Sunday Times 2
Hallowed halls of academia occupied by the hounds of hell
View(s):By Y. Fernando
Many Sri Lankan graduates of bygone eras reminisce about the best years of their lives and the many wonderful memories within the hallowed halls of their universities. With dignity and honour they served the country subsequent to receiving their degrees, proving gratitude for the free education they received. Humbly they retired in due time with their self-respect intact. Some of the best in Science, Arts and Commerce shaped this nation and what it holds dear for all of us, (our families, homes, a sense of security, opportunities to prosperity and freedom). They were moulded by these institutions.
Hallowed halls of academia occupied by the hounds of hell
Unfortunately, notoriety now stalks the higher institutions of education in the country and the hounds of hell lurk in the maledict corridors. Only if walls could talk, the atrocities spewed would no doubt be hair raising. The best way to mould today’s student is apparently by “ragging” in the most uncouth and inhuman forms. Ragging in verbal, physical, mental, psychological and sexual in context, apparently encourages social equality between “classes”. With the blessings of a few sadistic academics, administrators and politicians, the lawlessness of students is encouraged not only on campus, but outside.
Those against this kind of uncivilised and vulgar behaviour, both students and faculty, are undermined, humiliated and harassed. The students are overlooked for recognition and awards in academic and other achievements, marginalised and even penalised. They were not allowed to utilise the facilities of the university such as gym, pool, common rooms and cafeteria and participate in social activities. The anti-ragging faculty and administrators are shunned.
In the latter part of 2016, Peradeniya University anti-raggers decided to protect the freshmen and women against the usual impending “torture”. These anti-raggers were dealt a severe blow with the arrest of the senior students and an inquiry against the academic staff, ironically, based on the allegations of the “raggers” (first year students). It empowered the sadistic “raggers” to be more aggressive in their tactics. The “raggers” were mysteriously funded to maintain houses off the premises. These houses were utilised for more serious ragging. Surprisingly, a senior administrator when approached with the problem continued to claim and took the stance that “ragging does not exist at Peradeniya”. It is safe to assume that such senior administrators, too, were, therefore, pro-ragging.
In February 2017, the “raggers” were caught red-handed. While in a house thus mysteriously funded, the Police snared the culprits. The Police who were not willing to intervene usually, possibly on the advice of the pro-ragging senior administrators, had no choice but to act this time. The arrest of the felons was done covertly and the raggers were caught unawares. Fifteen raggers of the Peradeniya University’s Agriculture Faculty were remanded, pending further investigations. The Vice Chancellor, when confronted with the glaring evidence, declared that the perpetrators would be punished after a thorough investigation, finally acknowledging that “ragging does exist at Peradeniya”.
We, the taxpayers pay our dues to ensure that this nation gets the best out of our efforts. All the infrastructure and facilities we reap were sown by our very own hard work. One such facility is free education. University education should enable students to reach their true potential as professional, duty-bound, civic-minded people — and contributing meaningfully towards the betterment of society should be their goal, regardless of the subjects of their choice.
If a few deranged academics, administrators and politicians promote unspeakable filth, describing the male and female genitalia, various physical tortures and lessons on anti-democratic ideologies as a method to “moulding” the young students and enabling them to “conform” to one social class, they should be weeded out first and foremost. They should not be allowed anywhere near young people but prescribed to seek psychological counselling and treatment.
All student union funding should be transparent and audited. It will be interesting to note the outcome of inquiries into where the funds actually come from, especially at the Peradeniya University, considering the most recent incident.
A temporary ragging deterring system could be to send the senior students for outbound training, for inter-university exchange programmes or internships at public institutes or the corporate sector. The next generation of students can then participate in an orientation programme at the relevant university, peacefully. Surveillance and security can be upgraded with CCTV and RFIDs/fingerprint attendance marking. It can track students, academics, administrators, staff and even visitors.
Not completing the free education during a stipulated timeframe should be at a high cost for the extra time on campus. Not participating in lectures should have penalties ensuring that the focus will be on education and not on someone’s political agenda or sadistic ulterior motives.
If the vicious cycle of “ragging” continues, graduates thus qualified with such traumatic beginnings of university education, entering employment in either the state or private sector, do so bearing an axe to grind. They take it out on the poor unsuspecting public, family members and colleagues, at crucial times, while hampering the path of progress of this nation.
The law needs to be strictly upheld within the university premises and outside and all supportive of such vile behaviour, made known to the public who after all, fund FREE EDUCATION and punished severely, without mercy. Strict guidelines on how to manage ragging in universities should not be a difficult task.