Girl students outshine boys at MSU convocation ceremony

Girl students outshine boys at MSU convocation ceremony

Devanshi Joshi. Vadodara/DNA

Sunday, December 28, 2008
In a stunning event 288 gold medals were awarded to the meritorious graduating students at the 57th annual convocation of the MS University for the year 2008, which was organised at the university convocation ground on Saturday. Attended by a large number of dignitaries, including members of the Universitys Senate and Syndicate, besides the students, the event was graced by Dr RK Pachauri, director general, Energy Research Institute (TERI), New Delhi and chairman, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change as the chief guest.

Emphasising on the importance of research and knowledge-based education, Dr Pachauri urged students to “dirty their hands in research and bring out the best”. “We need to make our education system more research oriented. It can be the best way to learn and get something out. Knowledge cannot be preserved by selected authorities. It should rotate in flow. Quality education is required from the beginning to make the career stronger,” he said.

This years convocation was totally dominated by the girl students who won 149 gold medals out of 288 gold medals distributed among students of different departments. The girl students not only achieved the gold medals in non-technical streams like commerce and arts, but also marked their presence in technology and engineering fields with gold medal in Mechanical, electrical and other technical subjects. Shobhit Mathur, a medical student was the event stunner with a haul of six gold medals followed closely by three girl students who received five gold medals each.

Addressing the gathering, chancellor Mrunalinidevi Puar, said: “Getting a degree from MSU is definitely a moment of pride for all the students. I urge the students to actively contribute to the society and to the nation through their education and also to utilise the education in a best way and to keep themselves updated to match steps with the world.”

At MSU hostels, anything goes

Neither students nor officials seem to care about rules, regulations

Devanshi Joshi. Vadodara/DNA

Monday, December 15, 2008

Like most others, the hostel halls under Vadodara's MS University have a list of rules. However, negligence, on the part of authorities and students alike, has led to a situation where anything goes. For instance, although an ID card system is supposed to be in place, many students don't have the requisite cards. Sources say some outsiders also stay at the hostel without permission. Under university rules, hostel residents are required to get permission, and pay a fee, to have overnight guests - another rule that is often ignored. Students also bypass the curfew timing, using proxies to mark attendance. Sociology student Mallika Singh, a resident of SD hall, says, “Our hall does not have a warden, making it easy for students to break the rules. Also, the management is not strict about taking action against offenders, so we have formed committees to fine students who do not follow the rules.” When DNA asked Dr DP Bharambe, chief warden of the MSU hostel, about loopholes in hostel management, he said, “The hostel halls have rules and regulations, which student residents are expected to follow. Strict action is taken when we get complaints that rules are being broken.” Sources say MSU's frequent plans for new rules rarely get implemented. This time, the university plans to introduce a punch-card system for hostel residents, to ensure that they return to the hostel on time. “We plan to introduce the punch-card system in hostel halls. As far as security and management of hostel halls is concerned, we are trying to implement the rules strictly. Students also need to understand the rules and regulations, and cooperate,” said vice chancellor Ramesh Goyal.

MSU to put CCTV cameras in place

About 15 cameras will be set up at the main office in phase I

Devanshi Joshi. Vadodara/DNA

Tuesday, December 02, 2008

The terror attacks in Mumbai have made MSU authorities wake up to the potential security threat that the university may receive. The authorities have now planned to set up CCTV cameras to keep an eye on the activities taking place on the campus.MSU's security has become a matter of concern since its name appeared in the threat mail received soon after the Ahmedabad serial blasts. Checking of ID card and restricted entries were some of the measures the university had taken after the blasts. However, with passage of time, all these steps went into relaxed mode.According to the latest plan, the whole MSU campus will be monitored through CCTV cameras installed on the campus. Cameras will be set up in different phases. In the first phase, 10 to 15 cameras will be set up in the main office within 15 days. The security of MSU campus has always been a question as the security guards at various gates of the campus rarely check the I-cards of people entering the campus. University vice chancellor Ramesh Goyal finds installation of CCTV camera as a useful measure for adequate security on the campus. "To protect the university from any kind of violence, the authorities have decided to set up CCTV cameras at different places on the campus. Gradually, the whole campus will be covered with the cameras. We were planning to install camera for long but the work got delayed due to certain reasons."On their part, the students are supporting the MSU decision of setting up cameras on the campus. They say it is a good measure to keep an eye on the activities happening in the university. Kaushal Shah, a TY BCom student, said: "CCTV cameras will strengthen the security in the university and keep a check on the activities on the campus. Now with the terrorist attacks, safety has become an important issue and university like MSU needs to take action."Harikiron Rao, general secretary of MSU, said: "Installing CCTV cameras will be helpful for the internal security of the university. The cameras will help officials keep a watch on the activities happening on campus. This would also maintain discipline in the university."

