LCWU’s overhead bridge proving to be a nuisance for students

Following yesterday’s incident at the overhead bridge outside Kinnaird College, Lahore College for Women University (LCWU) students demanded the government and university administration appoint regular security personnel at the overhead bridge outside their university, Pakistan Today learnt on Tuesday. LCWU complained that while lessons should be drawn from the tragic incident at KC, the university’s newly-appointed VC Dr Sabiha Mansoor seemed least concerned regarding the security of her students: eve-teasing was a favourite pastime for people flocking the overhead bridge, giving the college students a tough time – but the university administration could not be bothered to make the necessary security arrangements.
LCWU students acknowledged that security on the bridges was the government’s responsibility, however, the administration also needed to take steps to eliminate the threat to students. Students added that in the tenure of former VC Professor Dr Bushra Matin various steps had been taken at the overhead bridge at the commencement and culmination of lessons at the university. In contrast, Sabiha remained unmoved despite repeated requests by students and faculty that the administration appoint security guards at the overhead bridge.
It was observed on Tuesday that LCWU students avoided using the overhead bridge to cross the road. According to students, the absence of security personnel on the overhead bridge outside KC had allowed the tragic accident to take place. Since the overhead bridge outside LCWU was similarly devoid of security arrangements either, it had become a haven for eve teasers, and many vendors had also set up their stalls there. Numerous complaints lodged in this regard with the university administration had gone unheeded, lamented the students, adding that it was a tragedy that even when the administration was aware of the issue, they were not willing to take steps to ensure the safety of their students. Most students, faculty members and employees attributed this to the poor policies adopted by newly-appointed VC Professor Dr Sabiha Mansoor
Students alleged that the overhead bridge had not been a haven for eve teasers in the tenure of the former VC, as she had been very concerned about the activities of stalkers at the overhead bridge. Madiha, a BSc honours student, said many a times eve teasers chased girls and tried to corner them over the bridge, it being a safe place for such harassing, as the bridge was covered and had no security personnel. She added that due to the isolation the bridge provided, it was deemed an ideal dating spot. She said some vagabonds had also beat up the university’s employees when they had stopped them from loitering around the bridge. A variety of eve teasers, drivers and conductors were ever-present at the LCWU overhead bridge, she said, adding that drivers could often be seen sleeping there, and stalls of jewelry and edible products had also been set up
An MPhil student said her parents had especially advised her not to use the overhead bridge, adding that if the university administration could not appoint a guard over the bridge, then the government ought to take suitable action. A senior professor at LCWU condemned the incident at KC and said when parents sent their children to gain an education at an institution; the students’ security automatically became the institution’s responsibility. She said eve teasers were confident in the knowledge that there was no one, from the university administration to the police, who would stop them, and thus continued with such activities unhindered.
LCWU Registrar Dr Hamala said it had been decided in a meeting held after the KC incident that arrangements would be made at the overhead bridge. She said the Administration director had been advised to enhance security. However, a college official said it was technically the CDGL’s responsibility to improve security at such bridges.
It was observed that not only at the LCWU overhead bridge, but at other colleges with suck bridges, the administrations were not concerned about the security. There are seven overhead bridges situated right outside some of the city’s largest universities: two on Jail Road, in front of KC and LCWU; one in front of the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS); another near the Queen Marry College Lahore; while three overhead bridges are on the Canal Road, in the University of the Punjab New Campus – and all these bridges are without security guards.