-Reshma Ravishanker
Christ University, Bengaluru came under heavy criticism after one of its woman students shared a post on twitter about an invigilator’s inappropriate response during the ongoing online examinations. The invigilator, from a third party proctoring agency, allegedly, responded to the student saying “another 3 minutes baby” when she requested to submit her exam paper early. The term “baby” in the modern context is often interpreted as having sexual or romantic connotations and being sexist.
The woman student’s tweet was circulated widely after being shared by the National Students’ Union of India, the student wing affiliated to the Indian National Congress. The NSUI said in a series of tweets that the Christ University authorities undermined the issue after it was reported to them. “Nothing wrong. It’s a caring approach. Maybe the teacher was a senior person.. take it in the right spirit,” a screenshot capturing the university’s response reads.
“And when she took the issue to her teachers, the reply was its just a “caring approach” and there is “nothing wrong” in it. What kind of teacher calls the student ‘baby’? What is wrong with this system? Whom should they trust anymore?”, read a tweet by NSUI.
According to NSUI similar incidents have happened in the past where the web cameras were asked to be tilted in a certain angle towards the girl students which made them uneasy. While invigilating during online exams, the proctor has access to the student’s webcam and can direct the student to keep it facing in the direction that they wish.
Earlier in January this year, some students of the Mumbai-based Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies also raised a similar complaint against the same proctoring company. Students claimed that one of the proctors who was present during the online exam gathered their data, stalked them on social media and also tried to make contact through whatsapp following the exams. After several such complains surfaced, the college issued an official statement that they would raise concerns with their partner METTL Management. Incidentally, tweets suggest that the same company has been signed up to proctor the online exams at Christ University.
Also read: 9 famous alumni of Christ University