Relaunched MSU website needs another launch

The poorly maintained website has old information
Devanshi Joshi. Vadodara/DNA
Wednesday, November 26, 2008

It may be the Internet age, but some officials at Vadodaras MS University are blissfully unaware that the varsitys website is outdated and ill-maintained. The sorry state of the site makes it difficult to even get basic updates about the universitys functioning. According to the homepage, nearly 35,000 students are enrolled at the university, which is one of the best known in Gujarat. Most of these students, especially the large base of foreign ones, prefer to gain access to academic and extracurricular information via the internet. However, a number of hyperlinks lead to dead or inaccessible pages, and of the ones that do open, many have incomplete information. Foreign student advisor at MSU, Sharad Bansal accedes that, “If the website is not functioning properly, it would be difficult for students to access information.” However, he is quick to shrug off the blame. “The technical department is responsible for the website. I am not aware about its working,” he says. MSUs website, www.msubaroda.ac.in, had been re-launched last year, with new features, but is not being updated regularly. The site still shows results of the last academic year and exam dates have not been updated, either. This is despite internal exams currently being conducted in a number of departments, with others scheduled to hold their exams in the coming months.In addition, the site does not offer any academic information, and only minimal details regarding the courses offered.Ramesh Goyal, at the start of his term as university vice chancellor, had assured the proper functioning of the website. But the situation remains largely unchanged in the roughly eight months since then. When asked about it, he said, “I admit the website is functioning at a less than optimal level. I have talked to the universitys technical department, who are working on the universitys website. We plan to re-launch it soon, with the latest updates.”To make matters worse, the contacts page of the site also has very limited information. Neither does it mention whom to contact in case of complaints or queries.

Celebrities to add colour to Paramarsh

Over 7,000 students from Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra & MP are expected to turn up at the extravaganza

Devanshi Joshi. Vadodara/DNA
Friday, September 12, 2008

Over 7,000 students from more than 30 elite colleges across Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra will turn up to attend Paramarsh 2008, an annual fest organised by students of the faculty of technology and engineering, MSU. The three-day fest will be held from September 19 to 21. Paramarsh, a non-technical event, started in 2001, when a group of students from the mechanical engineering department realized the need of such a function at the intra-college level.It is for the first time that celebrities will grace the event with their presence. On September 19, budding engineers will have the opportunity to meet popular author Chetan Bhagat, interact with noted danseuse Mallika Sarabhai and sway to the songs of F4, a band formed by an Indian Idol finalist.The excitement does not stop here. Information technology security experts Ankit Fadia and Sunny Vaghela will share ethical hacking tips with participants. Cricketers Irfan and Yusuf Pathan will mingle with youngsters on the inaugural day.“In todays competitive world, technological event are not sufficient. The students have to be equally good at public speaking and communication skills to succeed,” said an event coordinator.He further added, “Paramarsh was initiated with the aim to hone interpersonal skills, creativity and spontaneity of students that will help them face campus recruitment confidently and in group discussions and personal interviews.” Paramarsh kicked off as an inter-college event in 2002. It assumed more significance when in 2005, it became a state-level event. Finally, in 2007, Paramarsh covered the entire west zone and became a popular extravaganza.

