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How ‘free’ and ‘independent’ is our University?

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Our country has been independent of foreign rule for 67 years now. We’ve been fortunate enough to grow up in an India whose laws and policies are made by its own people. We’re even more fortunate to be a part of a small section in India that can read and write. And while we’re counting your blessings, maybe we should also consider ourselves lucky to be part of a miniscule population of young people in India who are able to manage a decent University level education. Now that we are thinking along these lines, lets think about what it’s like to be part of the ‘best’ University in India. Think about what we really know about the University of Delhi. How ‘free’ is this University we go to? How ‘free’ are we?

Are we free enough to choose not to study a particular language to match up to a certain standard of ‘Indian-ness’? Are we free enough to walk up to our Vice Chancellor, tell him we don’t agree with him? Or even our Principal? Are we free to decide what papers are ‘foundational’ to our Undergraduate education? Are we consulted every time there is a fee hike? How many protests have made a difference? How many of us actually care enough to participate in the Student’s Union elections – possibly our first experience of active democracy?

What is freedom to this University if something as essential as a new syllabus is made without consulting a body of teachers who have been teaching the subject for half their lives? What does technology mean to students who don’t even have enough chairs and tables in their classrooms? We’ve celebrated Independence Day in most colleges of the University, we’ve garlanded statues, remembered martyrs, but we’re not even slightly aware of what this freedom is meant for.  We – the future of this country; we – the torchbearers of the best university in the country; we, belonging to a University famous for producing the greatest contemporary thinkers this country has seen.

Freedom obviously comes at great cost. Its funny how being from a privileged, educated and well read India, many of us still haven’t been able to experience what it really means to be free. Many of us may never know.  The very establishment of Delhi University in 1922 took place as an attempt to free young minds of the country. 67 years after achieving formal freedom, it’s only upsetting this Grand University is being colonized by its own officials. From the Four Year Undergraduate Programme to the DUSU Elections, from hunger strikes to petitions and memorandums – teachers, students and administrative staff have no reason to celebrate freedom, no reason to feel free in a space ‘’where the mind is meant to be without fear, and the head is supposed to be held high.’’

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Events

LEAD MUN ’13 Delegate Applications are now open!

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LEAD MUN 2013 is a three-day Model UN Conference powered by the highest performing local chapter of the world’s largest youth run organisation – AIESEC Delhi University. For first-timers – a Model UN Conference is an academic simulation of the UN which gives the participant a chance to step into the shoes of a diplomat, debate, discuss and resolve pressing global issues.

Why you should participate in LEAD MUN 2013?

Very briefly, it is important for an individual’s development to challenge oneself and leave one’s comfort zone to participate in a conference, representing a nation completely different from their home country. You will gain knowledge, experience, have fun and make friends and memories. The most experienced Executive Board and pressing agendas await you.

Apart from the General Assembly, the Security Council and the Human Rights Council, this year LEAD MUN shall be simulating, for the first time in the history of MUNS, Cripps Mission to India, 1946.

Delegate Applications for LEAD MUN 2013 are now OPEN – You don’t want to miss this! Apply now!

You could leave a message on LEAD MUN’s official Facebook page or mail them at [email protected] and they will help you understand the concept of Model UN.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1kBlYk5F6_ar0UdRvUS6E2pgUK75Cr7f_todSECdeG5M/viewform

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Admissions 2013

PG Hunting in North Campus

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With the admission hurdle almost past, the next thing that is now on the minds of outstation DU freshers is looking for the right accommodation to spend the coming four years in. Since most colleges don’t provide a hostel facility, students are obligated to look for alternative accommodation like PGs, and so begins the rather difficult task of finding an affordable and comfortable PG.  Following is a compilation of the details of some PGs in North Campus-

