As the college’s principal, you oversee an institution with a lengthy history of student politics. But because you personally disagree with holding student elections, you have delayed the annual student election procedure without making any formal declaration. As you consider whether or not to hold elections, you receive input from a few instructors and students who believe that the student unions’ operations interfere with the college’s academic atmosphere. A while later, student leaders also approach you to discuss election management, and you inform them of the opposition you have received to permitting student elections. You also let them know that you’re thinking about stopping any political activity on campus involving students. Upon learning this, student leaders exhibit violent behavior, engaging in disruptive protests and damaging campus property.
Respond to the following inquiries in this context:
(a) What concerns are present in the aforementioned case?
(b) How can you distinguish between professional and personal ethics?
(c) How would you handle this circumstance?
Answer: This case pertains to the issue of whether student politics should be allowed in colleges. One view is that student politics is necessary for raising issues of students before the colleges and also making future citizens of the country aware and interested about the political system of the country. While a contrary view sees student politics as only a platform for politicization of educational institutes which interferes with the academic functions of colleges. (a) Issues involved in this case are following:
(b) It is my personal belief that student politics is not good. This personal belief of mine is in contravention to my professional ethics which requires me to act as per the long tradition of college and conduct student elections provided they are indeed working for the benefit of students. In this situation, I can take following measures to separate my personal belief from interfering in my official role:
(c) As the Principal of the college, I have the responsibility of conducting the affairs of the college in a lawful and just manner and take effective steps to ensure that academic activities are not hampered by extraneous factors. While student politics per se is not undesirable, politicization of student unions in India has resulted in many undesirable consequences. Therefore, I will take following steps in order to balance the need of student politics vis-à-vis maintaining an effective academic environment in campuses:
A vibrant and politically aware student community is crucial to the furtherance of parliamentary democracy. However, student politics should be practised in such a way that campuses do not become turf wars for political parties of the country.