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The administration of the University of Delhi
(DU) has announced the reintroduction
of mid-semester papers, which will be
held immediately following the end of the
University’s sanctioned mid-semester break
in October.

After continual speculation, Professor
Yogesh Tyagi, Vice Chancellor, DU, has
declared that the University would be
reintroducing mid-semester exams for all
papers across every undergraduate course
provided by the University. The exams
would commence immediately following
the end of the University’s mid-semester
break in October, in accordance with the
Academic Council (AC) of the University. The date sheet for the mid-semester exams will be released on 1st October 2019 via the University’s official website. The changes in the academic calendar were sanctioned on 26th September 2019. The press release states that the administration acknowledges that the unannounced decision may come as a shock to the students and faculty. However, it clarifies that the decision is for the welfare of the students, in an attempt to mitigate the stress of a singular exam per paper at the end of a semester.
Though the Varsity’s action aims at making the academic year less stressful for the students, the faculty of the University is less than happy with the decision. Professor Angad Mehta, from the Department of Economics at Hindu College, says, “This is a rash decision on behalf of the administration. The professors were completely unprepared for this decision; now we have to rush the syllabus.” Another professor from Indraprastha College for Women said that it burdens the students rather than “lessen the pressure, as the administration wished for.”
Students of DU have mixed reactions. Aarti Bhaskar, a B.Sc. (Honours) Mathematics student from Daulat Ram College, stated, “This decision is honestly a godsend. Our entire GPA is currently dependent on one exam at the end of the year. This way, we have a way to compensate.” A student from Lady Shri Ram College said, “I’m glad that the decision was introduced as a way to lessen the burden on students during exam season, but the University’s decision of taking such a drastic step suddenly has blind-sided us. I’m a part of multiple ECA societies, and trainings and practices take up a lot of my time, and I’m lagging on my studies. Now I have to rush to complete them in just a matter of weeks when I would have had at least two months prior to this change of rules.”
The decision has been contested by the students’ unions of colleges like Hansraj College, Hindu College, Miranda House, and Motilal Nehru College. DU Beat tried contacting the Registrar, but he was unavailable for a statement.
Disclaimer: Bazinga is our weekly column of almost believable fake news. It is only to be appreciated and not accepted.

Feature Image Credits: DU Beat.

Shreya Juyal

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The administration of the University of Delhi (DU) has announced that the course paper on Environmental Studies (EVS) will no longer be compulsory in the syllabi for undergraduate courses.

Due to continual protests, and with the subject recording least attendance out of any class for undergraduate courses, Professor Yogesh Tyagi, Vice Chancellor of the University of Delhi, in accordance with the Academic Council, has declared that EVS will no longer be a compulsory paper for undergraduate courses.

The changes in syllabi will be imposed from the 16th of August, 2019. A press release stated that the decision is being undertaken for the welfare of the students, in an attempt to mitigate the stress of the remaining core papers. The release also states that the administration understands the plight that the faculty of Environmental Studies may face due to this decision. However, the decision was taken by keeping in the mind the welfare of the students of the university’s undergraduate programs.

Though the varsity’s action is aimed towards making the syllabi more interesting and engaging for the students, the faculty of Environmental Studies is less than happy with the decision. Professor Vinod Thakur, from the department of EVS at Hindu College, says, “This is an absolute slap in the face. Not only is the administration using it as an excuse to lessen the number of faculty in our department as a ploy to battle budget cuts, it is also ridding the syllabi of an integral paper in a course.” Another professor from Miranda College said that it is thinly veiled propaganda by climate change deniers in the current Academic Council.

Students everywhere are celebrating the decision. Maitryee Ayyer, a B.A. (Hons.) Economics student from Daulat Ram College stated: “This decision is honestly godsend. EVS was my least favourite lecture to attend, and I struggled to meet my minimum attendance criteria each semester. I’m so happy that we’re finally rid of it.” However, not all students are behind the decision. A student from Lady Sri Ram College says, “I’m glad that the decision was introduced as a way to lessen the burden on students during exam season, but the university’s decision of taking such a drastic step to remove a paper that had been a part of the syllabus for years, and to use it as an excuse to introduce budget cuts in faculty is something I just can’t get behind.”

So far, the decision has been unanimously accepted by the student unions’ of various colleges like Hansraj, Kirori Mal, Hindu, Miranda, Ramjas etc. A union member at Kirori Mal said, ”Students have always complained about the compulsory attendance for EVS classes; now that it has been removed for good, the student union can all finally move on to more important issues.”

