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03 October 2018
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Story UFS
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Photo Katlego Sekele
Students engaged authorities and Student Affairs
representatives on sexual and gender-based matters.
Do you know enough about the Sexual Harassment, Sexual Misconduct and Sexual Violence policy adopted by the university in June 2018? The Office for Gender and Sexual Equity (GSE) at the University of the Free State (UFS) hosted a dialogue on the role of the institution in matters of sexual and gender-based violence and addressing issues surrounding sexual violations.
Developments such as the countrywide #TotalShutdown: Intersectional Women’s March Against Gender-based Violence last month serve as proof of the dire need for issues surrounding sexual violations to inform policies and active safety measures.
Policy purpose
According to the policy, the objectives are to create a safe and enabling environment, establish a common understanding of what constitutes sexual harassment, sexual misconduct and sexual violence, provide applicable and accurate information, ensure that victims receive the necessary support, clearly outline disciplinary procedures for perpetrators, and clarify institutional accountability.
Student’s take on solutions
Tammy Fray, a member of the Student Representative Council, who formed part of the panel at the discussion, says the policy is not a one-stop-shop solution. “The policy is a guiding document. We have to then use it to inform activist work. We cannot always put the onus on policies and codes of conducts to solve problems. However it is our responsibility within this academic space to come up with solutions that enhance the way the policy works.”
Be informed about the policy
It is important to understand the stipulations of the policy in order to make full use of it. Geraldine Lengau, Officer at the GSE said: “It’s important that students know that the institution is not operating in silos but that their demands have been heard and the institution has acknowledged that there is a need for the policy to be adopted. It also makes the process of reporting better with the assistance of the Sexual Assault Response Team coordinator.”
Judge Deon van Zyl donates prominent collection of legal books to the UFS
2009-12-08
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His Honourable Judge Deon van Zyl, Inspecting Judge of Prisons recently donated his collection history of law books, including valuable editions of Roman Dutch law resources and works on Roman law and history of law to the Faculty of Law at the University of the Free State (UFS). “I trust that this will be of use as aids for research and training in law,” Judge Van Zyl said.
This is the biggest collection ever that the faculty received.
Prof. Johan Henning, Dean of the Faculty of Law says this collection is of invaluable worth for the faculty as well as the UFS. This unique source will enables the faculty to place postgraduate learning and research about the common law on a much higher level. “Without this collection the faculty will have been much poorer,” Prof. Henning said.
Judge Van Zyl made this donation showing his appreciation for what the Faculty has managed to accomplish over the years. At age 26, from 1 July 1971 to 31 December 1973, he was the first Head of and Professor in the Department of Roman Law and History of Law who taught in the Faculty of Law at the UFS.
Photo: Stephen Collett |