A recent editorial in Grocott’s Mail refers to the love/hate relationship that exists between the local community and our students.
At Rhodes, we do indeed love our students and we need them but we also acknowledge that some of them are far from perfect.
A recent editorial in Grocott’s Mail refers to the love/hate relationship that exists between the local community and our students.
At Rhodes, we do indeed love our students and we need them but we also acknowledge that some of them are far from perfect.
Over the three or so years that they are with us, our challenge is to mould them all gently but firmly into the kind of graduate of which Rhodes can be really proud.
Many of these young people are already confident, intelligent, considerate and sensitive, eager to learn and to make the most of the opportunity they have; but sadly some of them are not: they already abuse substances, have strong prejudices and are here only to have a good time.
We at Rhodes are not so keen on students like these, but we accept the challenge of trying to educate them,
so that they will eventually leave as well-rounded graduates who are socially aware, compassionate, and concerned young adults who take responsibility for their actions.
The way the Office of the Dean of Students tackles this problem is, firstly by requiring them to attend an intensive programme of awarenessraising as soon as they arrive.
Our trained residence and Oppidan leadership teams run workshops on various topics and our Drama Department offers interactive shows nightly to shock and provoke them into questioning their values and hidden prejudices.
All students are warned repeatedly that we simply will not tolerate antisocial behaviour of any kind, and we build on this message steadily throughout the year with week-long programmes focussed on responsible drinking, community engagement, human rights, sex-crimes, women’s rights, the environment and more.
Our focus is on academic excellence, and we encourage hard work and reading, but everyone needs to unwind as well.
Because Grahamstown doesn’t offer a whole lot of extramural activities for relaxation and entertainment, we encourage our students to make it happen themselves and they do: our student volunteers work tirelessly in community projects; they devise and implement amazing events such as talent shows, dancing
competitions, sporting competitions and exciting debates.
I invite you to come along and join our students in these activities and see the positive side of the young people who are going to be our leaders one day.
Yes, young people love a party and loud music, but we’ve asked them to be considerate, and not to infringe on the rights of others.
Oppidan students have also been reminded to consider their neighbours and to try to meet with them.
All our students know that they are subject to the law, and will be held accountable for their actions, but a few will disregard all our efforts and will disgrace themselves.
They are a small minority and they make it unpleasant for everyone else, they have too much money to waste and they also seem to have lost their way, academically and socially.
First year students have been warned to not to be like them, and I ask that Grahamstown citizens try not to
judge the whole university by their actions alone.
We are not proud of those students, and will take action against them if they have broken our disciplinary
code. So my request to the local community is: keep a sense of humour and try to enjoy the exuberance
of the 7 000 young people who make Grahamstown their temporary home.
Enjoy their hi-jinks (if you can), benefit from their spending power, but say no to loud, antisocial and yobbish behaviour, and help us make them all into responsible young adults by the time they leave.
Dr Vivian de Klerk is the Dean of Students at
Rhodes University
