DTU protests now on Facebook

Following strict measures by college authorities, students engage in social networking to garner support

Following strict measures by college authorities, students engage in social networking to garner support

From boycotting exams to peace protests on the streetsu00a0-- students of Delhi Technical University are keeping no stones unturned to register their demands. The engineering students are coming up with innovative ideas to spread their message so that more people can understand the grievances of the nearly 3,500 students.u00a0


Students protesting at Jantar Mantar against being converted to state
university from Central University

The students are using social networking and bulk SMSes to communicate among themselves. Most of the college students are avid users of Facebook and Orkut. A community by the name SAVE DCE has been created.
"It is almost impossible to call or meet each student personally, so to spread our message we are using social networking websites. Most students are a part of the SAVE DCE community. Moreover we have a college community on Facebook that we use to discuss our agenda and to communicate," said Nitin Bhairaya, a final year student of DTU who was rusticated after the student protests.

The students say the college authorities were piqued by this and disconnected the wi-fi in the college campus, so that no one could communicate over the Net. "After the third day of protests, the college disconnected the wi-fi. So we started sending bulk SMSes to groups that could help in spreading the message. We also updated the social networking group by going outside the campus and uploading the latest photographs, videos and messages," Nitin added.

Section 144 has been applied from the college campus to Rithala Metro station, which prohibits assembly of five or more persons, holding of public meetings, and carrying of firearms. More than 500 policemen have also been deployed, equipped with water canons. So, to avoid any trouble, the students have started avoiding the campus. "We send SMSes asking the students to gather near Japanese Park in Rohini in order to have a public

DTU MUDDLE

The protesting students are demanding the scrapping of the name change from DCE to DTU, as well as cancellation of the suspension of two students who initiated the protest. The students also cite the anarchic rule of vice-chancellor PB Sharma as another reason for their angst. "It is his personal agenda which is marring the goodwill of the institution," a student said.

meeting. We do not want to break any rules and that is the reason we are using technology as the means," said Ravi Shekhar, a student union leader.

Students on Tuesday again protested outside the Vidhan Sabha. A majority of them have boycotted the ongoing mid-semester examinations. On Monday, only 71 students appeared for the exams; the number declined to 50 on Tuesday.u00a0u00a0

The protests are starting to take visible effect. Sources said officials from the Delhi government have stepped in to find an early solution. "Officials from the state government, DTU and agitating students are holding discussions to come out with an answer," an insider said.

A meeting called by vice-chancellor PB Sharma on Monday had ended without any compromise as the students stuck to their stand of negotiating only with the Delhi government, which passed the DTU Bill.