link: http://www.hindu.com/2008/04/18/stories/2008041857750800.htm
Former professors and alumni float forum ‘to protect’ American College
Staff Reporter
Amid fears of Bishop of Madurai Ramnad Diocese trying to bring it under his control
MADURAI: Amid fears of the Church of South India (CSI) Bishop of Madurai Ramnad Diocese trying to bring The American College under his control, former professors and alumni of the college have floated a forum, ‘Initiative for Protecting the American College’ (IPAC), to protect it from becoming a church-owned institution.
“The Bishop is attempting to take over the executive powers of the college, vested with the Principal and Secretary,” alleged Solomon Pappiah, a retired professor of the college and patron of IPAC.
Though established as a Christian institution in 1881 by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, the college remained secular and independent.
It was made autonomous and the properties of the institution were handed over to the Governing Council of the American College, which became a registered society in 1934.
As the head of the college, the Principal and Secretary, T. Chinnaraj Joseph Jaikumar, had the administrative powers.
The problem between him and the Bishop, A. Christopher Asir, flared up when the Principal applied for leave to go abroad to the Director of Collegiate Education through the Bishop.
Even as the Principal sent a letter cancelling the leave to the Director and made it public in the college notice board, the Bishop wrote a letter to the Vice-Principal to assume charge.
Mr. Chinnaraj said: “Vice-Principal and Bursar very well knew of my presence in the college. But the Principal’s chamber was locked up and I was not permitted to go inside.
It was seriously viewed and the Vice-Principal was immediately placed under suspension for falsely projecting to the Bishop and others that I was on leave.”
The Bishop said: “There is no doubt that the college is a Christian institution. There is no intention to sell the properties, for which the powers is with the Finance and Properties Committee, where I have no role to play. We only wanted the Principal to clear pending issues.”
The faculty members attached to MUTA, non-teaching staff and senators of the college have voiced their support to the college. The IPAC will meet on April 19.
5 comments:
The American College is such a great institution.
We beg the Profiteer not to interefere in the admin of the College,
Our institution is a Crown of Madurai City.
No one can create or imagine such a big & great institution further.
Request All the alumni and wellwishers of American college to support against the evils................
its indeed shocking..
would spread the message to organise more support
zameer
http://akzamy.tripod.com
Dear friends,
My Heart is filled with joy to see all the alumni and alumna have been involved to eradicate the filthy things prevailed over the Great American College. I am shocked after hearing the devastating news,this is the good time for all alumni and alumna to join the hands together to cull out the culprits.
How sad when a few people decide that filling their pockets with money is more important than education! One can only hope that justice can be done and the ones responsible for this mess are given a severe reprimand.
As an Alumni of the college, I write this mail with profound anguish, after watching it on the TV what happened to my alma mater on the evening of 29th August.
It is no wonder that the conduct of the Bishop has gone from Worse to Worst. It’s surprising to see that even few pastors join hands with the Bishop for this evil cause. It’s bizzare that Mr. George Selvakumar, who’s going to retire by next year and currently under suspension, has shown his lust for power to the core.
May I appeal to the congregation of Madurai to come united and reject this trend of Bishop’s attitude towards this dignified position and people. Bishop has shown his lust for power, money and position, high handedness , rude, wicked, these are all Fruit of the Flesh and not Fruit of the Spirit. Unless we be united take a decisive step in the right direction, we will see God lift His blessings completely from the Churches. It’s a wake up call to every Christian.
We protest on the killings of our Christian brothers and sisters by some miscreants in Orissa . But when a Bishop himself torments his own people by his wild behaviour, what do you call this? How do you want to deal with this? Is it not equal to killing his own people? - killing the reputation of the college, the missionary zeal, the tranquillity etc.
It’s also surprising that the Moderator and Bishops of other Dioceses is completely silent?
I would like to know as member of CSI, whose money is being utilised for the court cases? Who is sponsoring the Diocese? Is it the offertory money which was supposed to be used to the Glory of God being utilised for this evil cause? If this trend continues then I strongly feel that the CSI will disintegrate. Ofcourse unless if this is the will of God.
Let’s be united in prayer so that God will bring justice to the College.
May the Lord Almighty grant wisdom and strength to Mr. Chinnaraj Joseph to overcome this
Many are called, few are chosen and fewer still are faithful to the Lord.
JOHN PAUL
ALUMNI
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