MSU dons Modi mask for poll

Aggressive campaigning marks the day

Devanshi Joshi. Vadodara/DNA
Saturday, August 30, 2008

On the last day for campaigning before Saturdays MS University student union elections, ABVP candidates went full-throttle on Friday with their final promotional strategies, which included donning a Modi Mask even as tight security arrangements have been made for the elections today.The campus was infused with pre-election fever yesterday. SMSes, social networking websites, door-to-door campaigning and all other methods were implemented by the contenders on the final day of election campaigning. As per the universitys code of conduct, campaigning was supposed to end at 11 am, however supporters continued past the specified time limit outside the campus as well.The candidates urged students to vote, especially female students, as the percentage of female voters in the university had been less in the past years. In last years elections, only 10,000 out of 35,000 students voted, which was under 29%. This year, candidates will provide commuting facilities to attract the maximum number of students, who will be picked up and dropped off as well. As per sources, gifts and other perks were also distributed. To strengthen security, police personnel and 120 guards will be present at the university.Vice Chancellor Ramesh Goyal said, “To conduct the elections peacefully, tight security arrangements have been made. Members of the election committee and vigilance committee will be present at different faculties round the clock to carry out the election properly. Security guards will be available at each faculty and over the entire campus. Students without ID cards and outsiders will not be allowed in the campus.”In all, 85 voting booths will be there with 250 voting boxes at different faculties of the university and its Padra unit. The commerce faculty have got 26 voting centres, the highest. Arts faculty has 9 centres, technology faculty has 11, science faculty has 10, while one booth each has been allotted to home science, journalism & communication, social work, sanskrit Maha Vidyalaya, medicine and performing arts faculties. Five booths will be placed at Faculty of Law and 3 at Padra unit.

MSUSUElection expenses run into lakhs

Devanshi Joshi. Vadodara/DNA
Saturday, August 30, 2008

As campaigning for the MSU student union polls ended on Friday, expenses involved in it were put in lakhs. Money spent on banners, cards, posters, vehicles, petrol, volunteers, services of free SMSes and pre-paid connections and perks to supporters was huge.Though cards, hoardings, posters are not allowed according to university rules, leaders openly used the tools by saying that these were essentials for election campaigning. As per sources, the contestants for FGS (faculty general secretary) spent around Rs15,000 to Rs25,000, which meant that the expenses of those contesting for UGS (university general secretary) and VP (vice president) posts would be in the vicinity of Rs5 lakh.NSUI candidate Kunal Patel, contesting for the post of VP, said, "Promotions are necessary to make students aware about the candidate. The university's restrictions on the usage of the banners, publicity cards and posters, for which there are expenses, will make it impossible to campaign." As per sources, 10,000 SMSes were given free to the party supporters over and above the fancily designed visiting and publicity cards which cost between Rs15,000 to Rs20,000. Pre-paid connections in bulk have also been provided by the candidates which cost heavily. Expenses were also made on providing petrol, rental cars for campaign rallies, snacks and other perks for the supporters. Narendra Tewari, an ex-university leader, says: "The election campaigning scene has completely changed over the years. When I won the election years back, I did not undertake big expenses for publicity. I used to meet people personally to get their trust."Amid all this, a question that arose was: was it possible for the leaders to bear the burden of all these expenses? Sources said it was not possible for student leaders to spend so huge amounts without the support of mainstream political parties.

Prerna 2008 tomorrow, 451 students to join

Devanshi Joshi. Vadodara
Saturday, August 09, 2008
The faculty of technology and engineering at MS University will be holding 'Prerna '08', a competition for differently-abled persons, on Sunday. Apart from physically handicapped, visually impaired, hearing impaired, and mentally challenged people will take part in the event.In all, 451 differently-abled students from different institutes of Vadodara, Ahmedabad, Surat and other parts of the state will compete in six different events. A blood donation camp, signature campaign and exhibition cum sale of products have also been planned. "The faculty has been organising the event for the last two years. Earlier, it used to be held at the district level, but starting this year, it will be a state-level meet," said Parth Patel, a member of the managing committee and an engineering student.

Ban on vehicles on MSU campus

Vehicles not to be parked within 15 meters of faculty buildings

Devanshi Joshi. Vadodara/DNA

Tuesday, August 05, 2008

As part of additional security measures, the authorities at the MS University have asked students not to park vehicles in front of faculties. According to an announcement, students and visitors to the university will not be allowed to park vehicles within 15 meters of faculty buildings.The authorities have also decided that students would only be allowed inside the varsity from selected gates manned by security guards and students will not be allowed to ride vehicles inside the university. Ramesh Goyal, vice chancellor of the university said, "The traffic flow inside the university will be controlled and students will need to park their vehicles only in the specified parking zone." Kaushal Joshi, a B com student said, "Earlier we used to park our vehicles in front of our faculty building or anywhere in the university but now after the new announcement it has become difficult for us to commute within the university."

