House Meeting Called in Response to Vice Chancellor’s Email

Dhiya Sony, Class of 2021

Students of Ashoka are given enormous amounts of freedom (as compared to other colleges in India) under the pretence that we are responsible adults who are able to conduct themselves with a certain amount of decorum. . However, recent developments in the campus points towards a rather disappointing and painful reality that called into question the trust that the administration had in the student body. Since this particular incident at hand is sub-judice, The Edict is not at liberty to divulge any details pertaining to the same.

The issue came under wider public scrutiny when in an email dated 11th April 2019, Vice Chancellor Dr Pratap Bhanu Mehta expressed his dismay at the turn of events that led to him receiving a letter from the members of the RA community which begins: “ We are writing to express our frustration with the attitude and behavior of thestudent body towards our colleagues in the Residence Life team. We feel disappointed, unsafe, and threatened by this behaviour, and collectively condemn the situations thathave led to the occurrence of recent events”. Though the specifics of the issue have not been disclosed, it does include verbal, physical and sexual assault on the Residence Life Team.

In response to the Vice Chancellor’s mail, the Student Government called for an open house meeting on the same day to hold a discussion on “How best to respond to the situation, through administrative measures or otherwise”. The meeting itself had a turnout that was low considering the gravity and far reaching implications of the issue. The need for clarity in the Residence Life policy as well as strict enforcement of the set rules were the most reiterated statements. Another suggestion was to make these policies as public and known as possible within the student community through visible markers such as posters on dorm floors. There were a few isolated voices demanding rigorous punishment that would curb future violations of “bigger rules”, a suggestion that was countered and labeled as equivalent to “fear-mongering”. The overarching emotion was, however, that of disillusionment and disdain, which gave rise to a comment from a member who said that it would be a shame to say that she is from Ashoka University, and an apology letter on behalf of the students will be undertaken after a meeting within themselves.

The road ahead seems arduous. It will take a long time to amend the frayed ties of trust and respect that hold the administration and the study body together. Besides, as was pointed out in the open meeting, it is not just the equation between the administration and the student community that is affected in such cases – it is also the relationship between students themselves. Decisive steps to prevent and condemn the flouting of rules should be undertaken. Framing Residence Life policies that are more particular in their terms as well as more accessible to the student body, combined with stricter enforcement of policies could work to effectively nip this truly odious behaviour in its bud. In the end, as Dr Mehta very aptly wrote, “…the issue under consideration is one larger than a matter of disciplinary proceedings or administrative measures. It goes to the core of who we are as a community, and the values we stand for”.