Mohammed Ammar Bin Yaser
On 13 July 2010, our very own Sir Humair Istiaq, wrote a bitingly sarcastic article in Dawn’s Education page about the shabby state of public university education. He didn’t name Karachi University’s Mass Communication department in the whole piece, but we know he only talked about us to prove his thesis. In the article, H.I quoted some of the answers that students of third year, wildly, attempted in their semester exams. After reading it, one is convinced that the article couldn’t have been named more aptly: Hilarious Answers.
I remember, many of us shared the link to the piece on our Facebook profiles - ‘liked’ it, and exchanged comments like ‘hahahaha’ and ‘God! How embarrassing’.
In the article, Sir Humair, in his notoriously witty style, identifies a crucial problem that most of us overlooked because of whining embarrassments and giggling mockery over its publication. But soon the issue became stale and got buried in the archives.
Here’s what he said: people are always grumbling about government’s lack of efforts in the education sector, which is true to some extent. But, we should also look at the other side of the equation. Then he quotes outrageously funny answers from the answer-scripts of third year students that amply show how clueless these students are about the world. Bottom line: perhaps the government is not doing enough on the education sector, but we, the students, are no good- we suck too!
Now the question is who is to be blamed for this utter inaptitude of students? I think the answer lies with the person who questioned our aptitude in the first place.
Like any other associate of the faculty of Arts, the department of Mass Communication of Karachi University is host to students who never intended to be here at the first place. A significant chunk of students never choose Mass Communications as their major. They just copied the name of the department from the brochure as a filler to complete the ‘preference’ column of the form that asks to specify a list of departments in case the prospective student didn’t make it to his/her preferred major. But, to their sheer horror, many of these students found themselves dumped here.
Hence, it’s no wonder that our department is replete with Shaboranis who never unfolded a newspaper in their life except to mat their wardrobe or cupboards with papers; or read a book outside the purview of their syllabus.
I don’t blame them. They are like the IDPs. Folks without choice who decided to cling to their last hope of acquiring a bachelor’s degree, while swallowing the harsh fact that they failed to enter their desired field of interest e.g. Pharmacy, Microbiology, etc.
These students were literally disoriented on the orientation day, but soon learned the not-so-tough art of persistently scoring good marks in the exams. They soon learned the trick: download the content related to your topic from Wikipedia, submit half of them as assignment and memorize the remaining half for the exam day. Simple!
This is the bitter truth.
So how can we get over this sorry state of affairs?
We can’t, but Sir Humair can. All he has to do is provide the students with a thick handout and set questions from within the content of the handout. Avoid being clever and keep the questions straight.
A slight change of method on his part can at least transform the overall quality of education being imparted in the department of Mass Communication of Karachi University if not all the public universities of the country.
Sacchi mein!
10 September 2010
09 September 2010
Giant lizrad terrorises Mass-com students
By Tehmina Qureshi
A "goa" entered the Department of Mass Communication earlier this week, terrorising the students and administration of the department. The Vice Chancellor said that this may be a conspiracy against students of Karachi University, by the neighbouring rival, NED.
The Varanus flavescens, commonly known as "goa" in Urdu, sneaked into the department between 12 to 1 pm, and hid beneath the stairs. A student from the department noticed it and alerted other students and the administration, after which it was thrown out by one brave student of 3rd year, Rizwan Jumman, with his bare hands.
Ahsan, the student who spotted the goa, said, "everyone was so scared, including myself. They were running here and there in frenzy. The administration was so confused, since there were no proper safety measures for such an incident." Parvez, the janitor of the department, recalls, "I ran to the scene when I heard screaming. I saw the goa and it was getting ready to attack the students when Rizwan threw it out".
Rizwan, the knight of the day, said, "I did what I could to save lives. Sure the danger was great, but someone had to step up." The VC is currently considering to present Rizwan with an award for his bravery.
