Against the High-handedness of GCU Administration
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We, the concerned citizens of Lahore, deplore the high-handedness of the administration of Government College University (GCU) for charging protesting students with "terrorism" (see references below). We affirm the right of the citizens of Pakistan to peacefully protest any perceived injustice and to be given a fair hearing for their grievances.
The students have two major grievances:
a) the university administration frequently expels large numbers of students claiming that they have not fulfilled the attendance requirements. Some reports claim that if students miss more than three classes without leave in one semester, they may be expelled at the discretion of the administration;
b) the second grievance relates to the system of relative marking which, it is alleged by students and GCU faculty members, is so complex that it is not even clearly understood by the personnel of the examinations department. The students claim that their grades suffer as a result of the ambiguities and lacunae in the relative marking system, providing the administration with another opportunity to expel students.
We therefore demand that:
1. The Vice-Chancellor, Registrar and Controller of Examinations of the GCU tender an unconditional apology to the charged students and their families as well as to the Ravian community at large for having blackened the name of this august institution,
2. The Vice-Chancellor, Registrar and Controller of Examinations of the GCU be removed from their positions for negligence and gross misuse of authority,
3. The education ministries and the HEC review the academic and administrative policies of all academic institutions of the country - specifically the attendance and grading policies, and,
4. The tenure of the Vice-Chancellor of any university in Pakistan be limited to three years, with the possibility of a maximum extension of two years.
These demands are based on a vision of an academic environment that inspires students by example, that nurtures both respect for the law as well as a spirit of critical debate on existing laws and active resistance to unfair policies and practices. The key condition for the existence of such an environment is the freedom of expression, a right long denied to Ravians on campus under cover of providing a "secure" academic environment.
We especially urge all Ravians to think about this issue dispassionately and to sign this petition if they believe in the ideals it reflects.
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Newspaper coverage of the controversy:
1. "Several held for lodging protest: 200 GCU students struck off for short attendance" (http://www.dawn.com/2008/10/29/nat10.htm)
2. "ATC judge sends two Ravians behind bars" (http://www.dawn.com/2008/10/30/nat9.htm)
3. "Ravians still in jail" (http://www.dawn.com/2008/10/31/nat40.htm)
4. "FIR will be withdrawn: Sana - GCU told to withdraw expulsion orders" (http://epaper.dawn.com/artMailDisp.aspx?article=02_11_2008_176_013&typ=0)
The students have two major grievances:
a) the university administration frequently expels large numbers of students claiming that they have not fulfilled the attendance requirements. Some reports claim that if students miss more than three classes without leave in one semester, they may be expelled at the discretion of the administration;
b) the second grievance relates to the system of relative marking which, it is alleged by students and GCU faculty members, is so complex that it is not even clearly understood by the personnel of the examinations department. The students claim that their grades suffer as a result of the ambiguities and lacunae in the relative marking system, providing the administration with another opportunity to expel students.
We therefore demand that:
1. The Vice-Chancellor, Registrar and Controller of Examinations of the GCU tender an unconditional apology to the charged students and their families as well as to the Ravian community at large for having blackened the name of this august institution,
2. The Vice-Chancellor, Registrar and Controller of Examinations of the GCU be removed from their positions for negligence and gross misuse of authority,
3. The education ministries and the HEC review the academic and administrative policies of all academic institutions of the country - specifically the attendance and grading policies, and,
4. The tenure of the Vice-Chancellor of any university in Pakistan be limited to three years, with the possibility of a maximum extension of two years.
These demands are based on a vision of an academic environment that inspires students by example, that nurtures both respect for the law as well as a spirit of critical debate on existing laws and active resistance to unfair policies and practices. The key condition for the existence of such an environment is the freedom of expression, a right long denied to Ravians on campus under cover of providing a "secure" academic environment.
We especially urge all Ravians to think about this issue dispassionately and to sign this petition if they believe in the ideals it reflects.
