After two days of tense negotiations following Monday’s open townhall with the student body and faculty, Vice-Chancellor Somak Raychaudhury and members of the Ashoka University Student Government (AUSG) have reached a compromise about the new security measures of baggage scanners and metal detectors.
Baggage scanning will now be mandatory only during move-in days and cultural events. On regular days, students will only be required to scan ‘large’ pieces of luggage. Small handbags, backpacks, purses etc. will not be screened.
Additionally, students who do not have any large bags (exact dimensions not yet specified) may enter and exit campus without any scanning through Gate 1, as was previously the norm.
The new directive will be effective from 08:00 am on 30th January, 2025.
The 48-hour negotiations were marked by a serious back and forth, with the VC calling in AUSG President Aditi Warrier (ASP’25), Vice-President Samarth Jain (ASP’25), Speaker of the HoR Ahana Walanju (UG’26) and UG Councillor Insha Husain (UG’26) into an ‘emergency meeting’ at 11:30 a.m. today, 29th January. Vineet Sabharwal, who is associated part-time with the Ashoka administration and Mercia Prince, Director of Admissions, were also in attendance.
In the meeting, Raychaudhury and members of the AUSG worked together on drafting the new directive, which will be agreeable to parties who oppose or support the new measures.
Raychaudhury initially asked for an extension until 4 p.m. on Tuesday to consult with members of Ashoka University’s Board of Management and Governing Body, but told Warrier and the other attendees of the meeting that relaxing the baggage scanners and metal detectors came under his purview alone.
Raychaudhury has also agreed to consult students about any administrative decision and policies that affect them from the initial stage onwards. Current members of a Standing Committee formed in May 2024 to resolve conflicts between staff and faculty will work to constitute a special committee to deliberate substance abuse issues on campus within the next few days, Warrier confirms to The Edict. The committee will include student representatives and new members from the faculty.
The committee with student representation is slated to be constituted “in the next 3-4 days,” Warrier tells The Edict. However, the structure, election or extent of student representation in this committee is unclear. The new committee will also take into consideration reforming Committee Against Disciplinary Infraction (CADI), Committee Against Sexual Harassment (CASH) and Ashoka Centre for Wellbeing (ACWB), Warrier says.
The AUSG has also committed to a substance-free and alcohol-free campus and will work in collaboration with different offices to address student well-being. Warrier told The Edict that the AUSG will further contemplate possible solutions and affirm their commitment with actionable items.
Raychaudhury did not sign the AUSG’s initial memorandum citing legal concerns.
This resolution comes after a week of student protests on campus. Hundreds of students participated in sit-ins, mass walk-outs and gathered support from faculty members to mobilise support against the security measures, which they cited to be an invasion of privacy and a decision made without student consultation.
Husain, speaking to The Edict after the announcement, said that this sets a precedent and would not have been possible without the student body trusting the elected representatives and the AUSG. Husain believes that the past week demonstrates that the Ashoka student body can critically think and demand what they think is right.
(Edited by Keerthana Panchanathan and Madhumitha GI)
コメント