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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.”
NBC tells Wayde’s story
2015-11-02
 The film crew from NBC Olympics
filming Wayde van Niekerk (centre, in grey clothes)
during a practice session at Pellies Park on the
Bloemfontein Campus of the UFS.
On the left is Ans Botha, Van Niekerk’s coach.
Photo: Charl Devenish |
The Kovsie star Wayde van Niekerk stands an excellent chance of shining at the 2016 Olympics and has a remarkable story behind his success.
This is why NBC Olympics, a division of the American broadcasting network NBC, selected the athlete from the University of the Free State (UFS) to do a special insert for the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
A film crew from NBC visited the City of Roses and the Bloemfontein Campus of the UFS on Monday 26 and Tuesday 27 October 2015 to film the insert. The feature will be screened on NBC Olympics’ platforms during and leading up to the Olympics next year.
One of four stars
Van Niekerk was one of four athletes used by the crew to film inserts on. The others were the South African swimmer Chad le Clos, the Kenyan 800 m athlete David Rudisha, and Ethiopian middle- and long-distance athlete Genzebe Dibaba.
The crew interviewed Van Niekerk and his coach Ans Botha, and also paid a visit to Pellies Park during one of his training sessions.
According to Tom Davidson, feature producer at NBC Olympics, the piece about Van Niekerk will be about three minutes long.
“We do a pretty good job of picking good stories, but it is up to the athletes to get there,” Davidson said.
“We think Wayde has a good shot at being in the finals of the 400 m at the Olympics.”
Van Niekerk won a gold medal in a time of 43.48 s at the World Championships in Beijing during August 2015 and set a new South African record for a third time and a new African record for a second time this year in the process.
Beijing success propels Wayde onto NBC radar
“Wayde’s performance in Beijing certainly propelled him onto our radar,” said Davidson.
“He beat former World and Olympic champions like Kirani James and LaShawn Merritt.”
He feels that Van Niekerk is also very young and still at university.
And Botha makes his story even more interesting.
“It is not every day that you see a 74-year old great-grandmother coaching a world champion.”