'FS University march racist'

[lsuacner]

http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/Politics/0,,2-7-12_2154255,00.html

Johannesburg - A University of Free State march against "forced integration" was condemned as racist on Thursday by the Democratic Alliance and the SA Students Congress.

SASCO and the DA issued separate statements declaring the Freedom Front Plus-organised march that took place on Wednesday as "backward" and "politics of the cul-de-sac" respectively.

Wednesday's march was organised to protest against transformation policies at the university aiming to increase black representivity at residences next year.

Free State FF+ youth leader Jan van Niekerk said protesters felt there had been insufficient consultation with students and parents about the residence racial quota policy.

He said the policy would make the "strong tradition of residences" disappear and merely become apartments.

He said the new policy would take away power from house committees to select students who would be suitable to the "culture" and "identity" of the residence.

Van Niekerk said the Freedom Front would be pursuing court action against the transformation policies.

The DA leader in the assembly, Sandra Botha said the FF+ should be "ashamed" of the "racist propaganda" it was circulating on campus.

"South Africa has made a lot of progress in the 13 years since our first democratic election but it seems that the FF+ on the campus of the Free State University would much rather see students return to the segregated past which we left behind," said Botha.

SASCO president David Maimela said behind the FF+s call for the protection of culture lay a desire to preserve a group areas policy.

He said currently residences at the university where almost exclusively segregated into black and white.

"Integration is the exception," said Maimela.

He knew that it was only a minority of white students on the campus that supported the FF+ agenda.

On other campuses such as at the University of Pretoria, when transformation policies at residences had been implemented, in fact students had benefited and enjoyed sharing cultures.

Lets face it, taking in new students who do not meet the previously designed criteria, say good in sport or academics will not be an asset to the residence. My gf is in a residence that do not allow you to fail 1 subject, and you have to accumulate a certain number of points through residence activities to be allowed to stay.
This is not racism as white and black people have to meet the same criteria. Racism is when white and black people are judged differently as the new policy would affect.
Why not just build brand new residences, rather than changing a residence culture set down over generations. The new residences, can be inhabited according to new rules and regulations, if it were to become an apartment complex only, so be it.
The residences are so competitive, if there is a deserving girl or guy who happens to be black, people will surely not discriminate against them. In Potchefstroom black people are given preferential treatment in the bid to clear the guilty Afrikaans conscience. They are allowed to stay overdue when they are supposed to leave when not meeting criteria. White kids are just forced to leave.
Furthermore, I don't think the officials understand what it means to have a culture, specific to a residence and what it is they propose to destroy.

 

[Sneeky]

Yay, more nation building.

 

[sox63]

"Culture" my @ss.

This is blatantly racist even the DA is saying it!

 

[Bageloo]

He said the policy would make the "strong tradition of residences" disappear and merely become apartments.

What the f4ck is a 'strong tradition of residences' ?
Aren't those suppose to be temporary accomadation for students whilst they are on campus?

 

[TiredOfWaiting]

Guess some kids just want to stay in school for a bit longer, that's why they choose these residences with "culture" and "tradition"...

Those same kids then go on to represent the disgrace that is the FF+...

 

[lsuacner]

What the f4ck is a 'strong tradition of residences' ?
Aren't those suppose to be temporary accomadation for students whilst they are on campus?

It is exactly that attitude you demonstrate that these people don't want in their residences. If you are not a team player, then you should not impose yourself on to others who are.

A residence is a group of young people, studying and making the most of their 3 years before they start working. It is a time when you leave your parents and other people close to you behind for the new world. In the 3 years spent in a residence the people become your closest friends, you do everything together and they become your family. After graduation the same people help you find a job.

95% of graduates leaving Potchefstroom are employed within a year. Potchefstroom also has the highest percentage of people who finish their degree. Potchefstroom has the strongest sense of community than any other varsity.

