Page 2: A report of the two day event
organized by NSS
Page 3: A new column devoted to
timely updates on the SU’s progress
Page 4: The Pilani Pilgrims - a review
of the first novel set in Pilani
THE FINE PRINT
ENGLISH
PRESS
With BOSM around the corner, the courts are up and running, the Gym-G grass
has been cut and grueling morning practices are back to occupying BITSian sportsmen.
Here to chip in and supply you with the low-down, The Fine Print has compiled the set of
changes you’ll see around campus this BOSM.
NEW FACES, REVAMPED VENUES
According to the Joint Sports Secretaries, registrations have hit a new high,
with as many as 2600 players, owing to more Delhi University teams packing
their sports gears for the showdown this season at Pilani. The staff quarters,
Malviya C and Malviya Extension have risen to the occasion to accommodate
the increased number of sportspersons.
The inauguration of the much-awaited tennis courts was delayed since the
rain gods decided to bless the dry hamlet with showers just when the courts
were about to be laid. Much to the team’s relief, however, it was very recently
opened for play (Anti-Rain Dance effect, anyone?). The badminton court,
following its long absence due to idiosyncratic BITSian delays, is also alive
and kicking. Both these projects were made possible due to Project
Parivartan. To the dismay of many though, football, hockey, swimming and
CLUB
PRESENTS
SEMESTER I
ISSUE III
PILANI
SEPTEMBER 2014
athletics will be organized outside campus in Birla Public School.
To brighten up the fest, the Creative Activities Club (CrAC) is busy
decorating the Gym-G walls, portraying famous sports personalities. A festive
BOSM banner at the base of the clock tower and a 3-dimensional structure of
the BOSM logo are also on the cards.
ISSUED IN PUBLIC INTEREST
If you lack basic hand-eye coordination and other such sportsmanly qualities,
do not despair, for BOSM has the tools to entertain. You can finally settle
scores with that annoying wingie, thanks to Jhankar and their sumo wrestling
event at VK lawns. Word about a live version of Plants vs. Zombies is also in
the air. Yodh, a two-day inter-school sporting event is being conducted by
Nirmaan for over 200 students from classes 6-10 from about 10 schools in
and around Pilani, most of them lacking proper playgrounds, instructors and
sports equipment. For all those football buffs out there, a Manchester City
versus Chelsea match will be screened, but the location is yet to be decided.
We spoke to the Chief Warden, Prof. C. B. Das this week as a follow-up to the interview that
appeared in the previous issue of The Fine Print. The conversation about disciplinary issues
eventually digressed to other relevant topics.
AN UNEVENTFUL MUSIC NITE
Why the sudden stringent security measures at Music Nite? For one, students were
admitted into the auditorium only on displaying their ID cards. Professor Das says
this step was taken to prevent gate-crashers from other colleges, who have been
known to wreak havoc and even misbehave with girl students in the past. Faculty
members were present at the entrance to ensure that the crowd wasn’t unruly as was
the case at last semester’s Music Nite and InBloom. The Chief Warden says that he
was pleasantly surprised by how cooperative the students were, to such an extent
that he didn’t feel any need to use breathalyzers (which have been in the institute’s
possession for a long while now). He hopes this trend will continue for all future
events in the auditorium.
JUNIOR-SENIOR INTERACTIONS
The Chief Warden tells us that no cases of severe ragging have come to the
institute’s notice in the first month on campus, and that the practice seems to be
more or less under control. He goes on to say that there are some cases in which
first-year students take interactions with seniors in an unsporting manner and
advises these students to adapt to the traditions on campus as long as they do not
get out of hand.
ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY
There have been some cases for the Disciplinary Committee to consider over the
past month. Professor Das says that the task of the DC is to assess each student’s
extent of involvement in any untoward incident and decide on punishments
accordingly. The Chief Warden underlines that the institute has a zero-tolerance
policy towards substance abuse, sexual harassment and cheating in exams.
(...continued on page 3)
(...continued on page 3)
The day before Music Nite (Teacher’s Day, in fact), all students woke up to
a rather ominous e-mail from the institute. The mail declared that strict
action would be taken on those who would arrive at the auditorium
intoxicated/unable to speak the alphabet backwards (not exactly), and that
any untoward incidents would lead to an immediate and indefinite ban on
events in the auditorium. As Music Nite approached, breathalysers, not
band names, became the major topic of discussion. All this was not without
reason.
Cut to last semester. After the fiasco that was last year’s InBloom, all the
auditorium events were under tremendous scrutiny. The authorities were
not very keen to hand over the auditorium for any event. There were quite
a few meetings between the co-ordinators of Audi Force, Music Club, the
Chief Warden and the Security Officer. The major issue was that there were
quite a few students who would turn up intoxicated for these events and
create a ruckus. The members of Audi Force, who look after the security of
the auditorium during the fests, came forward to take up the enormous task
of ensuring the smooth running of the Music Nite. They, along with nearly
half a dozen security guards, manned the gates to the auditorium, allowing
only students of BITS Pilani to enter with proper identification while
banning any food or beverage inside. Ther