PRESENT MADAM!

The affiliation to the Madras University has ensured the inevitable presence of every student of Stella Maris College for a minimum of three-quarters of hours stipulated for every single paper within the four walls of the classroom. The big question that lingers in the minds of numerous freethinkers within the college premises is: “Do college students require moral policing?” The orthodox populace counters this question with an intense justification: “Choice is perilous.” What about the anarchists? They abhor more than they think. While the freethinkers and the orthodox debate over the issue of attendance constraint, the anarchists say “I don’t care” with a smirk on their faces.

Every college in this universe has its pros and cons and every student has a devil in her mind. There are times when a student prefers reading a light-hearted novel or enjoying the company of pals to turning a deaf ear to mute words. For her, ‘liberty of the soul’ conquers the driver’s seat and ‘respect of an individual’ occupies the back seat. This is quite rampant among the youth who are constantly in an ideological clash with their masters. Students have different avenues of assimilating information such as books, internet and peers. At this point in time, the orthodox have two relevant counter-questions. Do not years of research and experience in any field make a profound difference? Does not quality matter more than quantity? For freethinkers, some lectures are beneficial, some a mere necessity and very few futile.

One of the starkest ironies of this attendance saga is that a number of arrear cases have the minimum required attendance. Therefore, is this model serving its purpose? Moreover, values and morals can’t be thrust upon the current generation of ‘revolutionary minds.’ Rules and regulations are crucial to the functioning of any institution as they prevent things from going out of control. But the curiosity to know more and the wish to share a good rapport with teachers must emanate from within. The rules supposedly take a toll on the ‘free souls’ and further distance them from their teachers. The constant reminders and build-up of suspense and tension for all the three years of their ‘freaky’ stay at the college give rise to a sense of deep apathy and frustration in their minds.

The freethinkers continue to present their argument. During the even semesters, all the premier colleges of Chennai bustle with the festivities of Inter-Collegiate Culturals. This is the time when hidden talents are unearthed and the institutions achieve galore in terms of reputation. Unfortunately, even semesters have fewer numbers of working hours. Therefore, the more the students participate in the culturals, the more their chances of being welcomed graciously into the ‘danger zone.’ They might end up writing more number of arrears at the end of the day. Their lives are stiffened as they may not get an opportunity to take much-needed breaks.

What does the orthodox populace have to say? Can professors give lectures to empty classrooms? For if, choice is granted to students, not a single person would ‘take the pains’ to listen to the professors. The freethinkers interrupt abruptly. But do professors need to enlighten disinclined students? The middleperson intervenes, “We live in a society that teaches us to ‘endure’ each other rather than ‘embrace’ each other.”

Does not the freedom of one individual violate the freedom of another? Here is why the college management is forced to enforce such strict measures for the proper functioning of the college. If everyone in the college, including students and teachers, strives for freedom of a different sort, which is to bunk classes and ignore lectures respectively, the whole system will undoubtedly collapse. Bridges between students and teachers can be built only if they interact with each other; interaction is possible only in the so-called ‘dreary’ classrooms. REACH IN TO REACH OUT. This is the bedrock of an ideal education system.

Independence Day, NSS Day, NCC Day, Sports Day and other celebrations can’t go ahead if students don’t make their presence felt. If students wean themselves away from these events, the nation as a whole will suffer besides the college. Instead of leading an indolent and undisciplined life, the youth must pull up their socks and keep the spirit of the nation’s integrity intact.

In the end, the motion is passed in favour of the ‘greater good.’ The need of the hour is to narrow the communication gap between the teachers and the students. Instead of forcing rules on the students, the management must try to take them into confidence. Students on their part must reciprocate to the efforts of the teachers and avoid confrontation. Mutual understanding and cooperation will definitely lead to an immortal solution to this problem. This exercise is definitely not impossible. NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE. WHERE THERE IS A WILL, THERE IS A WAY.