Now, Stephen’s magazine Soul faces Frank’s anger

St Stephen’s College protem administrator MS Frank has temporarily suspended the publication of the college magazine, Soul, because of its content, reports Swaha Sahoo.

St Stephen’s College protem administrator MS Frank has temporarily suspended the publication of the college magazine, Soul, because of its content.

HT Image

Students and certain sections of the college teaching fraternity, alleged that he has threatened to ban the magazine. According to students, Frank called the editors of the magazine and told them that he was scrapping the magazine.

“He called one of the editors and told him that he had crossed his limits,” said a final year student.

Frank denied the allegations and said the publication was temporarily put on hold because some teachers had objected to its content. He, however, did not elaborate on what they found objectionable.

The latest issue of Soul, which came out on September 3, was critical of the way the college management had conducted the students’ union elections.

“The college first decided to implement the Lyngdoh Committee recommendations following which one of the candidates was disqualified. After that the management announced that the recommendations would be implemented from next year and the candidate again qualified,” said a student.

Teachers said Frank was being vindictive because of the bad publicity he got for his comments on the co-ed hostels published in Soul in August. “That remark was in bad taste and it was unfortunate that the media got wind of it. But he shouldn’t take out his anger on students,” said a teacher.

“The item was critical of the chaotic manner in which elections were handled this year. To threaten a student for free speech is not wise. He should have got in touch with the student advisor,” said another teacher.