Chinks in MSU security plan

Effectiveness of the new measures is under question

Devanshi Joshi. Vadodara
Saturday, August 02, 2008

A plan of action to ensure security in the MS University (MSU) was announced on Tuesday. However, it sounded more like a paper tiger. Fraught with loopholes, the effectiveness of the new security measures is under question.Security guards are present at various entrances but their inefficiency can be gauged from the fact that they let many visitors inside the premises without checking their identity. This scribe sneaked in by just saying that she was from Press.MSU has strength of more than 40,000 students, 18 faculties and 16 hostel rooms. The terrorists can make their way into the campus without any difficulty. The varsity has deputed just 78 security guards, who are unarmed. University authorities have decided to increase security on the premises but security outside is still lax. Even though the administration has assured to deploy adequate number of guards and police officers on the premises, the security can't be foolproof in commerce faculty, which is surrounded by walls anybody can easily scale and escape. Besides no proper fencing, there is no security along the walls from the commerce faculty right up to the science faculty.Moreover, the university lacks adequate metal detectors to check the influx of people, coming and going out. The MSU just has five metal detectors. The university has set up a vigilance committee in each faculty. Vice chancellor Ramesh Goyal said, "We have planned to take long-term security steps on the university premises. The deans of each faculty have been given responsibility to take measures for the security of their faculties as it is not possible to make university fully secured overnight."In wake of the security threats, the academic work in MSU has been affected. The varsity was closed on Tuesday. Faculty of commerce will start functioning from August 4 while Faculty of Arts, performing arts and fine arts will start from August 1.

Newcomers condemn Abad

Devanshi Joshi.Vadodara/DNA
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
On the opening day of the first year's academics at faculty of commerce of M S University on Monday, the newcomers were welcomed with black strips instead of the customary roses. This was done to pay tribute to the victims of Ahmedabad bomb blasts. More than 2,000 newcomers were welcomed with black strips while they came for the first day of college on Monday. Senior students, student leaders and others welcomed newcomers with black strips on their hand instead of flowers, tilak and chocolates. The serial blasts in Ahmedabad has shaken M S University students as well. Students kept themselves away from any kind of welcoming ceremony for newcomers and tied black strips on newcomers hand.Kunal Patel, a student leader, said: "For last three years, we had been welcoming newcomers with flowers and chocolates to wish them new beginning of college life but this year just before the one day of the beginning of first year's academic session, the Ahmedabad blasts have shattered all of us. Hence we are not doing any celebration.''

MSU elections: Last-ditch efforts to woo voters

MSU elections: Last-ditch efforts to woo voters
Today being the last day for campaigning, candidates will go all out with their promotional strategies in an attempt to tap the student vote-bank
Devanshi Joshi & Maulik Buch. Vadodara/DNA

With the MS University student union elections just one day away, student leaders will use every trick in the book to spread their messages to a maximum number of students in the final round of election campaigning on Friday.Supporters of ABVP and NSUI and independent candidates will engage in a final flurry of promotions. Various departments, hostel halls, canteens, library and each and every corner of the university campus have been smothered by propaganda cards. Rallies, door-to-door publicity, SMSes, phone calls and social networking sites are being used to win voters' favour.However, after having delivered speeches at the different faculties, departments and hostel halls, the strategy is now going to shift towards a more hands-on and personal approach, and to that effect, supporters have started going to the homes of students, requesting for their vote in person.In order to facilitate a final, convincing campaign, the parties have let no stone unturned, making various provisions for supporters helping them in the election promotions. As per sources, "About 10,000 SMSes have been given free to supporters of candidates. Pre-paid connections have also been provided in bulk by the candidates. From petrol to vehicles and food - everything has been provided to make the supporters happy."Candidates and supporters are also reaching out to students through social networking websites, where university communities and student-group forums are being flooded with messages requesting support and highlighting negative aspects of the other contestants. Videos on websites like Youtube have also been uploaded besides sending SMSes and making personal phone calls. Bhavik Shah, a BCom Student and NSUI supporter, says, "We have posted messages on websites like Orkut to get the votes of the students. We are also meeting the students personally by going to their homes and by sending SMSes to increase their awareness about the party; to build a rapport. We have also posted a video on Youtube."An ABVP candidate for the post of VP (vice president), Amita Mistry, says: "As the countdown for the election has now begun, we are going for one-on-one contact to get the trust of students. Using technology such as social networking websites and SMSes has proved helpful in reaching the masses.''

