Rhodes student behaviour was given the thumbs up at this year’s FNB Eastern Cape Inter-Varsity tournament, after a series of drunk and disorderly incidents marred events in previous years.
Rhodes student behaviour was given the thumbs up at this year’s FNB Eastern Cape Inter-Varsity tournament, after a series of drunk and disorderly incidents marred events in previous years.
Rhodes students had been warned that misbehaviour could result in the end of Rhodes representation at the tournament.
Manager of Sports Administration at Rhodes, Roger Adams, said the students cooperated “exceedingly well,” and that direct engagement with Rhodes staff among students on the stands “worked well both ways”.
Students dropped their books for the weekend and jumped into their overalls, many of which were squeaky clean after students were warned not to display offensive or obscene writing or graphic imagery on their bodies or clothing.
Rhodes Vice-Chancellor Dr Saleem Badat even mingled with students, writing on their overalls as the students continued to drink, smoke and have fun around him.
Four of the province’s universities participated in the sporting event – Fort Hare, Rhodes, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan and Walter Sisulu universities.
Not even a single streaker!
Cliff Hall, the managing trustee of Indlovu Marketing and Advertising said that while it usually takes a few days after the event to establish the “incidents” – if any – student governance and protection services keep a register of these to follow up for possible disciplinary action.
Local organising committee chairperson, Petrus Boukes said, “The Rhodes students’ behaviour was exemplary, very well behaved with not even a single streaker!”
“Congrats to all the Rhodes students, volunteers and others who contributed to the success of the event,” said Hall.
Adams said he is confident that Inter-Varsity will continue in the future. Who gets to host next year’s event is still to be decided between Fort Hare and Walter Sisulu.
The tournament was hosted by Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) in Port Elizabeth.
