RHODES |gi|i |P§g ^ÊÊË llflF fjfc: Jggl OLD RHODIAN UNION DECEMBER 1987 Assembly protests senting the University Convocation; chastisedMr publicly for not keeping our regulations John Grogan, on behalf of the Lecturers’house in order? That we have had our Association (RULA) and the Staff Associa­spending money cut for being naughty Despite protest the new measures prop­tion (RUSA); Mr Patrick Tandy, president boys in the Minister’s eyes? What will the osed by the minister of Education andof the Students’ Representative Councilworld’s newspapers and television net­ Culture were imposed in October. Over(SRC); Mr Simphiwe Tshabalala of the works make of this latest inroad?” he 1 000 staff and students gathered in a South African National Student Congressasked. General Assembly in the Great Hall on (SANSCO); and Mr Elijah Ntentile repre­ Dr Gledhill concluded his remarks by October 21 to protest the new regulations.senting the workers. assuring the Assembly of Convocation’s The following statement was read by the Professor Jack Gledhill, speaking on be­ support for the proposed measures and vice-chancellor, Dr D S Henderson. half of the Convocation, said that he rep­for any actions which Rhodes and other “This Assembly of Rhodes University,resented the largest group involved, aboutuniversities might consider it necessary to noting the introduction of non-academic12 000 people spread throughout thetake. conditions for the determination of uni­world. On his frequent travels in foreign I he government conditions require versity subsidies, deplores this interfer­countries, Dr Gledhill commented, hethat university councils take steps to: ence in university autonomy and academicusually met members of Convocation *Preventand wrongful or unlawful interfer­ freedom, involving as it does an unaccept­talked to them. “Not only they, but othersence with, intimidation of, or discrimina­ able imposition of political control on uni­who have no direct connection withtion against students or staff in the pursuit versities. Rhodes, ask me how things are going at of their normal and lawful activities. “Rhodes University accordingly com­South African universities, and Rhodes in*Prevent unlawful gatherings, the prom­ mits itself to: particular” he said. otion of boycotts, support for or encourage­ 1) act with other universities to use allWhereas he had previously had to mentre­ of members of the public to strike or appropriate and lawful means to haveport that things were not very satisfactory,stay away from work, support for civil dis­ these conditions withdrawn; and especially as far as admission of all racesobedience, the printing, publishing or dis­ 2) seek with these universities a commonwas concerned, continued Dr Gledhill, he semination of banned publications and the response to the conditions until such timehad recently been able to say that theycommission of any act endangering the as they have been withdrawn.” were getting better. He was even able to safety of the public. The Assembly was addressed by Dr assure people that there were black stu­ *Ensure that disciplinary steps are taken Henderson, representing the Universitydents at Rhodes as students were admitted against any student or staff member found Council; Professor Malvern van Wykon merit, he said. guilty of intimidation or discrimination, dis­ Smith who represented the University “What pleasure will there be in saying, rupting teaching or research, or taking part Senate; Professor Jack Gledhill, repre­ next time I am overseas, that we have beenin illegal gatherings. The vice-chancellor, Dr Derek Henderson, and the vice-principal, Dr Roux van dec Merwe negotiating with students during protests in April. (See story on page 2). Students at Rhodes are only free to make their protests because the University has fought so hard to maintain its autonomy and indepen­ dence. If we concede this autonomy by une­ quivocally aligning ourselves with a particular point of view, then we have conceded the prin­ ciple of refusing to be dominated by any group and, specifically, we have conceded our right to independence from the State. We are then left with no intellectual defence of our auton­ omy, and the State, if it so chooses, is free to step in and leave no room for any dissent at all. Our University then becomes an instrument of a particular group’s policies, which may not accord with our view of the essential functions of a university. Response to the minister of Education and Culture Writing to parents of Rhodes students in September, Dr Henderson said: “I want to assure you again that Rhodes continues to function efficiently. For the vast majority of students the campus is ‘normal’ and the Uni­ versity is carrying out the tasks for which it was established. “Having said that, let us recognize the ten­ sions and stresses in our country, and that a University like Rhodes cannot expect to escape them - unless it chooses to opt out of its broad­ er educational