College indulging in moral policing: prof

Ashley Tellis, who was fired by St Joseph’s College of Arts and Commerce, made a fresh set of allegations against the college on social media late on Friday and early Saturday.

Tellis, a professor, claimed through a Facebook post, that he was fired for being gay and also due to certain differences of opinion with the management.

He spoke about the college’s attempt at moral policing of students and not appreciating the various cultures they hail from. From dress codes to not letting students hug each other, he expressed disagreement over what he termed “draconian” principles of the college.

On Friday, he claimed that a priest against whom there were complaints of harassment, was heading the anti-sexual harassment committee of the college.  

His post on Saturday read, “A certain priest was harassing girl students in college, sending them lewd messages at night. It came to the knowledge of a certain lecturer who stood by the students and brought it to the notice of the administration. At the end of that year (last year, actually), that lecturer was fired.

That certain priest is now in charge of the Anti-Sexual Harassment Committee in college. Is no student disturbed by this? Is no parent disturbed by this? Do the students and parents know? Has there been a signature campaign? May we start one now?”

On social media, he also spoke about “an ex-attendant in the college from a small village” who was badly treated by the college. College authorities said that they were aware of the posts and would look into it.