UCT students fight back
Thousands call for campus to open next week
THOUSANDS of students and staff heeded a call to sit down for an hour and read in silence on the steps of the University of Cape Town (UCT) upper campus yesterday.
Behind them was a banner stating “Keep the doors of learning open”. They have one demand: that UCT should be open on Monday October 3.
A few minutes after the silent protest began‚ a group of about 100 #FeesMustFall protesters‚ who earlier had been protesting outside the university administration offices‚ marched up the steps and stood in front of the bulk of the silent protesters. They sang and made speeches through a megaphone‚ insisting that the university cannot open next week.
The atmosphere remained calm. The #FeesMustFall protesters left after about a half-hour.
Saif Khan is a third-year science student hoping to graduate this year‚ and one of the organisers of the silent protest.
“The aim is not to go against the [#FeesMustFall] protests. We want campus to start on 3 October. We want management to resolve this.”
Before the silent protest began‚ he said he hoped the #FeesMustFall protesters would join the silent protest and for all students to communicate with each other. “We want students who haven’t had a voice to come and express themselves‚” he said.
Most of UCT was closed this week because of the #FeesMustFall disruptions There is a growing call by UCT students and staff for the institution to open on Monday and for the academic year to complete.
Earlier this week the science faculty held a poll. About 80% of those who participated wanted the university to remain open. Fewer than 10% of respondents voted against reopening (More voted for “unsure”).
More than 100 students in the law faculty have signed a petition calling for the university to stay open.
The petition states: “Those of us who cannot afford to remain in Cape Town beyond 2016 will not be able to finish their studies. Students’ employment or postgraduate opportunities in 2017 will be jeopardised. The process of having to delay exams‚ or re-learn material‚ will cause immeasurable stress and anxiety for students.
For these reasons‚ we object to postponing indefinitely the academic year. We demand that lectures and other academic activity resume by no later than October 3 2016. We will refuse to accept the cancellation of the academic year.” — TMG Digital/GroundUp