========
Newspaper coverage of the controversy:
1. "Several held for lodging protest: 200 GCU students struck off for short attendance" (http://www.dawn.com/2008/10/29/nat10.htm)
2. "ATC judge sends two Ravians behind bars" (http://www.dawn.com/2008/10/30/nat9.htm)
3. "Ravians still in jail" (http://www.dawn.com/2008/10/31/nat40.htm)
4. "FIR will be withdrawn: Sana - GCU told to withdraw expulsion orders" (http://epaper.dawn.com/artMailDisp.aspx?article=02_11_2008_176_013&typ=0)
121 Signatures
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diep
- Comments
- a shameful act of GCU admin
- Institution (for academics and students)
- institute for peace and secular studies
- Ravian?
- No
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Saad Rehman
- Comments
- this is simply shameful
- Ravian?
- No
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Sarah Suhail
- Ravian?
- No
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Bilal
- Comments
- I support the petition.
- Ravian?
- No
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Farooq Tariq
- Comments
- we condemn the action of the administeation of GCU
- Ravian?
- No
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Marvi Sirmed
- Comments
- Highly Condemnable
- Ravian?
- No
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Sirmed manzoor
- Institution (for academics and students)
- Voice of Democracy
- Ravian?
- No
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Baseer Naveed
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Hussain Ahmad Khan
- Ravian?
- No
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Samad Khurram
- Comments
- Keep fighting the good fight comrades !
- Ravian?
- No
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Iftikhar ahmed
- Institution (for academics and students)
- ICMAP
- Ravian?
- No
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Gonila Gill
- Institution (for academics and students)
- punjab university
- Ravian?
- No
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rao
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Umar Farooq
- Ravian?
- No
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Umar Farooq
- Comments
- Tabkati Jidojehad support the petition.
- Institution (for academics and students)
- www.marxist.com
- Ravian?
- No
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Kamran Latif
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Laila
- Comments
- GCU administration should be pinished.
- Ravian?
- No
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Ali Raza Zaidi
- Comments
- There should be clear and consistant policies for all, and all should have freedom of expression
- Ravian?
- No
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Sharafat Ali
- Ravian?
- No
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Rubab Anwer
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Faisal Khusheed
- Ravian?
- No
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Inam ul Haq
- Ravian?
- No
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Saboor Ahmad Khan
- Ravian?
- No
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Babar Ali Khan
- Ravian?
- No
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Rana Muhammad Hassaan
- Ravian?
- No
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Muhammad Khalid Pervaiz
- Ravian?
- No
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Qaiser Shahbaz
- Ravian?
- No
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Jaffer Hussain
- Ravian?
- No
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Muhammad Idrees
- Comments
- I m agree
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Hina Muzaffer
- Ravian?
- No
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Nighat Zahra
- Ravian?
- No
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Amina Shahzadi
- Ravian?
- No
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Dr. Amin ul Haq Khan
- Ravian?
- No
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I. U. Lodhi
- Ravian?
- No
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pervaiz majeed
- Comments
- reassuring support
- Ravian?
- No
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A. Wahid
- Ravian?
- No
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Ali Iqtadar Mirza
- Ravian?
- No
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Tariq Rizwan
- Ravian?
- No
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Faiza Sharif
- Ravian?
- No
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Mohammad Shafiq Mughal
- Ravian?
- No
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Asim Ghani
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Ajmal Sharazi
- Comments
- dont make GCU a military academy
- Ravian?
- No
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Abbas Najmi
- Comments
- university should be humane
- Ravian?
- No
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Anjum P Saleemi
- Comments
- Let it be academic and dont make it a personal property
- Ravian?
- No
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Madeeha Sherwani
- Comments
- Please behave like a teacher
- Ravian?
- No
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Mateen Haider
- Comments
- Thank God I never study in this institution.
- Ravian?
- No
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Raheela Butt
- Comments
- DO Not behave like animals
- Ravian?
- No
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Jamshed Sultan
- Comments
- ask US air force to bomb you because you have terrorist in your place
- Ravian?
- No
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Aisha Khan
- Comments
- how long the GCU administration will behave like a dictator
- Ravian?
- No
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Zaki Imtiaz
- Institution (for academics and students)
- Punjab university of information technology
- Ravian?
- No
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121
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