The world renowned institution, Cambridge University, sent a directive to the lecturers and tutors, not to shake hands with Muslims or disabled people because it might upset them. This instruction issued on Thursday, from the University Admissions Office irked the academicians. But this was a bid to ensure regular inflow of foreign students by keeping their cultural sensitivity on the foresight. The academicians, who are stalwarts in their domains, felt offended and termed that the university was treating them like `social misfits’.

A directive by the admissions office has warned that some students were culturally sensitive to traditional greetings. It says that `suitable body language’ was just as welcoming, the Daily Express said. The communiqué states, `there is a certain amount of cultural sensitivity relating to handshakes.’

The overall controversies of the stalwarts have been listed below from various media reports just to assess the impact the order has created on the `Academic Dons.’

`It seems to be totally bonkers. We know when to shake someone's hand and when not to. All this seems to be stupid and pointless and could make interviews even more awkward,’ one academic said.

Another said: `This is ridiculous. It would be obvious if someone objected to handshakes and
We would know what to do. We don’t need instructions’

However a spokesperson for Cambridge University clarified the instructions only applied to Muslim women and people with certain disabilities. `Dons should read the situation properly and bear in mind not all people will want to shake hands.’

While Universities and Colleges Union General Secretary Sally Hunt felt academics were `intelligent enough’ to know when to shake a person's hand.  `While I am sure this advice is well intentioned, academics are grown-ups and are intelligent enough to know when to shake a person's hand or not. What matters is that potential students from all backgrounds are made to feel welcome and given an equal opportunity to show their potential.’