Indian dean ‘harassed’ by drunken students

An Indian-origin woman dean of a reputed college of Cambridge University claimed she was a victim of drunken misbehaviour of students, one of whom propositioned her during a naked rampage through the institution, a media report said.

Dr Priyamvada Gopal, dean of Churchill College, said in her complaint to the college that she had to reject the advances of the inebriated student in March 2007, after being caught up in a group’s naked rampage through the institution, the Daily Mail reported.

“There were several very drunk students and alumni, after a rugby dinner. Some of them were running naked around college. One of them propositioned me,” she said in her complaint.

In fact, indecent exposure, vandalism, violence and alcohol-fuelled high jinks are a regular part of the social scene in the college.

Since 2005, some 91 incidents involving over 100 students have been recorded at Churchill College, it emerged after a freedom of information request.

In October 2006, two amorous students were caught indecently exposing themselves in the library. A report stated: “Two students, one female, were cautioned and told to see the librarian to apologise.”

In March 2008, members of the outlawed Bulldogs drinking society booked a “fake sports dinner” under the name of the University Lacrosse Club. “The result was extreme drunken behaviour, damage and fouling of the room and adjacent toilets,” it was recorded.

In February this year, a student, who was not identified, assaulted another, leaving him with bleeding wounds, in need of hospital treatment.

According to the official report, there was a ‘’serious incident at the Spring Ball involving a student assaulting another with a beer bottle then fists’’.

The culprit had his bar privileges rescinded, was put under a 10pm-6am curfew, fined £250, ordered to pay his victim £150 damages, and told to undergo ‘mandatory counselling’.

But he was later discovered walking on the roof of the college by a porter, who contacted police. When he came down, he ‘’refused to stop when summoned’’.

Other high-jinks included the discovery of a secret casino and drunken students found jumping out of windows.

Punishments ranged from fines and curfews to the withdrawal of alcohol-purchasing privileges at the college bar and formal apologies.

Churchill, whose Nobel laureates include Francis Crick, the co-discoverer of DNA, wasn’t the only college to record problems.