When a pen stirs up a campus

Going through a campus newsletter.

Though the concept of campus journalism is yet to gain momentum in the country, some newsletters are making an impact

The Vikram Sarabhai Residence Hall at the prestigious National Institute of TechnologyRourkela (NIT-R) was in a very bad shape till August last year. An overhead water tank and some of the pipes were leaking and the toilets were left without water for many days. A few wash basins were in need of repair and the water purifiers were in need of new filters.

The hall houses nearly 500 students and the situation did not improve even after the election of the executive body of the hall. When all other efforts failed, it is the media that came forward to help. ‘Monday Morning’, having both print and online editions, took up the matter and ran stories highlighting the problems and slamming the authorities for their inaction. The authorities woke up from their slumber. The warden and members of the executive body were on their toes and the situation began to change dramatically. Leaks got repaired and water purifiers acquired new filters.

Similarly, the Monday Morning ran a story on child abuse in the mess of one of the halls of residence last year. It led to the Chief Warden taking notice. He formed a team to inspect and raid all halls of residence caterers and mess owners to check on the number of children below the age of 14 working there and how they were treated. When the same newspaper ran stories on another problem at the students’ hostels, putting immense pressure on the Chief Warden, Director and other officials, they went to the extent of saying that reporters should control themselves. Quality stuff If you think the Monday Morning is one of the mainstream newspapers, you are wrong. It is the campus newsletter of NIT-R and the reporters are none other than the engineering students. But their journalistic spirit is no less than that of any professional scribe. The content and stories are on par with the mainstream media.