Double whammy hits NSUI ahead of MSU elections

Friday, August 22, 2008
Double whammy hits NSUI ahead of MSU elections
Thrashing of one of the unions members queers the pitch
Devanshi Joshi. Vadodara/DNA
The rejection of application forms of NSUI (National Students Union of India) candidates for the soon-to-be-held MS University students union election has sparked off furore. What has added to the chaos is the assault on Jigar Shah, a leading member of NSUI, allegedly by ABVP supporters on Thursday. Protesting against the incident, NSUI has demanded the V-C to postpone the polls. University authorities have refused to reveal reasons for rejecting application forms of NSUI candidates today. The candidates had applied for the posts of class representative (CR), faculty general secretary (FGS) and department representative (DR). On getting the news, NSUI student leaders Rutvij Joshi, Rupesh Prajapati, Kunal Patel, Senate member Narendra Rawat and other supporters rushed to the polytechnic faculty to protest against the administrations decision. They alleged that “those involved with election work had a nexus with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and they have done it on purpose".“The forms have been rejected deliberately. ABVP fears losing the election and that's why they are doing this. More than 50 ABVP members, including Vikas Dubey, attacked Jigar Shah and injured him badly. We want V-C to postpone the elections. We also met the commissioner today to urge him to take action against ABVP,” said Kunal Patel.Shah, a student of the department of Sanskrit Mahavidyalay was beaten up by a mob of ABVP members, during peak hours of the college on Thursday. Shah said, “While I was giving a speech in the faculty of science, I was beaten up by a mob of around 15 to 20 ABVP members. When I went to the commerce faculty on the third floor to give another speech, I was kicked and thrashed with pipes and chairs. Even as I ran to the deans office for cover, the mob followed me and assaulted me.”Sayajigunj police arrived at the place and took the situation under control. Shah has lodged a complaint against ABVP members in the Sayajigunj police station.

Girls hostel baffled over disappearing undergarments

Friday, August 29, 2008
Girls hostel baffled over disappearing undergarments
Experts say the tendency to steal undergarments is a kind of deviant sexual behaviour
Devanshi Joshi. Vadodara
It is not unusual to hear of hostel residents stealing the money, books and stationary of fellow students staying at the hostel but it is rare indeed to come across instances of the thief showing a fondness for the undergarments. MS University of Vadodara has some students staying at its girls hostel who steal not only money, food, watch and jewellery of fellow residents but also their undergarments. Sometime back, a girl student staying at the university hostel was found in possession of missing money and undergarments belonging to other students. Mallika Singh, a sociology student who stays in the girls hostel, said, “All residents of the hostel can enter each others room because each room is usually shared by three-four girls. So it is difficult to keep watch for potential thieves.” Pooja Ranawat, a commerce student staying in the same hostel, said, “Ever since undergarments started disappearing from the rooms, we have been keeping an eye for responsible students. We have also started keeping our belongings locked in cupboards. Girls are now even locking up their rooms with a separate key for each room-mate.” Indrani Chatterji is a psychology student who stays in the same hostel as Mallika and Pooja. She has tried to assess the psychological reasons behind girls stealing the undergarments of fellow hostel inmates. “Girls who steal even undergarments are addicted to the act of stealing. The urge to steal may have deep roots in the psychology of the individual. They do feel guilty when caught but they are unable to give up the habit of stealing,” she said. Some victims of the thieves, however, say the girls, when caught, say they are kleptomaniacs simply to gain sympathy and be let off without punishment. Psychoanalysts, however, insist that there are deeper reasons for the pathological behaviour of some girls. “It is a kind of deviant sexual behaviour. People exhibiting this behaviour derive strange satisfaction from wearing other peoples undergarments. It is much more common among men. Men exhibiting such behaviour tend to steal the undergarments of women,” a Vadodara-based expert explained. Dr Rashmi Vyas is a psychiatrist who was a resident of the hostel during her days as a medical student. “One of the reasons for girls stealing the undergarments of other girls could be poverty. It is possible that the thief has a craving for expensive undergarments which she is unable to buy herself. She, therefore, steals what she cannot buy,” Vyas said. On the other hand, Dr Anjuli Verma, head of the department of psychology, MS University, said girls sometimes get addicted to the act of stealing but, in many cases, “it is the symptom of a psychological disorder that has sexual underpinnings”.