DU Beat tried contacting Assistant Professors Dr Chirashri Ghosh and Dr Abduul Jamil Urfy of the Department of Environmental Studies, but they were unavailable to comment.

Despite criticism, this decision shows that the University is taking measures to make its syllabi more engaging and acceptable to students.

Disclaimer: Bazinga is our weekly column of almost believable fake news. It is only to be appreciated and not accepted.

Feature Image Credits: Facebook

Shreya Juyal

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The mid-semester break is being cut-short due to the prolonged cancellation of classes in the previous weeks.

Due to continuous strikes and cultural fests in the previous weeks, many classes got cancelled from 26th February 2019 to 8th March 2019. To compensate for the cancelled classes, Professor Yogesh Tyagi, Vice Chancellor of the University of Delhi, in accordance with Professor Tarun Kumar Das, Registrar of the University has decided to shorten the mid-semester break.

Previously, the break was scheduled from 17th March 2019 to 25th March 2019. According to a press release, the classes will now resume on Wednesday, 20th March 2019. A press release stated that the decision is being undertaken for the welfare of the students, so that their studies are not affected. The release also states that the administration understands the difficulty the outstation students face to study in Delhi. On top of that, cancellation of classes because of strikes and fests only harms the academic pursuits of the students.

Despite good intentions of the varsity, the outstation students are unhappy with this decision. Most of them are already in their hometown and have plans for Holi with their friends and family. Agrima, a first-year B.A English (Hons.) student from Gargi College says, “I am from Lucknow. I always book tickets ahead of time because they are cheaper. I had already booked my flight for Sunday, 24th March, but now the classes are beginning early. By any means, I will not be able to come back on time, so I will lose out on my attendance.” Another student from Meerut said that he was not willing to spend Holi away from his family. So, even though he could reach on time, he has decided not to come back for these extra classes.

On the other hand, many students appreciate this move of the University. Praachi Ratra, a B.Com (Hons.) student from Jesus and Mary College stated “Our syllabus was behind the schedule due to the strikes and the fest season. Our teacher usually cancelled the class because there were only a few students in the class. Most of them were enjoying the fests. With these extra classes, the students can also catch up on the missed attendance. I am very thankful to my teachers and the University for co-operating.”

Student unions’ of various colleges like Miranda House, Gargi College, Hansraj College etc. are also unwelcoming of this move. A union member of  Hansraj College said, ” Colleges organise their cultural fests every year, it is a moment of celebration for all of us. It is not a small deal for the college and sometimes classes do get cancelled because there are not many students present. Most of them are busy with the fest preparations. We have never heard  something like this before. The students are already in a holiday mood. How are they going to celebrate Holi away from home?”

DU Beat tried contacting Professor Tarun Kumar Das, but he was unavailable to comment.

Despite criticism, this decision shows that the University is giving education an upfront by resuming classes early.

Disclaimer: Bazinga is our weekly column of almost believable fake news. It is only to be appreciated and not accepted.

Image Credits: Niharika Dabral for DU Beat

Sakshi Arora

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The University of Delhi (DU) has released a notice which announces prohibition on particular items of clothing at all the fests of colleges in the university. Students have heavily criticised the move. Read on to find why.

In a notice released by the University of Delhi (DU) on Tuesday, 22nd January 2019, the authorities have prohibited specific forms of clothing to be worn during inter- collegiate festivals inside college premises. The notice was undersigned by the Vice- Chancellor, Professor Yogesh K Tyagi, of the varsity, and it has been applied with an official statement by the varsity, citing the need for ‘security, decorum, and civic entertainment’ at college fests.

Some of the prohibitions mentioned in the notice include “skirts/shorts 2 inches above knees, tank tops, off-shoulder shirts, muscle shirts, spaghetti straps, strapless tops, any clothing item (specifically, but not limited to t-shirts) with offensive statements (towards any religion, caste, creed, race, gender, and/or community).” The notice specifies that midriffs must not be bared in any attire, and ‘overtly baggy’ apparels are also not allowed because of weapons and other dangerous or objectionable items that may be hidden there.

Outraged, the students took to social networking platforms like Twitter to express their discontent. Popular comic and the host of web talk show ‘Shut Up Ya Kunal’, Kunal Kamra posted the following: “Hum fascist nahi hain, hum bas tumhara wardrobe decide karenge.” (We are not fascists; we will only decide your wardrobe). Niharika Dabral, a third- year student at Cluster Innovation Centre (CIC), stated, “In a time when the fight is to incorporate diversity of thoughts and identities amid our conditioning systems, the only real objective behind the regulation seems to be the jargon of sanskaar (values) and the need to fit the youth in a perceived picture of traditional, accepted values. Every other given reason is an excuse to disguise these motivations.”

