Old Rhodians and Friends
We send you this alumni e-newsletter packed with wonderful news and exciting developments – in a brand new design format revamped for your enjoyment! In it you will find a concise picture of how far we’ve reached and are still heading to in 2014. And there’s ample opportunity to click through and engage with the pieces that interest you, via the links below each story.
Thank you for your loyalty to the great Rhodes spirit and Purple Legacy. It thrives through you!
Best Wishes
The Rhodes Alumni Team
Graduation Glory Celebrated!
Grahamstown excitedly boiled over in a glorious cauldron of proud families, jubilant graduates and academic regalia in April; at yet another record-breaking graduation weekend! For three wonderful days, Rhodes’ legendary spirit was lifted even higher, as the greatest ever overall number of students graduated. An extra graduation ceremony had to be added to accommodate 2 367 graduates. As the Vice-Chancellor, pointed out, this year’s new record of 71 PhDs, matches fellow top-tier universities four times our size. No small feat for the smallest university in the country. And this year’s graduation was even more special for Rhodes personnel, who were invited to cap their own children if they were graduating. 19 very proud parents who work on campus took up the offer. An incredible graduation weekend for all!
Full graduation story
Vice Chancellors graduation speech
Proud personnel cap their children
Outstanding South Africans Awarded Honorary Doctorates!
- Nobel laureate, Dr Sydney Brenner; Doctor of Science.
- Author, poet and actress, Gcina Mhlophe; Doctor of Literature.
- Mathematical physics authority, Prof Neil Turok; Doctor of Law.
Their combined contribution to the scientific and creative growth of our nation is beyond measure; and Rhodes is delighted to proudly welcome them into our fold.
Read more here
Exceptional Leaders Bid Adieu and Welcomed!
Dr Saleem Badat
After eight outstanding years at the helm as Vice Chancellor, Dr Saleem Badat will be leaving Rhodes in July. His steady guidance, absolute integrity, fiery conviction and utter belief in education and its ability to change the world, shone a bright light at Rhodes! Now Dr Badat will join the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation in New York as its first Program Director of International Higher Education and Special Projects. We thank Dr Badat, wish him well and look forward to an ongoing association with him in his new position. May he inspire the Big Apple as much as he did a small town in the Eastern Cape that will miss him much.
The process of appointing Dr Badat's successor has begun and we will keep you informed of developments.
Judge Jos Jones
It is with a great sense of loss and gratitude that Rhodes says goodbye and thank you to the chairperson of the Rhodes University Council for the last 18 years. Words cannot express how deeply Judge Jos Jones infused the roots of Rhodes and dynamically inspired its branches to grow. A seminal contribution made by a truly great human being! Thank you Judge Jones!
Mr Vuyo Kahla
It’s also with much excitement that Rhodes welcomes Mr Vuyo Kahla as new chairperson of the University Council. A legal advisor to the highest tiers of government, Group Executive of SASOL and a former SRC president, Mr Kahla is in a unique position to make his own distinctive contribution to Rhodes. We welcome him and look forward to his leadership.
Judge Jos Jones and Vuyo Kahla
Old Rhodians Sculpt Students' Future!
In a year of ongoing record-breaking achievements, 26 Old Rhodian bursaries were given out on the 23rd April – three more than last year. A total of R198 000 was disbursed to deserving students, thanks to the incredible generosity of our Old Rhodians and MySchool supporters.
If you haven’t yet, please join the MySchool program, add Rhodes as a beneficiary and propel the future forward through the Old Rhodian Bursaries Fund.
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A simple click through, gives the gift of endless potential to deserving young people through education. Create this amazing reality for someone who needs it, with minimum effort from you!
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Nominate Distinguished and Emerging Old Rhodians!
We know that you know of Old Rhodians who the University could honour for their actions and achievements. Nominate them for either the Distinguished or Emerging Old Rhodian Awards.
The Distinguished OR Award honours Old Rhodians who have reached exceptional heights in their career over an extended period of time.
The Emerging OR Award honours those who are 40 years old or younger, have excelled early in their career and show potential for continued success. Closing date for nominations is the 27th June 2014.
For nominations, click here.
Students Fire Up the Fundraising for Give5!
Students helping fellow students is the powerful spirit of the annual give5 campaign; run by the give5 Committee, Senior Students and Community Engagement Reps. This year's weeklong campaign in early March garnered a total of over R95 000.00 to assist needy students with basic living expenses. Students' enthusiasm this year was infectious; and every Residence, including our Oppidans participated – successfully extending the campaign to include staff, alumni and businesses; and many events were held to achieve the phenomenal end result. A fiery pinnacle of the campaign was its legendary Fire Walk on the Drostdy lawns which saw 41 students and staff walking over 5m of red hot coals to raise money for their fellow Rhodents.
