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05 August 2024 | Story Precious Shamase | Photo Yonela Vimba
commuter lounge Qwaqwa Campus
The new commuter lounge is designed to provide off-campus students with a comfortable and conducive environment for studying, socialising, and relaxation.

The University of the Free State (UFS) Qwaqwa Campus recently celebrated a significant milestone with the preliminary opening of its new commuter lounge. This dedicated space is designed to provide off-campus students with a comfortable and conducive environment for study, socialising, and relaxation.

A diverse crowd gathered to witness the historic event, including university staff and students from the off-campus community.

In his opening remarks, Vice-Principal: Support Services, Teboho Manchu, expressed his enthusiasm for the project. He highlighted the challenges previously faced by off-campus students who lacked adequate study spaces on campus. The new commuter lounge addresses this issue by offering a welcoming environment where students can connect, collaborate, and engage in intellectual discourse.

Quintin Koetaan, Senior Director: Housing and Residence Affairs, shared insights into the journey of bringing the lounge to fruition. He emphasised the collaborative efforts of various stakeholders and expressed gratitude to Coke for its generous sponsorship through the Alumni Office. The lounge also features a laundry facility, a valuable addition for students residing off campus. “Sitting here today really gives me goosebumps, because it is a dream come true for quite a number of people. This student lounge reflects an identity of what it is to be a Kovsie. It reflects us as the university, which is underpinned by the principles of diversity and accessibility. We want to give every one of our students access to a facility they can feel proud of, a facility where intellectual engagement can happen outside of class. This is a dream in terms of Vision 130, which demands of us to create these kinds of spaces that allow for positive interaction to encourage academic success,” expounded Koetaan.

A member of the Student Representative Council (SRC), Potela Zimvo, expressed the SRC’s appreciation for the new facility. He emphasised that the commuter lounge symbolises the university's commitment to inclusivity and support for all students, regardless of their residence status. The lounge is expected to foster a strong sense of community among commuter students and provide a much-needed space for social interaction and academic engagement. “To the university and campus management, thank you for recognising this initiative and providing the necessary resources. We hope that this place will become a central hub for our commuter students and that it will establish a sense of belonging for them. We appreciate the fact that this commuter lounge is equipped with laundry facilities, which will be helpful to our commuter students amid the water and electricity crisis that the Qwaqwa community faces,” said Zimvo.

The official opening ceremony of the commuter lounge is scheduled for later in the year, when it will be officially opened by the Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of the Free State, Prof Francis Petersen. However, the university has decided to make the facility available to students immediately to allow them to benefit from the amenities.

This new commuter lounge is a testament to the university's dedication to creating an inclusive and supportive campus environment for all students. It is a space where students can thrive academically and socially, contributing to their overall university experience.

News Archive

Fire as a management tool questionable in arid and semi-arid grassland areas
2015-03-24

Wild fire in the grassland
Photo: Supplied


The influence of fire on the ecosystem in the higher rainfall ‘‘sour’’ grassland areas of southern Africa has been well established. However, less information is available for arid and semi-arid ‘‘sweet’’ grassland areas, says Prof Hennie Snyman, Professor in the Department of Animal, Wildlife, and Grassland Sciences, about his research on the short-term impact of fire on the productivity of grasslands in semi-arid areas.

Sour and sweet grassland areas can be defined as receiving either higher or lower than approximately 600 mm of rainfall respectively. In quantifying the short-term impact of fire on the productivity of grasslands in semi-arid areas, a South African case study (experimental plot data) was investigated.

“Burned grassland can take at least two full growing seasons to recover in terms of above- and below-ground plant production and of water-use efficiency (WUE). The initial advantage in quality (crude protein) accompanying fire does not neutralise the reduction in half of the above-ground production and poor WUE occurring in the first season following the fire.

“The below-ground growth is more sensitive to burning than above-ground growth. Seasonal above-ground production loss to fire, which is a function of the amount and distribution of rainfall, can vary between 238 and 444 kg ha -1 for semi-arid grasslands. The importance of correct timing in the utilisation of burned semi-arid grassland, with respect to sustained high production, cannot be overemphasised,” said Prof Snyman.

In arid and semi-arid grassland areas, fire as a management tool is questionable if there is no specific purpose for it, as it can increase ecological and financial risk management in the short term.

Prof Snyman said: “More research is needed to quantify the impact of runaway fires on both productivity and soil properties, in terms of different seasonal climatic variations. The information to date may already serve as valuable guidelines regarding grassland productivity losses in semi-arid areas. These results can also provide a guideline in claims arising from unforeseen fires, in which thousands of rands can be involved, and which are often based on unscientific evidence.”

For more information or enquiries contact news@ufs.ac.za

 

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