As I have seen in this thread, people who have not studied and have not lived in a residence with a real sense of tradition and culture, should rather take their opinions elsewhere as they have no idea what is under discussion here.

 

[sox63]

It is exactly that attitude you demonstrate that these people don't want in their residences. If you are not a team player, then you should not impose yourself on to others who are.

A residence is a group of young people, studying and making the most of their 3 years before they start working. It is a time when you leave your parents and other people close to you behind for the new world. In the 3 years spent in a residence the people become your closest friends, you do everything together and they become your family. After graduation the same people help you find a job.

95% of graduates leaving Potchefstroom are employed within a year. Potchefstroom also has the highest percentage of people who finish their degree. Potchefstroom has the strongest sense of community than any other varsity.

As I have seen in this thread, people who have not studied and have not lived in a residence with a real sense of tradition and culture, should rather take their opinions elsewhere as they have no idea what is under discussion here.

Dude, you ASSUME that we have studied and lived in residences. I studied at TechOVS and it not being far from UOVS, the attitudes are the same.

And I disagree with you when it comes your whole "team" mentality of residences. They are supposed to teach how to interact with different cultures and not just stick to "your" people. My living at Loggies did nothing to alter or diminish my culture. FF+ is just looking for excuses to preserve white only residences.

 

[Omac]

What the f4ck is a 'strong tradition of residences' ?
Aren't those suppose to be temporary accommodation for students whilst they are on campus?

They're the equivalent of the American fraternities (I think), which are inherently discriminatory. This is not a bad thing, until you discriminate based on race.

 

[Slooth]

Dude, you ASSUME that we have studied and lived in residences. I studied at TechOVS and it not being far from UOVS, the attitudes are the same.

And I disagree with you when it comes your whole "team" mentality of residences. They are supposed to teach how to interact with different cultures and not just stick to "your" people. My living at Loggies did nothing to alter or diminish my culture. FF+ is just looking for excuses to preserve white only residences.

If they have standards and someone of colour meets those standards and isn't allowed in; then yes it's a racist decision.

If a decision is taken to do away with those standards and traditions WITHOUT reviewing the process; then yes it's a racist decision and quite frankly stripping down culture.

People who cry "racism" at every possible turn and then try dissolving another’s culture; shouldn't be called racists?

Sox, I believe the culture he was referring too were those made up by the different residences. It's nothing to do with culture based on skin colour, is it all not possible to perhaps entertain the idea that this MIGHT not be racially motivated?

 

[sox63]

If they have standards and someone of colour meets those standards and isn't allowed in; then yes it's a racist decision.

If a decision is taken to do away with those standards and traditions WITHOUT reviewing the process; then yes it's a racist decision and quite frankly stripping down culture.

People who cry "racism" at every possible turn and then try dissolving another’s culture; shouldn't be called racists?

Sox, I believe the culture he was referring too were those made up by the different residences. It's nothing to do with culture based on skin colour, is it all not possible to perhaps entertain the idea that this MIGHT not be racially motivated?

Did you read the article? Nowhere in it does say anything about standards. Here is a snippet:

He said the new policy would take away power from house committees to select students who would be suitable to the "culture" and "identity" of the residence.

Now, you tell me if he is talking about some students academic record?

 

[Gothan]

Never liked uni residences (think I was just to crap at everything to belong to one), and from experiences they do descriminate, but mostly on sport. In potch you would have the one where all the 1st team and 2nd team rugby players belonged too, then you would have one where all the ol army boys belonged too and so on and so on, and they can become rather viscious at times

 

[xtermin8or]

Cornelius Jansen van Rensburg, the National Youth Leader of the FF Plus, said forced integration reduces students to commodities of the UFS which will operate like a "McDonalds' Drive-through", where students register, qualify and they are then out of the door

Hillarious, what else should you do, stick around for the sheltered tradition and culture of the varsity. The FF+ is pissing their pants because now their precious white children will have to share with darkies, agg shame

 

[Bageloo]

It is exactly that attitude you demonstrate that these people don't want in their residences. If you are not a team player, then you should not impose yourself on to others who are.