Give5 Fire Walk YouTube
Competition to raise the most money was fierce, but Hobson Hall was awarded the give5 Trophy and Prince Alfred House won a TV sponsored by Pick n Pay. A huge thank you goes to all the businesses that sponsored prizes and donated money! Here, special mention goes to GBS Old Mutual who challenged the give5 Committee to keep raising money and rewarded them by generously donating R10 000.
Give5 2014 web page
College House Celebrates Its Centenary!
The weekend of 12 to 14 September will roar with the splendid spirit of Collegians celebrating a century of their renowned residence. A dynamic program of activities is planned at Rhodes, with various accommodation options available for celebratory returnees. If College House is where you spent some of your university years, this will be a very happy return indeed! Add new celebrations to your old memories and join us for an inspiringly fun-filled weekend!
Centenary Homecoming Weekend Invitation
Old Rhodians In Print and Online!
From Wasps and bees in southern Africa, to Wildflowers of the Central Highlands of Namibia; The Ultimate Companion for Birding in Southern Africa, The Baronet and The Matabele King, The Courage to Begin Again, The Analects Of Confucius and The Hurrying Stone; Old Rhodians have been generating breathtaking literature, available in print and online. And the examples above are just a taste of the incredible books available. Click below and happily explore our physical and electronic bookcases.
Latest Books Donated to the OR Authors' Bookcase
Access our growing collection of Old Rhodians' e-books here
The Purple Legacy Thrives On!
Purple Thursdays have become a weekly blaze of a single colour with many hues at Rhodes - symbolizing our unity and combined energy. Now this fantastic trend is taking hold off campus, around the country too. Recently a Purple Thursday get together was organised by the Old Rhodian Golf Club in Johannesburg; and we hope that this ignites further sparks for similar seminal events throughout the year. Anyone interested in attending or organizing a Purple Thursday Evening, please e-mail t.mccarthy@ru.ac.za.
Alumni young and old, please join the purple party!
In the meanwhile, please see below for details of the amazing alumni reunions and events held last year; and save the dates for what’s still in store for 2014.
Reunion time approaches and 2014’s promise to be the best ever!
2013 Events
2014 Events
A History of Rhodes University
Emeritus Professor Paul Maylam is researching the history of Rhodes University from its founding in 1904 until recent times. He would be delighted to receive any personal Rhodes memories or reminiscences; as well as recollections or comment on particular episodes - positive and negative - in the history of the university. He is particularly interested in personalities (staff and students) who were notable for their achievements or involvement – scholarly, cultural, political, sporting - or perhaps for their eccentricity or quirky character; both during their time at Rhodes or periods thereafter. Any private papers that might throw light on university life would also be most welcome. Prof Maylam can be contacted by email at p.maylam@ru.ac.za, or through the Department of History, Rhodes University, PO Box 94, Grahamstown 6140.
Annual Fund 2014
Our main focus for the Rhodes Annual Fund 2014 remains student financial aid, to fill the shortfall in financial aid requirements. Last year the Annual Fund raised R780 000.00 and our Gala Fundraiser in Johannesburg raised an additional R210 000.00. Thank you to all our generous and caring people who unselfishly give so much to support the Rhodes Annual Fund. You are amazing!
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One of our young graduate's, Xolani Nyali, used the following quote by Steve Biko to explain why he donates to Rhodes University. "Great powers of the world may have done wonders in giving the world an industrial look, but the great gift still has to come from Africa - giving the world a more human face." Steve Biko
Read a magnificent piece written by Xolani on his rationale for donating here
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A Final Fond Farewell!
After 14 phenomenal years of working at Rhodes, Sharon Tweddle is moving onto a wonderful new chapter in her life. A friend to all alumni, a bedrock of this department and original initiator of the alumni newsletter, we thank Sharon for her dedication and inspirational work at Rhodes. Sharon, we wish you well in your well-deserved beachside adventures!
Always Connected Through Purple Power
Thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter. It’s just one more way we use the power of purple to connect with you. But you don’t have to wait for the next edition to stay connected. The links below give you all the ongoing access you need and more!
General RU News
Alumni in the News
USA Trust Web Site
UK Trust Web Site
We look forward to seeing you soon in person at our reunions and events. Please remember to send in your new contact details to alumni@ru.ac.za if they have changed, to ensure you're invited to the events held in your area.
Together let's keep the Rhodes spirit and Purple Legacy alive!