14 September 2020

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Dear Student
 
At Stellenbosch University (SU) we have framed the institution that we aspire to be in our
Vision 2040
and mission statement. We want to create a transformed and integrated SU community that is committed to democracy, human rights and social justice. We aim to provide each and every one of you with an experience that is unique and truly transformative. We have further embarked on a journey to ensure that these objectives are reflected in all our policies, processes and structures.
 
Our student communities – residences, PSO wards and clusters – play a critical part in the creation of inclusive learning and living communities that embrace our shared SU values of diversity, equity and mutual respect. In addition to an academic qualification, our students are encouraged to develop attributes that prepare them for a dynamic personal career and a life-time of making an impact on society.
 
You may recall that, after the fire in Huis ten Bosch (HtB) in 2019, a section of Huis Marais was repurposed to house HtB residents until the end of 2020. With HtB close to completion residents will be able to return in 2021. This has created an opportunity to consider our placement model and form a new student community that is aligned with the value we attach to diversity and inclusion.
 
Huis Marais
Against this background the Rectorate therefore last week accepted the recommendation that the Huis Marais residential complex would be divided to separately house a new co-ed student community, and that the current Huis Marais students will continue to function as a male residence in 2021. Current residents of Huis Marais will be allowed to move into the space vacated by the HtB residents, or may apply to the new co-ed residence or to another residence on campus.
 
Like in 2020 no new-comers will be allocated to Huis Marais in 2021 as the residence has not demonstrated a concerted effort to grow into a wholesome community that reflects the values of SU.  We are saddened that a group of influential leaders in Huis Marais has not used the past 11 months to transform the residence ethos to one that is based on the equal treatment of different population groups, respect for women and promotion of responsible use of alcohol.
 
New co-ed student community
The building currently occupied by the Huis Marais community will be used to house a new co-ed student community with room for 90 female and 68 male students. A cohort of senior students will be invited from existing campus communities and close to 100 newcomer students will join this new community in 2021. Men and women will be placed in different sections of the building. Senior students who are interested in joining, developing and establishing this new living and learning community through leadership involvement should be on the lookout for more information, to be communicated in due course.
 
When different genders live in the same residence (co-ed) it allows for gender diversity to be dealt with in the same way SU deals with all other forms of diversity. At the same time, it allows for flexibility in light of the demographic profile of the university. Currently the percentage of women being admitted to the university is slightly on the increase.
 
Our Division for Student Affairs has extensive experience in transforming student communities through a culture of conversation and value-driven leadership, the most recent example being the student community in The Village. The student communities of Nkosi Johnson House and Ubuntu House on the Tygerberg campus, together with Huis Russel Botman House, Capri PSO and five new Private Student Organisations (PSOs) that were launched in 2009 are all successful examples of what we can achieve when we work together to embody SU’s vision and values.
 
We want to ensure that each and every Matie has a truly transformative student experience at a thriving Stellenbosch University. We are excited by this opportunity to create a new residence that embraces the full diversity of the student body, enabling us to strive for excellence through diversity.
 
Kind regards
 
Prof Arnold Schoonwinkel
Vice-Rector: Learning and Teaching


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