No HOD for Electronic Media; BU students puzzled

BANGALORE: Bangalore University’s (BU) Department of Electronic Media students have received no respite even several weeks after they staged a protest demanding for a qualified industry person to take charge after the exit of Prof N S Ashok Kumar.Express spoke to a student from the department who said that their plea for a person with expertise in electronic media has not been fulfilled. “Nothing has transpired after we protested. We are all confused. In our petition to the vice-chancellor, we had mentioned that we want an industry person to take over,” said the student on condition of anonymity.  The student added that the department studio had remained closed of late. “We do not know what is happening and when this confusion will end,” added the student. According to sources, BU’s newly appointed Registrar B C Mylarappa had issued Prof Kumar’s relieving order, enabling the latter to takeover as Registrar at Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS). This, according to a member of the department of electronic media, has not been done as per the prescribed protocol. “He has not been issued a no objection certificate, as there are cases of misappropriation of funds related to studio equipment,” said the faculty member. The faculty member further added, “Electronic media cannot be a department in itself. It has to be run by communication faculty. Besides, Prof Kumar was from a communication background himself.”As things stand now, the department has no coordinator, while BU’s website still lists Prof N S Ashok Kumar as head. “No one is willing to come forward to take responsibility. With cases of mismanagement pending, nobody wants to become a scapegoat,” added the faculty member. When Express contacted Vice-Chancellor Dr N Prabhu Dev, he said, “It takes time to find an industry person. There are procedures to be followed. We cannot act as per the students like. Several factors are involved in appointing a new coordinator.”  He added that Prof Jagadish Prakash has been made in-charge for the time being. “The issue is open and we are looking at qualified persons to takeover,” added  Prabhu Dev.