Latest
DU Beat – Delhi University's Independent Student Newspaper
Archive

2017

Browsing
Uncategorized

19 year old DU student molested, accused under arrest

By

A 19 year old student of the University of Delhi was molested by a 22 year old man on Friday, 18 August 2017. The accused has been arrested on the basis of a complaint filed by the woman.

In what comes across as a shocker, a student of the University of Delhi was reportedly molested at a metro station. The incident took place on Friday, 18 August 2017, when the girl had gone to the Pulbangash Metro Station in central Delhi along with her cousin.

The police said that 22 year-old Akshay Gupta was arrested on the basis of a complaint filed by the woman, as reported by India Today. The girl, 19 years old, alleged that the man crept up and started touching her inappropriately, before abusing her. This happened while she was entering the metro station with her cousin. Not only this, but the guy also threatened to kill her if she declined his friendship proposal. “When she refused, he started to issue threats. The woman called the police and he was apprehended from the spot,” replied an officer, as per a report on this issue by The Indian Express. She said that the accused had been stalking her for some time before.

The police have arrested the 22 year old after the complaint. The Deputy Commissioner of Police (Delhi Metro), Pankaj Kumar Singh, said that the case was lodged at the Rithala Metro Station and the man had since been arrested.

 

Image credits: The Indian Express

Karan Singhania

[email protected]

Keep Reading
By
Uncategorized

Is implementation of manifesto policies a lost cause in Delhi University?

By

The dictionary describes ‘manifesto’ as a public declaration of policy and aims issued by a political party before elections. These aims are issued to the voters to provide them with incentive to vote for the said party, since the party claims to turn their promises into actions by bringing about changes in status quo in the University of Delhi, as promised in their respective manifestos. However when you look at the archives by the two leading parties in Delhi University Student’s Union (DUSU) Elections, being Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and The National Students’ Union of India (NSUI), and make a comparison of the same since the past four years, you notice recurring themes, promises and policies made by both parties, year after year.

This repetition then leads us to the question: Are manifestos full of empty promises? Or, are these simple, promised policies unattainable in Delhi University?

National Students’ Union of India (NSUI)
For the academic year 2013-14, NSUI released their manifesto which seemed promising and inclusive as it spoke about policies such as “Right to accomodation” for outstation students, pointing out the shortcomings in Delhi University when it comes to hostels versus student ratio, policies to end racial discrimination and bullying, women’s safety in college campuses by installing CCTV cameras and deploying lady constables outside colleges, inculcating the budget of the university online and transport facilities like bus passes in DTC busses to be made available to DU students. The years to follow till 2016-17 still contain the exact same promises made by NSUI in their agenda back in 2013 with minute additions or adjustments.

Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP)

ABVP is the leading party in DUSU elections as it has seen consecutive wins for the last four years. Their manifestos, however, when compared, point out identical themes since 2013. ABVP’s main focus has been on issues such as building new colleges in Delhi University to accomodate more students, women’s safety in campus through self-defense classes and establishment of Women’s Develpment Cells, access to E-libraries and WiFi connectivity and safety for north-eastern students.

Year after year, since 2013, the two popular parties have (despite holding office in majority of the posts) made the same utopian-seeming promises with no solutions in sight in the near future. One can only hope the “promises made, never fulfilled” barb doesn’t continue as Delhi University is nearing its annual Students’ Union Elections for 2017.

 

Image credits: Brown University

Bhavya Banerjee

[email protected]

Keep Reading
By
Uncategorized

Leave me alone: First day of period leave

By

The “First Day of Period Leave” grants paid leave to female employees on the first day of menstruation. Will this move break the general taboo around menstruation or will it reinforce sexism in the working space?

Brinda Karat, a CPM leader told NDTV, “The employer should be legally bound to give menstrual leave over and above legal rights of all employees.” For those who have been living under a rock, menstruation is a biological process in females which comes with its dose of various physical impediments, like cramps, headache, fatigue, acne and indigestion disabling potential and concentration. Taking this into consideration, a few organisations in India made legal provisions for a menstrual leave on the first day of menstruation and the employee has the agency to decide whether she wants it or not.

