LUMS students protest against derogatory social media group

Pakistan witnessed a new kind of Dharna as female students from Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) staged a sit in front of the university’s Office of Student Affairs against male students who posted derogatory and sexist content on social networking sites.

The female students didn’t go to their classes and chanted slogans against students involved in the act. They called on the administration to take action against the creators and publishers of the content.

Acting upon their demands, LUMS administration got the posts removed and an inquiry committee has been established to deal with the problem.

“Our families were also disturbed after seeing those posts. Therefore, we protested,” said a female student.”

“We demand an action against the male students. Administration assured that they remove the posts. However, we demand an explanation from the boys involved in the incident,” said another student. She added that they would protest outside LUMS if administration did not expel them from the university.

The University also released an official statement on their website.

“LUMS is an institution that cherishes diversity among its student body. We provide an environment where students are encouraged to freely exchange ideas and debate and discuss issues important to them, among themselves and with various stakeholders. In this spirit, a group of students along with members of FemSoc (Feminist Society at LUMS) approached the Dean, Office of Student Affairs, regarding a social media page where some students belonging to LUMS were sharing offensive, sexist memes.

The students and the dean had a detailed conversation and agreed that this is an unfortunate episode. However, it can actually help open doors to further the conversation on mutual respect and sensitise the community at large on gender issues. LUMS is proud of its thoughtful students and encourages collective action on such issues. We hope that this event will help further the culture of respect on our campus,” said official statement of LUMS.

Students who took part in the protest vowed to pursue the matter until it is resolved and asserted that they would take the protest out on the street, if the management failed to act.