USM apologises for the 'move out' order to those who don't like hostel rules
Universiti Sains Malaysia has apologised for the stand taken by the management of one of its hostels against its residents, which USM said was not appropriate.
This came after hostel Desasiswa Saujana’s management defended its right to conduct spot checks on residents and told those who were dissatisfied with the rules to move out.
“The university has reprimanded Desasiswa Saujana by stating that such statements are uncalled for.
“The university apologises to all students affected by the statement and hope such matters can be better handled in the future,” USM deputy vice-chancellor Aldrin Abdullah said in a statement last night.
Nevertheless, Aldrin defended the presence of a male staff during the spot checks on female residents on May 25.
He said those involved in conducting the spot checks comprised three female officers and one male, accompanied by 16 female students who are members of the Desasiswa Saujana Residents Council.
This is in compliance with the residential college’s rules, which state, “if a spot check is conducted in students’ rooms, at least one member of the Desasiswa management or anyone delegated the power, who is of the same gender as the student residents, must be present during the spot check”.
When contacted, Aldrin explained that the rules allow for male staff to be present for various reasons, as long as they are accompanied by females when conducting checks on females.
“Sometimes there are aggressive cases. Sometimes there are intruders. Sometimes only the male is available and he can follow up if there is an emergency.
“For these reasons, our regulations allow (for this) that he must be accompanied by a female,” Aldrin told Malaysiakini.
Yesterday, Malaysiakini reported that students at the residential college had anonymously complained about the spot checks via the “USM Confessions” Facebook page.
Among others, one claimed a male warden opened the doors to the rooms of the female residents, without knocking or giving prior notice, while another said she was partially dressed when her door was opened.
The Desasiswa Saujana’s management responded to these complaints, saying the team members had knocked before opening the residents’ room doors and had the right to conduct spot checks at any time.
It went on to say: “If you want your privacy and do not want to be tied down by the rules of the hostel, you are welcome to come to the office, return your key, and empty your room.
“You can rent a house outside USM because then, your privacy will be guaranteed. And you will not be awakened by the sound of someone knocking on your door when you are asleep...”
USM vice-chancellor Faisal Rafiq Mahamd Adikan told Malaysiakini that the hostel management’s response was unprofessional and uncalled for.
Faisal Rafiq said late-night spot checks would not take place again, nor would the male warden involved be allowed to do so again.
Meanwhile, in Aldrin’s statement, he said the spot checks were conducted from 10.30pm that night until 1.00am. The aim was to confirm the whereabouts of the residents in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, so that contact tracing could be done rapidly, if necessary.
The spot checks involved 449 rooms and 16 violations of the residential college’s rules were identified.
Fifteen of these involved the swapping of rooms without permission.
Another offence involved a student who was supposed to undergo isolation as a precaution against Covid-19, but was instead found to have trespassed the residential college and spend the night in one of the rooms there.
This is a serious offence and a threat to the health and safety of the other residents, Aldrin said, adding that it would be referred to the university’s disciplinary committee. - Mkini
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