- Testosterone flows freely on campus and makes nascent flowers bloom. Literally and figuratively.
- Girls take a huge leap of faith and get a haircut at the ‘Shagun beauty parlour’ stall at the festival. Their pamphlet proudly informs us that Manish (whoever that is) is back.
- The reason behind the oohs and the aahs near the food stalls is not the presence of able bodied men but the red velvet cake which has a rather ‘sweet disposition’ and sells out like a Shahrukh Khan movie during Diwali.
- You see the Student’s Union frantically walking around the venue, walkie talkies in tow. The expression on their faces is a peculiar amalgamation of stress, over work, resilience and a big dollop of tolerance.
- A band tries to cover the current cult classic ‘Sadda Haq’ during the battle of the bands competition but fails.
- Bands like ‘soul’d out’ infuse life and immense energy to the competition and the ada with which the lead singer throws off his muffler when it begins to hinder his moves has the audience asking for more. However, the clear winner of hearts ladies and gents is the saxophone.
- You spot a pretty girl dressed to the hilt in high heels and think to yourself ‘Ah! First years’ *pronounced head shake*.
- You wait for what seems like an eternity and a half in a queue that resembles one outside the US Visa Offices or the Sidhivinayak temple on a 1st January morning to watch the Choreo Dance Competition and if you are lucky enough to get inside the auditorium you send a quick thank you prayer to Baba Jugaad.
- The flexibility and elasticity of the dancers leaves you aghast and makes you feel like the couch potato you once warned the audience about during a school debate on man vs machine.
- You overhear the girl standing in front of you singing “Laaast Taaaraangg I gaaave youuu maa haaart but thaa verrry next day youuu gave it awaay, theees yearr to saaave meee fraam teeears I gayyvee it to someone eespeciaaal” (sic) while standing in (yet another) unending queue to watch Them Clones perform.Pragya Lal
[email protected]
Izraz, the Choreo competition at LSR took place at 2.30pm in the auditorium today.
An hour before the competition, a huge line formed outside the auditorium; the event entertained a houseful of enthusiastic people. There were 10 participating teams and each team had to convey a message to the audience using dance movements and facial expressions.
The first one to perform was Hindu Choreo Society, presenting ‘Till Death Do Us Part”, choreographed by Palden di Lama, depicting life after death. Their costumes were very creatively done and they used face painting to bring out their facial expressions in a stronger way.
Next up was Gargi, presenting ‘Mrityun Jaya, the Conqueror of Death’, choreographed Tushar Kalya. Their technique was excellent and their moves had perfect lines, their lifts and splits were flawless. They performed with grace and vigour and were applauded twice by the audience.
Performing next was Hansraj, presenting ‘The Quest’, choreographed by Gaurav Alavar. Their theme was realistic – the unending quest of happiness – and the message they conveyed to the audience was relatable. Their costumes were pretty, their moves graceful and their expressions perfect.
Kamala Nehru College performed next, presenting ‘The Awakening’, choreographed by Bhavani Mishra. The story was about a girl who wanted to follow her dreams, but was defeated by logic. Their dance depicted the conflict between mind and heart.
Next was Sri Venkateswara College. Their dance didn’t have a title but the theme was war and its consequences. Their dance was self choreographed, but it was excellent all the same.
Last to perform was LSR, and their performance, as always, was breathtaking.
The event was perhaps the most popular one today, and the line outside the auditorium remained strong all throughout the show.
The winners of Izraz are as follows:
Winner: Sri Venkateswara College
First Runner-up: Hansraj
Second Runner-up: LSR and KNC
The winners of the battle of the Bands are as follows: Winner: Soul’d Out First Runner-up: Jokes Apart Second Runner-up: Incredible Mind Funk ]]>
Western Group Singing
Winner- IP College and LSR
First Runner Up- JMC
Second Runner Up- Venky
Battle of Bands
Winner- Soul’d Out
First Runner Up- Jokes Apart
Second Runner Up- Incredible Mind Funk
Splash of Music
Winner- Rohit Bhagat (Dyal Singh Eve)
Runner Up- Era Choudhary (LSR)
Ashu Bhashan Pratiyogita(Hindi Public Speaking)
Winner- Jitendra
Runner Up- Aarti
Treasure Hunt
Winner- Shivika, Niharika, Sonal, Princi (LSR)
First Runner Up- Rohan Bajaj, Rohan Sharma (Manav Rachna International University), Neha Sanjay, Shri Lakshmi Tiru (LSR)
Second Runner Up- Apula, Aditi, Naimat, Shuchi (LSR)
BLITZKRIEG
Best Adjudicator- Sourya Donkada(LSR)
Survived most of the rounds- Udit Rastogi (Law Fac) and Raunak Singh(Amity)
Last Man Standing- Chaitali Sinha (Gargi)
Izraz- Choreography
Winner – Venky (self choreographed)
First Runner Up – Hansraj
Second Runner Up – LSR and KNC.
