GCU suspends teacher

LAHORE: Following the March 19 incident at the English Department of the Government College University (GCU) in which a male faculty member was attacked for alleged harassment, the university’s Vice Chancellor has suspended the teacher till the outcome of the probe.

It is pertinent to mention that a video capturing the moment a female student unleashed her fury at a faculty member within the premises of the GCU English Department had gone viral on social media recently following which the university had formed a committee to probe the matter.

‘In order to ascertain the exact nature of the incident and fix the responsibility, a probe committee was immediately constituted and was mandated to probe the matter while taking stock of the perspectives of both the parties entangled in the incident referred to above and submit its findings and recommendations at the earliest possible instance. The Vice Chancellor has directed that the accused assistant professor of the department of english, is suspended till the outcome of the probe is unveiled. He is directed to visit the campus only when he is officially invited to attend the proceedings of the probe,’ reads a latest notification issued by the GCU.

As per the notification, the Vice Chancellor reiterated the University's policy to keep the academic environment congenial for the students and faculty. ‘There is zero tolerance for harassment in all its manifestations. At the same time, there is no room whatsoever for violence as well as violation of the rules and regulations of the University and the laws of the land,’ the notification further reads. The notification also directed the university faculty, staff, and the Director Institute of English in particular, not to issue any statement about this incident as it is likely to prejudice the proceedings of the probe committee. ‘If anyone has anything to contribute towards the probe, it is advisable to approach the probe committee,’ concludes the notification.