Students Issues at Punjab University
The current scenario at Punjab University provides an opportunity to educate students
regarding their own issues and organize them to work in conjunction with academic and
administrative staff of the university to resolve them. This document is an outcome of
interviews of students from various departments at the university. It is a working document as
only students from Hailey College of Commerce, Law College, Political Science, Sociology,
Pharmacy, Biological Sciences and Physics were interviewed. Still it highlights issues
common to all departments. Next steps should be to conduct a detailed survey of students
from all departments to compile a comprehensive list of student issues, have an extensive
discussion among the student body in devising recommendations to resolve these issues and
then presenting recommendations to the University Senate and Syndicate to take appropriate
measures and devise a comprehensive implementation plan to resolve them.
The purpose of this exercise is to instill within the student body that the main purpose of the
Student Union is to provide an environment for world class educational experience at the
university which is only possible when students and staff work in conjunction to remove all
hindrances towards quality class room instruction as well as a opportunities for out of class
learning experience. This paper considers resolution of student issues as the essence of
political activity at the university. Only by discussing and resolving their own issues, will
students be able to relate their own reality with that of the nation and constructively take part
in national politics.
This paper argues that it is the lack of services provided by university administration that
leads to patron-client relationship between a student union and students. Till the university
improves its services, academic standards and faculty professionalism, student unions will
serve as student service providers (by hook or by crook) rather than representatives of
genuine student demands.