‘St Agnes College Students Instigated by CFI to Protest Against Headscarf’ – Sr Jeswina

‘St Agnes College Students Instigated by CFI to Protest Against Headscarf’ – Sr Jeswina

Mangaluru: “Over the years the college has made clear the rules and regulations including the dress code in the handbook to maintain discipline, uniformity and transparency. This has been followed by all the students. Recently some of our students along with some strangers protested in front of our college gate and later when inquired with some of the students, they informed that they were instigated by the CFI group to protest against the rules and norms of the college. After this incident, a lot of false propagation and rumours have spread to malign the name of the faculty and tarnish the image of the college. I would like to give a clear explanation to the public through the media that no faculty has ever touched the scarf or the body of any student at any time”, said the principal of St Agnes College Sr Dr M Jeswina AC in a press meet held at the College auditorium here on June 29.

Addressing the mediapersons Sr Jeswina said, “St Agnes College (Autonomous) is a premier Catholic Educational Institution. It is the first Women’s College in the west coast and second under the private management in the entire country. It has ever since proved to be a standard bearer of repute in the field of women’s education. We are all set to celebrate the centenary of the college in 2021. Though a minority institution it has opened the door of opportunity to individuals irrespective of religion, caste, creed or economic status”.

Sr Jeswina further said, “The institution from its inception has imparted integral, value-based and quality oriented higher education to women who are spread all over the world with prestigious positions as educators, scientists, doctors, engineers, advocates, chartered accountants, management professionals and caring homemakers. For the past 98 years, thousands of young women have passed out of the portals of St Agnes College.”

Sr Jeswina further clarifying said, “No student has been suspended from the college after this incident. In fact, all students who had protested especially Fathima Anis Sheikh III B.Com who spoke to the media on Monday 25 June 2018 at around 2:30 pm in front of the college gate were present in the class the very next day (June 26) and all have continued to attend the classes till today. It is on June 27 all those students who went on a protest without prior intimation were asked to give an explanation in writing in the presence of their parents within three days. As the principal of the college, I would like to tell the public that I have not taken any signature from any student anytime on blank papers.”

Sr Jeswina stated that the dress code regulation states, “The student will wear the uniform prescribed by the college. No other attire is permitted in the college premises throughout the working hours. No student will wear the headscarf. Students will not cover their faces or wear any other clothes except the prescribed college uniform inside the campus”.

If our students have made a difference in their families and society it is because of the values they have imbibed here at St Agnes. We want our students to continue to promote these values and build a better family and a society. This is our mission and we continue our mission of imparting values in the years to come. We will never compromise or sacrifice the values that we have imbibed from the foundress of our college Mother Mary Aloysia and the pioneering sisters, principals and the staff of our college”.

When asked about the allegations by Muslim students about nuns wearing the headscarf during the college, Sr Jeswina said, “There is a difference between the students uniform and our uniform. We are religious nuns and the fact that when we chose to become nuns, and the moment we become nuns we get this uniform to wear. We wear this uniform from the time we get up from the bed and go to bed and nobody can say that we don’t like to wear it or want to change it. This is our religious uniform and the students uniform is different. We are religious sisters and we are compelled to wear and respect it.”

Speaking to the mediapersons Vice President Naureen said, “If there is any problem in the college there is a suggestion box to complain. But the students those who protested without the knowledge of the college had joined with an outside organization and protested against the College. There is a WhatsApp group by the name “Justice for scarf and namaz” and the students who had protested are the members of that group. They had also added me to that group, after the protest I received threat calls and one of the calls I received was from Saudi Arabia. I immediately left that group, another student who had apologized for taking part in the protest was removed from that group.”

Joint Secretary St Agnes College Sr Sr Maria Roopa AC, Vice Principal Sr Dr Venissa AC, Registrar Charles Pais, Co-ordinator Discipline and former HOD commerce Dr Devi Prabha, PTA Vice President Neena, Anis (Parent), Nayana Alumni, Ladleen Janisha Monteiro Student President and Naureen Vice President of commerce forum were also present.

Also Read

• St Agnes College Headscarf Ban Issue, CFI Warns of Intensifying Protest
• CFI and Muslim Students from St Agnes Protest Against Head Scarf Ban