With some confidence, I can say that some of us are familiar with the following email. For those of you who aren’t, this is an example of the [redacted]’s latest crack down on students. A new development this semester, it’s very telling if the main source of policy updates for students is hearsay, anecdotal evidence, or ‘this happened to me last semester, trust me’.
Dear [Redacted]
This is in reference to the entry to the campus on 08-Feb-2024 at 12:06 AM.
As per the policy, students must enter or leave the campus between 6:00 am and 12:00 am in the one time system.
Based upon the details reported above, you have violated the University policies.
In the view of the above, consider this email as formal warning to refrain yourself in future from the above-mentioned violation, or any other violation, failing which disciplinary proceedings will be initiated against you. Moreover, for any future disciplinary proceedings, the present warning letter shall be given due consideration while imposing appropriate sanction.
[Redacted] [Redacted]
The fact is, that this university would rather have you risk your life over your academic career, especially on roads where disappearances are not uncommon past 12 AM.
Obviously, the next question is what will a student do what can a student do?
Abstinence? (8/10)
Definitely works when trying to frighten the average green park/ square goer to not go for a week on a Thursday night. Family emergency? Flight delay? Literally any other non-party reason? Not so sure, actually.
Jump the line (9/10)
My Intro to Economics professor will argue that the dominant strategy here would be to jump the Thursday night line. Yeah, you’ll make it in before 12 am but if it turns into a stampede? No one will.
Stay the night out (2/10)
After the second time this email hits your inbox the only choice you have is to stay out and pray you make it through the night. The roads are treacherous, but you have a chance. Just make sure you have a) at least 2 other people with you b) a driver that extorts money (not too much though) c) one sober friend (atleast) among the many of you d) enough cash to make it through the night e) a place to stay (amrik sukhdev works as long as you keep ordering parathas and chai)
Bribe a professor / Guard (untested) (??/10)
They can sneak you in or out but the author does not know of any real life examples where this has happened.
Jump the Ashokan fence (10/10)
Every time a student has to choose between staying out of campus or risking getting this email, they have to choose between potentially risking their life or their career- neither option is too appealing. One can't help wondering: is the curfew to protect Ashoka students? Is it a promise of safety and conservation in between the hours of 12:00 - 6:00 AM? If it is, the invisible yet ever-present“At Your Own Risk” sticker in the contracts takes away any legibility of what I'm sure are the caring, considerate intentions of the university.
This lack of clarity over the policy decisions the [redacted] and the mysterious body who decide this, and the documents actually available to students makes entering campus past 12:00 AM a coin toss every time. What happens on campus on Thursday nights is an open secret but it should not come at the risk of students’ lives. No deterrent should be given a possible precedent (to be clear- the precedent would be a student disappearance, or worse, god forbid).
I think it's time we make the policies clear(er), equal on all days of the week, inform the students of due disciplinary process, and for fuck’s sake, let them inside the campus past 12:00 AM.
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