Behind lock and key

Colleges, in a throwback to school days, lock gates during working hours to prevent students from being.. well… students!

SRISHTI DAIV

Be it malls, cafes, fast foodjoints, or college canteens,flocks of college students having a goodtime at any point in the day is a rather common sight. Thankfully,the age-old tradition of bunking classes has not yet ended, no matter how hard the authorities try. And they do try hard!The transition from school to college means stepping into a little more freedom, exploring the world with all the zeal of youth. Well, putting a rude full stop to that zeal are certain colleges where it’s a throwback to school — locked gates and strict vigilance!

In Vision PU College, it’s possible to walk out of the gates only during lunch. According to Anita R, a lecturer in Christ Junior College, “Though the open gates provide students an opportunity to walk out of college whenever they desire, it is still essential to lock them as many other blocks of different streams are a part of the campus.”While Anita may understand the restlessness of a student who wants to pop out for a chaat or an icecream, SunitaD, mother of a collegian, is very supportive about her daughter’s college rules. “Gates must be closed during college hours.There are better ways than getting out of college to take a break and come back refreshed to studies,” she says, perhaps having forgotten what it was to be young and full of beans to explore the world.

If you thought it was the fear of missing out on the day’s classes that might stop students bunking, never fear. Students have the most ingenious ways to make for all that time — time that they spend not so studiously.”What’s photocopying for? We are their biggest clients,” says Sameera Kriplani of Mount Carmel College who manages to skip class everyonce in a while.

In a gesture that’s true to the collegian spirit, colleges such as Krupanidhi PU College, JyotiNivas College, and Mount Carmel College do not keep their gates closed during collegehours.

On the other hand, BishopCottons Girls’ High School’s gates stay securely locked during school hours. Even the StJoseph’s PU College gates are well guarded, not allowing the boys to escape. CMRIT students have to go through the heads of department by stating their reason to leave college premises.A letter then has to be produced at the gates to the guards.

Mahalakshmi, mother of CMRIT student N Pavani, says students doing their degree are mature enough to understand when they need the break and whether it is necessary or not.She doesn’t find the need to have gates closed during college hours. Cheers to mommies like that.

Every college has its own reasons for open and closed gates.As far as students are concerned,given their natural restlessness and the desire to use their newfound freedom that college affords,closed gates only means just another obstacle in the way of coming up with a unique way to get out!

RULES,OTHER SOLUTIONS

Problem 1: No sleeveless for girls. Known solution:Wear sleeveless kurtas and cover up with a dupatta.Or wear a shirt on top of the ganji you’re wearing.Take off when appropriate.

Problem 2: No coloured hair. Known solution:Wear a bandana,hat, or a wide hairband to keep those pretty tints undercover. Whip off as you step outside the gates.

Problem 3: No short skirts Known solution: None. Unless you are THE fashion diva and can carry off a pair of tights under a skirt.

Problem 4: No frayed jeans and shorts Known solution: Pretend you don’t have the money to buy new ones.Ask for an ‘appropriate clothing’ grant.Works well for perennially broke hostelites.

Problem 5: No cell phones. Known solution: Find a roomybag that can hide it.Keep it on silent mode and say you have separation anxiety if you get caught out.