This strategy was met by many debates that pondered the practicality of the rules and focused on the various particularities. This policy would in a way help the female employee gain social recognition as a “worker” and it would enable the female employees to openly address their bodily functions. It would also eliminate the social stigma around menstruation and further contributing to the normalization of the discussion of female bodily functions. Hopefully, it would someday also bring an end to the shaming and mocking of natural processes in women.

However, counter arguments were made saying that this policy would reinforce sexism in the working space. Employers would be compelled to hire less female employees and it would make it harder for women to find jobs with each interview bearing the question “Do you have painful menstruations?” It would further result in a breach of their privacy, especially for the ones who are not comfortable with addressing it. Furthermore, not all women experience excruciating pain during their periods, so there could always be a chance of misusing the policy. It would eventually result in the calling women “inefficient” workers.

In the Indian context, a menstruating woman have always been a marginalised member of the society and disregarded to the point where they die in menstrual huts. Sanitary pads are taxed as a luxury. Women are taught to stay shut about their natural body processes. In the face of all this victimization, a leave could be both a salvation and a damnation. The feasibility of the #FOP strategy needs to be thoroughly discussed before imposing it, keeping in mind that even though each woman menstruates differently from the other, none the less it is a vexation to all.

 

Image Credits: Bevy Blog

 

Trishala Dutta

[email protected]

Keep Reading
By
Uncategorized

DU School of Journalism to open registrations from 23 August, classes begin from 26 September

By

Delhi University’s School of Journalism will be admitting its first batch of students this year and the registration procedure for the same will commence from August 23. The registration for the five-year integrated course will continue till Sept 3, 2017.  The entrance for the same is scheduled to take place on 17th September.

The admission process will entail a national level entrance test which will be regulated by the university. Students with an aggregate of 50% in Class XII, regardless of their stream will be eligible to sit for the exam. The test will evaluate the aspirant’s expertise in current affairs, general knowledge and analytical and comprehension skills.

The registration fee for the general and OBC category candidates is Rs. 500 and the same for SC/ST category candidates is Rs. 250. The entrance in English will take place from 9-11 am, and the one in Hindi will take place from 2-4 pm. Both programmes will grant admission to sixty students each.

Since it is an integrated course, students can opt themselves out after completing their bachelors. However, if seats remain vacant at the end of three years, new batch of students will be permitted to sit for an entrance test for the post-graduation course.

Image credits: www.du.ac.in

Lakshita Arora

[email protected]

Keep Reading
By
DUB News

DU changes policy for calculation of ad-hoc teachers’ teaching experience points

By

The recent policy change in calculation of points for teaching experience will affect hundreds of DU’s ad-hoc teachers.

In an environment where ad-hoc teachers face uncertainty and battle for fair-play on a daily basis, the University of Delhi (DU) has come up with a new policy which could make things even more difficult. In this unprecedented move which only tips the scales further, DU has altered the 2013 University ordinance which allotted twenty points for teaching experience. According to the new policy, one year of teaching experience will now equal a mere four points. But if the teacher has five years of teaching experience, he or she shall be rewarded twenty points.

The magnitude of blatant disregard for ad-hoc teachers’ toil, experience and time is clear in the policy which slashes the points rewarded in a brutal manner. It is expected to affect as many as 4,500 ad-hoc teachers vying for permanent positions. A report by The Indian Express marks out how significant these points are during the screening process for permanent recruitment.

Pankaj Garg, a Mathematics lecturer and member of the academic council, spoke to The Indian Express on this issue, stating: “We have submitted a new formula to Dean of College and coordinator core committee screening for calculating points of teaching experience.” Indeed, the teachers and members of the academic and executive council have been unanimously vocal in their condemnation of the new policy, while actively raising an objection to it. The massive reduction in points not only affects the current teachers, but will also have an adverse impact on the points for teaching experience calculated for the future generations of DU’s lecturers.

