Archives

Restoring order in universities

The decision by the Council of the University of Colombo to stand firm in its ruling that the suspension order earlier enforced on nine undergraduates of the Law Faculty in connection with violent incidents at the university should not be lifted, is bound to receive wide public approval.

This is on account of the well-founded public perception that firm measures need to be taken to contain indiscipline and gross misconduct on the part of some students in our seats of higher learning. "Enough is enough", seems to be the predominant public sentiment in regard to rampant mayhem in some of our universities.

One of the latest pressure tactics to be adopted by sections of our undergraduates is the so-called discontinuous relay-fast by batches of students. Students sitting cross-legged on mini stages constructed opposite the Law Faculty of the University of Colombo, have been a familiar sight over the past few weeks. How serious a 'satyagraha' is this?

Answering this could prove difficult, but it is amply clear that the protest is aimed at coercing the university authorities into submitting to the students' demands. This approach to resolving issues is both legally and morally reprehensible and it is encouraging to note that both legal circles and the peace-loving sections of the public have taken cognizance of its objectionable nature.

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka, for instance has already warned these students against lapsing into criminal misconduct and pointed to the possibility of such conduct damaging their chances of being enrolled as Attorneys-at-Law later on. We are faced with the bizarre situation where budding lawyers are adopting criminal behaviour - a turn of events which is both disturbing and regrettable.

Hopefully more public pressure of this kind would make saner counsel to prevail over these disaffected undergraduates.

Meanwhile, the stance taken by the university authorities is likely to be increasingly endorsed by the public on account of the widely held view that violence, unruly behaviour and undemocratic conduct should be rooted out of our universities. However, the most distressing aspect of such crises in our universities is that a few hotheads undermine the careers of the vast majority of peace-loving students through their recalcitrant, tyrannical behaviour.

It is, after all, well-known that it is a microscopic minority of the students who engage in mindless dissent and violence.

The peace-loving majority among our student community couldn't be held to ransom by a few hotheads who are possibly being manipulated by disaffected elements in the wider body-politic.

This is the reason why discipline must be firmly maintained in our universities. Disruptive behaviour must be rigorously curbed.

News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries |

Produced by Lake House
Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager