The Counselling Unit of Student Affairs Division organizes orientation program for fresh students within the first week of resumption, to acquaint them with information they need for psychological, social and economic adjustment to the new environment.
The fresh students will be enlightened on the operations of the University, Rules and Regulations, registration for courses, attendance at lectures, examinations and results. Attendance is mandatory for all fresh students. Fresh students are therefore expected to avoid loitering about, drinking and participating in anti-social activities that will lead them into the hands of bad boys and girls who may lure them into cultism and other unacceptable behaviors in the University.
DEPARTMENTAL ORIENTATION
The various Departments are expected to organize reception and orientation activities for new students to introduce them to academic and non academic members of staff of each Department, Course Advisers, and courses offered in the program.
CLUB/ASSOCIATIONS
Various associations are also expected to organize orientation activities to provide information on social interaction among students.
Each student is however expected to draw a line between his/her academic and social activities. Student’s academic activities and plans should be paramount in his/her daily program. Social activities though also important to help students exercise themselves in extra curricular activities, are not so important in attaining their educational goals. Each student needs 30 hrs each week for private study and if he/she must attend lectures, assignments, projects and practical classes he/she does not have up to 20 hrs to study for good grade. Where will all the time for clubbing, traveling, partying etc come from?
COURSE OF STUDY
Educational materials that have been tested to help students to become better learned in every area of specialization in today’s world are available for you through the courses you will be offering. The University courses are packed in a way that they lay the background for a general overview of man’s accumulation of knowledge in other fields which gives opportunity for common knowledge and communication. So interest must be developed in required, compulsory and elective courses as well as to attain the expected Grade Point Average on each course at the end of the program. For good academic performance, students are expected to approach the lecturers of such University course(s) to explain the usefulness of such course in life situation so as to build interest. Students are also expected to feel free to approach their course lecturer or meet intelligent colleague to explain the difficult areas of each course or the University Counselor for guidance.
Students’ Hand Book.
The University rules and regulations are explained in the Students’ Hand Book. Each student is expected to ask his/her copy from the Student Affairs Division so as to be well informed on the expectation of the University from each person. Remember ignorance is not an excuse for failure.
DECENT DRESSING AND IMAGE OF THE UNIVERSITY
Dressing
· It is the art of wearing cloth, to put on clothing, to put on or wear formal, elaborate, or fancy cloth.
· The function of dress is to: Provide warmth and protection, identify the wearer (by providing information about sex, age, occupation, or other characteristics and make the wearer appear more attractive.
Decent Dressing
· It is the style of clothing that covers all the parts of the body that are private
· The foot wear that adds to the comfort of the wearer giving the appropriate poise.
· The style of hair that adds to the beauty/handsomeness of the individual.
· The moderate make-up that accentuates the elegance of the wearer without jeopardizing her/his convenience.
What constitute dressing?
· Clothing – neatly made, moderately fitting and long, covering the upper and lower torso.
· Hair style – neatly cut or made, fitting, moderate, not flamboyant or constituting disturbance to the bearer or the public.
· Make-up moderately done, fitting.
Situational dressing
· formal dressing
· informal dressing
· casual
· evening
· party
Indecent Dressing
· Denotes near nakedness
· Depicts bodily indecency and improper behavior
· Looks weird
· Causes disturbance to the social set-up of a community because it is suggestive
· Shows rioting colours or suggestive colour
DRESS CODE FOR FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE, ABEOKUTA STUDENTS
(I) DRESS CODE FOR MALE STUDENTS
(1) Head – Neat hair cut without patterns
(2) Jewelries – Moderate jewelries without earrings.
(3) Clothes
(a) Upper Torso – There should be no exposure of the upper part of the body.
(b) Lower Torso – Fastening of trousers below the waist line – “sagging” is not allowed.
(4) Foot Wears
(a) Wear good pair of sandals, covered shoes or work shoes. Protective boots for farm work only.
(II) DRESS CODE FOR FEMALE STUDENTS
(1) Head – Wear neat and decent hair styles.
(2) Neck and Ear – Moderate but not bogus jewelries should be used.
(3) Clothes-
Upper-Torso-top should not expose the upper part of the body.
(a) No exposure of the upper torso.
(b) Strapless dresses and spaghetti strap blouses without jacket should not be worn.
(c) Body hugs should not be worn without jackets.
(d) Revealing blouses such as those that expose the navel and breast should not be worn.
· Lower Torso
· Clothes should be chosen to cover from the waist to, at least, the knee in all postures; and
· Hip stand trousers are not allowed without belts and blouses that cover to the hips. No sagging of trousers.
Foot Wears
-Sandals or covered corporate shoes and decent slippers should be worn.
– Students must be corporately dressed for special ceremonies namely: Matriculation, Convocation e.t.c.
CULTISM
Cultism is a secret society found in the Universities and other Instutions of the society which is associated with occultism.They believe that they will be in power over their fellow non cultist by demonstrating violent powers over those who innocently pursue knowledge as the means of intellectual power.They are facesless.
Members are recruited through some criteria of personnel specification as spelt out by different individual cult groups.