This change, brought about after the University centralised the screening process for recruitment of assistant professors, leaves not only the current ad-hoc teachers, but also the students who might have desired to become university lecturers one day in the future, in an utter flux. Such unforeseen and adverse policy changes on the part of a major, reputable central university like DU, do not reflect well upon the state of higher education in government institutions. They are only the mirror reflections of a sad, deeply infested public education system, now rotting away at its core. While a University official refused to comment beyond stating to The Indian Express that they would look into the issue, only time will tell which side finally wins, and whether or not the ad-hoc teachers get their due.

Feature Image Credits: The Indian Express

Deepannita Misra

[email protected]

 

Keep Reading
By
DUSU Elections 2017

National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) releases manifesto for DUSU elections

By

The National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) launched its manifesto for the DUSU elections and kickstarted its “Take Back DU” campaign in a press conference on 17th August. The four-page manifesto which was released on the occasion talks about democracy and freedom on campus, ensuring equal opportunities, and making Delhi University more affordable. The motto of NSUI’s campaign for 2017 is “Take Back DU”, implying that the Congress-affiliated students’ wing wants to restore the peace in the campus, opposing the recent violence that occurred in the University.

Speaking on the occasion, Fairoz Khan, the national President of the party said that the campus has now become a place of fear and violence for its students. NSUI aims to change this atmosphere within the campus. He also informed that NSUI aims to conduct an issue-based campaign without the use of money and muscle power in an attempt to bring a gradual shift in DUSU politics. “The manifesto has been made by interacting with all the students of the University. We also aim to encourage exchange programmes between the colleges,” he said.

Ruchi Gupta, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) NSUI in-charge talked about the three aspects of the manifesto. She identified them as follows. “The first being democracy on campus and different aspects of democracy. The second thing we are targeting in our manifesto is equal opportunities and affirmative action. The third thing is to talk about access – physical and financial – to Delhi University.”

The party aims to “Take Back DU” and make sure that there is democratic control over the campus. It also wants to tackle issues such as difference of fees in colleges, the atmosphere of fear on the campus, the ideological conflict amongst parties, and seat cuts in courses all over Delhi University.

 

Feature Image Credits: NSUI

Anagha Rakta
[email protected]

Keep Reading
By
Bazinga

Bazinga- DU to give out reserved category seats through management quota

By

By the next academic year, aspirants may get admission in Delhi University even if they score a 60%. Here’s how.

 

Starting next academic year, the University of Delhi is all set to introduce management quota in lieu of conducting special admissions drive for seats left vacant under the reserved category. This change comes as a much needed respite for both students and officials involved in the admissions procedure. A special admissions officer under the condition of anonymity, said, “The admissions committee believes that the recently concluded special admissions drive for reserved category students was a futile effort. It’s better to give out seats than leave them unoccupied.”

 

This move also comes as a blessing in disguise for the 28 DU colleges whose funding was recently discontinued by the Delhi Government. Adding to the widely discussed issue, the Executive Council announced that the University is slowly inching towards self-financing. The council has not yet resolved to remove the clause of funding by University Grants Commission (UGC) from the Delhi University Act, but has amended existing ordinances in favour of management seats.

 

With the introduction of management quota, funding for DU colleges will no longer remain an issue. According to research analysts, the cost of a single seat at a prestigious college’s coveted course can cost around 10 lakhs, or even more, depending on the demand. The academic council has not fixed any criteria for application, and hence it will entirely be on the basis of money and not merit. Over 5000 seats go empty every year after the 6th and 7th lists, and if you do simple math, the money received from this would be immense.

 

Unfortunately, a full-fledged quota with a fixed percentage like those observed in private colleges will not be implemented any soon. Only the sparse vacant seats that had originally been allotted to reserved category candidates will be given out. This is because introduction of seats given out under the discretion of the management implies privatisation, which would ‘tarnish’ Delhi University’s image as a premier institution for higher studies. Moreover, such a move would invite legal trouble for the university.