IMS Instrumental
Winner- Anisha Jalan(LSR)
Runner Up- Sarthak Pahwa(Jaypee Institute), Gurnaman Singh(SGTB Khalsa)
IMS Malhaar- Classical Solo
Winner- Risha (LSR)
First Runner Up- Srimidhi (SRCC)
Second Runner Up- Prateek (Hansraj)
IMS Semi-Classical Solo Result
Winner- Rajshree (Daulat Ram)
First Runner Up- Parampara (LSR)
Second Runner Up- Rahul(ARSD), Sunaina(DRC)
‘Cecilia you’re breaking my heart, you are shaking my confidence daily.’ This ancient Simon and Garfunkel classic resonated the feeling of restlessness and anxiety being experienced by the students of LSR till a few days ago. Make no mistake; it was no fair haired maiden but the moderation committee which was overseeing the correction of mid-term examination papers that had the students sinking into the depths of uncertainty.
Marking during internal evaluation has been a much debated topic in LSR. Students often complain about the stringent hand that college deals them while their counterparts in North Campus colleges are supposedly marked rather leniently which results in them scoring higher overall percentages.
This year the sudden need of moderation of internal marks of students in the annual mode may be a consequence of uncharacteristically brilliant results of the students under the ‘glorious’ semester system. While some students believed that moderation may help stabilize their marks as different teachers have varied marking patterns others opined that the delay in returning the answer scripts to their rightful owners was merely because teachers hadn’t corrected the answer scripts in time. However, the truth remains that the students of the English department of LSR had not received the answer scripts of the mid-term examination that they appeared for a month ago till very recently.
Sakshi Ghai, a 3rd year student of Philosophy was a recent victim of this sadistic mechanism. “After having scored 91 in my one of my papers I was shocked to hear my teacher contemplating reducing 4 marks in each question post moderation.” she said. It is important to note that it is only students studying theoretical subjects who would be affected by moderation. Meanwhile, students who chose to tread the path of ‘ignorance is bliss’ were delighted with the delay in knowing their impending fate.
The suspense created by the examiners was a heady one although anticlimactic in nature for many. “The hue and cry about moderation was for nothing as it hasn’t reflected in my marks at all.” Confessed Adilah Ismail, a 2nd year student of English Literature.
The moderation mayhem may have affected students of various departments differently but it has taught them an important life lesson which is to approach life with a tinge of irony instead of heroism or despair.
Pragya Lal
[email protected]
A student of Philosophy Hons 3rd year at LSR, Anisha Ahmed, was tested positive for the dreaded Swine Flu early last week. Her friends immediately informed the faculty upon which the college decided to take preventive measures to keep it from spreading.
In a special assembly called by the principal, Dr. Meenakshi Gopinath, the students were informed about the first detected case of Swine Flu at LSR and urged not to panic. Dr. Gopinath announced that the entire 3rd year batch of Philosophy Hons. Students will get a week’s leave with full attendance from college. Moreover professors who have taught Anisha will also be taking a week off. Students in the Dance Society of which Anisha was a part and those who traveled with her to or from college have also been granted leave.
This swift action is merely preventive in nature, Dr. Gopinath explained. The students on leave will take the time to take stock of their health and make sure they are not harbouring the infection. She also requested other students who may have been close to Anisha or shared space with her to inform the college in order that they may take leave as well and not risk endangering the other students. Anisha’s close friends have already been to get themselves tested and one of them has been declared clear of the infection. The other’s results are still awaited.
Interestingly enough Anisha was suffering from none of the symptoms when she was tested for the HINI virus. She claims to have merely gone to get herself tested because a close friend of hers had caught the disease. She is now resting at home under quarantine and though appreciative of any preventive measures the college might take, feels there is no cause for panic. Upon being asked whether the swine flu hysteria is justified she is vehement in her response. “Not at all”, she said when DU Beat contacted her over the phone. “Swine flu is like any other flu. I feel perfectly normal and hardly have any symptoms at all. The saddest part about it is that I am confined to one room. Now I’m just whiling away the time watching movies”, she laughs.