Method of recruiting new members:
The old members resort to tactical and deceptive means of recruiting new members like cajoling and brain washing.
The cult groups do not compromise the personnel specification of their group while looking for new members so that members can always perform the roles which the group is known for.
Membership is not free as different cult groups have different amount for registration. Prospective members are expected to submit filled application forms, with photographs, a scarf, a sharp machet, a pen knife, a chicken and an egg.
Three stagies are involved in the admission process – the pre-qualification tests, the initiation which involve secret rituals like swearing by some deity and drinking of human blood. Some poeple may die during iniciation process.
The symbols:
The symbols consists of human skull, bones, sword or axe and coffin.
Venue:
They hold their meetings in secluded places like thick bushes, valleys, hill tops or cemeteries late at night.
DRESSING:
They dress in dreadfull mode. Each cult group has a special type of dressing peculiar to that group.
EVILS OF CULTISM
There are no known advantagies of cultism but the disadvantagies include the following:
1. Untimely death of would be members during initiation.
2. It is dangerious to pull out after initiation.
3. Members end up being killed.
4. It leads members into drug addiction.
5. Members are stigmatized as criminals.
6. The drinking of blood during iniciation can lead to contacting of AIDS.
7. Can make one turn to hardened criminal.
8. Membership may sometimes result to low academic performance.
9. They are expelled when caught in every higher institution.
10. Members can turn to sadists.
11. A cultist is never proud to be a member of their group,
Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta’s academic environment may seem so innocent for cultism to exist within it, but one should not ignore the influence of students from other institutions around, hence students should be mindful of the type of friends they keep, where they go to at a particular period of the day, whom they go with and for what purposes.
SO:
· SAY NO TO CULTISM, IT IS EVIL
· DON’T BE CAUGHT UP IN THE WEB OF BAD BOYS/ GIRLS , THEY MAY BE CULTISTS.
· WHEN YOU ARE ASKED TO ACCOMPANY SOMEBODY SOMEWHERE, ASK QUESTIONS, AND IF YOU STILL DO NOT UNDERSTAND, DON’T GO.
· REPORT ALL FORMS OF HARASSMENT TO THE DEAN, STUDENTS’ AFFAIRS DIVISSION OR THE COUNSELLING UNIT OR CALL 08033775504, 08035021748, 08039339922
· VIOLENCE IS NEVER A SOLUTION TO ANY PROBLEM
· CULTISM IS YOUR DIRECT TICKET OUT OF THE CAMPUS
PROBLEM OF INDIGENCY:
The Counselling Unit, through her interaction with students, discorvered that a good number of FUNAAB students are indigent and need help that can sustain them in order to graduate. The Unit therefore collaborates with Alumni Association of the University who has always assisted to pay some students’ school fees yearly and provide examination writing stipend. The University has also approved a work-study scheme which grant these students the privilege to work and earn some money that can help them through their studies.
Effort is being made by the Unit to get Corporate bodies to sponsor this work study scheme.
Students are therefore requested to make themselves avaliable at the Counselling Unit when they are challenged by financial problems instead of withdrawing from the University. Such student will be interviewed and when it is ascertained that he/she is really indigent, solution will be sort for.
SUICIDE ATTEMPT:
Suicide is an act of purposefull taking of ones life. One is involved in suicidal behavior when he/she takes action that could cause death.
Such actions can be drinking of poison, taking overdose of a drug and using harmfull object on oneself.
Suicide behavior is a psychological disorder which can lead to inferiority complex and people involved try to make up with distructive behavior. In some cases it is caused by mental illness.
People who try to commit suicide talk about it before making the attempt and if they talk about it to someone who cares, the risk of suicide will be reduced.
People try to commit suicide when they are faced with bad or difficult situations such as
· When they experienced disappointment
· Failure
· Bereavement
· Emotional trauma
· Death of loved one
· Unemployment or financial challenges
· Loneliness
· Rejection
· Major depression
· Schizophrenic
· Halucination
· Mental illness
· Drug or alcohol dependence
Such people believe
· That life is worthless.
· Nothing can be done to help their situation.
· They may not bother to tell anyone that they have problems.
· They may not know where to seek for help.
· They believe that they are doing their loved ones favor by taking their lifes.
Most of the attempts do not result in death but the effect result in fatal health problems which may be difficult to manage and lead the familly of the person involved into finacial problems.
SYMPTOMS:
People show different types of symptoms before a suicide attempt is made. The symptoms include:
· Loss of interest in activities
· Pulling away from friends
· Loss of interest in life
· Having sleepless night
· Feeling hopeless or guilt
· Drinking heavily, use of unprescribed drugs
· Undue calm and moodiness
· Giving away belongings
· Withdrawal from friends
· Collection of utensils needed for self infliction
Treatment:
· They should be kept in the hospital for treatment or taken to a psychologist.
· Should be kept under close monitoring to avoid a repeat of the attempt.
· If attempt is noticed call 08033775504
· Always take suicide attempt or threats seriously becouse one-third of such people will try again after some times . Do not leave victims alone even after you have called for help.
SEXUAL HARASSMENT
What it is?
