Another way to diffuse the urge to rag !

Between this month and the next month, most of the colleges would have opened to start the new academic year. What the authorities of the colleges are currently exercised about is how to contain 'ragging'.

Each year we have made stricter rules to limit ragging and its consequences. Now we are under obligation to follow the guidelines laid down by the Supreme court  to take punitive actions against those who indulge in ragging. Some colleges warn the senior students from interacting with the freshers; some colleges commence the academic term for the senior students about a month after the freshers have joined; in some colleges, freshers are constantly escorted by security guards, when they move about in groups wearing their first year uniform; surveillance cameras are installed in common places to keep a vigil over the activities of students in many colleges... there are different ways by which different institutions enforce anti-ragging code of conduct. 

While interviewing thirty first year students in a medical college, I found out that they were harassed through  out  the academic year in spite of all these rules. They feel that they do not develop a sense of belonging to the student community, because of the rules that prevent them from integrating with the rest of the student community even after the first year..

Can there be another way to make the freshers feel welcome and  protect them from harassment!

Let me share an experience.

In a medical college, about six months prior to the new academic year were to start, three of us decided to meet with students in small groups. We realized that there is  small group of students who can turn aggressive towards the first year students. We met with them individually and in groups to find a way of welcoming first year students. It was clear that they were fighting the system, as imposition of stricter rules made them even more angry. That was what made them determined to rag somehow and be not found out. 

With an an initiation programme they proposed, we took it back to students,  their hostel committee, wardens, etc. We found consensus on a programme to initiate students to the college and the hostels. We shared this welcome process to the first year students  on their arrival and their parents, to prepare them to this initiation progrogramme. Some first years needed help to accept the idea of a talent night, get togethers, hostel party, etc. They needed assurance against any untoward event. The initiation process was planned for one week at the end of which there was formal dinner in the hostels. Some faculty were requested to monitor these events and reduce tension if there was any. The week long welcome events were comfortable for the seniors and freshers

Three of us continued meeting students and the initial group with whom we started this process, through the year to accompany them with our good will. There were occasions of anger outbursts or intimidatory approaches but they could be resolved with the first years responding to counseling and the seniors agreeing not to cross the boundary.

This system has now come to stay and each year the initiation programme has become more  of a fun and a means for the first years to get integrated better into the college and hostel life.

The key to diffuse the intense feeling of some senior students desperate to rag, was by listening to them which became occasions of debriefing, listening to their accumulated anger and frustration. We as faculty, valued getting to know more students and the senior students felt valued by our temperate approach to understand them and not judge them.

Let me suggest that fear of punishment, projecting punitive action against those who indulge in ragging, or controlling in an authoritarian way, at best may only be a restraint. The students will resort even more subtle ways to do what they decide to do.

What we as academicians out to be committed to, are to nurture students to be dignified in their behavior, considerate to others, cordial in their relationships, value freedom of each person and promote friendships that can build character. 

The initiative must come from the faculty. It is our calling to make the students grow into noble ways of living. Instead of supervising to restrict ragging, let us make this as an occasion to engage students creatively to attend to their unspoken needs and give them 'parenting values' to welcome fresh students!

Now the señor students are under threat of punitive action and freshers under fear while the faculty  police them !

There is another way than by bridling behavior- changing behavior by  dialogue and consultation !      

M.C.Mathew