In light of the college fest season being just round the corner, several protests and demonstrations have been announced to oppose the regulations. Students from colleges such as Lady Shri Ram College for Women, Miranda House, Hindu College, Ramjas College, and Hansraj College have shared on social media platforms that they will be organising a protest on Friday, 25th January at 5 p.m. outside the Faculty of Arts.

According to the students, the move is a violation of their freedom of expression, and they find the intervening regulations threatening to educational spaces. In a central university like DU, the regulations act as a curb on diversity and difference of opinions, forcing the students to modify their appearance – an aspect crucial to their identity – as per a believed value system.

Disclaimer: Bazinga is our weekly column of almost believable fake news. It is only to be appreciated and not accepted.

Featured Image Credits- Saubhagya Saxena

Anushree Joshi
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A tug-of-war between students and the administration is common across colleges in the University of Delhi, where the former sees the policy as regressive, and the latter is welcoming of it.

In an official statement by the Delhi University (DU) administration, dated 1st January 2019, it is declared that DU college campuses are to be strictly cellphone-free. The policy is to be implemented from the coming semester in all the colleges that come under the umbrella of the varsity. The statement further read that any student carrying a cellphone will have to hand it in, and it will only be returned to them when a parent or a guardian has duly signed a letter stating the reasons for the breach of rule.
This ruling has resulted in student agitation, on grounds that cellphones are a basic human need these days, and everything from class timings to syllabus and notes are discussed over platforms like WhatsApp and E-mail.
“We fail to understand why in the 21st century such prehistoric rules are being forced on us,” says Ashwin Gupta, a
student from North Campus. “It would be an extreme inconvenience for students and teachers alike.” In accordance with what the students are saying, the professors, too, are against the said policy. “While DU claims to be modernising the system in every way they can, what we see today goes against that claim,” said a professor under conditions of anonymity. “Are we expected to hand out printed notes, which may go up to a 100 pages per student, per paper, every semester?”Protests were seen near the gates of the Arts Faculty, North Campus. However, little solution came out of the incident. Speaking to DU Beat, Nitin Alok, a member of the varsity administration board said that cellphones and the internet serve as distractions in classrooms, and that students should focus on the professors rather than their phone screens. “I am sure that the GPA of the students will increase this semester because of our policy,” Alok added.The efficacy and implementation of this policy will be judged in the coming days when college starts again for the term.
Disclaimer: Bazinga is our weekly column of almost believable fake news. It is only meant to be appreciated, not
accepted.

Feature Image Credits: CBS Philly

 

Maumil Mehraj

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Delhi University to ensure centrally air conditioned campuses, due to the growing climate concerns.

Delhi University issued a statement on the 7th of January, 2019 that it will instal central air conditioners in all the college campuses. The proposal is set to be in motion from the new academic year (July onwards). On a trial basis, a few select colleges will have these installed. Depending on the affect or reaction of the college community, this measure will be taken on a full-fledged mode.

The reason, issued earlier, is the shifting climatic conditions. With the northern India witnessing a cold wave, it is expected that the summers will be as scorching as ever. Heena Garg, a student of Maitreyi College says, “The college infrastructure, especially the ventilation is a big problem in classrooms. The rooms are very stuffy and it creates a lot of problems in the hot summer months. The fans do not work properly. It results in a lot of discomfort among students.” A lot of private universities have already adopted the centrally conditioned system in their campuses. Infrastructure is still a major issue faced by a lot of Government or state based colleges.

Professor Yogesh Tyagi, the 22nd Vice Chancellor of Delhi University, expresses his views on this decision, “It is about time the Delhi University improves its infrastructural facilities. Addition of the centrally conditioned campus will be a major boost for the University and will benefit the students and staff.”

With the rising levels of pollution and lack of pure air in the Capital’s air index, a lot of households are also shifting to centrally treated air conditioning. Their growth in the Indian markets has been very restricted as compared to that of their western counterparts, where every house is already centrally conditioned. India is lagging behind in this lifestyle concern as its affordability is restricted only to the rich.

Apeksha Jain, a second year B.Com. student of Shaheed Bhagat Singh College comments, “In a city which has such extreme climates, DU’s decision for central air conditioning is a really good one. it will improve campus engagement and attraction, and improve the existing infrastructural conditions of the university.” While some of the colleges in DU provide air conditioned classes to its students, the call is for a campus wide change for the better.

