Deciding on the cooling-off period date.
Thanosha: Hi good morning, everyone and thank you so much for joining our meeting Before
we start our meeting, I would like to said that there are no absentees all the members are here
today. I would like to welcome all of you to our first meeting of latest flooding incident. I really
appreciate all of you attending in this meeting, we will discuss about our cooling off period to
the students. We as a member of the Roma university student, we must alert on this matter. The
purpose of our meeting is about to have a cooling-off period.
Shandra: I would like to briefly explain about purpose of our meeting today. The purpose of
the meeting is to discuss the cooling period for students. Currently, as everyone knows
Malaysia has been flooded, and place many are effect such as Selangor, Pahang, and Johor.
Today I would like to discuss the cooling –period for our university because received so much
sad news from our students. So many students are effect by the flood. So, I decide on a date
for our cooling period for our students.
Faris: I would second that, I agree with you. This flood has brought such disaster towards the
victims of flood in which they have lost not just their home but also the sense of well-being.
Other than that, because of the flood, the electrical appliances are damaged such as student’s
laptops, home appliances and many more. In the worst-case scenario, they might not even have
electric and even clean water to survive since it has been washed away by the flood. The victims
are seen to sleep in their house with the water rising every minute and even worst some on the
rooftop as we see in the social medias recently as they cannot escape their place to go to a safer
place. This will increase the risk of unknown diseases from it in which lots of the victims would
be resulted in transmission of viral diseases specially water born infections. Moreover, their
trauma resulted from the flood will took a toll on the mental health and this will make the
students not being motivated to study or even participate in the university activities. The
victims could also develop Ombrophobia—Fear of Rain in which they would fear hearing rain
and might think that flood will happen again in the future. For the students whom are with
family, the students would have a hard time in coping with school such as doing assignments,
attending classes as they are obliged to clean their home.
Suggestion
Faris: I have a suggestion as a student of the secretariat, we must form teams of volunteers
from our university to help the flood victims in rebuilding their life and join forces with active
NGOS. We should donate what is necessary to them such as giving food and drink, diapers,
sanitary pads and medical supplies.
Pavithra: I would like to suggest the lecturers to extend the due date for the assignments,
quizzes, and tests. This is because as Faris said, the students and as well as the lecturers have
been the victim of floods. This cooling-off period is important for those affected as they faced
problems, including disruption of electricity supply, needing time to clean their houses,
learning materials and damaged electronic devices. They cannot carry out any teaching and
learning activities after the catastrophe. This will lead the students to not do well on their
assignments, quizzes and tests. Let’s say if we postpone the due dates to 2 weeks after, it will
be helpful for the students to complete their work by given time period. During this period, any
teaching and learning activities should be stopped or done on a minimum scale.
Shasvini: In my suggestion, education officials should argue for the use of other government
facilities or other regions for evacuation instead than universities if permanent evacuation
centres are not available. If universities are to be used as evacuation centres, they should be
able to hold people for longer than a week. They should also insist that students use
classrooms rather than covered courts for their classes, that only the appropriate number of
evacuees be assigned to each university evacuation centre based on available space, safe
water, and other sanitation facilities, and that there be a clear definition of responsibilities and
good coordination between the university authorities and the various agencies involved.
Aside from that, because most of the students' technologies, such as laptops and phones, were
destroyed as a result of the disaster, the lecturers should extend the due dates for assignments,
quizzes, and tests.
Shasvini: Floods can destroy property and automobiles, but this is unavoidable. Furthermore,
losing many belongings to a flood adds financial strains to families. We make certain to donate
to reputable organisations that will transport our donations to the affected area. Food, water,
clothing, and other necessities are examples of items that students can donate.
Pavithra: I also would like to suggest the university student committees to come up a group
of students who can help the victims to give out the necessity items such as clothes, food and
also help them to clean up the victims’ houses. During this time, the victims will have to
handle many things at once, by our students’ help, the victims’ work will be ease. This is also
important for our students as they can learn the impact of flood to one’s family and
significance of unity among people. Thus, anyone from any faculty can join this social work
team and help the victims.
Jeislih: I wholeheartedly agree with Faris's proposals, especially since the flood has taken a
toll in more places than we expected. As previously stated, it will take some time for the
victims to adjust to their new surroundings, as this is not something that can be completed in
a matter of a few weeks because most individuals are financially unable to replace all of
their losses. Not to mention the students whose study plans have been disrupted as a result of
the floods, as their learning materials have been ruined, while they simultaneously deal with
other aspects of the natural disaster.
Shandra: That’s true, do you guys think the cooling off period date will be on 6 March till 6
April around 1 month is enough? This duration may help our student to settle down their
assignment, quizzes, and test. At the same time, I heard that so many students lost their
laptops, notes, and so on.
Faris: counter argue: I disagree with Miss Shandra’s opinion on the cooling off period to
one month as it is too long. The best period of cooling off is 3 three weeks as the one week is
for them to settle cleaning the house such as repainting the walls, cleaning of the mud
and repairing. On the second week is for them replace their damaged goods such as their
electrical appliances and the third week is for them to adjust to their new environment. Other
than that, I also suggested that our counselling department make a hotline toward the
students who are affected by the flood to help them ease their pain. The university should
also extend the time of sending their assignment and quizzes. Lastly, the alternative that the
lecturer can do is record the class beforehand so that everyone can get on board on the
lectures.
Thanosha: Yes, Roma university must propose three alternative solutions to replace the time
used for the cooling-off period including the cancellation of revision week. By doing this
meeting, I hope we will get a cooling-off period.
The announcement on the cooling- off period date
Thanosha: Noted. As we all have been discussed, the cooling-off period for student will be 3
weeks starts from 7th till 27th of march.
Everyone: *Yes, noted*/ *I agree*
Discuss about what happens after the cooling-off period – online class resumption.
Faris: in my opinion, the university should resume with both online and physical class as many
students will still be recovering from the flood incident. Since physical class is also an option,
students whom are not affected by flood can attend physical class as per usual. Other than that,
the lecturers should also prepare beforehand the live recording of class and to those students
who cannot come.
Jeislih: I agree with Faris’ opinion where it can lessen the burden of the students whom are
affected by the flood. This also helps them organize their schedule so that they are not being
rushed to resume their study and this helps with their mental health as students can feel burnout
during this trying times.
Shandra: moreover, this flood can take a huge toll on their money management as they have
to make ends meet. I suggest that we ask the university to provide these students free meals
for a period of 2 months as it can ease their family’s burden.
Pavithra: yes Shandra, this kind of initiative will help the students to sustain their living till
the flood situation gets better. We stand for our students and together we overcome the
situation.
Thanosha: okay, with all these suggestions we should make a report to the head of
faculty through email and will use the Whatsapp application to contact our lecturer on this
issue. With all these great suggestions, we can help our university that is University of Roma
to take further
actions. Thank you everyone for your kind attention. Meeting is adjourned.