A commerce student who has just graduated ended up in court yesterday charged with seriously injuring a University dean when celebrations got out of hand on Thursday.

Glanville Goodlip, 22, of Iklin, pleaded not guilty to seriously injuring the Dean of the Faculty of Sciences, Charles Sammut, 54, at about 1 p.m. on the University campus at Tal-Qroqq.

Mr Goodlip, who graduated on Wednesday, also pleaded not guilty to forming part of a group of 10 people and breaching the peace.

He was granted bail against a personal guarantee of €5,000. Police Inspector Saviour Baldacchino prosecuted and lawyer Stefano Filletti appeared for Mr Goodlip.

There were conflicting versions of what actually happened. The University Academic Staff Association condemned what it termed as an "attack" on one of its members.

Prof Sammut says he grabbed an air horn the student was sounding in his ear and pushed him away, and the student reacted by pushing him to the ground.
However, students who said they witnessed the incident claimed the student was slapped across the face, losing his glasses in the process and a scuffle ensued.

The association said Prof. Sammut suffered a fractured left shoulder, a black eye and bruises.

The University also condemned the incident and warned that immediate action would be taken against any new graduates who, singly or in groups, acted in a disorderly and inappropriate manner or who in any way threatened people or property on campus.

Referring to the rowdy behaviour, the University said that while it was pleased to see the students celebrating their success, this had to be done within "reasonable limits".

"The University is now very concerned about the safety of its staff and students and for the security of the valuable equipment found in the many laboratories," it said.

A newly-graduated notary is expected to be arraigned after he allegedly resisted the police at St Julians on Monday while celebrating his graduation with colleagues.