 

Feature Image credits: Interact Classroom

Avnika Chhikara

[email protected]

Kunal has been sober for two days now. He has begun to identify things and people around him. The hazy pictures that used to form on his nearly-damaged retina, have assumed, all of a sudden, a 4K definition. He now remembers things,  breathes in fresher air (although that is a rare finding in Delhi), uses ice only to cool his soft drinks and paper only to wrap his chicken rolls in. All of this has happened because of one ruling. One sheet of paper has apparently changed his life.

Getting admit cards embodies a joy in itself. The sudden realisation of the fact that it is that time of the year when you begin to regret each and every jubilation you were a part of, that time you regret each and every puff of smoke and sip of that luxurious cocktail that you had in that fancy pub. Earlier, this used to be a metaphoric manifestation. However, this semester onwards, the University of Delhi has been gracious enough to make things even more tough for survival.

Short attendance may be handled through some politically active ‘bhaiyyas’ arranging for an affidavit. But the varsity has recently made the passing of dope tests a mandatory requirement for all students in order to lay their hands on their crisp black and white admission ticket. It is now compulsory to not only appear for dope tests but also to pass them with flying colours.

The decision comes after Ms. Anoushka S., an activist filed a PIL with the Honorable Court of University Justice, citing the bad effects that alcohol and drugs have on their health as well as lifestyle. Justice Gaitonde, the judge adjudicating over the case, says “As a student, I never got the time or the opportunity to experience what all of this feels like. When Ms Anoushka put in the PIL, it hit my wildest insecurities. Therefore, I decided to deliver an unbiased verdict in the matter, and hence, the ban.”

The verdict has received mix response from the students. It is estimated that around 39 percent of the student body shall be bereft of their admit cards due to this ban.

Note: DU Beat or the author does not, in any way, encourage or support the consumption of narcotics, and shall not be liable in any way for the same.

Disclaimer: Bazinga is our weekly column of almost believable fake news. It is only meant to be appreciated, not accepted.

Feature Image Credits: The Evening Standard

Aashish Jain

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Choosing which college to go to for the Diwali Mela has gotten a ton easier! Delhi University is all set to organize a combined Diwali Mela for all colleges!

The Diwali Mela is the most cherished activity in the DU circuit around the type of the festival of lights. Every college conducts its own Diwali Mela, however, this year the University has declared that it plans to hold a combined Diwali Mela for all the colleges.

The statement was issued on 22nd October 2018, wherein provisions are being made to ensure that the Diwali Mela is conducted as a whole or a combined event for all the colleges associated with the varsity. The initial outlay determined how big arenas like Pragati Maidan or Jawahar Lal Nehru stadium stand as good venue options giving ample amounts of space to accommodate all the colleges.
The reason behind this is to ensure uniformity and discipline in the way these events are run. A messy traffic situation develops outside every college, during Diwali Mela season, causing hindrance to the street activity, especially for the centrally located colleges. Previous years have seen huge breakouts in term of crowd, leading to Delhi Police being asked for help to maintain the decorum.
The plan is set to be put into action for the next Diwali Mela, i.e. 2019, spanning two days. All colleges are invited to participate in it. The Students’ Union committees of the colleges would have to apply to the newly set up University Events Organizing Committee (UEOC). Reena Mehta, an Economics Professor at Hansraj College has been appointed as the head of the committee. She was quoted by DU Beat as saying, “All colleges need to provide information about the products they will be showcasing
and the number of stalls they would be requiring. This information should be communicated one month prior to the decision date of the Mela.”
An Organising Committee will be formed consisting of selected students from DU Colleges. The OC participants will be issued certificates acknowledging their efforts to organize the event. The music societies will orchestrate a concert to demarcate the end of the day through complied performances and the photography societies will document the
event.
Rihana Mishra, a second year student of LSR, says, “Even though many students will go against this decision as the colleges would wish to keep it at their own individual level, when seen from a bigger perspective, it is a good way to assemble the best of DU under one roof, hustle free!”

So what are your views regarding this latest decision? Let us know!

Disclaimer: Bazinga is our weekly column of almost believable fake news. It is only meant to be appreciated and not accepted.

 

Feature Image Credits: So Delhi 

Avnika Chhikara
[email protected]

 

This Halloween, the University of Delhi is geared up to offer its students something unprecedented. The viability of the plan, however, has been put to question.

 

On October 28, 2018, the United Grants Commission (UGC) issued a statement, making it mandatory for all professors to dress up on Halloween. The statement specifies that all professors should come to their classes in the guise of a superhero, literary character, or cartoon.