A view of the Mass Communication department, KU |
The chairperson of the department, Prof. Dr. Rafia Taj, has taken notice of the incident, condemming it, and has formed a standing committee to investigate the matters. According to the latest reports, lecturer Sadia Mehmood, Prof. Dr. Mehmood Ghaznavi, Asst. Prof. Fozia Naz-who is also the Student Advisor, are all part of the investigation committee. The Student Advisor gave a statement that, evidence is being collected and they will shortly reveal their findings. She also said that the possibility of a 'foreign hand' cannot be ruled out. "We are gathering evidence, and our findings will be made public shortly. There is a possibility that this incident was part of a conspiracy against the students of Karachi University, especially the Department of Mass Communication, to bring down its reputation", she said, concurring with Prof. Dr. Pirzada Qasim Raza Siddiqui.
Nadirshaw Edulji Dinshaw(NED) has denied any involvement in the incident. The Dean Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Prof. Dr. Sahibzada Farooq Ahmed Rafeequi, has strongly denied the allegations on behlaf of the faculty of NED. Prof. Dr. Saleem Memon, Dean of Faculty of Arts of KU, has suggested greater collaboration between the two varsities to get to the depth of the matter.
08 September 2010
Idiomatic lessons!!
By Sidra Rizvi
News values, views values, the retarded mind of Shakespeare, the sad life of Mirza Galib, the struggle of Sir Sayed Ahmad Khan etc are generally the topics planned out for the students of Mass Communication in their first two years. However if the heading of my blog makes you think I learnt this in my two years here you are sadly mistaken.
The lessons that I have learnt are far more important and beneficial in real life than the quadratic equations that I am learning now can ever hope to teach me.
So braced for the worst I entered this alien world of Karachi University. Every woman that I saw, I asked myself, does she make ‘daal’ or is she as lazy at home as I am. But lesson # 1 was: ‘do not judge a book by its cover’.
Even though I came with a very open mind I was lucky enough to meet some of the most amazing people I have ever come across. I easily blended in with them and with a nod of my head tossed away the ‘myth’ that everyone at KU cooks.
Even though I had the company of very good people the timetable of KU particularly of my subsidiaries was very adamant on making my life as miserable as it could. This in turn brought me to lesson # 2: ‘How to separate the ass from the horse’.
Often while waiting in the lobby for a class I had to sit in the lobby alone. This was a golden people watching opportunity. I came across people of all shapes and sizes. Men so thin it was a wonder how they were alive, women with so much make up I was amazed they didn’t stoop under the weight. Eventually after a long research I managed to make groups and even sub groups of all the living things present in the ecosystem known as lobby. However let us leave that for a later topic.
When people watching took too much of my strength and I decided to give myself a break I would prefer to sit quietly in the corner and read. This activity brought me to Lesson # 3: ‘It does not take two to tango’.
The long hours that I spent waiting were at times an agony. I would sit in the remotest corner I could find, make myself comfortable and read. But soon enough my haven would be invaded when some girl or two would come twittering by and sit next to me ignoring the perimeter I made. And soon enough without caring that I was very contently reading they would turn to me and ask my name and respective department. I answered meekly and this they took as an invitation to talk further. Very soon the conversation would take the turn I dreaded the most. ‘Do you know what Zubeda Appa made the other day?’ or ‘I was so saddened by the current episode of the drama so and so’. I would nod silently wondering what was in my body language that gives a sign that I was available for conversation.
So it isn’t necessary that if you are a student in a university you will learn only what was offered as a course. Not at all. You learn very valuable lessons that help you throughout your life!
News values, views values, the retarded mind of Shakespeare, the sad life of Mirza Galib, the struggle of Sir Sayed Ahmad Khan etc are generally the topics planned out for the students of Mass Communication in their first two years. However if the heading of my blog makes you think I learnt this in my two years here you are sadly mistaken.
The lessons that I have learnt are far more important and beneficial in real life than the quadratic equations that I am learning now can ever hope to teach me.
Back in the college days when we were faced with a choice of making a human out of the monkeys we were then, I found myself wondering which career to adopt. Journalism popped up in my head as a first option. ‘If you want to do Mass Communication, KU is the best place’ a teacher told me when I voiced my opinion. When she left a concerned friend pulled me to the corner and said ‘Sidra please don’t go there. My sister is there and her friends talk about new recipes of making “daal”’.
So braced for the worst I entered this alien world of Karachi University. Every woman that I saw, I asked myself, does she make ‘daal’ or is she as lazy at home as I am. But lesson # 1 was: ‘do not judge a book by its cover’.
