Anna varsity issues guidelines for faculty, students on campus safety

Anna University in Chennai maintains security measures, including monitoring, ID cards, and safety apps, following a recent sexual assault incident.

After the horrendous sexual assault of a student on the campus, Anna University has issued detailed instructions to improve security and get feedback from students.

University Registrar J. Prakash has issued instructions to the deans, the heads of department and faculty in three separate circulars. The deans and heads of department have been told that regular monthly meetings must be conducted by the Prevention of Sexual Harassment committee with the faculty in-charge.

There must be strict monitoring by the security staff who must patrol the premises daily, particularly during the evening and late-night hours. None other than faculty and students would be allowed to enter the campus, the registrar has said. 

The deans have been instructed to verify if all the cameras and lights are functioning. The heads and faculty members must collect feedback from students about additional streetlights, cameras and facilities on the campus.  

Students and faculty must wear their ID cards at all times. Outsiders’ vehicles, such as those of delivery personnel, will be checked and their vehicles will be allowed only up to the entrance. Students would be allowed to conduct cultural and technical events as usual, the registrar has said.

The circulars follow the sexual assault of a student at the College of Engineering on the Anna University campus on December 23 by an outsider. The university has released a series of posters with details of security phone numbers at MIT’s gates.

It is also installing suggestion boxes for students. It has also given details of the police app Kavalan for students, besides the details of the PoSH committee’s contact number and email id.