SHOULD THERE BE STUDENT UNIONS IN PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES

Student unions in modern Indian scenario are necessarily political or politically inclined, there need
not be any shying away from this fact. The main bone of contention is whether or not such unions
have a purpose or a place in a private university. The students of this country can be considered a
cross-section representation of the heterogeneity of its populace; since politics is an important but
not the sole interest of its citizens, the same is true for the student community. While these student
unions cannot remain isolated from politics, there are a great number of other purposes that they
serve:

A proactive students union can act as a body ensuring a system of checks and balances against the
arbitrariness of a private university. Considering the fact that a vast number of these universities are
in their nascent stages of development, it is inevitable that they will make bad decisions - perhaps a
side effect of the extravagant administerial autonomy that they enjoy. Such decisions besides
subduing the flourishment of a student culture and academic environment, can also be potentially
disastrous for the university’s overall image. Hence the student sentiment serves as a guiding light
for the university’s journey.

Why is it that private universities hold beef with students organising themselves and having a
collective voice. It is understandable that a united student body will criticise the university for its
shadowy methods or policies only if they are present. So in essence, wouldn’t having an
independent and proactive student union provide a clean chit to student friendly and supportive
private universities? No rational student would criticise his/her university for flimsy reasons. As a
student, being in a well reputed university is of primary interest; so if the university is receptive to
student’s needs, then it is ensured that the students will project the same. Students of such
universities will also exceed their personal capacities when they work under the university’s name
for events or competitions, simply because they attach personal importance to their university’s
reputation and have a strong motivation to give back to the institution that supports them.

Coming to the concern of politics shunting academics: It is undisputed that the academic
environment of a university should not be spoilt due to political divisions or motives of its students.
It is in this regard that a negotiation can be reached between the students and the university. The
student union can act outside the classroom and also be the guardian of an undisrupted academic
environment since it also represents the students who come to college only to study. Such a
negotiation will ensure longevity of peace between the union and the university.

Students who are political will engage in political activities with or without the support of their
universities. If a university decides to take this reality into account will enjoy the confidence of its
students and also be idealised for being liberal and democratic- because after all the citizens of this
democratic country expect a university to be a microcosm of the real world. Erecting barriers at
times may demotivate free expression of thoughts; in such cases the university has cut short a
student’s development as an individual and neglected its responsibility as a facilitator of social
welfare of society. This country can progress only as long as its people continue to speak up for
themselves, and even more importantly, for others.

A university is nothing without its students. Students are central to the very existence of a university
and hence are its primary stakeholders. A university does not oblige its students if its decides to
address their grievances- it merely fulfils a duty it owes to them. Their nature of being private only
gives them an escape from being in control of government policies regarding student unions- not an
escape from the duty of catering to the needs of its students.