In its recent executive council (EC) meeting, Osmania University has decided to prohibit all non-academic activities including protests, calendar/poster releases, birthday parties, installation of flexis/banners, rituals etc. at Arts College and it surrounding areas. The varsity V-C and a student leader debate the pros and cons of this move
‘Such events are hampering perception of university’
The reputation and prestige of the university are linked to the Arts College — the first wing to have started in OU. The diverse events on campus that unfold in front of this building become major debating points, both in the media and society, and sends out strong a message on the academic standing of the university. Thus, it is incumbent on each of the stakeholders to take responsibility for the nature of activities being held within the campus, especially before the Arts College.
Any academic activity that strengthens the vibrancy of the university is undisputed. However, Osmania University has scored low on the perception parameter in the National Institutional Ranking Framework and several national surveys by independent organisations. This is a very distressing fact as the university is misconceived because of certain non-academic activities: release of calendars/posters, birthdays, staging protests, being some of them.
Some of these events go viral on social media and dent the image and reputation of the university to say the least. The university cannot afford to lose prospective students who wish to join the institution but are apprehensive because they view it as a cauldron of politics.
This is detrimental to the university even as it faces stiff challenges posed by the entry of the private sector in higher education. Our intent is not to stifle the rights of students/student groups or disallow them from expressing dissent and protest. In pursuance of the ECs decision, the university administration has decided to provide an alternative venue on campus to stage such activities.
- As told to Preeti Biswas
‘University must focus on resolving faculty, infra issues’
The Osmania University Arts College has always been the epicentre of protests and other social events. It was also the hotspot of the separate statehood movement. So, to keep students away from holding non-academic events from such a space — synonymous with student political movements for decades now — appears to be an attempt to suppress the voices of students within the campus. Such measures were not taken even during the Telangana movement.
The way Dharna Chowk in Hyderabad or India Gate in Delhi is identified as a site for common citizens to come together for a cause, Arts College in Osmania University is looked at as a venue for students to unite for various events. I wonder how holding a poster release, speeches or birthday parties here is going to cause harm either to the structure or the reputation of the institution.
The university has made no attempts to even seek the students’ point of view on the matter before passing the resolution in the executive council meeting. It only speaks volumes about how undemocratic the decision is. Also, at a time when the university has not bothered to resolve academic issues such as shortage of faculty and other infrastructural problems, its decision to ban social events in and around Arts College seems completely uncalled for.
If the university really wants to improve the perception among prospective students, it should first start considering them as a major stakeholder in the functioning of the varsity. By imposing such bans without holding any discussions with the students, the university is only further alienating them.
- As told to Preeti Biswas
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