Even though I came with a very open mind I was lucky enough to meet some of the most amazing people I have ever come across. I easily blended in with them and with a nod of my head tossed away the ‘myth’ that everyone at KU cooks.
Even though I had the company of very good people the timetable of KU particularly of my subsidiaries was very adamant on making my life as miserable as it could. This in turn brought me to lesson # 2: ‘How to separate the ass from the horse’.
Often while waiting in the lobby for a class I had to sit in the lobby alone. This was a golden people watching opportunity. I came across people of all shapes and sizes. Men so thin it was a wonder how they were alive, women with so much make up I was amazed they didn’t stoop under the weight. Eventually after a long research I managed to make groups and even sub groups of all the living things present in the ecosystem known as lobby. However let us leave that for a later topic.
When people watching took too much of my strength and I decided to give myself a break I would prefer to sit quietly in the corner and read. This activity brought me to Lesson # 3: ‘It does not take two to tango’.
The long hours that I spent waiting were at times an agony. I would sit in the remotest corner I could find, make myself comfortable and read. But soon enough my haven would be invaded when some girl or two would come twittering by and sit next to me ignoring the perimeter I made. And soon enough without caring that I was very contently reading they would turn to me and ask my name and respective department. I answered meekly and this they took as an invitation to talk further. Very soon the conversation would take the turn I dreaded the most. ‘Do you know what Zubeda Appa made the other day?’ or ‘I was so saddened by the current episode of the drama so and so’. I would nod silently wondering what was in my body language that gives a sign that I was available for conversation.
So it isn’t necessary that if you are a student in a university you will learn only what was offered as a course. Not at all. You learn very valuable lessons that help you throughout your life!
07 September 2010
A spot of bother
By Atiya Abbas
Being one of the rare species who, *gasp*, actually read for fun, finding a comfortable spot to read has posed as a challenge in Karachi University. In my experience the very act of reading has come with an interesting set of assumptions. During those early days of the first semester, when I made the mistake of coming on the days the semester was ‘scheduled’ to begin, there was nothing to do but sit in a quiet (quiet being a relative term) corner to read. One friend remarked: “Oh yeah, I have often seen you sitting all by yourself, reading.” Great, I was a loner from the word go. And I cannot count the amount of times I have been asked if I was from the English department, because that’s where the store of readers comes from.
I met a member of this esteemed blog team through books. There I was, innocently sitting on the sofa which back then was not as broken and didn’t make you sink to the floor, when she dropped beside me and chirped, “HI!” I still don’t know what she was thinking…
In my quest for a peaceful spot I have sojourned to the Arts Lobby many times. The closed platform on the left where the large trees grow in the middle makes an ideal spot, if you get the corner with the brick pillar which makes a somewhat comfortable back rest. Once I stretched out and was about to tuck in when:
A boy who was most probably from a “party”, came up to me, “Aap sahih sey bethain, yeh arts lobby hai”.
There are two versions to my response. Here is what I imagined happened:
Me (eyes blazing like they do in books when the hero is angry): Why? It is my constitutional right as free citizen to sit where I want, however I want!
What actually happened:
Face burning, I meekly straighten myself out in a more lady-like position.
After much deliberation, one realizes that anywhere can be a good spot to read. The benches along the pharmacy route, while waiting in line to pay the fees, once you open that book, where you are ceases to matter and where your mind can take you is what counts.
Being one of the rare species who, *gasp*, actually read for fun, finding a comfortable spot to read has posed as a challenge in Karachi University. In my experience the very act of reading has come with an interesting set of assumptions. During those early days of the first semester, when I made the mistake of coming on the days the semester was ‘scheduled’ to begin, there was nothing to do but sit in a quiet (quiet being a relative term) corner to read. One friend remarked: “Oh yeah, I have often seen you sitting all by yourself, reading.” Great, I was a loner from the word go. And I cannot count the amount of times I have been asked if I was from the English department, because that’s where the store of readers comes from.