  • Aanchal Residential Accommodation for Girls offers facilities such as A.C. rooms, WiFi enabled premise, medical and first aid facilities, housekeeping and laundry facility and other necessary facilities. Address: G-14, Single Storey, Vijay Nagar. Contact: 9899554491, 9911554454, 9213786744, [email protected]
  • Home-2 is a PG accommodation for girls, offering single/ two/ three-seater rooms and A.C. rooms with boarding and lodging. Other facilities include television, refrigerated water, security guard services and a hygienic, homely and secure environment. It is walking distance from the Campus and from the Metro (GTB Nagar and Vishwavidyalaya). Address: E-9, Vijay Nagar, Single Storey, Nr. Community Centre, Polo Road, New Delhi-110009. Contact: 9310365050, 9350685050, 9350615050, 011-20467231.
  • Shakun Sadan is a PG for girls. It is newly built, with a posh set up and a roof garden. Facilities like A.C./non-A.C. rooms, WiFi, T.V., full security are provided. Electricity and water are free and there also a provision for a kitchen. Address: E-134, Kamla Nagar Contact: Prof. M.L. Gupta 9810083501.
  • Garvita Niwas is a girls’ PG offering services like WiFi, four meals a day, A.C. rooms, attached toilets and laundry facilities. Address: F-55/56, Kamla Nagar, near Stellatoes, behind Udipi, New Delhi Contact: 9312838925.
  • She Dreams is a girls’ accommodation with fully furnished rooms, providing all necessary facilities. Address: 5-UB, Jawahar Nagar Contact: 9310013035, 9818805788.
  • Anand Niwas is a PG for boys offering services like WiFi, four meals a day, A.C. rooms, attached toilets and laundry facilities. Address: 30-UB, Jawahar Nagar, near McDonald’s, Kamla Nagar, New Delhi Contact: 9873242883.
  • Sawhney Niwas is a boys’ accommodation with fully furnished rooms, providing all necessary facilities. Address: A-9, Kamla Nagar Contact: 9310013035, 9910907258.
  • Bhagwati Niwas is a girls’ PG providing all necessary facilities. Address: 37, 1st floor, Bunglow Road, Kamla Nagar, opposite Amitabh Banquet Contact: 011-47046104, 9899965598, 9213990212.
Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post.]]>

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Events

AIESEC in Delhi University conducts a successful Udaan ’13 pre-event

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On July 9, another UDAAN pre-event was conducted by AIESEC in Delhi University at the Nehru Planetarium and Memorial. Around 200 children from NGOs such as Katkatha, Bal Sahyog and Akshardham were taken to the planetarium.

The event began with jives and some activities for the children. They were then taught about the solar system and were shown around. A short film was also telecasted for the children. The volunteers played games with the children and everybody had a nice time. Named after a great freedom fighter who was famous for his love for children, the venue couldn’t have been more appropriate. Our food partners, Cossenuire Frozen Foods (Delish) provided the kids with food.

With another pre-event conducted so successfully, preparations for UDAAN have begun in full swing. One volunteer shares his experience, “Udaan’13  lets you be the impact by touching lives of deprived young minds by creating memories and experience of a life-time for them”. To volunteer for UDAAN, register at http://goo.gl/bpLMO

-AIESEC Delhi University Press Release
Connect with them https://www.facebook.com/aiesecdelhiuniversity | https://twitter.com/aiesec_du

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Events

Udaan by AIESEC in Delhi University – Spread Happiness among the Less Fortunate

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UDAAN is an initiative of AIESEC in Delhi University to bring out the talent in every underprivileged child. The series of events give opportunities to underprivileged children to exhibit their talent by expressing themselves through cultural workshops and various competitions.

On July 6, AIESEC in Delhi University organised a pre-event to kickstart the event which has now become synonymous with AIESEC. Thirty four volunteers and a seven member organizing committee took 500 children from the NGO Chetanalya to the National Museum and showed them around. The excited children first had kirtan, a pooja, which instilled happiness and lifted everyone’s spirits. The joy was evident from the spontaneous dance they all burst into. They were then shown the movie based on The Battle of Plassey. After the movie, Iskon, our food relief partners provided the children with food. It was one memorable day for the children, and the joy on their faces was a heart rendering sight for the volunteers. One of the volunteers said “The kids really enjoyed and came out of their comfort zone, they saw a movie at the Museum which they will never actually see in their life otherwise”.

