KARACHI:
Studying at the University of Karachi means living in a constant state of alert, a psychological state called hypervigilance. Our campus, spanning over a thousand acres, is physically designed to be a safe space for learning and personal growth. Instead, the basic feeling of safety that students need has become a myth.
As students, our energy should be consumed in processing lectures, preparing for exams and thinking about our careers. Instead, we carry the heavy mental load of worrying about our physical safety. Walking through the campus gates every morning means scanning the crowds and looking for exits, always wondering if our day will be disrupted by sudden violence.
Psychology teaches us that a brain in survival mode cannot focus on learning. When we constantly feel threatened, our stress levels spike, making it incredibly hard to pay attention in class or feel creative. High-traffic areas like the Arts Lobby or department corridors have become spaces of high tension. In an environment where aggression is normalised, even a simple misunderstanding can quickly turn into a physical fight.
Students in Karachi already deal with immense stress in their daily lives outside of university. The campus should be a safe haven where students can lower their guard and relax. Instead, they are forced to develop defence mechanisms just to get through the day.
We, the students, do not want a campus that feels like a high-security zone, nor do we want an environment where aggressive people act without consequences. We deserve a campus where we can sit in the common areas, discuss our classes in peace, and focus on our education without constantly looking over our shoulders.
Ensuring peace on campus is not just an administrative duty; it is a psychological necessity for our education. Until both students and teachers can enter a classroom without fearing for their physical safety, the promise of higher education at this university cannot be met.
Amna Rehman
Karachi
