On Wednesday,the Delhi University welcomed its freshers with roses,anti-ragging messages,three new bus routes in the North Campus,a gaping post-rain ditch right in the middle of the T-point near Patel Chest Hospital and the impending threat of an indefinite strike by the Delhi University Teachers Association (DUTA). The university reinforced its anti-ragging stance on the first day,deploying police personnel armed with a riot-control van in the North Campus. A first-year student of Ramjas said: I have not faced any problem today. I do not know how the colleges are planning to monitor ragging in hostels,where it takes places in a big way. Most DU hostels are at present shut for renovation work before the Games. At Zakir Husain,NSS volunteers performed a play against ragging,When will we ever learn,while there were unconfirmed reports from Hans Raj College that police and staff had to break up a group that tried to rag two freshers. The DUTA will be following the academic calendar of 2009-2010. We are starting classes for first-years of Science courses from tomorrow according to the annual mode, said Rajib Ray,member of the Academic Council,DU. DUTA teams travelled to most colleges,reminding Science teachers not to prepare the timetable as per the semester system. At the History department orientation in Kirori Mal College (KMC),teacher in-charge Sanjay Varma talked about the ongoing tussle between the DUTA and the university Vice-Chancellor. The college is in a mess. The university is in a mess. The V-Cs intention of introducing the semester system without informing the teachers and students is not in good taste. Varma,however,assured students that they will be taken care of. If teachers go on strike,classes will be compensated for. Because of the disassociation (of the DUTA from the admission process) we could not meet you. Now we will grow together. KMC fresher Tungnung Obed from Manipur said: I feel it would be better if we had the semester system. It will inculcate discipline in us. Ramjas,Miranda House,Kirori Mal College held their orientations on Wednesday while Hindu,SRCC and Stephens began classes after holding their orientations on Tuesday.
