The National University of Samoa (N.U.S.) has issued a statement to advise students, staff or visitors that it does not condone any form of violence on any of its campuses.

A statement was posted on the university’s official Facebook page at 5.52pm on Saturday after a video emerged on social media on Friday of a fight between two female students while their peers sat around and watched.

The video, which has already had close to 500 shares, shows a female student wearing the university’s School of Nursing uniform, beating up another female within the school compound at Vaivase.

The student in uniform could be heard uttering offensive words directed at the other female, who was wearing a grey t-shirt and a purple lava lava. The other girl without uniform struggled to get back on her feet, only for her assailant to hold her by the neck and push her backwards, causing her to fall over a wooden stool under a tamaligi tree on campus. 

The fight was in full view of at least seven other students, who were either sitting down and watching or walking past. The video, which was uploaded on social media, attracted a lot of criticisms from Samoans online who questioned why no one stepped in to stop the fight. Criticism was also aimed at the unidentified video recorder, who was questioned on why he or she could not intervene.

The Facebook post by the N.U.S. administration reminded students, staff or visitors that the university’s campus were for scholars to study and learn and people should feel safe.

“We will not condone any form of violence on our campuses either by students, staff or visitors,” read the Facebook post.

“The University campuses are places for scholars to study and learn and everyone must feel safe. 

“We have policies and processes to deal with any student, staff or visitor who disrespects and violates the rights of others to a safe environment of learning. 

“Anyone witnessing any form of violence are encouraged to report names to Student Support Services and/or Security Staff.”

This is the first time in a long while for a fight to occur on the campus of the local university.

The last reported fighting incident on campus was in 2016 which led to the N.U.S. administration calling a special assembly to address the issue.