Some fixes and new articles

_posts/2013-08-01-the-starry-eyed-baba.md

@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+---
+layout: post
+title: The Starry Eyed Baba
+tags: [wona, column]
+category: almostfamous 
+---
+
+For a long time the Astronomy section, officially recognized as Stargazing section, has lived in the shadows of the other arguably more technical sections. All that seems to have changed now with the section conducting some of the most popular events in the campus and the credit for this is given to the most soft spoken, well natured and non muscular sardar you will ever come across in R, Ashmeet Singh. He is known for his academic brilliance and intellect which landed him
+the prestigious DAAD summer intern, but he is most proud of his work in the ~~Stargazing~~ Astronomy section and he believes Astronomy is not a hobby, it’s a way of life!’ Now it’s time for his real test.
+
+**WONA**: Can you crack a joke?  
+**Ashmeet**: You wouldn’t talk to me again if I did!
+
+**WONA:**  Now that it’s settled, let’s begin the drill. First crush?  
+**Ashmeet:**  I thought this interview would be rather intellectual, but it doesn’t really seem to go that way. It was in my first semester. It never really came out. Her name was Priya. I just liked her entire demeanor and was very impressed. But now I am out of the game!
+(we bet the telescopes helped!)
+
+**WONA:** How did you get your nickname, Baba?  
+**Ashmeet:** In first year we used to gather in the RJB lawn at 9PM for our attendance. I was talking to Kshitij Awadhya about spirituality and about right and wrong; I am a man of principles in that sense. I was explaining something to him, “Kshitij yeh galat hai yaar, aisa nahin hona chahiye, “ and I started giving some fundas about God. At that time someone overheard me, Animesh Mishra probably, and said, ”arey tum toh baba ho yaar!” So that’s the story behind ‘baba’! It became pretty
+popular among my friends, so much so that there was a time when my actual name was completely forgotten. Thankfully it’s back now!
+_(whatever happened to creativity in nicknames, sigh)_
+
+
+**WONA:** What got you into astronomy?  
+**Ashmeet:** It started when I was in class ninth. It was more of a  distraction offered by my mother to get my mind away from cricket as I was a sporty guy playing day and night. She wanted me to be focused towards something more academic and so I joined the astronomy club of my school.
+_(and rest, as they say, is history!)_
+
+
+**WONA:** So whats on your things-to-do-before-leaving-Roorkee List?  
+**Ashmeet:** There are multiple tanks in the campus. I want to climb one some day! The Astronomy club is very close to me, so I would want to make it reach new heights. A few years ago people had this mindset that ‘star gazing toh chill hai’, but my year has worked a lot. I want that whenever people think of astronomy, they think of a very beautiful science and remember that I  contributed to this section. I want to make this difference when I pass out.
+
+ 
+**WONA:** You have a very nerdy image. Have you ever done anything contrary to that?  
+**Ashmeet:** I really can’t think of many, there is one instance though. There was a professor whom I liked very much, but he chucked me out of the class along with some of my friends because we were late. A few of us tried to deflate the tires of his bike with a guard on our side. I am not saying we actually did that.
+  _(yes, of course!)_
+
+  
+**WONA:** Your thoughts about WONA?  
+**Ashmeet:**  I am not into buzz magazines but you are doing a good job. I like the way you spice up things and your interpretation of everything seems cool to me. Moreover, I am really impressed with the way you add wit to stuff.  _(woot!)_

