After its clean-up operation, the LU administration is hoping to focus on academic activities. More than 30 new courses at the under-graduate, post-graduate and diploma levels will be on offer from the new academic session, said varsity officials. According to Vice-Chancellor Ram Prakash Singh, LU students will also get the chance to work on projects with some premiere educational institutes including the IITs and IIMs from the next academic session. “We have already consulted the directors of these institutions and they have granted permission,’’ he said. Also in the pipeline is a research committee which will promote and boost research programmes being undertaken by the varsity. “Committee members will include renowned scientists, persons of scholarly or literary achievements and intellectuals. We will frame new research guidelines which will empower students to get their works published in national and international journals,’’ said the V-C. Taking into account the rising numbers of students, Singh said an online interactive learning network would be launched to link the varsity with its nearly 60 affliated colleges. According to varsity officials, around 37,000 students are pursuing different types of courses in LU at present. The figure is expected to touch the 50,000 mark by 2010.And to attract foreign students, the V-C said special residential facilities would be provided to them. “A special hostel will soon come up for foreign students. The hostel will have adequate arrangements to hold conferences and other seminars,’’ said Singh. Meanwhile, reacting sharply to Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav’s warning that action would be taken against the V-C if his alleged statement about the involvement of university girls in prostitution was proved wrong, Singh today said “misinformation” was being fed to the CM.“I have never said LU girls are involved in the sex racket. I have never said that either verbally or mentioned it in my affidavit. It seems someone is misinforming my findings to the CM,’’ said the V-C today. Clarifying his statement, Singh said: “I have said some outsiders and criminals are operating prostitution and drug peddling rackets from the varsity compound.”Singh also warned that the varsity would take strict action against teachers with criminal antecedents. “Much like our action against several students, we will be taking action against LU faculty members also. All such teachers will be punished severely,” he said, adding that two-three teachers had such a background.The varsity administration today started re-allotment of its hostels. The girls were re-alloted rooms today.
