Kolkata: SRFTI vice-chancellor Santosh Ajmera met faculty members on Wednsday and announced that resumption of classes was non-negotiable and students staying away would face consequences, even as the students’ union resolved to continue its boycott until security concerns were addressed.On Tuesday, deans of the film and Electronic and Digital Media Management wings announced that classes would resume on Wednesday, with make-up classes allowed for lost days.Students stayed away. “We have come here to study and not do politics. But the vice-chancellor doesn’t pay any heed to our demands. The shuttle vans are not working properly. The chairman has not met us,” a students’ union member said. Their demands include preventing further threats or attacks, protecting student representatives, transparency on the SIT report and fact-finding process, and an end to alleged victimisation.Ajmera later instructed the faculty to continue classes and mark absentees. Institute rules require 75% semester attendance, with a Rs 1,000 fine for every percentage point shortfall.“Many students have earlier faced issues because of this. In some cases, they have been exempted from paying the fines. But that doesn’t mean they can expect exemption this time as well. Not having classes and conducting exams on time run the risk of SRFTI losing its university status,” a faculty member said.A scuffle broke out inside the vice-chancellor’s office on Wednesday. A staff member alleged misinformation was being circulated.“A special investigation team has already been constituted. Yet teachers are being unfairly maligned as stooges of the authority and blamed for helping the VC identify students and get them punished. Registrar Dipak Kumar had complained to the cops after this Sunday’s incident. Yet, he is being accused of inaction.”The staff member said students were not the institute’s “sole stakeholders” and added: “The institute has only one entrance/exit gate. Attack on that makes everyone of us who work/stay on campus insecure. Heightened security measures, boundary walls, and police protection have failed to halt the academic deadlock. Returning to normalcy is important for all of us.”Tensions worsened after a 15th-batch student accused three faculty members of anti-student activities.“Some of us condemned these baseless rumours and the attempt to instigate students and create an unwanted rift. If this situation continues, we will not only jeopardise the future of our students but also provoke external elements to display their counter-power. We stand with our students with heart and soul and are genuinely worried about their safety,” a faculty member said.Students rejected the allegations. “Many of the staff are blaming students for whatever has happened. We had staged a sit-in demonstration inside the VC’s office when many security officers barged in and told us that their families’ security is at stake because of us. We fear it is the VC who is behind this. Victim-blaming has started on campus,” said a student.