_posts/2013-08-02-placement-rules-iitr.md

@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+---
+layout: post
+title: Where’s The Light At The End Of The Tunnel?
+tags: [wona, column]
+category: bigstory
+excerpt: A look at placement rules and regulations of IITR
+---
+_A look at placement rules and regulations of IITR_
+
+For its self effacing, almost nondescript exterior, the placement cell appears uncannily tall and imposing around this time of the year. Although the exact happenings within the walls of the placement cell remain elusive and delightfully subject to wide conjecture on part of the students, it has not gone unnoticed or unacknowledged that the last few months here have been particularly hectic, frenetic and bustling with activity. Several calls have been made and several mails dispatched.
+While those several companies are still scuffling amongst themselves to lay hands on the coveted train tickets to R land, WONA attempts to uncover the inside of the placement cell, its functioning, its flaws, its policies and the rationale behind them.
+
+## Expectations and beliefs
+Once upon a time, a B.Tech degree was deemed enough. Nowadays, it is considered the bare minimum qualification. For some this leads to Masters in the foreign lands. For some the B.Tech degree is an extra with the IIT tag as they move on to MBA. And for others this is it for now, as they dorn their best piece of suit in their quest to impress the other side of the table. 
+
+IITR’s placement team is composed of students mainly with a professor in charge. So naturally, a lot of blame gets shifted on these students, be it a mishap with the letter sent to a company or in any of the numerous other steps needed, when some of the major companies decide to skip Roorkee. One of the most common demands of the students in R is to have a professional placement agency at the helm of affairs. Many students feel that a professional firm, unfettered by lack of either
+contacts or experience, would translate into a much higher turnout of companies. 
+
+Surely if it were so logical then we should have had one a year ago itself. Dr. N.P. Padhy, professor in charge of the placement cell, says "Students are reluctant to pay Rs 500 for placement cell registration and Rs 100 for soft-skills training. Do you think they will shell-out Rs 20,000 for outsourcing the placement cell?" While the issue of spending 20k can be sorted out by spreading it over the 4 years period, what puts the final, irrevocable damper on the plan is the issue
+of sharing the database with a third party. Dr. Padhy raised a valid issue against outsourcing asking a rhetorical question, what happens when the contract expires with one agency? How will the institute guarantee that a proper database will be handed over to the next one? Turns out outsourcing placement agency’s work isn’t quite the silver bullet.
+
+## Rules and Regulations, and some more rules and regulations
+Even as we find ourselves begrudging the placement cell its very existence with its draconian rules on occasions of an inner conflict between attending the ppt and doing anything but spend two valuable hours on a PPT, the placement team finds it only reasonable that recruiters be offended at a tepid initial response from students. “When a team of recruiters travels all the way from say Bangalore to Roorkee, the least it expects is a good response from students and
+sizeable number of them at the pre placement talk,” says a senior member. While this may be a valid reason, the drastic response taken against offenders of being barred from the next three companies seems to be harsh. IITD uses monetary fines as the deterrent starting from Rs 500 and sum goes up as the number of defaults by a student increases. IITK also follows similar rules.
+
+PPT rules, while irksome, are not the most contentious ones either. Getting selected in multiple A list companies would be a dream come true for many. But with rules of R, this is simply impossible. In R, if two companies release the selection list on the same day and if a student gets selected by both, he is forced to accept the offer of the first one, regardless of the student’s priority. When compared with other IITs, this rule seems unexplainable. In IITD the student gets to choose
+in case of such a situation while in IITM a priority list is taken in advance. Surely we can have a similar model too? 
+
+PPOs present another questionable rule. In case a student rejects a PPO offered to him, he is only eligible to sit for companies that offer a CTC greater than the one that offered him a PPO. What explains such rules as these and whose interests they cater to is rather difficult to fathom for an average student. The placement team, however, seems set unwavering on its stance as is clear from Dr. Padhy’s take on stringent rules- “I will opt for 0% leniency if it helps IITR get one more
+placement.”  Rules and regulations, even ones greeted with skepticism and indignation, are crucial to ensuring a smooth placement climate for now as well as for posterity.  “Rules are often flouted by people who are to be least affected by them, such as those set on pursuing higher studies. The brunt of a company’s displeasure is usually borne by an average student and would persist when you, your batch and I have left and while the system still remains.”
+
+
+## Unsatisfied Students, unsatisfied companies
+People outside the IIT system imagine it to be a place where companies are clamoring to find its new recruits. The situation turns out to be a little different on the inside. Apart from Computer Science, many branches do not see enough core companies turning up to cover majority of the batch. The companies that do turn up for recruitment often remark that the quality of students at R is not at par with other IITs. The apparent contrast in terms of number of jobs offered vs the number of
+students looking for a core job is often blamed on geographical location. This could have been the accepted reason if only IITKgp was facing similar problems. But by the looks of it, they don’t.
+
+Dr Padhy, does not deny that location may only be a small factor deterring companies from recruiting from a campus. It pays to have students trained well in soft skills so they are better armed to face the interviewers with all their fabled quirks and foibles. “Students here are emotional. They do not understand the psychology of the interviewer. They don’t know how to react (to certain situations in an interview). Top professionals in the field have therefore been recruited to
+train students. Efforts are being made to have training sessions every 15 days.” Initiatives like these coupled with initiatives taken by more aware student community could solve the issue of unsatisfied students.
+
+
+## At the end of the day
+Problems are in plenty and the culture in IITR is so that most of the first years are made aware of the situation right after their orientation program, and this maybe the reason behind a general negativity that persists. But on the brighter side, awareness of the problems is the first step in redressal. With Dr Padhy at the helm of affairs, we have heard a lot of reforms are going to announced for next year. Whether they will  be enough and in time for our readers is a question
+that only patience can answer.

