Mysore/Mysuru: Students of the century-old University of Mysore (UoM) are now being forced to attend classes seated in corridors, owing to a severe shortage of functional classrooms and growing administrative lapses.

Already burdened by challenges in delivering quality education, the University now faces a fresh setback. In what echoes the Kannada proverb, “In a quarrel between husband and wife, it is the child who suffers,” students have become the unintended victims of poor coordination between faculty and administrative staff, deprived of even basic classroom access and forced to learn outside the formal academic setting.

The University, long grappling with a faculty shortage, has been relying heavily on guest lecturers. But now, even the optimal use of its limited faculty has become a concern, severely impacting the student learning experience.

A glaring example of this dysfunction was witnessed on Saturday at the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication in Manasagangothri.

Students, who arrived for their 10 am class, found the classrooms locked. Professor M.S. Sapna, who arrived on time, was left with no option but to conduct the session in the corridor. Students voiced their anger and disappointment, blaming the University’s erratic and indifferent approach for this academic breakdown.

The Journalism and Mass Communication Department currently operates with just three faculty members. With semester exams fast approaching, completing the syllabus has become a race against time. Students say the situation is further worsened by inconsistent staff attendance and poor time management.

Frustration is mounting, with even Ph.D scholars reportedly being denied regular classes. Importantly, this crisis is not confined to one department. Students across various disciplines have raised similar concerns about a lack of coordination and infrastructure, which is hampering their academic progress.

Senior students have now called upon the University administration — particularly the Vice-Chancellor — to take immediate corrective action and restore normalcy, before the academic environment deteriorates further.