Campus politics
Politics in public run universities and affiliated colleges is a sad reflection on the achievement of these educational institutions. No matter what the basis of student politics is ethnic, political, ideological or religious, regional or even academic the fact remains that it undermines academic pursuits and discipline in educational institutions.
Student politics poses a threat to the academic discipline in a number of ways and in case it succeeds, it makes the continuation of academic activity almost impossible because of disturbances and strikes on campuses. Student politics on campuses grew out of the perversion of the college/university unions, actually designed to support extra-curricular activities on campuses such as sports, art, culture and debates. Student unions exist in advanced countries but with the purpose to highlight the above things as well as to facilitate solving students' problems on campus in collaboration with the administration.
The provision of moral and financial support to student leaders enhances the legitimacy of their political role on campuses. Without the patronage of political parties, students' active participation in campus politics would not have been possible. The majority of students are not involved in student politics and are more concerned with academic advancement. The student leaders, a considerable number of whom have adopted student politics as a vocation, look for opportunities to enhance the role of the parties they belong to, even if that means polluting the academic atmosphere.
In many of the government run universities in Bangladesh and in numerous colleges (non-professional, professional/technical) where student politics is in vogue some student groups dominate the show.
The irony is that student bodies today are more political and ideological than academic.
The issue deserves a closer look.
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