 

A student from Dyal Singh College, on the condition of anonymity shared his excitement with us, over the last category, “I am all charged up to see how well my professors live up to their caricatures drawn on the last page of my notes!”

 

While many students are celebrating the statement, the enforcement of the order is ambiguous in the academic circles of the staff rooms of various colleges. A professor from Ramjas College wrote a letter to the authorities—in no uncertain terms— that this was “a rudely disrespectful compliance expected out of all of us (professors).”

 

In the letter, the professor goes on to say, “We should have the freedom to choose our clothes, at least! Our options are already so limited.”

 

Some might argue that the conscious choice of clothes of their professors are nightmarish enough; to begin with, that is. Put into question, the authorities issued a public statement on 29 October that claims, “This practice will heighten the sense of connectivity between the professors and their students. The idea is to instil friendship into the equation.” As innocent as the intention is, the results just might be surprising for the authorities to observe.

 

But there are others who claim something good comes from this decision too. “Seeing as how Diwali is only a week from Halloween, we could take this as a step towards being more inclusive. The students will have a lot to learn,” said Ramprasad Guru, a Festival Analyst who works as a freelance. But it is easy to say that the professors do not agree as they have unanimously agreed to protest on Thursday outside Arts Faculty in North Campus.

 

In the diametric expectations of the students and professors, the tension increases for the latter. As the students want their professors to come to their 8:30 class as Dolores Umbridge and explode into cheers and jeers immediately, and as the professors are resolute on escaping this humiliation, one significant element hangs in the balance – education.

 

College administrations are perplexed over the idea of loss of time of students due to the fiasco. The time that they could otherwise spent waiting in lines to get permissions for organising events in their respective colleges. Arguably, it is good to see that the administration department is not vexed by the decision directly. But then, it is hard to impress an innovative idea on them.

 

It remains to be seen what awaits the fate of a thousands of professors this Halloween. But whether classes are cancelled or the students actually see a Khaleesi marking the stupefied students’ attendance, it is a victory for the dedicated college goers of Delhi University.

Disclaimer: Bazinga is our weekly column of almost believable fake news. It is only meant to be appreciated and not accepted.

Feature Image Credits: Scroll

Kartik Chauhan

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DU to add a compulsory formal Friday as a part of a new exercise to inculcate formal business ethics in students.

While your corporate buddies and workmates may breathe an air of relaxation in lieu of their casual Fridays, get ready to prep your wardrobe, as every Friday is an indicator of the Formal Fridays routine, which the University of Delhi is all set to introduce.

The key idea is to prepare the students and introduce them to a more formal and a more professional environment. It is not just restricted to students who wish to go ahead in the business or corporate field, but rather for everyone, with the aim of teaching the importance of the first impressions based on dress. While formal wear is a compulsory uniform or dressing conduct in a lot of business schools, the University’s decision to take this up will receive mixed reactions. While skill enhancement courses have been in the University syllabus for quite some time, these ‘personal grooming sessions’ are a must for the students.

“My internship experience in the working sector has revealed that a lot of people simply do not adhere to the strict dress codes. There is always a tie hanging loosely, or a shirt mildly wrinkled, there might even be times when I found employees wearing flip-flops to work! So I feel that for us Indians, there is a dilemma of what falls under formal dressing, as our dressing is indigenous as well as western, breeding in confusion in the minds of many”, comments Apeksha Jain, a second-year B.Com programme student in Shaheed Bhagat Singh College.

The idea will be put to work from next semester. It will include an eclectic mix of Indo-Western. The culture of India hasn’t been restricted to just one type of clothing rules. Its our multicultural population and a nation tied in the twenty-first-century global village, that clothing perceptions need to be made aware to the students. It will be strict corporate formals on the odd Fridays and smart casuals on the even Fridays.

Every college has been asked to set up an Apparel Committee, which has to ensure students are following the dress code. They will be in close touch with the Class Representatives to get a good briefing, and inspections will be carried out at the college gates to ensure uniformity. Colleges which have established fashion and commerce societies have been requested to give seminars on the same and upload them as webinars on respective college websites. The Delhi University website will have a separate portal made for the Formal Friday concept. University-based bloggers have also been contacted for uploading look-books on their social media handles for students to get an idea of what is to be expected out of them.

So, are you ready for witnessing this harbinger of ethical joy?

 

Disclaimer: Bazinga is our weekly column of almost believable fake news. It is only to be appreciated and not accepted.

 

Feature Image Credits:  www.isme.in

 

Avnika Chhikara

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