COMMENT Monash University was established in 1958 as Victoria’s second largest university after Melbourne University.

Since its early years, Monash’s students have been engaged in social activism. From around 1965 to early 1970, Monash was in fact the centre of student radicalism in Australia.

Students rallied in protest against Australia’s decision to be involved in the Vietnam War. There were numerous blockades and sit-ins by Monash students in the past, which included among others the ‘Monash Siege’.

This event is to be remembered as one extraordinary event over the dismissal of former Australian prime minister Gough Whitlam, which forced the succeeding prime minister, Malcolm Fraser, to hide in a basement at the Alexander Theatre during his visit to Monash.

Even till today, the Monash University Student Association (Musa) is a very powerful student organisation. Musa is independent of the university administration. The staff cannot interfere with the students’ decisions on a lot of things.

Years ago, when I was working with my alma mater at the Malaysian campus, I raised the concern over the use of the name ‘Monster’ for the student magazine. ‘Monster’ simply means Monash Student Editorial, but I did not like the idea of parents of prospective students asking what kind of monsters we were creating at Monash.

I remember clearly my immediate superior then, the pro-vice-chancellor himself, reprimanded me: “Lay your hands off the Musa.” It has always been the university’s tradition to allow its student associations to remain independent of the university’s administration.

Therefore, I am truly shocked when I read news how the current registrar, Susheela Nair, could threaten disciplinary proceedings against any student found to be participating in any illegal gathering.

It reminds me of the invited guest to a local university, Sharifah Zohra Jabeen, who talked down on one of the students, KS Bawani, who raised some important questions. This video clip alone has hit 1,414,328 views.

Since when has Monash descended so low that it is now seen as threatening students who want to participate in a street rally? Since when can the registrar or even the pro vice chancellor meddle into student affairs?

In the first place, I wonder if Susheela had even consulted the University’s vice-chancellery before the email was issued. If she had not consult the university, Susheela should bow out immediately. As an alumnus, I too cannot tolerate someone in her position to threaten the students.

Even Umno’s information chief Annuar Musa claimed that Umno does not have the right to stop party members from attending the red-shirt rally on Saturday. We all know that the red-shirts are out there to create problems, and as one writer, Marcus Lee of Universiti Malaya pointed out, its leader Jamal Md Yusof should be a case under Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma).