Madras Christian College
Kaviya Sanjeevi | CHENNAI
Student council elections in Chennai have always been a heated affair, considering that some of the state’s political leaders are from these colleges. While elections have been banned in Pachaiyappa’s College, the training ground for many of our politicians, Loyola College, IIT Madras, MOP Vaishnav College for Women, DG Vaishnav, Madras Christian College (MCC) and Women’s Christian College witness student elections every year.
The College Union Society of MCC, consists of eight members — chairman, general secretary, women’s convener, literary and debating convener, cultural convener, sports convener, academics and amenities convener. “The chairman and general secretary head the union and are a part of the Senate, which is the highest governing body in the college,” says Prasanth Doraiappah, general secretary, and a third-year BA journalism student. The Senate consists of 11 members — principal, bursar, general secretary, chairman, wardens of the five resident halls and a teacher to represent the self-financed stream or evening college. The Senate decides on the events that will be conducted throughout the year, finalise the finance budget and meet when required.
Each of them have separate duties and need to undergo an election process called Stooling — the candidates are asked to step on a stool and present their manifestos. They need to impress the crowd with their ideas and how they will implement them — they basically have to convince the crowd to elect them as their leader. For the conveners, stooling sessions are conducted with department representatives, and for the chairman and general secretary, stooling sessions are conducted in the five resident halls followed by a public stooling. After this, the election date is announced. The elections are conducted under the supervision of professors.
Explains Doraiappah, “The chairman’s duty is to convene general body meetings and to discuss various issues with students as well as teachers. The general secretary is the head of the cabinet and handles accounts.” The society also conducts activities annually. They are in charge of college auditions, which is conducted to pick a college team. This team will represent MCC in all cultural programmes. Inter-departmental sports matches called Aroura, which is conducted by the women’s convener for women students is also organised by the society. The council also organised a campus cleaning programme headed by the members with student volunteers. Each of these events see a large amount of student participation. “Conveners are encouraged to come up with events which will involve a lot of student interaction. For example my cabinet started a theatre club and conducted a two-day event called Theatre Night. This helped us pick a team for the college theatre group,” he says.
The society functions with freedom, as long as they use it in the right way, assures Doraiappah. “The chairman and general secretary are allowed to share their views and opinions on various issues with other members of the Senate. College authorities share a good rapport with union members. There were a few instances where issues would turn into arguments but in the end it got settled.” A stationery store, internet cafe, installation of smart classes and pedagogy changes were some of the initiatives taken up by the society. “I really enjoyed being a part of the council. I was able to motivate students and have also acquired few leadership qualities. But it also depends on the entire team. I think it is impossible to do everything on your own. I can say that MCC has so far been very fair and democratic in conducting elections and has always elected a deserving candidate. They have also considered the changes suggested by the council,” says Doraiappah.
— kaviya@newindianexpress.com
KERALA
K Surekha | KOCHI
They organise seminars, workshops, film fests and plays to raise awareness on various issues. They also intervene in academic and non-academic matters when the need arises — college unions play an active role on Kerala campuses. While student councils function in full-swing in Kerala and MG Universities, they are yet to be constituted in other varsities, such as Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT), Calicut and Kannur Universities. “Though the rules stipulate the constitution of a student council, they are yet to be set up, so the university union takes up the issues of students. We coordinate with college unions in Wayanad, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Thrissur, Palakkad and three centres in Lakshadweep,” says Samesh, Calicut University Union chairman.
As students have the power to intervene, they often resort to strikes when discussions don’t reach a consensus. “We held a hunger strike when the examination fee was hiked to `1,000. It was later reduced to `500. We also opposed the move to appoint internal teachers as examination invigilators. It was a success,” he says.
The union elections in all colleges/ universities were delayed this year as there was a dispute over the mode of elections — parliamentary or presidential. “The court gave an interim order that colleges could opt for any mode. Incidentally violence was witnessed on campuses (self-financing colleges) where polls were held in parliamentary mode. Due to the delay, student’s activities could not be organised properly,” says Samesh.
In CUSAT polls were held only two weeks ago — elections were delayed due to a strike and semester examinations. “Our youth festival just got over. We organised a film fest on our campus in Kuttanad, a poster exhibition on atrocities against women and a few seminars on the campus,” says Union chairman Mansoor.
Ernakulam Law College students organised a quiz and debate recently. “We have formed music, drama, literary, film, dance, nature and blood donation clubs,” says Janardhana Shenoy, University Union Councillor of MG University. Student councils are active in MG and Kerala University. They intervene in all academic and non-academic matters. The statutory body, which comprises 10 members including the varsity union chairman, makes recommendations to the Syndicate and Academic Council on structure of courses and pattern of instruction, co-curricular and extra-curricular activities. “We have suggested a cell be formed to take up issues like ragging, abuse of women, infrastructure, assessment of teachers and quality of education,” says Joshy John KU, former chairman of Kerala University.
Though, only names of students figure during hustings, the final results bear the name of the student political outfits they owe allegiance to. Students affiliated to SFI swept the the last union elections that were held in institutes across Kerala.
— surekha@newindianexpress.com
IIT-BHUBANESWAR
Diana Sahu | BHUBANESWAR
At a time when student councils in many private colleges are considered mere event management bodies, students of Indian Institute of Technology-Bhubaneswar (IIT-Bhubaneswar), assert their Gymkhana plays a crucial role. Every year, students of IIT-Bhubaneswar appoint a student council called IIT-Bhubaneswar Gymkhana. The first one was constituted on September 4, 2010.
