Rector joins in march against racial abuse
MORE than 500 Stellenbosch University students attended the “Reaffirming Human Dignity March” last Friday to protest against student discrimination in the town, following last month’s alleged racist attack of three students at McDonald’s in Merriman Avenue.
Holding placards stating “No to Racism”, students of different races, backgrounds and political affiliations marched side by side in silent protest down Victoria Road with their mouths covered in tape. The students’ taped mouths were an ironic symbolic gesture to demonstrate that they would not remain silent when the dignity of fellow students was threatened.
Student Council Representative (SCR) member Faith Pienaar said the march was a reaffirmation of human dignity which is demonstrated in an inclusive society.
She said they had also handed university management a memorandum addressing the fact that the university did not have a discrimination office, a discrimination policy or a discrimination officer.
The mass of students removed the tape in unison at the end of the short march, before being addressed by SCR chairman Stefan Laing at the Conservatorium building.
In his address, Laing said the students had been granted the opportunity to make a decision to stand up for what they believed in, or ignore the reality of fellow students who had been victims of violations of their human dignity.
“Recent events have finally caused the scales to tip and eyes to open to this matter, and today the silence will be broken,” he said.
SCR representative for critical engagements and transformation Sasha-Leigh Williams said incidents like the one at McDonald’s signified the contentious situation at the campus, but structurally the university was trying to make things more diverse.
The march was
Recent events have caused eyes to open
also attended by Sikhulekile Duma, one of the students who was allegedly attacked. ”This march is just the beginning. We want to know from the rector and management what will be done from their side to make a change. This needs to be followed by action,” he said.
The fact that the university’s vice-rector, Professor Arnold Schoonwinkel, also took part in the march with his mouth taped was a positive development for students like Duma. “It shows that the university supports what is being done and is not a case of management against students,” he said.
The rector also addressed students in English, Afrikaans and Xhosa at the Conservatorium building. Schoonwinkel said the university would not tolerate any form of human rights violations or discrimination based on race, gender or any other grounds.
“University management welcomes initiatives by the student community to raise awareness of human rights so that the issue of transgressions may be discussed and transformation processes initiated.”
He added that the transformation process was a practical affair and management would continue the conversation with student organisations collectively, and would embark on projects to promote inclusivity.