Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - Al Balqa Applied University on Saturday decided to suspend classes on Sunday and Monday for reasons related to the safety of students after an off-campus brawl between students from two different tribes last Tuesday.

Four students and one university employee were injured during the fight that took place near the western gate. Gunshots were fired in the incident, resulting in four bullet injuries, while one person was stabbed with a sharp tool.

University President Nabil Shawaqfeh decided to suspend classes for two days — Wednesday and Thursday — to protect the students.

University Spokesperson Ahmad Manaseer said only the university’s employees will come to work on Sunday and Monday, and that classes will not be suspended at all the university’s 13 branches around the Kingdom, but only at its main campus in Balqa, 35km northwest of Amman.

The university includes 18 faculties and community colleges, six of which are located on its main campus.

Manaseer said Shawaqfeh took this decision to give the concerned parties and community leaders time to calm down the situation.

“We will make up for the missed classes when students return,” he told The Jordan Times over the phone on Saturday.

Manaseer noted that investigations into the brawl are still ongoing, and if it is found that university students took part in the brawl, the administration will take punitive measures.

Agence France-Presse reported last Wednesday that 15 men had been charged with carrying out “terrorist acts” over the clashes and they face life imprisonment if convicted.

“State Security Court prosecutors accused the suspects of carrying out terrorist acts and possessing automatic weapons with the intent to use them illicitly,” a judicial official told AFP.

Higher Education Minister Amin Mahmoud met with presidents of the Kingdom’s 10 public universities last Thursday to discuss ways to curb campus violence.

Although no concrete decisions were taken, the participants called for partnering with local communities to help control violent acts.

They also agreed to come up with a plan to increase community service hours and forge partnerships with

* Jordan Times