Varsity of vices? Scandals involving dons rock Andhra University

Visakhapatnam: Are young and vulnerable women becoming victims of sexual harassment within the campus of Andhra University? This is the question on everybody’s mind after Thursday’s sting operation by a TV channel that exposed a senior professor from the department of economics, school of distance education, allegedly seeking sexual favours from a student who had come to collect her pass certificates.
In recent times, AU has been rocked by reports of sexual harassment involving senior professors from various departments. One such professor, who hit the headlines recently for such deeds, was even aspiring to become the vice-chancellor of the university. It is learnt that at least four such cases have created a stir on the campus and while only two made the headlines, the others were hushed up.
Sources within the university claim there are indeed a few black sheep among professors in the university that prey on vulnerable women, especially research scholars, who are desperate to finish their PhD for reasons such as economic problems or getting an early job.
“This has been the trend of late. The academic standards of nearly 40 per cent of the professors are nothing to boast about and it is primarily them who indulge in such activities. A few of them do not even know how to draft a leave letter properly,” said a senior professor scathingly. “What is more important is that the institution is being defamed because of a few rotten apples.”
“It is a fall from glory for AU,” said a former professor, pointing out that AU was once regarded as an intellectual hub as some of the top notch academicians like CV Raman, Hiren Mukherjee, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, Mahadevan and Seshadri walked its hallowed precincts and greats like Rabindranath Tagore delivered lectures.
“In our times there was a pervasive feeling of sanctity. Teachers were regarded as gurus and we both respected and loved them,” said a senior professor, who was once a student of the university. “There was an element of both fear and care in our relationship. And we try to maintain the same even today. But unfortunately, a few tend to forget their role. When professors such as Ila Rao or LSRK Sastry passed us by on the campus, we would bow our heads with love and respect. I still remember how LSRK took to task a research scholar and her guide when they tried to get cozy on campus,” he said.
A senior professor from the department of English had a different view. “It cannot be said that such things did not happen in the past. It did happen, but on a different plane. At times we were in love with our professors but it was platonic. Their intellectual ability was awe-inspiring. There are many cases on campus where professors, who were guides, did get married to their much younger students. But it was a well-defined relationship, not the way it is happening today,” she said.
Sources within the campus said that the number of reports of professors preying on female students had increased of late, more so from the science colleges than the arts. “In science, research work is more crucial. And when it comes to distance education, the profile of students itself speaks volumes – most of them are either dropouts or have not done well in their academic career and are now desperate for a certificate that is linked to some economic criteria like jobs or licences and become an easy prey. We have received many such complaints,” said Padma from Progressive Organisation for Women.
In the recent time, AU has been rocked by reports of sexual harassment involving senior professors from various departments. One such professor, who hit the headlines recently for such deeds, was even aspiring to become the vice-chancellor of the university. Sources claim that a few prey on vulnerable women, especially research scholars.