The new senior residence at the Tygerberg campus was recently named Huis Ubuntu House.
"Ubuntu means humanity and humanness, and refers to how we are interwoven and how our actions influences others – so we have to ensure that the influence we have on others and the environment is positive and constructive," said FHMS dean, Prof Jimmy Volmink, at the official naming.
According to him there is evidence that a name can influence behaviour and he hopes that Huis Ubuntu House will cultivate a sense of community and goodwill among its residents.
"We consider Huis Ubuntu House to be a very suitable name for our senior residence – a res on a campus rich in diversity on all levels, where we put people first and where we create an environment where every student and staff member feels comfortable in every part of their being," said Prof Volmink.
"The name is also inclusive in that it contains all three the official languages in the Western Cape Province, Afrikaans, Xhosa and English," said Prof Volmink.
The naming process was approached via a competition where students could submit proposals through an online survey. A total of 49 proposals, with their accompanying motivations, were submitted, and Huis Ubuntu House was put forward twice.
Building of the new residence started in 2012 and students have been living there for the past 18 months. The residence consists of 150 single rooms and also has a recreational area that can accommodate around 200 students.
View more photos of the event on the FMHS Facebook page. Click here.
Photo: Mr Eben Mouton (FMHS Director: Business Management), mr Pieter Kloppers (Director: Centre for Student Structures and Communities) and FMHS dean, prof Jimmy Volmink unveil the new name.
