An “incident-free 2010 Inter-Varsity and boat race participation,” was the word from the office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor: academic and student affairs at Rhodes University last week.
An “incident-free 2010 Inter-Varsity and boat race participation,” was the word from the office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor: academic and student affairs at Rhodes University last week.
In a letter addressed to Rhodes staff and students, an update was given on the recent Inter-Varsity tournament which took place in Port Elizabeth, as well as the Universities Boat Race which is held in Port Alfred.
In September 2009, the university council recommended that Rhodes University’s participation in Inter-Varsity be suspended with immediate effect.
This recommendation was precipitated by irresponsible and inapppropriate conduct of some Rhodes students at the 2009 event which had been hosted by Rhodes.
The 2010 editon of Inter-Varsity was therefore used as a test case for future Rhodes participation at Inter-Varsity events, with a task team set up to advise the Vice Chancellor.
The task team set up a conditions list, which if not respected by Rhodes students at this year’s tournament, would result in Rhodes withdrawing from any future Inter-Varsity events.
The Deputy Vice Chancellor’s letter reads: “I am delighted to report to the university community that, following the Inter-Varsity on the weekend of 20 to 22 August 2010, we received a report from NMMU that there were zero incidents involving Rhodes students throughout the event.
The measures implemented to ensure the smooth running of the Inter-Varsity at NMMU were also put to effective use at this year’s boat race in Port Alfred in the weekend of 10-12 September 2010.
The result was the same an incidentfree boat race competition,” said the letter. “I trust that we at Rhodes have now set new standards which, if maintained, will ensure our continued participation in future Inter Varsity and boat race competitions”.
