This week began with the sad news of the passing away of three young lives at our University in unrelated incidents of the past weekend. The commonality of these heartbreaking events though, is that they happened in student residences. A space where young people are supposed to be honing, ameliorating, cultivating and sharpening their capabilities and values of ethos of civility, humaneness, co-existence and solidarity as living and learning communities; and as conscientious active citizens of the future imbued with the tenets of egalitarianism and collective development.  

I cannot imagine the trauma and pain that the parents, families, fellow students and friends of the deceased as well as the academy and the professional staff are going through. No parent sends their children to University expecting to hear of their premature demise and I hope the law enforcement agencies and the university will work together in undertaking due process and where appropriate, ensure that justice is done. On this score, I send my deepest condolences to the families of the three students whose lives were untimely cut short.

This unprecedented painstaking occurrence at our university calls for the leadership (in its broad and collective sense) of the university to be more alive to the enormity of the challenges which lie ahead. This entails working harder and more collaboratively with a strong sense of renewal, especially on our daily practices, which we sometimes take for granted, to ensure that incidents of this nature are prevented in future.

A change in culture and other irrelevant practices are usually occasioned by deep and candid reflections inspired by courage of a community out of a difficult situation and thus obviating a further drift. It is against this backdrop that I think the University and the student community must have a serious conversation about improving the social aspects of student life and the values and ethos that must underpin it. We need to converse about the practices that we need to continue that enhance student life and those that need to be eliminated because they are an anti-thesis to the value system and the kind of graduate we want to produce as Mandela University. Part of this should be a collective agreement on non-negotiables. What are those things that are intolerable to all of us as a community? The University will continue to conscientise and apply a zero tolerance towards drug abuse. Part of the focus will be heightened support system to students who have mental health challenges and other psychological issues that our students might be going through on their own. There is a need to review the provision and consumption levels of alcohol at our student events. This is going to be a difficult but necessary discussion that must be robustly engaged in collectively.  

The context of this conversation should be the changing nature of our society and the extent to which this has an impact on the transition from the schooling system to the post-schooling one. Consequently, how does this influence the nature and quality of student life at our institutions? Therefore, we need to examine the macro social forces that young people face in their transition to adulthood. Specifically, the fragmented communities where our students come from and the kind of future they aspire to, not seem to have positive impressions as far as their socioeconomic indicators are concerned.

I think effort and priority must be placed on this challenge and programmatic work in interrogating these social factors must begin urgently.

On the other hand, these recent events also indicate the determination needed from our side to improve student life experiences for those living and visiting our off-campus residences. Expertise, urgency, vigilance, hard work, and foresight in the administrative and management of our off-campus environment will be central in refining and refocusing student life in this living and learning space.

Globally, no university based in a city with the majority of its students residing in it can take for granted its active role in the urban renewal reconfigurations of the space and its political micro-economy.  The work we are doing in collaboration with the city to fashion a student hub is ongoing albeit slow. The creation of a conducive environment for living and learning in the city centre and surrounds remains our priority, but can only be realised if it is a shared priority with the city and its stakeholders.

The inculcation of the values and a culture of tolerance, respect and freedom from violence at our University is a collective responsibility.

The Division of Student Life and Development will take a lead in driving a conversation that will result in a joined up action to ameliorate the social aspect of our student life.

Our task is to cultivate critical thinkers who love life and wisdom. We owe this to the three and other departed students. It is our collective responsibility.

 

Akuhlanga lungehlanga luhlanga!

Le! yinto yalonto!

May Their Souls Rest In Peace

 

Luthando Jack

Dean of Students

 
Posted on 14 October 2019 10:53:57


Current rating: 0 (0 ratings)

Trackback URL: https://studentaffairs.mandela.ac.za/trackback/4a809f65-fa48-4a9e-841b-b8f215c84e92/We-Pay-Homage-to-our-three-fallen-students-Lessons-for-the-future-of-student-life-(Vol-1,-No-22).aspx?culture=en-GB

Comments
Blog post currently doesn't have any comments.

Bookmark this page:Add to Twitter Add to Facebook Add to Reddit

This blog is about

This platform serves as a reflective, discursive and connecting space between myself and the entire student community of our beloved university. Through this platform, we converse with our students and broader stakeholders on all matters of student life, wellbeing and development at Mandela University.

Luthando Jack, Dean of Students