Prez poll at St Xavier’s: not okay, say students
A group of students have objected to the manner in which few candidates were disqualified; they protested after their pleas fell on deaf ears
Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Tuesday, July 10, 2012 (http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/article/3/20120710201207100149003312426d645/Prez-poll-at-St-Xavier%E2%80%99s-not-okay-say-students-.html)
Election to the post of president has become a bone of contention at St Xavier’s Loyola with a group of students refusing to accept the poll process stating that the teachers had pushed for ‘selection’ of the candidates.
Till last year, councillors elected from each class would elect the president from among themselves, while this year only meritorious students with a certain percentage were allowed to contest the elections.
There are five classes of standard 11 and five classes of standard 12 at St Xavier’s Loyola. For class 11, only those with above 85 per cent scored in the last exam could contest, while for class 12 students those with above 80 per cent in the last exam could participate.
According to the protesting students, of the 10 students who had filled forms to contest the election, forms of three were rejected. The students have sought an explanation from the authority, “On what grounds were the forms of these three meritorius students rejected?”
Among the top-7 who were shortlisted, four students were from class 11 and three were from class 12. Of these, four were disqualified. This too has not gone down well with the students.
On Monday, elections were held with three students vying for the top post, results of which will be declared on Tuesday. The student with the highest votes will be elected president and the student with second highest votes will be declared vice-president.
However, a group of students who were unhappy with the proceedings, have written a letter to the principal in protest. The letter says, “We want a students’ representative, not a teachers’ one”, “Is this an ‘election’ or ‘selection’? The top three are selected by the teachers and we are forced to elect them.
Around 10.30 am they gathered outside the school premises and fixed posters on a fencing opposite the school. The posters read, ‘Peace’, Loyola has changed’, ‘How can our own teachers betray us?’
One of the disqualified students said, “The criteria was suddenly changed this year and we were not informed about it. Some teachers put up their ‘favourite’ students and we were shown the door. We complained to the teachers and the principal, but no heed was paid to us.”
Another student alleged, “When we told the principal about it and protested outside the campus, he even threatened to call the police.”
Father Fernando Dorai said, “We have placed emphasis on discipline in this year’s election. Seven students were disqualified due to this. Some students were unhappy with this decision and created a ruckus in the school and misguided other students.”
Dorai added that this election is for leadership and the leader will responsible for extracurricular and cultural activities in the school. The protesting students have, meanwhile, threatened to go on hunger strike if the election process is not reversed.
Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Tuesday, July 10, 2012 (http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/article/3/20120710201207100149003312426d645/Prez-poll-at-St-Xavier%E2%80%99s-not-okay-say-students-.html)
Election to the post of president has become a bone of contention at St Xavier’s Loyola with a group of students refusing to accept the poll process stating that the teachers had pushed for ‘selection’ of the candidates.
Till last year, councillors elected from each class would elect the president from among themselves, while this year only meritorious students with a certain percentage were allowed to contest the elections.
There are five classes of standard 11 and five classes of standard 12 at St Xavier’s Loyola. For class 11, only those with above 85 per cent scored in the last exam could contest, while for class 12 students those with above 80 per cent in the last exam could participate.
According to the protesting students, of the 10 students who had filled forms to contest the election, forms of three were rejected. The students have sought an explanation from the authority, “On what grounds were the forms of these three meritorius students rejected?”
Among the top-7 who were shortlisted, four students were from class 11 and three were from class 12. Of these, four were disqualified. This too has not gone down well with the students.
On Monday, elections were held with three students vying for the top post, results of which will be declared on Tuesday. The student with the highest votes will be elected president and the student with second highest votes will be declared vice-president.
However, a group of students who were unhappy with the proceedings, have written a letter to the principal in protest. The letter says, “We want a students’ representative, not a teachers’ one”, “Is this an ‘election’ or ‘selection’? The top three are selected by the teachers and we are forced to elect them.
Around 10.30 am they gathered outside the school premises and fixed posters on a fencing opposite the school. The posters read, ‘Peace’, Loyola has changed’, ‘How can our own teachers betray us?’
One of the disqualified students said, “The criteria was suddenly changed this year and we were not informed about it. Some teachers put up their ‘favourite’ students and we were shown the door. We complained to the teachers and the principal, but no heed was paid to us.”
Another student alleged, “When we told the principal about it and protested outside the campus, he even threatened to call the police.”
Father Fernando Dorai said, “We have placed emphasis on discipline in this year’s election. Seven students were disqualified due to this. Some students were unhappy with this decision and created a ruckus in the school and misguided other students.”
Dorai added that this election is for leadership and the leader will responsible for extracurricular and cultural activities in the school. The protesting students have, meanwhile, threatened to go on hunger strike if the election process is not reversed.
