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July 2012

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Guwahati Molestation: The Role of a Journalist

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The role of a journalist is to gather and report news. At certain times, such as the case with the recent Guwahati molestation, a reporter can be torn between his job as a broadcaster of news and his calling as a human being.

Without passing judgment on why the reporter chose to film the incident, let us think of the various situations that were presented to this journalist.

Watching a scene as horrifying as that unfold and taking no step to control the situation is akin to being a perpetrator of the crime itself. Here was a person, who stood there and watched the incident while condemning it (hopefully!) in his mind. This was a supposedly educated mob (logically linking from the fact that all were exiting from an expensive bar) who perpetrated the crime when a sole voice of reason could have stopped them.

Moving on from those who committed the crime, let us now focus on the victim. She is perhaps still caught in a state of trauma, having lost complete faith in humanity. Perhaps she wouldn’t have felt so, if someone or anyone had tried to help her. Perhaps that could once again establish her faith in life.

On the other hand, our society encourages and needs journalists who are ‘inhumane’, who choose to stand back and watch and in some cases – and record. In a nation like ours, we document more than 1 rape a day in the capital. It is so common now that it does not even warrant a mention in the front page of most leading dailies. Yet, India needs the shock-treatment in the form of a video to start a movement. There are rapes and molestations that cry themselves hoarse in search of justice and yet this girl in Guwahati, gets all the limelight. The reason being, her molestation was taped. What would have happened if the tape didn’t exist? Oh well, she would end up being just another victim of our inefficient justice system. Most of the mob would never be identified or dragged to court. So has the journalist done the girl a service here? Has he managed to ensure that the girl gets justice? Will this give her closure? A sense of peace?

Likewise, it’s believed that a journalist’s job is to be impartial and fair, which subsequently means that the journalist is to not engage in the brawl himself! And such behaviour has been rewarded too– Yazushi Nagaha won the 1961 Pulitzer Prize for the photograph of an assassination, where this journalist had to move 5 feet to adjust his lens-focus, valuable time in which he easily could have intercepted the murderer.

 

Arnav Das
[email protected]

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Campus Central

DU Playing Fair?

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At Hindu College

 

Admissions are probably the most chaotic time of the year for DU, well maybe they’ve taken a back-seat to the ever-controversial semester system, but they remain a prominently harrowing process nevertheless. With the fake-caste certificate scam and the Ramjas admission racket, the quota entry into DU is eyed with much suspicion. The sports quota is perhaps no exception.

However this year, the sports quota admissions at Delhi University apart from being decentralized, were also based on equal weightage for a candidate’s certificates and trial performance, unlike last year’s 75-25 ratio, which people tried to exploit through fake National and Zonal certificates.

“When there was no marking system, there was a possibility of manipulating the coach or team to get in. Even last year, students manipulated the marking system by getting fake certificates to satisfy the 75% weightage given to certificates. But this year, with the 50-50 weightage given to certificates and field trial, there is complete transparency. A lot of colleges, including ours, are videotaping the trials to be able to address any grievances later.” said Mr. Narendra Gaur, HOD Physical Education, Sri Venkateswara College.

As per the fresh guidelines notified by DU, the trials were conducted by a panel of representatives from the University Sports Council and an observer from the University Vice-Chancellor’s office. A physical fitness test preceded the trials and only shortlisted candidates are allowed to compete.

“Last year’s centralized sports trials caused a lot of hue and cry. But the system this year was very transparent. There was a check on colleges as the Sports Quota Admission Committee of each college was headed by the principal and also included sports experts from a confidential university-approved list. There was absolutely no possibility of any nexus between a student and the experts.” said Dr. Meera Sood, Secretary of Delhi University Sports Council (DUSC) about Sports Quota admissions this year.

Having changed the Sports Quota admission process two years in a row, DU seems determined to rule out any possibility of foul-play when it comes to quotas. “A few years back it was possible to get in through sports quota if you knew someone on the team, as the coach along with the team would take the trials. Obviously we never take bad players, since we have to play with them as a team, but it was a possibility all the same, and has perhaps even happened before. But with the new system, there’s no such chance, because the trials are supervised by experts from SAI (Sports Authority of India)”, said two members of the Hansraj and Hindu basketball teams.

 

Garima Verma
[email protected]

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Campus Central

Delhi University- A No Ragging Zone

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As the new batch of students started attending college from today, the 23rd of July, Delhi University has gone all out to enforce stringent anti-ragging measures, hoping to continue with the success of last year’s efforts when no ragging incidents were reported.

