After a tumultuous week at Stellenbosch University (SU), Rector and Vice Chancellor Prof Wim de Villiers received a standing ovation at the institution's annual Student Leaders' Conference (SU Leads) Sunday afternoon (6 September 2015).
"Who better than our student leaders to help SU have the honest and difficult discussions so sorely needed," De Villiers said in his opening address (CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD ON PDF).
This is the 7th SU Leads conference, with SU's Frederik Van Zyl Slabbert Institute for Student Leadership Development (FVZS) as organiser. It is attended by student leaders across the University, and ends on Tuesday (8 September).
De Villiers's speech comes in the wake of the Luister-video – linked to the Open Stellenbosch grouping – in which black students speak about their experiences of racial discrimination. They also criticise the University's language policy, saying that they are excluded by the use of Afrikaans in lectures.
"It was painful for me to watch," De Villiers said.
"I do not want any of my students to suffer. I am not going to defend the indefensible – discrimination, marginalisation and racism. It is wrong, and I am sorry it happened. It needs to be addressed.
"However, I can say without a doubt that SU is not a racist institution. We are working very hard to become more inclusive and welcoming in practice, but there seems to be a gap between our sincere intentions and the reality experienced by some."
"We have reached a crucial moment in the history of Stellenbosch, and we all need to contribute to solutions. And who better to help guide this process than our campus leaders? There are a number of established structures and elected bodies such as the SRC that can take the conversation forward."
De Villiers warned against divisions. "We must avoid polarisation at all costs. If the different sides demonize the other, compromise becomes more difficult. We have to reach out to each other in the search for common ground instead of retreating to 'us' and 'them' camps."
De Villiers added that all individuals on campus have to assume 100% responsibility for creating the truly "inclusive, innovative and future focused" institution envisaged in SU's vision statement.
Dr Leslie van Rooi, Head of the FVZS Institute, said that student leaders will be challenged at this conference to reflect on the role they can play – not only at SU, but also in the world they will enter as graduates.
"We have already seen that students ask different kinds of questions. I urge you to be willing to talk. Do not tap out when things get difficult. Be part of the conversation so that you can help lead not only yourself but others as well."
- CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE RECTOR'S SPEECH ON PDF.
