Poster campaign forces V-C to meet students

MUMBAI: After students’ unions put up posters in the University of Mumbai’s Kalina campus about failing to meet the vice-chancellor, the university arranged a four-hour

MUMBAI: After students’ unions put up posters in the University of Mumbai’s Kalina campus about failing to meet the vice-chancellor, the university arranged a four-hour meeting on Tuesday between the vice-chancellor and student groups.

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Vice-chancellor Sanjay Deshmukh said there will be changes in the system in place to make the process of examinations and results less chaotic for students. The meeting was a fallout of a campaign by Yuva Sena members who had put up posters across the campus with the V-C’s picture and a message saying “Have you seen him?”

“We’ve been trying to contact the V-C for the past few weeks as we have received several grievances from students about delay in results and errors in assessment. We are glad the V-C called us for this meeting,” said Sainath Durge from Yuva Sena.

The youth wing highlighted the need to strengthen the students’ grievance cell to hear out complaints by students and find solutions to the issues.

The meeting, held at Ambedkar Bhavan in MU’s Kalina campus, was attended by around 50 students representing 15 students’ groups.

The representatives were happy that Deshmukh promised to bring about changes. “He agreed to look into assessment of papers and lengthy process of re-evaluation. He admitted the drawbacks and assured us of timely results,” said Santosh Gangurde from Maharashtra Navnirman Vidyarthi Sena.

Results were of top priority and Deshmukh assured students that MU will try and announce results of remaining 65 examinations in the next five or six days. He told students that the process of hiring a new Controller of Examinations will begin soon.

Students’ unions highlighted the need for new hostels and accommodation for staff.

“Our annual budget already accounts for a new hostel to accommodate around 1,500 students and new staff quarters as well. The VC will continue to interact with students,” said Leeladhar Bansod, deputy registrar, public relations, MU.