I met a member of this esteemed blog team through books. There I was, innocently sitting on the sofa which back then was not as broken and didn’t make you sink to the floor, when she dropped beside me and chirped, “HI!” I still don’t know what she was thinking…
In my quest for a peaceful spot I have sojourned to the Arts Lobby many times. The closed platform on the left where the large trees grow in the middle makes an ideal spot, if you get the corner with the brick pillar which makes a somewhat comfortable back rest. Once I stretched out and was about to tuck in when:
A boy who was most probably from a “party”, came up to me, “Aap sahih sey bethain, yeh arts lobby hai”.
There are two versions to my response. Here is what I imagined happened:
Me (eyes blazing like they do in books when the hero is angry): Why? It is my constitutional right as free citizen to sit where I want, however I want!
What actually happened:
Face burning, I meekly straighten myself out in a more lady-like position.
After much deliberation, one realizes that anywhere can be a good spot to read. The benches along the pharmacy route, while waiting in line to pay the fees, once you open that book, where you are ceases to matter and where your mind can take you is what counts.
Fashion, Style and...Disasters!
By Ayesha Ahmad
I'm neither a fashionista nor a fashion designer in the making. Yet, my fashion sense, more than often, becomes a head turner for most of the people in my department (okay, let us not just limit it to
Mass-com only because girls at the Art's lobby are no less in making my dresses a victim of their scrutinies and mutterings either).
Many of my fellows believe that adorning one's self with good clothes, and that too, for just coming to the university is a mere waste of time but I, on the contrary, staunchly agree with Mark Twain, clothes indeed make the man!
Most of the people, in my social circle, think that being trendy and mod is all about dolling up and possessing fancy dresses. However, to me, fashion and style are primarily a matter of instinct. But, believe it or not, it is this very instinct which makes me fully aware and alert about the horrifying, yet interesting, fashion disasters breaking out regularly within the campus.
Hence, I have a compiled a bitty list of some of the fashion faux pas (French term for 'fashion blunders) which I have lately encountered in our very own Karachi University. The three weird categories are as follows:
1) The Pious Beauties:
This section is exclusively occupied by the girls who find it a necessity to observe purda'h in one way or the other. According to Britannica encyclopedia, purdah is a means of secluding yourself from public observation, but the ladies in KU seem to have a totally different approach towards it. With high heels and black fitted abayahs embellished with a colourful variety of bright, shiny diamontes, these Missie's feel like they are out of this world. And, of course, how can their look be completed without a thick strand of curled/straightened hair making its way out of their head covers!
2) The Match Freaks:
Seriously folks, your scrunchy, liner, kameez, shalwar, dupatta, socks and shoes really don't have to be of the same colour in order for you to look good- talk about eye sores! Not only is this disastrous fashion debacle pointless, but its plainly unflattering and just hideous all the way around. At situations like these, I sometimes wonder if such people have ever come across the term: colour co-ordination. Worse than this, is the fact that there are two maidens in the department of political science who find it an absolute must to dress alike everyday. Are these girls out of their minds or what?
3) The Outrageous Crew:
It's about time that we, the KUrians, accept the ground reality that we have neither enrolled ourselves in LUMS, nor are we studying in a college which only comprises of the elite class of the country. In fact, we all are a part of an institution which caters to the people from all walks of life. There are, obviously, certain rules and regulations to follow when studying at such a place and that 'unwritten' Book of Rules definitely does not include the trends which expose even a teeny weeny bit of your tummy, half of your shins or the exact proper shapes of your long alluring legs. I'm sorry if this sounds a little offensive but all this earnestly takes place within the Karachi University.
Seriously, common sense really is very uncommon!
I'm neither a fashionista nor a fashion designer in the making. Yet, my fashion sense, more than often, becomes a head turner for most of the people in my department (okay, let us not just limit it to
Mass-com only because girls at the Art's lobby are no less in making my dresses a victim of their scrutinies and mutterings either).
Many of my fellows believe that adorning one's self with good clothes, and that too, for just coming to the university is a mere waste of time but I, on the contrary, staunchly agree with Mark Twain, clothes indeed make the man!
Most of the people, in my social circle, think that being trendy and mod is all about dolling up and possessing fancy dresses. However, to me, fashion and style are primarily a matter of instinct. But, believe it or not, it is this very instinct which makes me fully aware and alert about the horrifying, yet interesting, fashion disasters breaking out regularly within the campus.