Sexual harassment is bullying or coercion of an individual in order to have sexual relationship with the person or the unwelcome or inappropriate promise of rewards in exchange for sexual favours.
Relationships of a sexual or romantic nature between individuals such as employer and employee, students with lecturers or non-teaching staff and among colleagues can be considered a form of sexual harassment irrespective of its consensual or reciprocal nature when the lecturer, or administrative staff has the power to affect the terms, conditions and evaluation of the subordinates or student employment or academic performance.
Sexual harassment occurs when:
· Submission to such conduct is explicitly or implicitly made or threatened to be made a term or condition of an individual’s employment or participation in any academic or sponsored programme;
· Submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used or threatened to be used as the basis for academic, employment or programme decisions affecting that individual.
· Such conduct has the purpose of interfering with an individual’s state of mind, academic or professional performance, creating an intimidating, hostile, uncomfortable or offensive learning or employment or living environment.
Examples of sexual harassment
· Sexual assault and sexual violence
· Unsolicited, unwelcome flirtations, advances and/or propositions of a sexual nature.
· Unwelcome sexually-oriented gestures, verbal expressions, or comments of a sexual nature about an individual’s body, clothing, or sexual experience.
· Unnecessary and inappropriate touching, such as patting, pinching, hugging or brushing against an individual’s body.
· Actual or attempted rape or sexual assault.
· Unwanted pressure for sexual favors.
· Unwanted deliberate touching, leaning over, cornering, or pinching.
· Unwanted sexual looks or gestures.
· Unwanted letters, telephone calls, or materials of a sexual nature.
· Unwanted pressure for dates.
· Unwanted sexual teasing, jokes, remarks or questions.
· Referring to an adult as a girl, hunk, doll, baby, or honey.
· Whistling at someone.
· Cat calls.
· Sexual comments.
· Turning work discussions to sexual topics.
· Sexual innuendos or stories.
· Asking about sexual fantasies, preferences, or history.
· Personal questions about social or sexual life.
· Sexual comments about a person’s clothing, anatomy or looks.
· Kissing sounds, howling, and smacking lips.
· Telling lies or spreading rumors about a person’s personal sex life.
· Neck massage.
· Touching an employee’s clothing, hair, or body in an unwelcome ways.
· Giving personal gifts as baits.
· Hanging around a person.
· Hugging, kissing, patting, or stroking.
· Touching or rubbing oneself sexually around another person.
· Standing close or brushing up against a person.
· Looking at a person up and down (elevator eyes).
· Staring at someone.
· Sexually suggestive signals.
· Facial expressions, winking, throwing kisses, or licking lips.
· Making sexual gestures with hands or through body movements.
The above could be categorized into verbal and non-verbal as follows:
VERBAL
· Referring to an adult as a girl, hunk, doll, babe, or honey
· Whistling at someone, cat calls
· Making sexual comments about a person’s body
· Making sexual comments or innuendos
· Turning work discussions to sexual topics
· Telling sexual jokes or stories
· Asking about sexual fantasies, preferences, or history
· Asking personal questions about social or sexual life
· Making kissing sounds, howling, and smacking lips
· Making sexual comments about a person’s clothing, anatomy, or looks
· Repeatedly asking out a person who is not interested
· Telling lies or spreading rumors about a person’s personal sex life
NON-VERBAL
· Looking at a person up and down (Elevator eyes)
· Staring at someone
· Blocking a person’s path
· Following the person
· Giving personal gifts as bait
· Displaying sexually suggestive visuals
· Making sexual gestures with hands or through body movements
· Making facial expressions such as winking, throwing kisses, or licking lips
PHYSICAL
· Giving a massage around the neck or shoulders
· Touching the person’s clothing, hair, or body
· Hugging, kissing, patting or stroking
· Touching or rubbing oneself sexually around another person
· Standing close or brushing up against another person
In most modern legal contexts, sexual harassment is illegal. As defined by the US EEOC, It is unlawful to harass a person be it an applicant, employee or student because of that person’s sex. Sexual harassment or unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favours and other verbal or physical harassment of a sexual nature.
Harassment situation
Sexual harassment may occur in a variety of circumstances. Often, but not always, the harasser is in a position of power or authority over the victim.
Harassment relationships include:
· The victim does not have to be the person directly harassed but can be a witness of such behavior who finds the behavior offensive and is affected by it.
· The place of harassment occurrence may vary from school, University, working place and others.
· There may be other witnesses or attendance or not.
· The harasser may be completely unaware that his or her behavior is offensive or constitutes sexual harassment or maybe completely unaware that his or her action could be unlawful.
· The victim and harasser can be any gender.
Reporting Sexual Harassment
In order to defend the right of all students and maintain an environment free of any form of harassment, anyone who believes that he/she has been harassed is urged to promptly report such behavior to the Counselling Unit or Dean, Student Affairs.
Any staff (Lecturer/Student/Administrator) who is aware of or who receives a report or complaints of sexual harassment is urged to report to the Counselling Unit promptly for necessary attention. It is worthy of note that confidentiality is our watchword. We will protect the identity of the complainant, the respondent and all the parties involved.