 

While most DU aspirants are welcoming the decision, the existing students are full of apprehensions. Most 2nd and 3rd year students are under the impression that implementation of a management quota would also result in greater autonomy for colleges, which may lead to a subsequent fee hike across all courses. One of the 3rd year students said, “I wish to see a revamped version of the shabby infrastructure of my college. I really hope the rumours about higher fees are false, though. ”

 

The solution posed to fill vacant reserved seats is definitely interesting, but chances are that it would lead to extreme complications. An incline towards a self-financing model means lack of transparency and a slow, consequent privatisation of the institution. The legacy of Delhi University as a premier government funded body might die soon, if the matter goes out of hand. We can, nevertheless, expect better infrastructure and facilities, and fewer pamphlets of touts claiming to give aspirants a seat in the course and college of their choice.

 

Feature Image Credits: Hindustan Times

Keep Reading
By
The Auburn Umbrella

Auburn Umbrella-How to take care of colored hair

By

Just got your hair colored and worried about the collateral damages to your luscious locks? Auburn is here to save the day!

It is so much fun to give your hair a pop of color with some hair dye every now and then. But hair coloring comes with responsibilities like taking actual care of it, unless you want your strands to look deep fried.

Here are some easy tips and tricks to keep those colorful locks in check!

 

  • Get it trimmed:Right after any kind of chemical processing, it is a good idea to get your hair trimmed a little to get rid of those frayed ends. If you are coloring only your tips, make sure you get a little extra length colored and you can get the rest chopped off. Tell your hairdresser that you want a light trim, so your colored hair don’t go to waste. Get a regular trim every now and then as colored hair is prone to split ends and frayed ends.

 

  • Invest in quality products: You need to keep your freshly colored hair protected with some good quality hair products. Buy a color-protecting shampoo and conditioner and always wash your hair with cold water. Do away with any heat products like hair straighteners or curl irons. Buy a soothing serum (this will be your best friend) and use it everyday to avoid frizz and dullness. You can also invest in leave-on conditioner or dry shampoo to minimise washing your colored hair away.

 

  • Compensate for the loss:After chemically coloring the hair, dryness becomes an everyday challenge. Compensate for the lost moisture with oiling your hair every week with coconut or olive oil. Breakage is also common after treating hair and it is recommended to use protein on those locks to keep them healthy. Weekly apply DIY hair packs made using natural ingredients like yogurt, egg, banana etc. to restore the strength of your hair.
  • Protect:This one is tough, but by being dedicated and careful, this won’t be a difficult task! All you have to do is protect your hair from everyday things like dust, sun and rain because these things can damage your colored hair even further. Using a scarf or an umbrella while you’re out in the daytime or avoiding stepping into chlorine-treated water (in swimming pools, etc) can go a long way in preventing the extra damage.

 

So there you have it. Even though all you want to do is be a carefree soul with your bright, colored hair – these tips will definitely help you in looking after your beautiful colored hair in the long run!

 

Feature Image Credits: Jean Louis Davis

 

Anagha Rakta

[email protected] 

Keep Reading
By
Campus Central

Enthusiasm of College Societies Taking Over!

By

Admissions are almost over and college societies have started their recruitment process. The freshers, ever so willingly try and make it to the society they wish to be a part of.

Most of the admissions have now been done and dusted and students are getting more familiar with their college. Another eventful phase of admissions is now slowly fading away and freshers might be getting an idea as to how their next year is going to be. They have all waited long enough and worked rigorously to be in the university they once dreamt of. And college societies are something everyone looks up to. Apart from academics, everyone wants to do something more and college societies offer them with the exact opportunity.

All of us have our personal interests and hobbies. Some like to dance while some like to act while some like to write and so on. And once we step into DU colleges, we are acquainted with the various societies based on different fields that are run and sustained by the students themselves. From theatre to entrepreneurship, there is a society that coincides our interests and provides us the platform to work in that area. Be it organizing a college fest or performing in a national level competition, DU societies offer it all.

