Bhubaneswar: A dark stretch leading to the library, leaking classrooms, substandard hostel food and a campus that gets waterlogged during rain. These are among issues student leaders are taking up as campaigning picks up pace across the twin city’s colleges and universities ahead of the Oct 15 student union elections.A day after nominations were filed on Friday, candidates owing allegiance to AIDSO, NSUI, ABVP, BCJD and independent aspirants stepped up their outreach on Saturday, seeking votes by promising to address problems students encounter on campus.At Utkal University, safety, infrastructure and basic amenities have emerged as key campaign issues. Presidential aspirants Abhiram Mishra and Surya Narayan Nayak have flagged concerns over campus security, particularly safety of women students.“This is such a massive campus with porous boundaries but the university does not have adequate security. The road to the library, for instance, has no lights even though the facility remains open till 8.30 pm. Besides, ceilings of many classrooms are leaking,” said Nayak.Sonam Panda, an MBA student contesting for the joint general secretary’s post, has raised concerns over the quality of food served in the university’s hostels.At Rama Devi Women’s University, the demand for a foot overbridge has found a place in the campaign. Presidential aspirant Sonali Behera said the structure was necessary to protect students who repeatedly cross the busy road outside the campus.The focus shifts to classrooms, laboratories and campus upkeep at BJB Autonomous College, Rajdhani College and Kamala Nehru Women’s College. Candidates have called for better academic facilities, cleaner surroundings and safer campuses, besides more effective coordination between students and college authorities.At Ravenshaw University in Cuttack, waterlogging during monsoon is among the concerns raised by aspirants. Abhimanyu Nayak, a candidate, said large parts of the campus get inundated during rain, making it difficult for students, teachers and other staff to move around. Candidates there have also flagged vacant teaching posts, lack of high-speed internet and dustbins, besides problems related to examinations.At Shailabala Women’s College, the condition of hostels, roads leading to residential facilities and campus sanitation have featured in the campaign. Aspirants at Christ College, meanwhile, have drawn attention to non-functional fans, lack of air-conditioning in classrooms and dilapidated toilets.The nomination process on Friday saw candidates and supporters of various student organisations gathering on campuses across the state. The focus has now shifted to canvassing, with aspirants reaching out to each and every student, seeking to turn their grievances into election issues.According to the higher education department, 8,325 nomination forms were filed across 348 participating institutions. Of these, 1,156 were rejected, leaving 7,169 candidates in the fray. At the university level, 33 candidates were elected unopposed.Polling will be held from 8 am to 2 pm on Oct 15, followed by counting and declaration of results the same day. The elected representatives will take oath on Oct 16.
