Students at the Lahore School of Economics started boycotting their university last night to express their frustrations against the policies of their institution. According to the initial reports, students were upset about LSE’s policy for conducting online exams.
Since the pandemic forced the university to shut down in the middle of the semester, the students had to complete the rest of their semester online. And as finals season approaches, the university devised their own method of conducting exams on their own internet portal.
Students of Lahore School of Economics have started an online campaign to have their demands heard against what they’re claiming as oppressive policies of the university
FIRST ACCOUNT THAT TOOK STAND AGAINST THIS CRUELTY WAS TAKEN DOWN BY THE PRESSURE OF THE INSTITUTES NON-COOPERATIVE ADMINISTRATION. BUT NOTHING CAN STOP THIS NOW #BoycottLSE #examscancelkaro #SaveStudents #ImranKhan #CallofuniExams
— LSESTUDENTBODY (@lsestudentbody) May 20, 2020
The main concern for the students of Lahore School of Economics is around arbitrary rules created for taking their final online exams for the ongoing semester
The rules for the exams required all students to be online on a Zoom call, with both their laptop’s microphone and camera on the entire time. According to students they were told that if they turned their mic off, their exam could be canceled. And they were also asked not to have any sort of noise in the background as well; anything which could potentially disturb the examination process.
peechay chahay ghar mai jung horahi ho, but they will cancel my exam if God forbid i turn off my microphone. koi inhein bataye i live in a desi house bhai! #BoycottLSE pic.twitter.com/86gkp4pV5o
— Hamnaa (@Hamnabutt131) May 19, 2020
They’ve taken to social media to make their voices heard
According to students, all of the syllabus was to be included in exams and the students had only gotten a two weeks notice about this since they had not expected to have to study what had already been tested in during the midterm exams.
But since then, the students say that the university has revoked this clause. Only lectures received after the midterms would be included in the finals.
Forcing your students' backs against the wall by making new announcements on the syllabus included in the exam, not responding to emails/ queries, in short doing your best to traumatize their young brains is definitely the way to treat our future generation, right? #BoycottLSE
— halp (@ZainabKDurrani) May 20, 2020
Lse’s administration isn’t even responding to my emails where we have explained the difficulties that we are facing, instead they just spammed us today with the idea of having a final exam on lecture 1-29!!! Letting us know 2 weeks before to prepare the whole semester.
— Hamnaa (@Hamnabutt131) May 19, 2020
But students do not think this is good enough because having exams during a pandemic seems unfair to them. They are complaining that the portal built to conduct the exams is not good enough and has too many bugs. They also argue that not all students have access to laptops or stable internet connections.
A professor of the Lahore School of Economics has now gone viral for allegedly berating a student for not being able to buy a laptop in the middle of the pandemic just for this exam
The issue came to a head when a student allegedly brought his concern in front of an instructor who happens to be the Dean of Business Administration, Dr. Sohail Zafar. A video of the incident in question went viral, in it we see Dr. Zafar berating the student after he has relayed his concerns about using the portal.
Dr. Sohail Zafar uses crass language to tell him that he is not serious about his studies. And then asks him to rent a laptop for his work. To which the student replies that in the current situation of the pandemic he might not be able to do so but the professor completely ignores his concerns.
Ladies and Gentlemen this is the Dean of the marketing department at the Lahore School of Economics. His elitist comments are not only disappointing but unbecoming of a Dean of one of the top business uni of Lahore.#BoycottLSE @ammaralijan @hecpkofficial @Shafqat_Mahmood pic.twitter.com/kiXttuW1Mj
— Mustafa (@mustafamalikk) May 20, 2020
On the other side, the student in the video made another video stating that he has a friendly relationship with the professor and this is how he talks to them
He asked people not to share the video since it was allegedly edited to make it seem like the professor was berating the student.
A response to all those who jumped on the bandwagon and started spreading hatred towards LSE. This is the student to whom the professor was addressing to. #SupportDrSohailZafar pic.twitter.com/HEJIoqDeel
— Saqib R Chohan (@SaqibRChohan) May 20, 2020
But other people were not as forgiving and pointed out that this was no way to talk to a student in the first place
What’s funny is how students who have studied from Dr. Sohail are actually defending his toxic behavior. Badtameezi will stay badtameezi, as a joke or in all its seriousness. Respect demands respect and honestly I don’t respect the people that talk like that. #BoycottLSE
— zaineb (@tineberry_life) May 20, 2020
While quite a few students, a lot of them alumni are defending Dr. Sohail Zafar and even tweeting under the hashtag #SupportDrSohailZafar.
Please stop defaming our cherished instructor. The concerned student has put forth his statement, showing that the whole incident was blown out of proportion and taken way out of context. #SupportDrSohailZafar
https://t.co/wjWuHRhzre— hina mall (@hinzilla) May 20, 2020
Those who refuse to harden themselves up under pressure are always left behind.
It is high time that these kids grow up.#SupportDrSohailZafar— Wazah Nadeem (@wazahnadeem) May 20, 2020
However, students say that the university has still not addressed the students main concerns. And that they are still concerned about their grades and what will happen if this examination system moves forward.
The Lahore School of Economics has yet to issue a public statement on the entire issue and Dr. Sohail Zafar’s comments. This is a developing story.
LUMS Finally Responded After Getting Massive Backlash From Its Own Students For 41% Fee Hike But People Are Not Happy
The 15 Types of Students at LSE
Cover Image Source: @mustafamalikk/@ammaralijan via Twitter.com