Prof Wim de Villiers, SU Rector and Vice-Chancellor, said the official welcoming ceremony was important because it helps to shape newcomers' sense of what university life will be like.
“I believe an event like this plays an important part in giving our new students a sense of identity; a sense of what it means to be a Matie," said De Villiers.
Both De Villiers, and Phiwokuhle Qabaka, the Student Representative Council's (SRC) Chairperson for 2024, emphasised the importance of embracing SU's values to use as a roadmap for their time at University.
“Excellence, compassion, accountability, respect, equity. Use these five words as your guide in all circumstances. They'll remind you that you belong here. The idea that Stellenbosch University is a place for a certain group of people, is long gone. This place is yours," said De Villiers.
Qabaka spoke about SU's history of exclusion, but appreciates the steps the University has taken to advance transformation.
“My experiences within this institution has groomed and shaped the proud black Xhosa womxn that I am today and continue to become. The words of our Vice-Chancellor constantly remind us that our university is not an English, IsiXhosa or Afrikaans institution, but a multicultural, multiracial, and multilingual university, where students from all walks of life are welcomed - embedded in unity."
6 сен 2024