A residence is a group of young people, studying and making the most of their 3 years before they start working. It is a time when you leave your parents and other people close to you behind for the new world. In the 3 years spent in a residence the people become your closest friends, you do everything together and they become your family. After graduation the same people help you find a job.

95% of graduates leaving Potchefstroom are employed within a year. Potchefstroom also has the highest percentage of people who finish their degree. Potchefstroom has the strongest sense of community than any other varsity.

As I have seen in this thread, people who have not studied and have not lived in a residence with a real sense of tradition and culture, should rather take their opinions elsewhere as they have no idea what is under discussion here.

For God's sake it's only three year of your life...
You have another 40 odd years ahead of you to form fellowships that last.

Things can not remain traditional in the face of transformation. Such traditions are man made and are not cast in stone...
My experience at varsity residence at UND was that everyone minded their own businesses. It sort of prepared one for the real life ahead. In reality you have no fellowship with your next door neighbour (high walls) or work colleagues (high desk partitions) for that matter.
But then again those res's had no white SA students, only international. I suppose they all moved out as soon as the blacks moved in.
A university should rather pride itself on its academic tradition. let them be like apartments so that students can get in get their degrees and get out without much fussing about nothing...

 

[DigitalSoldier]

Hillarious, what else should you do, stick around for the sheltered tradition and culture of the varsity. The FF+ is pissing their pants because now their precious white children will have to share with darkies, agg shame

The FF+ is starting to sound more like the ANCYL. Why aint the FF+ banned yet for supporting racist policies ala Orania

 

[lsuacner]

Dude, you ASSUME that we have studied and lived in residences. I studied at TechOVS and it not being far from UOVS, the attitudes are the same.

And I disagree with you when it comes your whole "team" mentality of residences. They are supposed to teach how to interact with different cultures and not just stick to "your" people. My living at Loggies did nothing to alter or diminish my culture. FF+ is just looking for excuses to preserve white only residences.

I assumed you did not live in a residence (the type they want to protect), I also assumed you were not educated at a university. I was correct.

Culture's are unique to the residence, but I really do not see what benefit I received from going to a black school.
When I walked out of that school I decided to go to a white Afrikaaner campus because I could not imagine another 3 years among people who makes so much noise without ever stopping for a second. In our classes people stay quiet and respect other people.

What is wrong with a white only residence? There are residences which do not represent the white population either. I don't want to be around people who do not share the same interest as I do, who do not like the same music and so forth. A white only residence is fine, it means people with common interests live together. It is not racist, it just makes sense.

Did you read the article? Nowhere in it does say anything about standards. Here is a snippet:

He said the new policy would take away power from house committees to select students who would be suitable to the "culture" and "identity" of the residence.

Now, you tell me if he is talking about some students academic record?

Academic record is also considered, it goes without saying. Academic record counts 75% here for the points you need to get in to the residence.
There are hostels here whose identity is charity work, others do sport, others have specialise in economic sciences. That is the culture and identity referred to. Do not assume it automatically means white or black, that is wrong.

Hillarious, what else should you do, stick around for the sheltered tradition and culture of the varsity. The FF+ is pissing their pants because now their precious white children will have to share with darkies, agg shame

Who cares if black people share your hostel, as long as the people you share with you can be your friends, through common interests. Would you make a Muslim live with a Christian who eats bacon every day? That is just asking for tension to build up.

.

Where I worked there were very close friendships and people did socialise often during work hours. It builds moral and so forth. The residences prepare a person to work together and to get along well. I will not work in a company where I am excluded from everyone else.

The FF+ is starting to sound more like the ANCYL. Why aint the FF+ banned yet for supporting racist policies ala Orania

FF+ has my vote, they are addressing the issues which concern the new victims of the new South-Africa. I think the FF+ support is larger than you imagine, because even though people don't vote for small parties, they do endorse the policy of the party.

