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11 September 2024
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Story Anthony Mthembu
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Photo Anthony Mthembu and Chelsea Carolus
From the left: Geraldine Lengau, Senior Officer in the Unit for Institutional Change at the UFS; and Oratile Reina, West College Prime.
As part of the initiatives lined up for College Week, the student leaders of West College at the University of the Free State (UFS) hosted a dialogue that primarily focused on discussing social justice as a value of Vision 130. The dialogue was held at Outeniqua Residence on 3 September 2024 and was well attended by students within West College.
According to Oratile Reina, West College Prime, “the motivation for the dialogue was to prepare newly elected leaders and our college community to align their efforts with Vision 130 – a vision that aims to create a more inclusive, equitable, and socially just environment on campus”. As such, she highlights that the dialogue was an opportunity for leaders to discuss practical strategies for implementing these values in their respective spaces, and to encourage those in West College to become better citizens inside and outside the university.
A conversation on social justice
The dialogue was facilitated by Geraldine Lengau, Senior Officer in the Unit for Institutional Change and Social Justice at the UFS. Lengau touched on several aspects pertaining to the topic of discussion. Firstly, she allowed the audience to give their definition of social justice, especially as students within the institution. In addition, she went on to talk to the audience about sexual assault in the context of social justice. In this instance, Lengau gauged whether the students knew which processes to follow in the event of a sexual assault incident, and whether they were acquainted with the UFS Sexual Harassment, Sexual Misconduct, and Sexual Violence Policy. Furthermore, the audience was given the opportunity to outline what social justice looks like to them in the spaces they occupy, including in their respective faculties, the sports they play, and the leadership structures they form part of. “I was encouraged to see that students take their right to a socially just university in very high regard, and that they were willing to break it down from what Vision 130 proposes, in order to align it with their common understanding,” said Lengau.
As the dialogue concluded, the audience signed a pledge committing to uphold the values of Vision 130. According to Reina, “The pledge represents a promise to take concrete steps towards fostering an inclusive and equitable campus culture. By signing the pledge, the leaders are not only agreeing to embody these principles in their leadership roles but are also holding themselves accountable to their peers and the broader university community.”
South African universities: Political flashpoints or centres of academic excellence?
2009-02-11
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Joint statement by the Convocation of the University of the Free State (UFS) and The South African Academy for Science and Arts
Are South African universities political flashpoints or centres of academic excellence? This is the theme of an international symposium that will be presented on 26 and 27 February 2009 by the Convocation of the University of the Free State (UFS) in collaboration with The South African Academy for Science and Arts on the Main Campus of the UFS in Bloemfontein.
Several renowned speakers such as Prof. Fernand de Varennes (of the Murdoch Law School, Perth, Australia), Prof. Stef Coetzee (former rector of the UFS and presently the executive director of the Afrikaanse Handelsinstituut (AHI)) and Dr Franklin Sonn (chancellor of the UFS) will take part in the discussion. Matters like diversity, transformation and conflict management, alienation, tolerance, conciliation and solutions will be debated. Members of the Convocation and the Academy are invited to attend and take part in the discussion.
The symposium commences on Thursday, 26 February 2009 at 19:00 in the Centenary Complex with a reception and opening address by Dr Sonn. On Friday, 27 February 2009 from 08:00 the discussion of the theme takes place in the Senate Hall, CR Swart Building. The proceedings are expected to last until 17:00.
A complete list of the speakers and the titles of their addresses are available on request.
Due to limited seating interested persons are advised to confirm their attendance with Ms Kathy Verwey at 051 401 9343 / verweyke.stg@ufs.ac.za .
Full programme
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SA Universities: Political Flashpoints or Centres of Academic Excellence? – 26-27 February 2009
P R O G R A M
Chairperson: Judge Joos Hefer
Sponsors: The Centre for Financial Planning Law UFS
The Kovsie Alumni Trust
Thursday 26 February
19:00 Welcome: Judge Joos Hefer (President Convocation UFS)
19:10 Welcome: Prof. Theuns Verschoor (Acting Rector UFS)
19:20 - 19:50 Dr. Franklin Sonn (Chancellor UFS)
19:50 - 20:20 Mr. Dave Steward (Executive Director, F.W. de Klerk Foundation)
20:25 Reception
Friday 27 February
08:30 - 09:10 Prof. Fernand de Varennes (Murdoch School of Law)
09:10 - 09:20 Discussion
09:20 - 09:50 Prof. Stef Coetzee (Former UFS Rector)
09:50 - 10:00 Discussion
10:00 - 10:20 Interval
10:20 - 10:50 Prof. Annette Combrink (Rector, NWU, Potch-campus)
10:50 - 11:00 Discussion
11:00 - 11:30 Prof. Pieter Kapp (President, Convocation, US)
11:30 - 11:40 Discussion
11:40 - 12:10 Mr. Sean Moodley (CEO, Desmond Tutu Diversity Trust)
12:10 - 12:20 Discussion
12:20 - 12:50 Dr. Dirk Hermann (Deputy Executive Head: Development, Solidarity)
12:50 - 13:00 Discussion
13:00 - 14:00 Lunch
14:00 - 14:30 Prof. Marlene Verhoef (Director Institutional Language Directorate NWU)
14:30 - 14:40 Discussion
14:40 - 15:10 Dr. Danny Titus (Executive Director: Culture ATKV)
15:10 - 15:20 Discussion
15:20 - 15:50 Interval
15:50 - 16:20 Prof. Hennie van Coller (Head Dept. Afrikaans, Dutch. German and French UFS, Chairperson SA Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns)
16:20 - 16:30 Discussion
16:30 General discussion: Dilemma or opportunities?
17:00 Close
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Statement by:
Judge Joos Hefer
President of the Convocation
Tel: 051 436 1843
Cell: 083 630 1395
E-mail: jjfhefer@telkomsa.net
Prof Jacques van der Elst
Chief Executive Officer
The South African Academy for Science and Arts
Tel: 012 328 5082
Cell: 082 8807636
E-mail: jvde@akademie.co.za
Media Release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Assistant Director: Media Liaison
Tel: 051 401 2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl.stg@ufs.ac.za
10 February 2009
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Dr Franklin Sonn,
Chancellor of the University of the Free State.
Photo: Leonie Bolleurs |
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