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01 December 2022 | Story Lacea Loader | Photo iFLAIR Photography

During its meeting on 25 November 2022, the Council of the University of the Free State (UFS) unanimously approved the name changes of five residences on the Bloemfontein Campus. 

The UFS Institutional Transformation Plan (ITP) states that a transformed university in South Africa will be one that strives for social justice in everything it does. It will be an institution where its diverse people feel a sense of common purpose and where the symbols and spaces, systems and daily practices all reflect a commitment to openness and engagement. 

“It is in this context that the names and symbols of all 36 residences on the Bloemfontein Campus have been reviewed to ensure that the institutional culture and spaces contribute to an inclusive sense of belonging. The process was started in 2021 through the university’s Naming Committee,” said Prof Francis Petersen, UFS Rector and Vice-Chancellor. 

Subsequently, a process was launched for the review and adjustment of the names of several residences on campus. The recommended name changes express the university’s commitment to courageously grapple with its shared past, present, and future. They are informed by the (2020) Naming and Renaming Policy, which “recognises that the names bestowed on its assets must sustain a harmonious balance between descriptive functions, the university’s origins, the rich history and heritage of the UFS, and the constitutionally democratic society it is designed to serve”. 

As such, the following name changes were approved by the UFS Council:

“The renaming process of the five residences included a variety of activities, all of which focused on building and implementing an engagement and consultation process with the various stakeholders and role player communities,” said Prof Petersen. 

During the renaming process, an important approach of the Naming Committee was to balance the social justice and multilingual agenda of the UFS. Therefore, the languages used in the renaming process reflect not only some of the languages spoken at the UFS (i.e., English, Sesotho, Afrikaans, and isiZulu), but also languages such as isiXhosa, Kiswahili and the use of a name that draws on the national motto in ways that recognise the Khoisan heritage of the Free State and South Africa. 

“The renaming process is an important milestone for the UFS as it symbolises and celebrates the courage and vision of the university community for its commitment to transformation and for participating in a process which aims at producing a names and symbols environment in which all can experience belonging,” said Prof Petersen. 

During the Council meeting, the Naming Committee was thanked for the work done and for the balanced approach to the process of renaming the residences. 

News Archive

National Astronomy Symposium at Boyden
2006-08-29

The Astronomical Society of Southern Africa (ASSA) will hold its 7th National Symposium at the Boyden Observatory, Bloemfontein from 28 - 30 September 2006.

The event is being organised by the Bloemfontein branch of ASSA in association with Boyden Observatory, which is linked to the Department of Physics at the University of the Free State (UFS).

Registration is open to the public. The symposium affords interested persons the rare opportunity to get behind the scenes of Southern African astronomy and to attend presentations by speakers such as Prof. Phil Charles (SAAO),  Dr. Adrian Tiplady (SKA/KAT),  Dr. Patrick Seitzer (University of Michigan, USA), Prof. David Block (WITS) and Tim Cooper (ASSA).

60-inch UFS Boyden reflector telescope. Photo: Hannes Calitz

An exciting program awaits participants. Various demonstrations and presentations relating to some of the latest developments in amateur astronomy will be presented.

The Symposium will include an "astronomy presentation workshop" where a national astronomy presentation competition will be launched.

A special tour of the facilities at the Boyden Observatory will take place on Thursday evening, 28 September, and participants can see astrophysical research in action when they are shown one of the three large operational optical telescopes in Africa.

Join professional and amateur astronomers from all over the country on Friday evening, 29 September, for a memorable dinner to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Friends of Boyden, to be held at Kopano Nokeng Lodge.

Bloemfonteiners are especially encouraged to make use of this unique opportunity.

 For more information and a registration form visit:

Web: www.assabfn.co.za/symposium2006


 

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