College regulations irk students in Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Sep 7: A set of rules introduced by St Aloysius Pre University College here has stirred a controversy, sparking protest by students and on social media against "imposing moral values".

The college had issued the directions to students at an orientation class last week and the rules and regulations were uploaded on social media by a former student. However, Principal Rev Fr Melwyn Mendonca denied discriminatory rules being enforced in the college as mentioned in the post. The post, he said, was "far from true" and the college authorities were contemplating filing a complaint to the cyber crime police.

Some of the rules and regulations mentioned in the post included "no pubs and parties, no girl student could leave the campus for lunch, girls should not visit boys of other classes during breaks, mehndi could be applied only on palm and with prior permission from class guide, no high or low bun and no interaction between a single girl and a group of boys or a single boy and a group of girls".

The Principal said the college had been conducting value education classes for students regularly and in a recent orientation class the students were asked to stick to the rules of the college pertaining to uniform, discipline and decent behaviour.

The parents had been asking the college authorities to keep a strict vigil on students after elopement of a student last year, he claimed. "Even the parents are happy with rules. They have no objection to it.

Admissions were increasing every year and it wouldn't have been possible if they are against the institution," he said. He also claimed that the "restrictions" in his college were less stringent compared to other PU colleges in the district and were aimed at focusing the attention of the students on studies and to inculcate moral values.

St Aloysius College, run by Jesuits priests, is a co-education college functioning for the last 27 years.

PTI