The DU website already declares its ‘Zero Tolerance to Ragging’ with posters informing students that ragging is strictly prohibited in all college, department and hostel premises. It also includes instructions on the Ragging Complaint Mechanism and the Anti-Ragging Helpline Number. Such posters have also been put up in metro stations. As per the University guidelines all colleges have set up individual Anti Ragging Cells and Squads to control and prevent such activities within the institutions.

The Delhi Police is also doinge their bit. Constables have been appointed outside colleges and specific metro stations to ensure ragging doesn’t take place even outside the campuses. Special attention has also been paid to colleges for girls, near which women cops will be stationed.

These measures are in addition to existing rules such as not allowing guests to stay at the hostels for the initial weeks, permitting students to enter their college only with Identity Cards and displaying anti ragging banners within the campus.

The University Grants Commission’s Regulations on curbing the menace of ragging include a long list of acts that constitute ragging. It includes any form of bullying, trauma, violence, abuse or embarrassment that may affect a student physically, sexually, mentally, emotionally or financially. The penalties for such activities have also clearly been mentioned. They include suspension, expulsion and cancellation of degree. In the year 2009 two students from Kirorimal College were expelled for ragging a junior, and a Mathematics student of Ramjas College was expelled last year.

Hoping to encourage healthy relations between seniors and juniors, many colleges are also organising induction programs during the initial days of the session.  It is an opportunity for freshers to talk to their seniors about the college, course and faculty.  A lot of freshers feel that such interactions are crucial in college life and most don’t consider ragging a problem unless taken too far.  “Unless it’s extreme, ragging is just light hearted fun. If the seniors stay within the limit, I don’t think it’s too serious an issue “, said a fuccha for English Honours at Kamala Nehru College.

As is evident, Delhi University is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that students remain safe and protected and so that they can start their first few days on a happy note.

 

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Campus Central

College Orientations in Delhi University

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Many colleges across Delhi University welcomed the new batch of students yesterday, the 2oth of July at the orientation programs organised at the respective campuses. Freshers, mostly accompanied by parents, got their first glimpse of college life and got a chance to interact with their new teachers and classmates.

Most orientations started with the respective college Principals welcoming the students and congratulating them for having gotten admission in DU, which is considered to be one of the most prestigious and established universities in India. What followed was a brief history of the institution and a description of the various courses and extra-curricular activities the college offered. After that, department specific orientations were held where detailed and course specific information was provided to the students.

Unlike most colleges, Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies held its orientation at The Conference Centre, North Campus. “The program was very interesting and well organised. It started off with the lighting of the lamp and a welcome address. Along with the Principal, and faculty members, a few college alumni also spoke to us about the college and its many societies and activities. After refreshments, there was an informal
discussion among the new and current students”, said Vatsal Khullar a fresher pursuing Bachelor of Business Studies at CBS.

Other colleges like Hindu and Deen Dayal Upadhyaya also had their orientation for the new batch of students yesterday. While colleges such as St.Stephen’s , Zakir Hussain and SRCC have scheduled it for this Sunday, Gargi, Kamla Nehru and a few others are set to welcome freshers on Monday, the 23rd of July.

 

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Arts Faculty

Top Hangout Spots in North Campus

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So you have made it to one of the colleges in North Campus and now you’re wondering what is beyond the big names and the college crowds in the place. You, dear fresher, don’t really have to worry about it at all. As awesome the crowds and colleges would be, you’ll just fall in love with North Campus and its little places. Here are some of the places you just *have* to check out this semester Kamla Nagar: Kamla Nagar is almost synonymous with the student crowds that throng it regardless they attend college or not. From McDonald’s to KFC’s to CCD’s to momo shops…you find it all! (Not a Pizza Hut though, unfortunately) Check out the latest trends in the Levi’s to Tommy Hilfiger’s in Kamla Nagar or just the cool street-side shopping experience. If you are a bookworm, you can easily sneak in an hour or two in the bookshops which have some good literary titles. If you are a party animal, check out ‘Wildfire’. Or maybe you are someone who loves to enjoy solitude. Well, then you can always sit in the chairs they put up near Barista Lavazza while the noise makers go to Malkaganj. ‘The Ridge’: Now if you don’t know what ‘The Ridge’ is, you will know soon enough. It is quiet, very green and clean too. Far from the crowds, here you can watch some playful monkeys, and cool off after the classes are over. Chances are you will end up watching animals while you jog! Arts Fac: Though it is generally a place where people go for their official work plus postgrad classes, the Arts Faculty, or popularly Arts Fac, is one of the most under-rated spots to hang out in the North Campus. Sit in the lawns, read, eat, watch people argue and then you can always take a walk around the campus that just inspires a calming effect on you. Also, you can have some Mishti Doi from the Mother Dairy stall just outside. D-School: Delhi School of Economics, fondly known as D-School is one of the best places to read, have cheap good food and listen to some old pensioners discuss the political affairs of the nation (loudly) in the evening. The J.P. Tea Stall is another feature in the D-School campus where most people can be found when they have nowhere to go. The Metro Station: Let’s face it north campus is cool because it has its own metro station. That, again, is nothing less than a hangout spot for students. You can find food, crowd, trees and a place to sit and talk with friends. Apart from these places, notable omissions from this list are Uncle Tom’s Maggie and the different college canteens because you will find Maggie everywhere in the campus. With this list of hangout places, this semester will certainly be a breeze for you; they just get cooler with time!   Priyam Goswami [email protected]]]>