AIESEC in Delhi University is proud to have spread happiness among the less fortunate. The pre-event was a definite success. The next event will be taking place on the 9th at the Nehru Planetarium.  To volunteer with AIESEC for Udaan 2013, register at http://goo.gl/bpLMO

-AIESEC Delhi University Press Release
Connect with them https://www.facebook.com/aiesecdelhiuniversity | https://twitter.com/aiesec_du

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Admissions 2013

Sanskrit honours redesigned under the FYUP

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Sanskrit, as everyone knows, is an ancient Indic language. Also referred as the language of Hinduism and the Vedas, it is the classical literary language of India.

The makers of the Four Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUP) however, have given Sanskrit a new form.

Under the FYUP, there will now be various courses in theatre, self-management, Indian scientific heritage and dramatics by the Department of Sanskrit, University of Delhi. Any student from Sanskrit Honours will study these courses as a part of Discipline Courses – I, which includes core subjects. There is also an introduction of archaeological subject matters such as Indian epigraphy, paleography and chronology. Students will get a chance to study climatology, ayurveda, ecology, archaeology and yoga with this modification.

“In Discipline-1, from the total of 20 subjects, 18 are intact and changes are made to 2 of them and in Discipline-2, students will be able to learn subjects like Yoga, Upanishad, etc, which will make them understand their culture better,” said Dr. Punita Sharma, Associate Professor, Sanskrit Department, Sri Venkateshwara College.

28 colleges of the University offer B.A. Sanskrit (Honours) as a course and 40 colleges will teach Sanskrit at Discipline 2. There are many part time courses run by the University which includes Diploma and Certificate Course in Sanskrit.

“According to me, students in Second Year (III Semester) should be given free option while choosing their subjects and choices should be made from all the subjects being taught at the college, removing restrictions, so that the main purpose remains undefeated.” added Dr. Punita.

The sole purpose behind this redo is to change people’s and students mindset about Sanskrit as a subject and to make them realize its grandness and importance in this new world. Also, this is to ensure that students keep up with the demands of the job market scenario.

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Admissions 2013

Fourth cut-off announced for several DU colleges

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As the admission season (entire Admissions 2013 coverage) at Delhi University brings us to the fourth cut-off, one would expect that most courses should be ‘sold out’ in the General category. But several admissions, withdrawals and re-admissions later, the availability at a few colleges might mean hope for a few students. Though the official university announcement is set to come on 8th July, several colleges have already declared their individual fourth cut-off. While Hans Raj has closed admissions only for Botany and History in the General category, LSR is now open only for History.

Hans Raj is still offering admissions in Commerce, but the General category cut-off stays the same as the third cut-off at 96.5 – 98. There is a dip however in the reserved category cut-offs. The story of English at Hans Raj is a little different with a 1.5 decrease for Humanities students.

English hopefuls with a commerce background might have a tough time getting into Miranda. While the English cut-off for Humanities has been lowered to 92.5 from the 94 in the third cut-off, the bar that was at 97.5 for Commerce students in the first cut-off happens to stay the same even now.

Victimised by over-admissions, Gargi is closed for all subjects except for Commerce.

Ram Lal Anand’s controversial 100 for Non-science students wishing to pursue Computer Science is now at 98.5, while Science students require 93.5 to seek admission. Acharya Nar. Dev and Hans Raj are still open for admissions into the course.

Commerce aspirants can still apply in Hans Raj, Gargi, CVS, Kirori Mal, Shivaji and Daulat Ram College. LSR, Ramjas and Shaheed Bhagat Singh College have closed admissions for the course.

Admissions for the fourth cut-off will last from Monday, 8th July to Wednesday, 10th July.

All the best candidates!

Update on 7th July: Delhi University has released the official fourth cut-off list. Here are the links to the same – Arts and Commerce Courses | Science Courses | B.Tech Courses

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News

DU website crashes leaving students anxious

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website-crash

Delhi University declared the results of May/June 2013 examination for several courses on 2nd July. Twelve courses had their results announced leading to several hundred frenzied students logging on to the DU website to check them. Unable to handle the traffic, the site crashed. ‘The web page is not available’ is all that the students saw and no amount of hitting refresh helped.