responsibilities.” Dr Henderson continued by saying that to be worthy of its name, a university must be a place of open enquiry, and provide its students with opportunities to address the realities of the world into which they will be moving. Rhodes University, he said, had accepted that race would not be a criterion in the South Africa of the future, which had led to racial integration A reunion of past and present members of the Department of Economics took place in London in Julyon this campus year. as long ago as 1977. The task of the Pictured in Kensington Gardens in front of the statue of Physical Energy which features in Rhodes’ heraldryUniversity, he said, was to provide education and the Rhodes Memorial in Cape Town, left to right: John Hart (1977) lecturer at the University of Natal,and an opportunity for the future leaders of the Durban; Mark Courtney (Staff, 1973-83) economic adviser at HM Treasury, London; Prof Mike Truucountry to live and work together, to solve prob­ (Staff, 1964-83) professor of Economics at Vista University, Port Elizabeth; Brian Dollery (senior lecturer lems in and gain in understanding. Economics at Rhodes); and Gordon Springett (1977) an accountant in London. The vice-chancellor again reassured parents that the University realized that it could not groups; to give them a chance to live and workfulfil its task if it allowed standards of any kind Student unrest together, solve problems and gain in under­to be lowered. In common with a number of other universitiesstanding. However, we also recognize that this “Rhodes accepts that it cannot be sheltered nationwide, the second quarter of the year processat will not take place without some stressfrom the stresses and strains which are present Rhodes was marked by a series of mass and conflict, which must be handled as even- in the larger society. The problems we have meetings, marches, and protests which led to handedly and constructively as possible. Thesedealt with, and will encounter again in the negotiations between students and the Uni­ problems are part of learning, and part of ourfuture, are part of learning and part of our versity authorities, and between the authoritiesadaptation to a changing South Africa. adaptation to a changing South Africa. Free­ and the police. Serious violence did not occur“Given this acceptance of the need to change, dom of speech, argument, heated debate and and the police were dissuaded on two occasionsRhodes University must nevertheless retaineven protest are inseparable from the total from coming onto the campus. certain standards of performance and of be­ university experience. Rhodes has always de­ In September, in the wake of protests on haviour if it is to be able to carry out its fendededuca­ such freedoms, but it is as important many university campuses, the minister of tiveEdu­ role effectively. If it becomes paralysedthat or they be exercised in such a way as not to cation, Mr F W de Klerk, threatened certain debilitated by conflict, it can serve no one, leastinterfere with those who choose the freedom coercive measures, including a cut in subsidy,of all if those of you who are striving to notattain to a become involved.” matters were not “brought under control”.qualification in an increasingly competitiveThe vice-chancellor assured parents that the Featured here is an extract from a letter sentworld. If the University allows standards toRhodes Disciplinary Code had been and would to students in May by the vice-chancellor, Drdrop D it endangers its future viability; able stu­continue to be quite adequate to deal with S Henderson, in the wake of the events men­ dents will no longer be attracted and, just as problems which might arise. Likewise, Dr tioned above. Copies were also sent to parentsseriously, able staff will leave. Henderson said, academic procedures were of Rhodes students. Also quoted are extracts“Rhodes has recently been pressured to takedesigned to ensure that the primary task of the from a second letter sent by Dr Henderson toa stand in open support of a particular policitalUniversity would be carried out to expected parents of Rhodes students in September, viewpoint, as articulated by certain studentstandards. which dealt with the Minister of Education and organizations. That it has not done so, mustThe University had responded in like vein to Culture’s threatened measures, and the Univer­be seen in the light of the priorities which it has the Minister of Education and Culture, he said, sity’s response. set itself. The University has over the yearsand had pointed out that Rhodes was quite “Rhodes University has in the past consistent­successfully fought to maintain its central com­capable of maintaining order on its campus ly demonstrated its commitment to an open,mitment to the preservation, extension andwithout being subject to the controls proposed democratic South Africa by opposing govern­transmission of knowledge and has maintained by the Minister.