Hence, I have a compiled a bitty list of some of the fashion faux pas (French term for 'fashion blunders) which I have lately encountered in our very own Karachi University. The three weird categories are as follows:
1) The Pious Beauties:
This section is exclusively occupied by the girls who find it a necessity to observe purda'h in one way or the other. According to Britannica encyclopedia, purdah is a means of secluding yourself from public observation, but the ladies in KU seem to have a totally different approach towards it. With high heels and black fitted abayahs embellished with a colourful variety of bright, shiny diamontes, these Missie's feel like they are out of this world. And, of course, how can their look be completed without a thick strand of curled/straightened hair making its way out of their head covers!
2) The Match Freaks:
Seriously folks, your scrunchy, liner, kameez, shalwar, dupatta, socks and shoes really don't have to be of the same colour in order for you to look good- talk about eye sores! Not only is this disastrous fashion debacle pointless, but its plainly unflattering and just hideous all the way around. At situations like these, I sometimes wonder if such people have ever come across the term: colour co-ordination. Worse than this, is the fact that there are two maidens in the department of political science who find it an absolute must to dress alike everyday. Are these girls out of their minds or what?
3) The Outrageous Crew:
It's about time that we, the KUrians, accept the ground reality that we have neither enrolled ourselves in LUMS, nor are we studying in a college which only comprises of the elite class of the country. In fact, we all are a part of an institution which caters to the people from all walks of life. There are, obviously, certain rules and regulations to follow when studying at such a place and that 'unwritten' Book of Rules definitely does not include the trends which expose even a teeny weeny bit of your tummy, half of your shins or the exact proper shapes of your long alluring legs. I'm sorry if this sounds a little offensive but all this earnestly takes place within the Karachi University.
Seriously, common sense really is very uncommon!
05 September 2010
KU: Heartbeat of foreign students of Pakistan
By Aden Dahir
Living outside your motherland can be a tough experience. It is good once in a while to go abroad, either for studies or for a visit. Interestingly, what you get in return is more than something material. It is a treasure trove of experience and a new way of dealing with problems. It is believed that if a person knows how to solve his problems, it is a gift. I believe it can help lead a better life.
Living outside your motherland can be a tough experience. It is good once in a while to go abroad, either for studies or for a visit. Interestingly, what you get in return is more than something material. It is a treasure trove of experience and a new way of dealing with problems. It is believed that if a person knows how to solve his problems, it is a gift. I believe it can help lead a better life.
Interacting with others from different cultural, religious and ideological backgrounds contributes a colourful experience to your perceptions. Only when you look at the other side of the coin you come to know the reality of the living standards of foreign students, particularly Somali students, at Karachi University. For example, a research conducted recently among Somali students showed that most of them see Pakistan as their second home where there is neither a cultural shock nor any religious difference. Students get a warm welcome from the local people.
The KU administration makes the admission process easy for foreign students, particularly from the Muslim world, and a large number of foreign students enroll each year at different departments of Karachi University. For instance, 80 to 90 Somali students are currently enrolled at the University of Karachi, the majority of them being in the faculty of Pharmacy and Microbiology. Few others including myself are enrolled in the faculty of Arts. Many students from various other countries are also enrolled at KU. These students live in the Federal Boys Hostel of the University of Karachi and outside.
Not only at Karachi University are Somali students. They are also enrolled in many public and private universities in Pakistan. The second largest number of Somali students is enrolled at the International Islamic University in Islamabad and at the University of Engineering and Technology in Lahore. During an interview being conducted, the students underlined how grateful they are to the KU administration and the government of Pakistan. They said that they will never forget the hospitality they have received from their brothers at KU and they will carry these good memories with them when they go back to their homeland.
Finally I would like to relate something important I have realized. There is no form of harassment/discrimination in Pakistan and that is what most attracted me. Many of my friends have the same perception. The ambiance at KU is friendly, where the foreign students share their views with the administration and the professors of their respective departments.
There is a good relationship and co-operation between their Pakistani counterparts, fellows and teachers, who help them as their guests.
I will never forget the knowledge and cosmopolitan –cultures that I have gained Pakistan and the goodness has done for us the government of Pakistan and its people.
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