‘OUTSIDERS’ ISSUE STILL HAUNTS AMERICAN COLLEGE

The three "outsiders" who got appointment as sanitary staff in The American College being questioned by the police in Madurai on Thursday.

EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE, Madurai, Jan. 07

A day after the American College reopened with students from few departments, including mathematics and Commerce attending classes, the presence of outsiders inside the campus seems to have become a major concern. It was said that spme staff had spotted 15 outsiders consuming alcohol and using abusive language in front of Washburn Hall (one of the men’s hostel) on Wednesday.The said place is very close to the women’s hostel. According to the staff, the presence of these persons inside the campus not only intimidate students, but also the women and children living in the staff quarters.

The issue was brought to the notice of the police on Thursday morning by Mayilkumar, an attender in the college. The police rushed to the spot and identified as many as 4 persons as outsiders and started iterrogating them. At this juncture M. Davamani Christopher, Bursar (claims to be) of the institution, came to their rescue and said that these persons were appointed recently to look after the sanitation in the hostel premises (But the ‘rowdies’ told the police that they were given appointment as warden and assistant wardens of the hostel). Clarifying that they were not antisocial elements, Christopher said that they had in fact cleaned the toilets in the hostel. A teaching staff P. Gunasekaran attached to Visual Communication department who was recording the exchange between the ‘recently appointed sanitary staff’ and the police was pulled up by the police for doing so. Anbudurai (the Principal-in-Charge), who is leading the protest in the campus, said that their contention was to oust the outsiders from the College so as to ensure the safety of the students.

“I don’t know how AC Shanmuganathan allowed outsiders inside after just checking the identity cards (note there are many ‘fake’ id cards distributed to rowdy elements by the ‘disputed group’). When there is a dispute the administration has no authority of appointing any personnel be it teaching or non teaching” he added.

SFI district secretary Lenin said that it is time that the government intervened and takes over the management of the college as the problem is directly affecting the education of students at large. Interestingly, as many as 176 staff, including non teaching personnel, have signed the register mainteained by principal-in-charge P.R.Anbudurai.

Items within brackets are added by the blogger for clarity sake.