Thrikkakara: The Government Model Engineering College held its arts and sports fest with enthusiastic participation of its students who were organised under its unique house system. Named Layatharang and Chakravyuh, the much-awaited events commenced alongside the unveiling of the Senate, the apex students' body. The senate inauguration marked the battle of pride between the four houses – students' groups – in the college.
The function began at around 3:30pm on February 7 with principal Vinu George, staff in-charge Irshad Ali, senate chairperson Saud Mohammed Hyder and the vice chair Shazia Salim addressing the students, while the houses prepared for their performances.
Each of the houses paraded through the corridors of the college and ultimately assembled at the amphitheatre one by one after which stage performances were put up by the members. As soon as their respective performances ended, every house rolled down their long banners with pride as their members shouted out the house names in exhilaration.
After all the four houses were done, it was the Senate’s turn to put up its show. ”Senate inauguration is a way we officially recognise the student representative body and it shows the 'josh' of students. I love it when others pump up enjoying the vibe,” noted Shazia, the vice chair of the Senate.
The houses are led by captains and vice captains selected from among students from the fourth-year batches. This year, the houses were named Predators, Gladiators, Trojans and Spartans and they represented the colours orange, purple, red and blue, respectively. Uniquely, the students' groups here spot a different name and colour each year and their members also change.
This house system also serves as a platform to sharpen the technical skills of the students as the houses set aside a significant amount of time creating posters, designing their logos and promo videos as well as in providing constructive criticism by trolling the other houses.
The Senate forms the supreme student body of the college. With representatives from each class, the Senate forms the fifth house, the Guardians. All activities of students and student bodies are sponsored by the Senate, and hence control the proceedings of the arts and sports fest and judging the events and so on.
The programmes wrapped up by 6pm with the Spartans releasing their promo video and the Guardians introducing their core team and the students returned home thereafter, still chanting their house names.