It mainly discharges all its activities through the Gymkhana Academic Senate, which comprises a president (a faculty member), treasurer, vice-president, general secretaries and a secretary representing each of the three wings of the Gymkhana — Socio-Cultural, Technical and Sports. Each of the three has its own secretaries under various sub-groups like Music and Dance, Fine Arts, Dramatics, Literary Society, Robotics, Science and Technology, Small Area Sports, Cricket, Football, Athletics and Event Coverage.
Elections, which have been peaceful so far, are mainly through a secret online ballot system. A live graph displays the results almost immediately. At present, there are 10 secretaries, three general secretaries, one president and one vice-president in the student council.
Students, who feel no teacher or management can understand the needs and problems of students better than the students themselves, say the Gymkhana is a link between them and the management. “Our Gymkhana plays a significant role in policy-making. Student representatives are primarily responsible for bridging communication and facilitating support for students from/ to the institute. The president and vice-president of Gymkhana are members of the Academic Senate of the institute and they represent students in the Academic Senate meetings,” says Abhay Ranjan, general secretary of Socio-Cultural wing.
Issues like industry-relevance in their courses, fee structure, infrastructure and much more have been dealt in the past by the council. “The rapport has been very friendly so far,” says Athul Prabhakaran, a student.
The IITians here consider themselves lucky as at several other educational institutions in the state, students hardly have a stake in the decision-making process. Outside the organised student groups, most of which are aligned to one political outfit or another, the ordinary student has virtually no say in matters so crucial to him/her. “But in our case, the council is the representation of student power in the institution,” Abhay adds.
IIT-Bhubaneswar Gymkhana conducts two major festivals every even semester. Alma Fiesta and Wissenaire, the techno-management festival. Alma Fiesta has seen big names like Indian Ocean, Pandit Vishwamohan Bhatt, Pandit Bhajan Sopori, Dr Kumar Vishwas, Kryptos and Bandish since its inception. Whereas Wissenaire has been responsible for bringing personalities like Kiran Bedi and this year, PJ Bhatt, chief scientist of ISRO. The Sports Gymkhana is responsible for training students for the Inter-IIT sports meets and in general, all the sporting activities of IIT-Bhubaneswar.
— diana@newindianexpress.com
Osmania University
Payal Ganguly | HYDERABAD
The state university where numerous politicians have cut teeth has been bereft of student council elections for nearly a decade and half. Following the campus violence linked to council elections in 1988, Osmania University did away with the system of an elected students body. Presently the executive council composed of faculty members from the university serves to fill the gap, saddling academicians with additional administrative responsibilities.
Though the Lyngdoh Committee recommends the establishment of an elected students body in all universities, higher education officials as well as university management and students are skeptical. The committee also recommends formation of a student representation based on nominations at universities where elections could not be conducted due to violent incidents. In the university, which has been in the news for sustained agitations for a separate Telangana state, the influence of external political parties on campus elections cannot be ruled out. Higher officials as well as students predict unprecedented violence and large amounts of money being invested in such a scenario. “Many political parties are also afraid of the fact that their student wings have gained prominence over time and they would not like such a situation. However, students on campus have been completely vested in the agitation for a separate Telangana. The campus has been united for the cause. The students have not paid much attention to the absence of an elected body. If it is introduced, it will be a welcome move as it will be a parallel representation of what the university stands for,” says M Krishank, national media spokesperson of Osmania University Joint Action Committee.
The students also request some relaxation in the norms set by the Lyngdoh Committee for state universities, which have a different composition from central universities. “Though the clause for academic records is relevant so that serious candidates are selected, the age limit has to be relaxed. Most of the students in state universities are from humble rural backgrounds and by the time a student clears the entrance and joins PhD, he is easily 27 years old. That should not stop them from contesting elections. Also a single opportunity at contesting elections whether one loses or wins is too rigid,” says Krishank. Though the state council of higher education had thought of re-introducing student council elections in 2009, there has been no progress so far.
— payal@newindianexpress.com
University of Hyderabad
Payal Ganguly | HYDERABAD
A campus where students’ voices are heard loud and clear, the University of Hyderabad conducts elections to its six-member council as per the Lyngdoh Committee Report of 2006. Being a central university, the heterogeneous student population and a largely residential system of education lends a characteristic flavour to the elections. “During the annual general body meeting, an election committee is formed by vote of majority with two-five representatives from each of the 11 schools. Candidates who wish to contest present their manifesto at the general body meeting and are quizzed by students,” says Amjad Basha, president of Hyderabad Central University Students Union (HCUSU). The elections for 2013-14 were conducted by the Dean of Students Welfare, a member of faculty who oversees HCUSU, as a section of students refused to contest elections in support of a separate Telangana state. Apart from the six posts, the post for General Secretary of Committee Against Sexual Harassment is also contested as a part of the annual general election.
The six council members are aided by three board members and two councillors from each school for equal representation. “We try to step in to sort out issues wherever possible or bring it to the notice of concerned administrative officers to rectify. We are taken seriously by the administration,” says Vasista Reddy, who is pursuing MTech in artificial intelligence and is the vice president of HCUSU. He adds that protests are a recourse only when authorities do not act on an issue.
HCUSU has an annual budget of Rs 14 lakh, a large chunk of which is used to conduct the annual fest Sukoon. “Not just cultural activities and sports, we also invite speakers of academic and general relevance to address students. Every year, around 12 such talks are organised,” says Vani Prashamsa, joint secretary of the council and a student of Integrated MA in social sciences. The money is collected from students (`336 per person) at the time of admissions.
While elections are open to all, it does take a student political body to win the elections. All the students swear their allegiance to one of the eight political associations present on campus.
— payal@newindianexpress.com