A fine proposal

For those who are not familiar, from July 2010, our college PICT has framed a new rule. It goes as this, if you don't attend the college for a lecture or a practical you have to pay Rs 100/- for that. First list was on notice board on 2nd week after college started. We all thought that since NAAC is visiting college so they have put such notices on board (they even renovated some parts of the college), so we all ignored it. After 1st week fine they put up other notice about 2nd week fine and teachers started asking students to pay the same.

Finally, it was Monday (so called BLACK DAY in college history) 2nd August, everyone was asked to pay fine else not allowed to attend classes. Around 11AM all SE, TE and BE of computer science department were thrown out of their classes. All gathered in the main lobby first and then went away for the lunch at 12 noon. No one was in mood to pay fine and all were totally against this system. Meanwhile news came that, ENTC and IT department people had reluctantly paid their fine and were attending classes. So it was only comp dept fighting against the rule, but this was the day when we saw the real unity of the department. At 1PM, everyone was back, we had practical and our professors took the attendance and told us to pay fine before we sit. All SE and TE sections gathered in a single room and we finally decided not to pay FINE at any cost, because monetary penalty is never the solution for student. We all had many small meetings that day (in canteen at parking etc). The question being, till when? "kab tak fine bharenge".

Due to mass protest and no one paying the fine, even many of the trustees came to college that day. Having had enough, the Principal and VP called an urgent meeting in the auditorium. There was a huge discussion over all topics related to attendance, student performance, college reputation and what not, and also how students were in no mood to pay. At the end of the one hour debate, though, we realized that the other side of the table had played their cards superbly, diplomatically waiving off all protests. Inference – none. They told us blatantly to pay the fine for the 1st week, with the other two weeks’ fine kept on hold (as if we didn’t know what that meant). In between, teachers even tried to break through (that was the saddest part). Conversations I heard between one teacher and student

teacher:- why are you fighting for all?

student:- mam, we all are against the paying.

Teacher:- you have only 300 bucks fine. Pay it and other will automatically pay.
A teacher even told a student that she'll go and pay fine for him if he is afraid to go, I muttered wtf?( So that the system stays?)

The very next day BE people also protested, they sat on their knees in the department, till one of the senior teacher came and pleaded them to stop doing this and support college, if they do so, then junior's will also. Talk about putting up an example!

FE admissions are ongoing. While I was returning from college, a parent asked me about PICT, how it is, how are the placements, faculty (!), facilities (!) etc. I could just blankly stare at her.

-d3m0n and SK