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Beyond the Obvious of Delhi University Colleges

Kirori Mal College

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Beyond the obvious of-

Kirori Mal College

Credits: Additi Seth

It’s been two years for me in this college and trust me, when I look back I feel so exhilarated and honoured to have been a part of this esteemed institution. Undoubtedly, all the credit goes to my ultra-supportive teachers, ECA conveners and of course our Principal who has been supervising the ECA and academic functioning of KMC since 1999.

I could easily say that KMC has the best ECA scene in Delhi University. The Players is an esteemed theatre group that has made its mark at the national level. You’ll see intense actors from The Players all around college practicing day and night, directing plays, writing scripts and cracking jokes that would surely make you laugh. You would see people from Musoc jamming together, composing fusion songs and singing songs for students (on demand). Then there are people from Fine Arts sketching beautiful sceneries on the last page of their notebooks in seconds; and the photographers clicking pictures that are meant to be uploaded on their FB photography page. All this, together seems like an extravaganza, a carnival robed in smiles and limitless chilling around with folks.

In terms of infrastructure as well, college has lived up to my hopes. A sprawling and lovely Ashoka lawn right in front of the main college building adds to the college’s grandeur. The Commonwealth practice area is a ground for the footballers, cricketers and hockey players to hone their sporting skills and the college gym has all the latest IFBB approved equipment.

The college also has a fine line-up of teachers (and mentors) in north campus for the most sought-after courses like English, Economics, Statistics, Commerce, Geography and Mathematics: Geography and Statistics departments being the best in Delhi University. The recently constructed classrooms with projectors and well-furnished classrooms, state-of-the-art laboratories, common rooms and an elegant seminar room are a big hit among the students.

Much to the extent of my expectations, I got everything I had been looking for except for the auditorium which is in a primitive and broken state. The canteen could seem a little untidy, but the food is strikingly sumptuous and pocket-friendly. If you’re a Kirorian then you have to know Tingu Ji, who now is the unofficial college motto. He has been providing ‘not-so-easily-available’ goods and amenities (which I’m sure my fellow friends will understand) to the college students since more than 40 years.

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Beyond the Obvious of Delhi University Colleges

Hansraj College

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Beyond the obvious of-
Hansraj College

Credits: Additi Seth

A year ago, as I packed off all my school books and uniforms, I remember having thought wistfully about the future that was in store for me. College, at that time, was an abstract concept. MY ideal college, I had concluded would have two basic features: to be tolerant of juvenile fun, but also have a relaxed- open environment conductive for intellectual thinking.

A year later, being in Hansraj, I can safely say my life has far surpassed my expectations a year ago.
Faculty- Well, at least in my department, we have a really great faculty. I didn’t really expect the teachers to care about teaching in the college, to be completely honest. The reputation of the university preceded it. However, in this case, I was pleasantly surprised. The teachers actually want to teach, not merely complete the course. Our micro/ macro class is forever being spiced up by questions from the curious ones. One does regret missing a class because that does set us back. There is a studying culture. And this, if not anything else, is one of the biggest plus of being in Hansraj, because at the end of the day, one does come here to study.

Infrastructure wise, the college isn’t that impressive, contrary to my expectations. The classrooms are bleh, there are just two closely set staff rooms in the main building, making it really difficult for teachers to move to the upper floors, especially to the 3rd floor, where our class is situated. The girls’ common room, though comfortable and passable in construction, is lacking in numbers. However, there are new rooms being constructed, so maybe it’s set to change. The library is humungous, and air conditioned. The auditorium is enviable, overall- it lacks nothing, just a few strategically placed rooms.

One of the other qualms about it is being so far from the main gate, however since it’s located within a stone’s throw from the Kamla Nagar market, that more than makes up for it.

Finally, the thing that really sells me to the college is not its faculty, and definitely not its infrastructure. It’s the culture. It’s vibrant. It’s progressive. It allows you to grow as a person. I have more opportunities, more options than the ones I could even imagine back at school. The college is all about opening up to the world, exploring new dimensions- of the world and of your own personality.

Aayushi Gupta
IInd year

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