Dr. Gopinath is of the same opinion as to the flu scare. In her address to the students she emphasized the need to keep calm. She stated that only if students begin to panic will the college and hostel have to close down.
Kamla Nehru College
Faculty: The faculty at KNC is exceptionally good, especially for courses like English, Economics and Journalism.
Atmosphere: The atmosphere has that zing of energy with students and teachers alike bustling from one corner to the other. Academics and extra-curricular activities co-exist peacefully with the support of the administration.
Extra Curricular Activities and Sports: Bubbling over with enthusiastic students, it’s famous for its extra-curricular activities. A fantastic Cricket team is the pride of the college, along with its focus on other sports like Basketball and Volleyball. Yoga, Aerobics and Civil Defense are other areas of active participation.
Canteen: The canteen is nothing fantastic. Its food is oily, though the prices are very reasonable.
Saumiya and Swetha.
Venkateswara College
Faculty : Venkateswara College has a very erudite set of faculty members. The lecturers for most science courses are absolutely brilliant. The English faculty is one of the best that male students can avail to.
Atmosphere : Venky has one of the best crowds in South Campus. It’s as close to the University feel as possible in South Campus. Cleanliness and hygiene have been a regular problem in the college; however the administration has taken various steps to combat this.
Extra Curricular Activities and Sports : Venky has some of the most vibrant ECA societies in the University. What makes these especially brilliant is the fact that they are not focused solely on winning trophies but in providing an atmosphere to nurture the innate talent of students in the college. The Venky cricket team is arguably the best in the university.
Canteen: The college canteen has recently taken steps to tidy up their act. The food is vegetarian and primarily South Indian which may not be everybody’s cup of tea.
Aniruddh Ghosal, Venky
Gargi College
Faculty: The faculties of the departments of English as well as Applied Psychology are perhaps the best known of the lot. The department of B.A. Programme too has a very competent faculty.
Atmosphere: The crowd is a curious blend of diverse cultures, with students hailing from various parts of the country. The college, however, does have hygiene issues relating to the canteen and the washrooms which remain eyesores despite commendable efforts to improve them.
Extra Curricular Activities and Sports: Of the 16 performing arts and non-performing arts’ societies that Gargi has institutionalized, the most successful are the former. However, recent efforts have been made to increase participation and interest in the latter as well. With respect to sports, cricket, basket ball, volley ball, athletics, aerobics and Tennis are most popular.
Canteen: The College has a canteen that’s about average, a fresh fruit juice and milk shakes’ counter that sells well and often a chaat-wala who is most popular. Apart from these, the campus also has a Nescafe counter.
Aditi Sharma, B.A. Programme
Aarushi Sharma, President Students’ Union
Jesus and Mary’s College
Faculty: The members of faculty in the departments of English, Economics and Psychology are among the best in DU. Sociology, History and Commerce are also well-known.
Atmosphere: The college, though all-girls, has a great crowd and an interesting mix of different people. Despite immense emphasis on discipline, there is always a sense of vibrancy in the campus and it is perennially bustling with energy.
Extra Curricular Activities (ECA) and Sports: JMC provides a platform for various performing arts’ as well as opportunities in social responsibility. Although ECA societies in JMC are a force to reckon with in the university circuit, they often face a lot of problems within the college, with respect to attendance, funding, etc. With regard to sports, JMC’s cricket, football and basket ball teams are quite well-known.
Canteen: The fact that students are often seen packing food from the canteen for their friends in other colleges speaks volumes about just how wonderful the JMC canteen is. However, snail-paced service and sky-rocketing prices are constant problems.
Lady Shri Ram College for Women
Faculty: The faculty at LSR plays a significant role in making academia both accessible and fascinating. This they do by seldom giving free periods, filling in lectures with brilliant perspectives and insisting on assignments and term papers a bit much.
Atmosphere: Say no to laid-back lives, and yes to celebration of the ‘Magic of LSR’!
Extra Curricular Activities and Sports: For someone who is involved in both sports and ECA, an ordinary day at college would begin at seven in the morning, and often stretch beyond seven in the evening. The wee hours of the morning are usually reserved for sports’ practice, the day for classes and various non-performing arts, and the evening for performing arts’.
Café: The high prices are perhaps the price one has to pay for having a café and not a canteen. The range of items available on the menu, however, seems to make up for it.
Kriti B., LSR