One cannot simply let go of the chance to have a possibly wonderful experience and doing something extra. This enthusiasm of students, particularly freshers show up once the society recruitments take place. And it is the month where all the societies look for recruitments. Tens of desks are set up with posters or flex that read out the society name with a few guys all sitting with a pen and a piece of paper sit all day long. Hundreds of curious students enquire about the work and functioning of these societies and register themselves as an applicant. Seminar rooms and halls are always booked throughout the week where various societies conduct their orientation. Students carrying their bags rush into these halls in order to get a seat before it’s all full. One can peek in these rooms and see the entire crowd listening to the society members talking about their society and experiences.

Students miss their classes in order to attend a GD or a PI or maybe give an audition to showcase their potential and hopefully be a part of the society they look forward to. Round tables have students around them debating over issues or giving their opinion on current affairs. Everybody tries to convince the interviewing panel that they will be a good fit in the society. These interviews can either be smooth or be very grilling. Some come out of it confident while some have disappointed faces reeling after having a tough time during it. It all happens. It always does.  This little one month phase is the defining phase for hundreds of these students who apply to be a part of societies. This phase is what will somewhat determine how their next year is gonna be.

The intensity of the recruitment process is natural given the scale these college societies cover. They provide an insight of their respective fields and serve as the perfect platform for willing students. Particularly in DU, various societies are very active and are extremely objective oriented. They help in nurturing the aspiring and inculcating interest in others. They help the students develop themselves. And the curiosity to be a part of these societies is evident in the way students apply in them. And it won’t be wrong to say that this aura of enthusiasm is the key to the successful functioning of DU college societies which has resulted in creating a college society culture like no other.

 

Feature Image Credits: DUB Archives

Karan Singhania

[email protected]

 

Keep Reading
By
News

DU sends list of governing bodies in a last-minute save

By

DU has finally sent in a list of the governing bodies of its colleges. Here’s a quick run-down of events that lead up to Delhi government’s massive decision to freeze funds for the 28 colleges it funded. 

 

In what can be called a last minute miraculous save, the University of Delhi has finally sent a list of names for governing bodies of the 28 Delhi University colleges to the Delhi government. This is in response to the Delhi government’s repeated reminders and an ultimate threat to withdraw support for the 28 colleges it funds. On 31st July, Manish Sisodia announced a landmark decision to freeze funds since the respective colleges had failed to form governing bodies in time.

Devesh Sinha, the Dean of Colleges confirmed that DU had sent the list of the reviewed panel, and said, “A few changes were made to the list and it was sent to the Directorate of Education”. He also mentioned that the Executive Council has tried to maintain a diversity of occupations and included at least 2 female candidates. When he was questioned by Indian Express about the delay in the formation of the governing bodies 2 weeks back, he had said, “Since our Vice Chancellor and other top officials are involved in the Law Faculty interviews, there has been some delay in the process.”

The Directorate of Education is yet to verify if it received any list concerning this.

In what has been a to-and-fro of documents since long, the saga has been ongoing since October last year. The term for the last governing bodies ended in October 2016. According to a picture tweeted by Sisodia detailing the sequence of events, repeated reminders were sent to Delhi University by the Director of Higher Education, Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi(GNCTD).

In February this year, a panel of names was sent to GNCTD. The government then sent its recommended panel to Delhi University for approval. Since then, the list has been hanging, either due to a change required in the format or the list not being approved by the Executive Council of DU. Finally, the list was passed albeit after tweaking minor changes, to include recommendations from diverse backgrounds and evenly divide. The governing body of a college comprises of five members from the university panel, five members from the government, two university representatives, two representatives of the college faculty and the college principal. An ideal governing body consists of a wide range of members to ensure a healthy mix of lawyers, educationists, journalists etc.

Delhi government’s decision to hold on to funds had sparked a huge furor among both, students and teachers. Members of ABVP challenged the move and burnt an effigy of Sisidoa on 31st July near the Faculty of Arts, North Campus. The National Democratic Teachers’ Federation, too, protested against the government’s decisions citing financial reasons. According to sources, 360 crore is annually allotted to those 28 colleges. With the list finally sent, it remains a dubious question if the decision to freeze funds would be pulled back.

 

Image credits- Financial Express

 

Vijeata Balani

[email protected]

Keep Reading
By