_posts/2014-02-05-audegn.md

@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 layout: post
 title: The Story of Audegn
 tags: [edc]
-category: editorial
+category: career
 image: edc/audegn/cover.png
 ---
 
@@ -55,4 +55,4 @@ A. Dedicated client relationship, designing responsibly, designing from scratch,
 *Q. What advice do you give for budding entrepreneurs?*    
 A.  Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted. Money you enjoy wasting is wasted. Save your money and learn the art of Jugaad. Secondly, find time to call back at home or someone who loves you, for things you love and for yourself. It will give you the much needed spirit to carry on. Lastly, think big plus think all the time. I assure you that you will make it happen if your thoughts reflect in your work. Finally, I believe we should believe in what our heart believes. 
 
-Audegn's story is indeed exemplary and Team EDC wishes Sonesh and his team a prosperous road ahead. 
+Audegn's story is indeed exemplary and Team EDC wishes Sonesh and his team a prosperous road ahead. 

_posts/2014-02-05-edc-alumni-talk.md

@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 layout: post
 title: EDC Alumni Interactive Session
 tags: [edc]
-category: editorial
+category: career
 image: edc/alumni_talk.jpg
 ---
 
@@ -26,4 +26,4 @@ The session came to the final round of questions from the crowd, after Piyush Ma
 
 The crowd laughed and the people cheered as the session finally approached to an end. Each of the invited pass-outs was presented with a small memento on behalf of EDC. Anshul Chauhan (B.Arch. 2nd year) hosted the event and delivered the vote of thanks to them.
 
-The event witnessed a very healthy turn-out from the students of IIT R.
+The event witnessed a very healthy turn-out from the students of IIT R.

_posts/2014-02-05-edc-bookshelf.md

@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 layout: post
 title: The Story of Bookshelf
 tags: [edc]
-category: editorial
+category: career
 image: edc/bookshelf.jpg
 ---
 
@@ -34,4 +34,4 @@ A) The idea of starting ‘Bookshelf’ struck me in the third semester. I love
 A) It is more of an initiative than a start up.  Currently, our team comprises of eight members and we circulate around 300 books per semester. We would like to explore more opportunities in the campus and also optimise the reading experience that we provide.
 
 *Q) Any advice you would like to give to the budding entrepreneurs who wish to start a business venture?*    
-A) It is necessary to have a clear idea of what you want in your mind. While planning a business structure, one must maximise consumer information and aim at developing a minimum viable product. This prevents chaos and eliminates uncertainty regarding the product. Coming up with an idea is extremely important, but putting your plan into action is what really helps to bring your entrepreneurial skills to the fore. The fundamental activity of a start-up is to turn ideas into products, measure how customers respond, and then learn to plan your further actions.
+A) It is necessary to have a clear idea of what you want in your mind. While planning a business structure, one must maximise consumer information and aim at developing a minimum viable product. This prevents chaos and eliminates uncertainty regarding the product. Coming up with an idea is extremely important, but putting your plan into action is what really helps to bring your entrepreneurial skills to the fore. The fundamental activity of a start-up is to turn ideas into products, measure how customers respond, and then learn to plan your further actions.