The Installation of Mr. Balasundaram’s Sculpture and Unaddressed Community Concerns
Petition Regarding the Installation of Mr. Balasundaram’s Sculpture and Unaddressed Community Concerns
We, the graduates of Union College and other supportees, write to you with a united and heavy heart regarding the recent decision to install a sculpture of Mr. Balasundaram on our school grounds. We respectfully submit this petition to express our deep concerns and to request a thorough review of this initiative.
Updates
March 24, 2025
I have been reading your stories about what this space meant to our community and seeing how much pain this decision has caused. My inbox is full of messages from graduates who feel their experiences are being erased by this installation. I am busy preparing a formal document to present to the administration that outlines these specific objections.
March 24, 2025
Seeing so many of you join this effort has been deeply moving because it proves that my pain regarding this installation is shared by so many others. The momentum building here shows that our community refuses to stay silent about this decision until it is finally addressed.
22 Comments
We need to focus on improving the overall education system and infrastructure to ensure better access to learning tools for all students. Highlighting or promoting a single individual is not appropriate, especially when so many dedicated principals and teachers have contributed to the school's progress over the years. Recognizing just one person overlooks the collective effort and is unfair to the rest. Additionally, as a member of the 1982 batch, I am deeply disappointed that the school did not extend even a condolence message to the family. This lack of basic courtesy is disheartening.
We, as family members of our departed youngest brother Parathan and beloved cousin Suresh, both of whom passed away due to bullying and harassment that happened under the leadership of Principal Balasuntharam. Please investigate this further before installing this monument, as the loss of our loved ones still haunts our family to this day. Thank you.
The problem of putting up this statue has brought back a lot of pain and trauma regarding the loss of these two lives, we have not been able to forget it but we have tried to move on. However, now this statue issue has reminded us of all the pain and trauma we have incurred over the years. These boys were loved by so many of the students and teachers in the school as well as so many people in our town. By putting up this statue now will be dishonouring their deaths and our family trauma and will be bringing this pain up again for us all.
Why school not place idols of All the principals those serve our school union college that's my question What is the procedure to take a decision to commemorate only one principal and celebrate it with a statue Is it right for one or two people to take an undemocratic decision and ask everyone for funding?
Sydney, Australia When the incident happened we were small and didn't know any better. Upon recollection of the events that transpired, hearing the news of the sculpture of a man who caused me and my alumni strife only wants me to speak out for action.
Please do not make any status
I don’t like is a good manor his sculpture in our college premises.
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The Installation of Mr. Balasundaram’s Sculpture and Unaddressed Community Concerns
Petition Regarding the Installation of Mr. Balasundaram’s Sculpture and Unaddressed Community Concerns
We, the graduates of Union College and other supportees, write to you with a united and heavy heart regarding the recent decision to install a sculpture of Mr. Balasundaram on our school grounds. We respectfully submit this petition to express our deep concerns and to request a thorough review of this initiative.
Updates
March 24, 2025
I have been reading your stories about what this space meant to our community and seeing how much pain this decision has caused. My inbox is full of messages from graduates who feel their experiences are being erased by this installation. I am busy preparing a formal document to present to the administration that outlines these specific objections.
March 24, 2025
Seeing so many of you join this effort has been deeply moving because it proves that my pain regarding this installation is shared by so many others. The momentum building here shows that our community refuses to stay silent about this decision until it is finally addressed.
22 Comments
Not all headteachers before had a statue - but were they all deserving? No, just as much as this one. In fact, this headteacher was less deserving than his predecessors. In fact, there would be more negative emotions that would arise from a statue.
We need to focus on improving the overall education system and infrastructure to ensure better access to learning tools for all students. Highlighting or promoting a single individual is not appropriate, especially when so many dedicated principals and teachers have contributed to the school's progress over the years. Recognizing just one person overlooks the collective effort and is unfair to the rest. Additionally, as a member of the 1982 batch, I am deeply disappointed that the school did not extend even a condolence message to the family. This lack of basic courtesy is disheartening.
We, as family members of our departed youngest brother Parathan and beloved cousin Suresh, both of whom passed away due to bullying and harassment that happened under the leadership of Principal Balasuntharam. Please investigate this further before installing this monument, as the loss of our loved ones still haunts our family to this day. Thank you.
The problem of putting up this statue has brought back a lot of pain and trauma regarding the loss of these two lives, we have not been able to forget it but we have tried to move on. However, now this statue issue has reminded us of all the pain and trauma we have incurred over the years. These boys were loved by so many of the students and teachers in the school as well as so many people in our town. By putting up this statue now will be dishonouring their deaths and our family trauma and will be bringing this pain up again for us all.
Why school not place idols of All the principals those serve our school union college that's my question What is the procedure to take a decision to commemorate only one principal and celebrate it with a statue Is it right for one or two people to take an undemocratic decision and ask everyone for funding?
Sydney, Australia When the incident happened we were small and didn't know any better. Upon recollection of the events that transpired, hearing the news of the sculpture of a man who caused me and my alumni strife only wants me to speak out for action.
Please do not make any status
I don’t like is a good manor his sculpture in our college premises.
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Not all headteachers before had a statue - but were they all deserving? No, just as much as this one. In fact, this headteacher was less deserving than his predecessors. In fact, there would be more negative emotions that would arise from a statue.