Vice-Chancellor Dr Saleem Badat last night welcomed the new first years, and their parents, to Rhodes University. With a characteristic blend of humour and seriousness, Dr Badat outlined the purposes of a university, and then, more specifically, what the new students can expect from Rhodes University and, in turn, what Rhodes expects from them.
Dr Badat began by expressing his great admiration for the first years, who represent the most intellectually talented of our society. He outlined for the audience the three main purposes of a University; firstly, to produce knowledge, thereby advancing understanding of the world around us and enriching our scientific and cultural heritage.
The second purpose is to disseminate knowledge. A university education should equip you to think imaginatively and critically while gaining depth of knowledge in a chosen field, and train you to communicate your thoughts cogently. The final purpose of a University is community engagement. As a Rhodes student, Dr Badat said, “You commit yourselves to the pursuit of knowledge and understanding, as a vital means to self-betterment and the betterment of humankind.”
Dr Badat then moved on to outlining the features which make Rhodes such a special place. The smallest university in South Africa, there will be just 7 390 students here this year, giving the university the feel of a community rather than merely an institution. And this community celebrates diversity, with over 40 countries represented by students and staff on campus.
Rhodes has a strong postgraduate student body, creating a pool of excellent tutors and mentors, who will hopefully inspire the desire for further study in today's undergraduates. The staff to student ratios are extremely favourable, and Rhodes has the best undergraduate pass rates and graduation rates in South Africa.
Rhodes students regularly win prestigious scholarships, and in 2010 Rhodes dominated the new Mandela Rhodes Awards, taking 15% of the scholarships despite having only 0.8% of the country's student population.
Five messages were strongly conveyed to the first year students by the VC. Firstly, he stressed in the strongest possible terms that there are no first class and second class citizens at this university. At Rhodes, everyone is treated equally and equitably. Conduct, relationships and responsibilities are guided by the values of the South African Constitution and Bill of Rights. Everyone at the University, from students to academics to cleaners and garden staff, is entitled to respect and dignity.
The second message was equally as important. Addressing the men in the audience, Dr Badat forcefully drove home the point that “despicable, violent and inhumane” conduct against women has absolutely no place at Rhodes, and will not be tolerated under any circumstances whatsoever. Appealing to the women in the audience, Dr Badat asked that they have the courage to report any such abuse, and to have complete confidence that the University will take action against the perpetrator/s.
Messages three and four dealt with initiation practices, which are strictly prohibited and illegal at Rhodes, and with excessive alcohol consumption, an irresponsible practice resulting often in disciplinary action.
Finally, Dr Badat asked the new students to appreciate that reading for a Rhodes University degree is demanding, and that academic studies need to be taken very seriously to avoid exclusion at the end of the year. However, he assured them that there will still be many opportunities for having a good time. University life is, he said, a matter of striking a balance between academic responsibilities, sport, cultural activities and a social life. Get the balance right, and these university years will be among the best in your life.
Speech click here