“The fact is unless you check the result in the middle of the night when the traffic has thinned out, you shall be stuck up for at least forty minutes on the site.” said a disgruntled Rahul Sharma of Venkateshvara College. Since the declaration, the site has been continuously crashing and the problem still continues.

Rahul’s statement was reaffirmed when students reported on our Facebook post that after continuous trials that went in vain, few students were able to check the result at around 4 a.m. Once the normal traffic on the website came back, so did the crashing problem.

It is ludicrous that the website of one of the top universities in the country cannot even handle one fourth of the students it admits logging on to its server. The site definitely needs reform.

Update: The Delhi University result portal is now active. You can check your results here: http://duexam.du.ac.in/RSLT_MJ2013/Students/List_of_Declare_RSLT.aspx

https://dubeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/cutoff.jpg

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Campus Central

Delhi University Colleges: Metro routes

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College Nearest Metro Station Metro Line Acharya Nar. Dev  Govindpuri  Violet Aditi Mahavidyalaya  Rithala  Red A.R.S.D AIIMS Yellow Bhagini Nivedita  Dwarka Mor Blue Bharti College Janakpuri East Blue Bhim Rao Ambedkar  Anand Vihar Blue CVS  Malviya Nagar/Saket Yello Daulat Ram Vishwavidyalaya Yellow Deen Dayal Upadhayaya Moti Nagar Blue Delhi College of Arts and Commerce AIIMS/INA Yellow Deshbandhu Govind Puri Violet Ramanujan Govind Puri Violet Dyal Singh College  JLN Stadium  Violet Gargi Green Park Yellow Hans Raj Vishwavidyalaya Yellow Hindu Vishwavidyalaya Yellow I.P. College Civil Lines Yellow Janki Devi Memorial Karol Bagh Blue Jesus and Mary College INA Yellow Kamala Nehru Green Park Yellow Keshav Mahavidyalaya Pitampura Red Kirori Mal College Vishwavidyalaya Yellow Lady Shri Ram College for Women Moolchand/Kailash Colony Violet Laxmibai College  Shastri Park Red Maharaja Agrasen College Mayur Vihar Ph 1 Blue Maitreyi College INA Yellow Mata Sundri College Rajiv Chowk Blue/Yellow Miranda House Vishwavidyalaya Yellow Motil Lal Nehru AIIMS Yellow P.G.D.A.V.  Lajpat Nagar Violet Rajdhani Rajouri Garden Blue Ram Lal Anand AIIMS Yellow Ramjas Vishwavidyalaya Yellow Satyawati Co-Ed.  Azadpur Yellow Shaheed Bhagat Singh College  Malviya Nagar  Yellow Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies Karkarduma Blue Shri Ram Coll. of Commerce. Vishwavidyalaya Yellow S.G.G.S. Coll. of Commerce. Netaji Subhash Place Red S.G.T.B. Khalsa Vishwavidyalaya Yellow S.G.N.D. Khalsa  Shastri Nagar Red Shivaji College  Rajouri Garden Blue Shyama Prasad Mukherjee College  Punjabi Bagh (W) Green Shyam Lal College Shahdara  Red Sri Aurobindo Malviya Nagar Yellow Sri Venkateswara AIIMS Yellow St. Stephens Vishwavidyalaya Yellow Zakir Husain New Delhi Yellow Image Credit: DU and DMRC official websites.]]>

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Admissions 2013

Journalism and Mass Communication under FYUP: Course analysis

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journo-wp
Journalism as a course was offered in five colleges of Delhi University presumably, Delhi College of Arts and Commerce, Kamala Nehru College, Lady Shri Ram College, Maharaja Agrasen and Kalindi College. A separate Honours programme in Mass Media and Mass Communication was available in Indraprastha College for Women, only. The new 4-year undergraduate programme has amalgamated these courses into a single entity: Bachelor in Journalism and Mass communication (BJMC), offered in all 6 colleges.

As per the FYUP guidelines, students of this subject will have to take up 30 subjects in their course of study. The course located within the Faculty of Applied Social Sciences and Humanities (FASSH), has been designed to provide theoretical and practical knowledge, with the help of four skills based papers, and provides the students with technical skills to help them in their careers.

