A girl walks into Delhi University on her first day of college (in PTI picture above) in attire that would have raised many a hackle in Cotton College, where freshers have been handed an elaborate code of conduct, clothes included. Picture by Eastern Projections

July 17: Freshers at Cotton College were not scared of ragging for once, nor were they jittery of their first day out on campus. Because, they were busy decoding the new code of conduct.

Curiosity writ large on their faces, the students, a majority of whom are freshers, visited the offices of the principal and Cotton College Union Society to know about the code of conduct.

“I came to know about the new code of conduct only through the media. I am confused as to what the new code is. I want to know what I am supposed to wear or not wear and if I can use my cell on campus,” a Class XII student said.

A fresher had questions about the implication of the code of conduct, which states that boys can only wear formal trousers with shirts or T-shirts. “The college must clarify what it means by a formal dress for boys. I think it would cause inconvenience to boys if they are not allowed to wear jeans on the campus,” he said.

For the first time, Cotton College has issued a strict code of conduct to instill discipline and decency among all students.

The code of conduct has made 75 per cent attendance in classes mandatory, formal trousers with shirts or T-shirts for boys and salwar kameez with a dupatta or mekhela chadors or sarees or formal tribal traditional dresses for girls. Students have been prohibited from gossiping and loitering on the campus and using cellphones.

The students have also been asked to prominently display their identity cards by wearing them around their necks.

Samiran Baishya, the general secretary of the Cotton College Union Society, said queries on the part of students about the new code of conduct was natural. He said the college authorities and the union are trying their best to address students’ queries and clear their doubts.

Baishya appealed to all students to adhere to the code of conduct to maintain order and decency on the college campus. He said senior students should strictly follow the rules to set examples for their juniors and freshers.

No incidents of ragging were reported either on the college campus or the hostels on the first day. The college authorities are, however, taking no chances and members of the anti-ragging committee are keeping a close watch on the hostels.