CAMPUS
DUTA in high dudgeon over Reader’s killing
Smriti Kak

The brazen killing of a reader of Botany, M. N. Singh, in Delhi University’s Shradhanand College, has evoked shock and anger in the academic fraternity. Ashok Malik, a former student, who had been caught cheating in an examination by Mr Singh, carried out his vendetta on the college premises raising concern about the safety of the teachers.

Irate teachers are now pointing out that such incidents are not just threatening, but also demoralising, especially for those who believe in carrying out their duties without any fear or favour.

The students threatening examiners with arms and dire consequences are not limited to the reel life. They have of late been a common occurrence in the academic world. Reason why some examiners choose to shut their eyes to malpractices like cheating.

Recently, the campus was in the news for all the wrong reasons. Amid reports of sexual harassment and violence during polls, the university is struggling to restore sanity that befits an educational institute. The Delhi University Teacher’s Union (DUTA) has now set forth a demand for providing security to the teachers.

They are seeking protection for their families against incidents like Singh’s gruesome killing. The DUTA has collected a fund for the victim’s family and are also demanding compensation.

Meanwhile, colleges are paying more attention to security in the premises. Shradhanand College is reported to have engaged security guards to keep a check on any suspicious activity in the college and will also depend on private security.

“The days of guru shishya are longer over, but these kind of incidents are an indication of the deterioration of the worst order,” rued a University lecturer.

DU students move ST/SC Commission

Violence over caste issues is not alien to the University, which attracts people of all castes and creeds from across country. While most would like to believe that tolerance and liberal attitude is the hallmark of the educated, clashes in the University’s better known colleges have a different story to tell.

Two students of Delhi University’s Hindu College had to approach the SC/ST Commission over a fight that erupted on the caste issue. These students one of whom is a Scheduled Caste were beaten up in the hostel. Bharat Rohin and Mrityunjay Kumar, both third year students, and Vikrant Rohin had a fight with hostel inmates allegedly over caste issues and were beaten by the other inmates along with some day boarders. One of the boys is reported to have fractured his leg while the other has bruises.

The students are reported to have confessed that they were being subjected to abuses along caste lines after the student’s union elections. The students’ union had earlier expelled two students from the hostel for abusing some students over the caste issue. The situation, however, turned ugly when the expelled students were readmitted to the hostel.

Four days ago, 15 inmates locked up the three boys in their rooms and thrashed them for hours. The students had to lodge a complaint with the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes Commission after police reportedly refused to lodge an FIR.

Students’ conference

Addressing the concerns over the present and the future state of education in the country, the All India Students’ Conference (AIDSO) is organising its sixth All India Conference in Bangalore from January 9 to 12.

Around 3,000 students from across the country will take part in the discussions pertaining to education and will discuss the challenges facing education. The open session will be addressed by eminent educationists, national as well as student leaders. Among those expected to take part are Asghar Ali Engineer, social scientist, Dr Ravi Varma Kumar, Chairman, Reception Committee of the conference and AIDSO president Pratap Samal.

Training for business results

Tata Infotech Education organised the SMIT, conference on ‘Training for Business Results’. The conference was attended by senior management of HR and training functions of eminent corporate houses.

The conference aimed at creating learning forum for corporates, need to focus on exchange of information and understanding the perspectives of different corporate.

It also included sessions where industry experts provided their perspectives on training. The areas of discussion included emerging trends in training, HR challenges, measuring training effectiveness and evaluation and return on investment training.

MIM offers a new degree

Maharishi Institute of Management is offering a degree to students wishing to pursue MBA in the city. The college is accredited to the Maharishi Institute of Management, Iowa, USA.

The college established in 1971, is accredited up to the Ph.D level by North Central Association of colleges and schools. It offers programmes like MS in Computer Science, BS in Computer Science and BA in management. MIM has campuses in Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad and Bangalore.

PAF’s project for Vietnam

Kathak dancer Shivani Rai performing at the India International Centre on the occasion of 2nd annual function of 'Vagyashree' in the Capital.

CULTURE

Winter carnival gets under way in Meerut
Our Correspondent

Meerut, December 25
Four day long winter carnival, organised by the cantonment board in association with the Army Wives welfare Association, began here at the Gandhi Park. The AWWA and some local media organisation are actively involved in the carnival. The funds collected from the carnival would go to the AWWA fund. The theme is “Mera Meerut Meri Shan, Ek Salam Fauj Ke Naam”. Several public schools are taking part in the winter carnival. Several programmes of interest to the youths, such as pop shows, fashion shows and a ‘Miss Meerut’ competition are included in the carnival. There is also a grand magic show for the children.

The area commander, Brigadier K T G Nambiyar, VSM, inaugurated the festival by lighting a lamp.

Speaking on the occasion, he said that citizens should come forward to help the victims of the war and people should donate generously to the AWWA fund.