CHENNAI: A day after four students of the Madras Institute of Technology were suspended for ragging, students staged a massive protest in their Chrompet campus on Monday. However, contrary to public belief, the students alleged that the stir was primarily to put an end to the ‘atrocities’ that their Dean, Dr S Thamarai Selvi had been "subjecting them to". In a statement given to Anna University Vice-Chancellor Mannar Jawahar, the students accused the Dean of using ‘unparliamentary words’ with their parents, besides a whole gamut of other issues.From 7.30am, second-year students locked themselves inside the hostels to stage a sit-in strike with both the men’s and women’s hostels participating in the agitation. It continued till the students were evicted at 5.00 pm. Meanwhile, the third -year students formed a human chain outside the college to show their support, while several simply staged a dharna, unwilling to move or attend any classes.The fourth-year students wandered around but refrained from participating directly, for fear of their ongoing placements being affected. “It was decided last night that this stir would be held and the hostelites quickly organised everything,” said Anil*, a second-year student. “When they locked the doors from the inside and said that they would not come out till the VC took action against the Dean, the college authorities tried to open the doors using force.” He also alleged that the students retaliated by throwing glass bulbs and other items at the college staff, to deter them.The 61-year-old college, one of the four autonomous institutes of technology under Anna University, has for the first time faced a massive student strike of this scale, since its inception in 1949. Prashant*, another second year student alleged that the Dean had gone so far in her unscheduled checks as to enter the Men’s toilet in the hostel, under the pretext of catching rule breakers. “If wardens are not supposed to enter the ladies toilet, then isn’t it unfair that she entered the men’s toilet when students were in various stages of undress?” he asked.In addition to this, students also claim that they were being excessively fined for trivial issues. For instance, they claimed that hostelites were allegedly fined for eating at the college canteen (as opposed to the mess), which the students found “against their basic rule of existence and choice.”Another ‘unofficial rule’, allegedly instituted by the Dean was that hostels had to be locked between 8.45 and 11.45am - ostensibly to keep the students in classes. students feel that this move was to ensure they did not bring day-scholars to their rooms. Another major allegation they have made to the VC is that the Dean charged “exorbitant fines” for “frivolous reasons”, on the spot. “We have been asked to put it in a separate account as per the dean’s discretion, and not into the stipulated registrar’s account,” they alleged.When contacted by City Express, Dean Thamarai Selvi refused to comment on the allegations and did not refute them. However, Anna University Vice Chancellor Mannar Jawahar revealed, “Eleven students were fined, while four were suspended from the Electronics and Instrumentation Department because they were found questioning first year students whom they had called to a classroom.”Also, he added, “It is a norm in our college that for the first semester, there should be no mingling with first year students in order to prevent ragging in the future.” He did not comment on the charges levelled against the Dean.*Names changed on request.
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