Pakistani politicans are not the only ones who take sudden U-turns, thereby decimating the public’s hopes and aspirations. The LUMS administration also meanders down these unforeseen curves, bends and U-turns, as it has become evident through the campus reopening debacle of January 2021. As the student body booked their tickets for Lahore, packed their belongings, and planned for an on-campus academic semester, their hopes were dashed by the administration’s latest email that trickled into their inboxes like some murky, ominous potion.
In the aforementioned email, the student body was regretfully informed that the admin would not be able to accommodate the majority back onto the campus, as per the new government directives which entailed that “in no case shall the total number of students permitted to come to campus exceed 30 per cent of the total enrollment.“ This dealt a significant blow to the student body who had only recently begun to restore their faith in the administration’s intentions and motives. It was also established that those who were previously notified about their imminent return back onto campus would unfortunately have to be turned away. This instigated massive fury, bewilderment and protest from the students who felt like they had been promised mere kernels of false hope by the administration. This email, sent on January 23rd 2021, was in direct contradiction with the cheerful, celebratory email sent on January 8th 2021. The previous emailed brimmed with promises of the campus reopening, ” If allowed, we intend to invite all hostel residents who have been assigned housing to return back to campus by February 1st. Similarly, all day scholars from Lahore who are able to come back to campus will be welcomed once we have the permission from the government”.
With the university suddenly deciding to take back their decision of calling back additional people on campus, there came financial burdens that some students had to bear. Ones who had booked their tickets in advance were forced to cancel their flights, the costs of which are mostly non-refundable. According to one student who attended the Town Hall, the Vice Chancellor Arshad Ahmed stated that they would compensate students who have faced such costs. He is reported to have said that the university will reimburse the expenses accrued as a result of these travel tickets.
In addition to this, some students had already paid the hostel charges included in their fee as well. Given that the student body was notified so late that the university had no plans to open accommodation to everyone, the question was raised as to how students who had already paid their fees were going to be compensated. Those who had already paid were told to email Residence and inform them if they wish to have their money refunded or adjusted in future fee vouchers, and those who had not were told that their accommodation was to be cancelled and new vouchers are to be uploaded February 2nd.
Speaking of expenses, it is also worth nothing how per credit hour fees were increased without prior notice, as were the hostel charges. The question of how such rises are justified has puzzled students, given the fact that learning is still taking place online, and no additional facilities have been granted to hostelites which would help them understand why the hostel charges have increased. Some students, before the university decided to follow government directives, withdrew accommodation after seeing the high amount which was being charged.
The expenses may even be said to be two fold, firstly, the direct loss of money, and secondly, the emotional cost from steadily losing hope of returning to campus and living a normal university life. The student body expresses sentiments of hurt and confusion amongst deceit. They claim that the admin has not been straightforward with their motives, and has also refused to reconcile matters in a civil manner. The graduating batch of 2021 is especially disheartened by the sudden U-turn, as they consider the possibility of all their senior year plan disintegrating into mere ash.