 

[Bageloo]

Culture's are unique to the residence, but I really do not see what benefit I received from going to a black school. When I walked out of that school I decided to go to a white Afrikaaner campus because I could not imagine another 3 years among people who makes so much noise without ever stopping for a second. In our classes people stay quiet and respect other people.

You were supposed to get your education and move on...

What is wrong with a white only residence? There are residences which do not represent the white population either. I don't want to be around people who do not share the same interest as I do, who do not like the same music and so forth. A white only residence is fine, it means people with common interests live together. It is not racist, it just makes sense.

Are you saying that you'd be much happier if you did not come into contact with blacks...? If you had your own res, your own school, your own shopping mall, your own bus stops, etc. Wasn't that a typical Afrikaaner mentality that created Apartheid?
Are you racist? Or rather do you find it hard to relate to people of other races? Do you think that your culture or race is better than the rest?

Where I worked there were very close friendships and people did socialise often during work hours. It builds moral and so forth. The residences prepare a person to work together and to get along well. I will not work in a company where I am excluded from everyone else.

Were there black people there? Were you comfortable socialising with them or did you stick to your own kind? if yes, don't you think your so called 'cultured' university had a lot to do with it?

 

[xtermin8or]

What is wrong with a white only residence? There are residences which do not represent the white population either. I don't want to be around people who do not share the same interest as I do, who do not like the same music and so forth. A white only residence is fine, it means people with common interests live together. It is not racist, it just makes sense.

The same thing that is wrong with whites only suburbs, whites only schools, whites only jobs - seems you miss Apartheid way too much

So you only hang around with people who have exactly the same tastes as you, you must lead a very dull existence indeed

 

[TiredOfWaiting]

I assumed you did not live in a residence (the type they want to protect), I also assumed you were not educated at a university. I was correct.

Culture's are unique to the residence, but I really do not see what benefit I received from going to a black school.
When I walked out of that school I decided to go to a white Afrikaaner campus because I could not imagine another 3 years among people who makes so much noise without ever stopping for a second. In our classes people stay quiet and respect other people.

What is wrong with a white only residence? There are residences which do not represent the white population either. I don't want to be around people who do not share the same interest as I do, who do not like the same music and so forth. A white only residence is fine, it means people with common interests live together. It is not racist, it just makes sense.



Academic record is also considered, it goes without saying. Academic record counts 75% here for the points you need to get in to the residence.
There are hostels here whose identity is charity work, others do sport, others have specialise in economic sciences. That is the culture and identity referred to. Do not assume it automatically means white or black, that is wrong.



Who cares if black people share your hostel, as long as the people you share with you can be your friends, through common interests. Would you make a Muslim live with a Christian who eats bacon every day? That is just asking for tension to build up.


Where I worked there were very close friendships and people did socialise often during work hours. It builds moral and so forth. The residences prepare a person to work together and to get along well. I will not work in a company where I am excluded from everyone else.



FF+ has my vote, they are addressing the issues which concern the new victims of the new South-Africa. I think the FF+ support is larger than you imagine, because even though people don't vote for small parties, they do endorse the policy of the party.

You are sadly mistaken if you think that all whites share the same interests and ideals and has the same taste in everything as you do.

Maybe you should open that shoebox you live in and see that there's a world outside of it.

 

[Skeptik]

I've heard some of these residences have been turned into a slum. Students never left when they finished their looooong academic course (after failing a few times) and instead had their families move in with them.

They need to take the bull by the horns and create new rules for those without common decency and common sense.

 

[Bageloo]

I've heard some of these residences have been turned into a slum. Students never left when they finished their looooong academic course (after failing a few times) and instead had their families move in with them.

They need to take the bull by the horns and create new rules for those without common decency and common sense.

Which residences are those ? Can you please be more specific ? Or are you trying to divert from the topic at hand?