JU to counsel freshers present at Main Hostel on day of student death

KOLKATA: Jadavpur University authorities are planning to organise counselling sessions for first-year students who were in the Main Hostel and were left deeply traumatized by the alleged ragging and the subsequent death of Swapnadip Kundu after a fall from second floor on Wednesday night. The students have since been shifted to the New Boys' Hostel on the university campus.
Jadavpur University's pro-vice-chancellor Amitava Dutta said he had already spoken to the dean of students and told him to arrange counselling sessions for students who need help."We have a counselling cell where we have teachers with experience to conduct counselling. The sessions will start soon," he said.
Around 30 boarders who were shifted overnight to the New Boys' Hostel were in shock and have barely spoken since then. Sources said around 10 students had returned to their homes in different districts. And those, who are there, are not venturing out of their rooms unless absolutely necessary.
A professor said while counselling will do the freshers a world of good, even seniors and university authorities need to be counselled. "Counselling is required for all to change their mindset. It's a shame that after all that's happened, the varsity has not been able to ensure security and safety of students," he said.
The repercussions of last week's incidents on the first-year students have been profound and prompted several departments to organise special meets and interactions to put them at ease. English department head Monojit Mandal said, "Not only hostel boarders, this incident has impacted all first-year students who have arrived to the campus with dreams. On Monday, teachers of English department will meet first-year students. We will have such meets periodically."
Bengali department has also lined up a similar meeting on Monday.
Department of international relations will hold the meeting on Wednesday. IR department professor Imankalyan Lahiri said, "I feel these students need to stay with their parents at least for some days as they are scared. We have arranged a special meet on Wednesday after conducting the routine mentor meet to make them comfortable in the university atmosphere and inside the classes and hostels and to make them feel that they are not alone."