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Date: 11.10.2021
MILESTONE: The University Grants Commission heard us!
After three gruelling months of trying to get Christ (Deemed-to-be) University to acknowledge us, our strategy of approaching the University Grants Commission (UGC) finally paid off!
The UGC has followed up with the college and instructed them to send us an action report regarding their inquiry into the sexual harassment allegations.
The pressure is on - and your support made this possible. Let’s continue to amplify and sign this petition to make Christ (Deemed-to-be) University a safe space for students!
Date: 29.09.2021
TW: Sexual harassment of students
Three months have passed since the allegations of sexual harassment at Christ (Deemed-to-be) University surfaced on news platforms. Anonymous proctors calling a student “baby” and asking another to lower her camera while writing an online exam left many shocked about the poor state of student safety in one of India’s so-called “prestigious” universities.
Except not everyone was shocked.
An outpour of social media reports and interactions with current and former students of the institution revealed that Christ (Deemed-to-be) University has a history of inappropriate behaviour by staff. It appears to exhibit an incredible preoccupation with morally policing students, threatening them as a “disciplining” tactic, arbitrary punishments and rampant sexism. These grievances existed long before the recent allegations came to light.
Despite outrage against the recent sexual harassment case, we have yet to hear from the institution on their inquiry and the functioning of their Internal Complaints Committee. We have made relentless efforts to contact them through written letters to the Vice-chancellor, emails to their Internal Committee, and social media tactics. We worry for the current students with each new alum report that attests to Christ (Deemed-to-be) University’s vindictive action against vocal students. But the college itself remains unresponsive and doesn’t say anything, and for a good reason. Maintaining silence against opposing voices has been a successful tactic for them to avoid any accountability - for years.
We found an institution with the authority to hold Christ (Deemed-to-be) University accountable, despite the college’s reluctance to address the issue: the University Grants Commission.
For the college to maintain its Deemed-to-be university status and even progress to full university status, the UGC is responsible for ensuring that it is following all the necessary safety mandates as per the UGC [Institutions Deemed To Be Universities] Regulations, 2019.
We urge the UGC to:
Send a firm follow-up notice to the college demanding that they submit their post-inquiry report immediately
Ensure that the identified perpetrator(s) is dismissed
Make recommendations for the long-term safety of students and oversee their implementation
The UGC has already taken its first steps to address the issue. Dr Latha KC, Education Officer at the UGC South-west regional office, has made a statement against the institution. We cannot let the case rest without a resolution and allow Christ (Deemed-to-be) University to get away with traumatising its students. Sign the petition now!
Scroll down to sign the petition
Date: 11.10.2021
MILESTONE: The University Grants Commission heard us!
After three gruelling months of trying to get Christ (Deemed-to-be) University to acknowledge us, our strategy of approaching the University Grants Commission (UGC) finally paid off!
The UGC has followed up with the college and instructed them to send us an action report regarding their inquiry into the sexual harassment allegations.
The pressure is on - and your support made this possible. Let’s continue to amplify and sign this petition to make Christ (Deemed-to-be) University a safe space for students!
Date: 29.09.2021
TW: Sexual harassment of students
Three months have passed since the allegations of sexual harassment at Christ (Deemed-to-be) University surfaced on news platforms. Anonymous proctors calling a student “baby” and asking another to lower her camera while writing an online exam left many shocked about the poor state of student safety in one of India’s so-called “prestigious” universities.
Except not everyone was shocked.
An outpour of social media reports and interactions with current and former students of the institution revealed that Christ (Deemed-to-be) University has a history of inappropriate behaviour by staff. It appears to exhibit an incredible preoccupation with morally policing students, threatening them as a “disciplining” tactic, arbitrary punishments and rampant sexism. These grievances existed long before the recent allegations came to light.
Despite outrage against the recent sexual harassment case, we have yet to hear from the institution on their inquiry and the functioning of their Internal Complaints Committee. We have made relentless efforts to contact them through written letters to the Vice-chancellor, emails to their Internal Committee, and social media tactics. We worry for the current students with each new alum report that attests to Christ (Deemed-to-be) University’s vindictive action against vocal students. But the college itself remains unresponsive and doesn’t say anything, and for a good reason. Maintaining silence against opposing voices has been a successful tactic for them to avoid any accountability - for years.
We found an institution with the authority to hold Christ (Deemed-to-be) University accountable, despite the college’s reluctance to address the issue: the University Grants Commission.
For the college to maintain its Deemed-to-be university status and even progress to full university status, the UGC is responsible for ensuring that it is following all the necessary safety mandates as per the UGC [Institutions Deemed To Be Universities] Regulations, 2019.
We urge the UGC to:
Send a firm follow-up notice to the college demanding that they submit their post-inquiry report immediately
Ensure that the identified perpetrator(s) is dismissed
Make recommendations for the long-term safety of students and oversee their implementation
The UGC has already taken its first steps to address the issue. Dr Latha KC, Education Officer at the UGC South-west regional office, has made a statement against the institution. We cannot let the case rest without a resolution and allow Christ (Deemed-to-be) University to get away with traumatising its students. Sign the petition now!
A small donation will help us carry on our campaign to make Christ University safe. Do consider donating to Jhatkaa.org.
