Development fee splits University

Expectedly, the proposal has split the university into two: those who support the imposition of the development fee and those who don8217;t.

Says apologist Bonny Pilo, dean of the Science faculty, 8220;The university has to do something if it has to maintain the facilities and equipment in the laboratories.

Not every need can be forwarded to the State government. If students expect to be provided all the facilities, they can contribute towards their maintenance.8221;

Syndicate member Nikhil Desai has another point of view: 8220;Only if the students pay for the instruments will they learn to take care of them. This is the only way to prevent violence in the campus.8221;

Students, expectedly, oppose the introduction of the fee. While members of the All-India Democratic Students8217; Organisation have already sought a reconsideration of the decision, other student bodies say the fee will badly affect a section of the students.

But, counters a senior Arts professor, 8220;Students face no problems when it comes to paying for their tuitions. So they should have no objection to a university fee.8221;

Claims dean of the faculty of arts D H Mohite, 8220;Comparatively speaking, MSU students pay the least and damage the most vis-a-vis other universities. This decision should have been taken earlier. The students should realise the money they8217;ll be paying will be used for their benefit.8221;

Some students, however, appreciate the need for the introduction of a development fee. Students8217; union vice-president Hemal Mehta admits there was no alternative to the fee if the existing facilities were to be upgraded.

She says, 8220;Though it will put some students to difficulty, the fee is much less compared to what students of other state universities have to pay.8221;