kuti, (Prof.) J.P.Clark, et al. With this avalanche of stars, it can be deduced that campus journalism had a bright start. At the graduation of this first generation of campus journalists, The Harald took a sharp dive into the murky water of oblivion. However, its uncompromising strive for justice had a hand in its first fall. Since it came to be at the time the deep root of colonialism was entrenched into the soil of Nigeria’s educational system – well, it was in every other sector. And as typical as such era was, the existence of Campus Journalism was a threat to the university’s authorities who were mainly made up of colonial elements. This was because its bites and stings burrowed powerfully and venomously into racial discrimination between the black and white members of staff, colonial mentality (inequity, prejudice and what have you), and managerial impotence. By the early sixties through early seventies, writers and columnists, who, due to the unfriendliness of the authorities with criticism, had to write infrequently. And even when they do, they do so with a relatively softened undertone. At this point, was it that their eyes saw beyond the laxities within the management, they also saw the need to peep into the lifestyle of students: the way they dressed, behaved, talked, reasoned, their waywardness, sexual habits and so on. Behold, a new magazine was birthed, by name, The Bug – a magazine that stings and bites mildly through the use of comics. This marked a landmark turnaround in the annals of students’ journalism, because it laid down a new foundation of soft-sell journalistic approach in journalism. By 1976, the colonial elements had freed their hands on the country’s wheel of power. Their leaving paved way for military rule. And due to the ills, social injustice, and hounding of the society inherent in a the rule by the men-at-arms, university students became more agitated, more vociferously outspoken, and readily ready in condemning the actions and inactions of the government. The soft undertone nature of campus journalism was no longer effective. Hence, writing on various boards was used instead of The Bug. However, this action of theirs (the students) would not be without a resolute resistance from the military junta. It eventually led to stern punishments being meted out on students seen as threat to the government’s dictatorship. At this period, a host of campus journalists, being the major frontiers in the demand for justice and equity, were never spared the brutal wand of strict disciplinary measures. As a preventive measure, University of Ibadan launched their own magazine, and was approved as the only publication that could be circulated within the school’s environ between 1980 and 1984. By then, molestation, frustration, intimidation, and even persecution of students skyrocketed to the heavens high. Owing to this, belligerence was inevitable. The student writers of the school decided to take the war to the doorstep of the management in order to protect their interest collectively, and to blind the evil stare of tyranny rampaging their freedom. By February 1985, the idea of forming a Union was conceived specifically by residence of Independence and Nnamdi Azikwe Halls of residence in the University of Ibadan. The Association of Campus Journalists at the University of Ife, which was already in existence, was then seen as a perfect model upon which the Union would be erected. When the conception was finally birthed, it would be called: The Union of Campus Journalists (UCJ). It began with about five press clubs and sixteen members constituting it. By 1990, the UCJ had come of age, so much so that, in the same year, it was launched and inaugurated. Although, its size was still at ground level, it presence had stamped its foot into recognition. Like the law of diminishing returns, The UCJ reached its acme in 1995 and began to plummet. This was said to be due to the malnourished writing culture, and the calibre of writers that joined the Union during that era. Also, the frequent closure of the school took its own toll on students as students always return to school to be gorged with workloads leaving with little or no time to rejig the dwindling acts of creativity and journalistic activities. This continued to be the story of the Union until 1999 when the democratic rule was ushered into the Nigerian political landscape. This new, soothing aura of democracy balmed the air of Campus Journalism with somewhat freedom, sanity, and restoration of associational recognition on campuses in the country. The disdainful jackboots of the military government was hence replaced with the indulgent tribute of the democratic government. Upon this, Campus Journalism would be elevated to the top floor of growth till date. BENEFITS. The beneficiaries from Campus Journalism are all-encompassing: the students themselves, the campus as a whole, and of course, the larger society. In line with the founding statement of the Union, “entrenching intellectualism as a core idea of studentship”, the Union, just like many others of its ilk, infuses high level of intellectualism, diligence and mental credence into the students’ community. With this, certificate received at the end of studentship is married with certification due to experiences (which most times matters in the labour market) that would have been garnered over the years. In the same vein, in the face of economic rust and creativity numbness, many graduates could be seen always on the lookout for nonexistent job placements. Ergo, adding to the already teeming numbers of job seekers, problem producers – rather than being problem solvers. For the annulment of this, journalism on campus provides students with something to fall back on should they be blown by the hazy wind of job-seeking. Also is it that the objectivity and sincere analytical prowess of the beneficiaries of this course is smoothly sharpened and polished to suit the demand by the outside world. Moving on, the campus too has a bite in the benefit-pie journalism has to offer. After all, in it, it abodes. The series of stinging and biting of the ineptitudes of the concerned authorities is one of unbridled prominence. It is Campus Journalism, through its many modalities, that unrelentingly light the ember of action into the anus of our schools’ managements. Campus Journalists put the management on their toes, never sparing them tongue lashes and word-whips when they fall short of their billings. This done, time and again, ensures that our campuses are distant from whatever-I-do-you-don’t-question verdict typical of an autocratic administration. The society, being a macrocosm of the campus’ microcosm, too, is soiled in a whole lot of benefits offered by Campus Journalism. The revolt in the past against the colonialism and militarism is a blessing tucked into the society by early campus journalists. And as of now, the contemporary campus journalists still hoist the emblem of their founding fathers even now that democracy has the control of governance. Likewise, the league of vanguards released into the society as a result of campus journalism is magnificent. Leading names like Chinua Achebe, Prof. Wole Soyinka, Bolanle Awe, Mabel Segun, Flora Nwapa, Christopher Okigbo, Cyprian Ekwensi, and just of recent, Tolu Ogunlesi, Bimbo Ojenike, Fisayo Soyombo, Kola Tubosun, to mention but few, are among those who have taken Nigeria by storm, gifting the society with something sweet to lick as a result of the solutions these people have brought to the table. CONCLUSION. In parting, for an ideal society to be achieved, growth of its bedrock – journalism – must be ensured. And, as it has been for like ever on our campuses, the conscience and sanity of these campuses is still firmly tied to the wrists Campus Journalists. Hence, the society, management, students, and even campus journalists alike must be careful of their actions because attainment of sanity can’t be done by individuality, but rather by collectivity.
UNION OF CAMPUS JOURNALIST, THE CONSCIENCE OF AN IDEAL SOCIETY.
