Ashoka University students go on strike

Enraged over the establishment of the security systems- baggage scanner and metal detectors at the gate of the Ashoka University in the Rajiv Gandhi Education city at Rai, the students went on strike and began protest against the university administration. On Thursday evening, the students organised mass walkout from the university campus.

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The protesting students under the banner of ‘Strike against Surveillance’ on Thursday said that Himanshu Sachdev, vice-president of operations, announced new security measures in an email titled "Change of access protocols and enhancement of campus security" which came in effect on January 17 under which shifting student movement to Gate 2, located 230 metres from the original exit, mandatory baggage scanning, the requirement for students to empty their pockets when passing through metal detectors.

The announcement triggered immediate backlash as the policy was a ‘blatant violation of student privacy’ and an encroachment upon the rights of students disguised as an attempt to improve security and prevent substance abuse, they alleged.

The Ashoka University Student Government (AUSG) issued a statement the next day, alleging that they were informed but not consulted on the changes. The AUSG demanded an immediate rollback and called for mass student mobilisation.

A group of students gathered at Gate 2 to voice their concerns to the Dean of student affairs (DSA), the residence life office (RLO), and the student care office (SCO). The students explained that the measures not only infringed on their privacy and resident rights but also failed to address the root causes of substance abuse on the campus.

The students alleged that as the university administration received information of students’ mobilisation they started wetting the atrium floor with pipes and buckets of water to prevent students from gathering in the open space. They also installed multiple guards at the site apart from blocking the small area with 200+ planters and massive pots across the floor.

The protesting students further alleged that Shalini Mehrotra, DSA, assured students that she would respond by the end of the day. However, no communication was made, and a scheduled meeting with the students and the administration at the atrium was not held.

Dr Somak Raychaudhury, Vice Chancellor (VC) met four representatives of the AUSG on the first day of the semester on June 20 but firmly refused to roll back the protocols.

The student body has conveyed that until substantive action and a formal response is provided by the VC, along with a town hall, the students will not back down from the demands, and will take necessary escalatory steps. However, the protest will remain non-violent and peaceful at all times in all capacities.