Students see red over ballot boxes

VADODARA, SEPT 7: Although the Lok Sabha elections were over on Sunday, butproblems, it seems, only began for M S University's Commerce F...

VADODARA, SEPT 7: Although the Lok Sabha elections were over on Sunday, butproblems, it seems, only began for M S University’s Commerce Faculty. Ballotboxes kept in three rooms on first floor of the faculty’s main building haveopened a pandora’s box for both students and authorities.

For one, security personnel guarding the boxes are denying students an entrywithout proving their identity, making life tough for the authorities, whohave been forced to make alternate arrangements to ensure that classes arenot affected.

The students, meanwhile, frustrated with the sudden restriction on theirmovement, are preparing to submit a memorandum to vice-chancellor Anil Kaneon Wednesday, requesting him to arrange for shifting the boxes out ofcampus.

The inconvenience has also given students a stick to beat the university asthey are clubbing other problems faced by them. They are attempting toensure that the first internal examinations are not held during Navratri.Since the term began very late, there are chances the examinations will bedelayed, an idea favoured by the students and opposed by teachers.

Teachers propose examinations during the Navratri. “How is that possible?”asks Devang Patel, a Second-Year student. “Classes have not yet begun andhow are we expected to appear for examinations in a month’s time?” queriedGeneral Secretary of Student’ Union Prakash Verma.