Admission: Cut off list based on merit

How different is the course now?
From a shift to Journalism and Mass Communication from plain old Journalism, a change is somewhat expected. However, when given a look at the course, it still happens to be extremely dominated by Journalism. The papers in the first year have been minimized to two per semester as opposed to the four earlier. While many papers have been shuffled to different years, a lot have been completely removed, for e.g.: Indian State and Democratic Polity, Indian Economy and Business and International Politics, find no place in the current system. Also, a contemporary paper like  – ‘IT and Online Journalism’ earlier taught in the first semester, has been dissolved into New Media (Semester 3) and Online Journalism (Semester 7) in the new FYUP.

Practical or Theory?
With the obvious decrease in theory papers, many papers from the earlier system find themselves extinct in the current programme or are amalgamated with various other subjects to create a new paper which represents them faintly. For e.g.: Global Politics and the media, in the 6th semester of FYUP, has extractions from various previous papers.  There is an increase in skill based papers which give practical hand on knowledge, like Print Production (Semester 3), Writing and reporting for Print (Semester 4), Documentary Production (Semester 6) and others. The course is definitely no longer just theory based. There are practical subjects in four semesters while two others have research based projects similar to the previous model of a dissertation. Papers such as Media and Cultural Studies and History of Media have survived the brunt of the FYUP, keeping the media theory bits intact.

Discipline Courses – IIWhile Political Science and Economics papers have been scrapped in the new system, the concept of ‘minor’ or DC-II courses might enable students to experience subjects such as Political Science and Sociology. With the present uncertainty around the concept, depending upon the college you are studying in you might be given a choice for your minor field. Most probably, these options would include courses such as English, Sociology and Political Science. You would then be doing six papers in the subject that would be your minor. So in the end if you do get to have Political Science as a minor subject, you would actually be studying more of the subject than in the previous system.

Applied Courses
One of the positive attributes of the FYUP, are the Applied Courses. While in the earlier system, Documentary production was a voluntary activity with no merit awarded to it and photography skills had to be acquired outside of college, FYUP carves out dedicated papers to this skill based subjects. Print Production (Semester 3), teaches students the various design softwares needed in print media. Still Photography (Sem 4) emphasizes on the importance of still photography in media and gives foundation knowledge on composition and framing alongside technical know how. Documentary Production (Semester 6), will provide specialized knowledge for Radio and Video Documentary. The final product of this paper will be a 12-min documentary by the students.

(Journalism and Mass Communication 2013 cut-off)

Expected workload
The students can enjoy a load free first year but there is an incremental increase in difficulty and subjects with each year, as opposed to the firm, four papers every year, in the previous programme. The students will have to manage their time and workload in the third year especially, with five papers at hand. Practical paper based projects will tend to take up a lot more time and energy of the student.

Scope for co-curriculars
Being a professional degree course, Journalism takes up a lot of time of the students, with classes six days a week. But, in the present system there is a relief in the first and second year especially, and students can engage in extracurricular activities.

Exit Points
There are three exit points in this programme. The supposedly Diploma degree after the second year fails to provide wholesome skills and knowledge to the student. These students will do far less number of disciplines as compared to the 4-year student. The biggest fallout will be in terms of the employability of the Diploma and Bachelor degree students who will exit after 2 and 3 years because they will be considered as students who failed to complete the entire 4 year programme. Exiting with a Diploma degree will be a complete waste of time.

Employability
What might improve is the ability of the graduating student to decide on his/her area of interest, as the course gives a brief outlook on all aspects of journalism. The reflection on Mass Communication and other aspects such as Marketing Communications can also help students take career paths in other fields.

Conclusion
With Journalism already being one of the most expensive subjects of Delhi University, students will now have to expend some more. Also, there is the common problem of a serious lack in the teaching department, with a lot of colleges resorting to Ad-Hoc teachers. While the course has not lost much of its originality, the inclusion of technical and skill based disciplines will be of much help to the student.

So while the subject will probably be more enjoyable due to the inclusion of skills based papers and projects, the theoretical knowledge and the fundamental knowledge has been decreased significantly.

(For analysis of other courses click here)

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