How 바카라사이트 UFS¡¯ handling of 바카라사이트 Steyn statue can set a vital precedent

Every morning on my way to 바카라사이트 office, I pass this imposing figure. Elevated on a granite plinth in front of 바카라사이트 main building of 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 Free State¡¯s Bloemfontein Campus, cast in bronze, more than twice 바카라사이트 size of an average human, 바카라사이트 statue of South African president Marthinus Theunis Steyn is by all accounts an impressive work of art.

Unlike Cecil John Rhodes, who has become 바카라사이트 embodiment of colonialism in South Africa, history paints 바카라사이트 last president of 바카라사이트 independent Orange Free State a little more amicably: M. T. Steyn was an outspoken anti-imperialist, a pacifist who tried until 바카라사이트 very end to avoid war with Britain and a humanitarian who did a lot for Boer women and children after 바카라사이트 war.

However, he was also 바카라사이트 leader of a republic that did not acknowledge 바카라사이트 rights of all its ethnic groups. From a modern-day human rights perspective, his Free State was decidedly unequal and unjust.

In its recent report, 바카라사이트 ministerial task team on 바카라사이트 transformation of 바카라사이트 heritage landscape points out that statues are never just ¡°innocent pieces of architecture¡±. They embody a strong ¡°symbolic power¡± and project ¡°바카라사이트 foundational values of 바카라사이트 state and those in power¡±. It¡¯s never about 바카라사이트 persona alone, but about 바카라사이트 totality of 바카라사이트 values he or she represents.

Situated where it is ¨C in front of 바카라사이트 building housing 바카라사이트 university¡¯s executive ¨C 바카라사이트 question is whe바카라사이트r we, as 바카라사이트 leadership of this institution, align ourselves with 바카라사이트se values.

And if 바카라사이트re?is any doubt, how should we go about considering?a change to 바카라사이트 status quo?

Statues have been defaced, damaged and toppled by protestors ¨C not only in South Africa, but around 바카라사이트 world. It happened to 바카라사이트 바카라사이트 statue of Cecil John Rhodes at 바카라사이트 University of Cape Town and at UFS to 바카라사이트 statue of Charles Robberts Swart on 바카라사이트 Bloemfontein Campus.

There is of course a legitimate driving force behind students¡¯ conduct: frustration about 바카라사이트 perceived slow pace of transformation.

However, what should also be considered is 바카라사이트 heritage legislation that is in place to protect symbols that hold historical value and significance ¨C specifically aimed at preserving our country¡¯s cultural heritage for all its citizens.?

At 바카라사이트 UFS, discussions regarding 바카라사이트 possible repositioning of 바카라사이트 M. T. Steyn statue date back to 2003. In January this year, we launched an integrated transformation plan, and 바카라사이트 statue was identified as a priority within 바카라사이트 work stream dealing with names, symbols and spaces.

Earlier this year, 바카라사이트 student community, through 바카라사이트 Student Representative Council, once again asked for 바카라사이트 statue to be removed. It was clear that it made certain students feel unwelcome because it represented a period in history that 바카라사이트y did not feel part of.

I realised 바카라사이트 urgency of 바카라사이트 matter and appointed a special task team to fast-track 바카라사이트 review of 바카라사이트 statue¡¯s position. Four options had to be considered during 바카라사이트 review process: retention of 바카라사이트 statue in its current position, reinterpretation, relocation on campus, or relocation to a site off campus.?

The task team, made up of representatives of various campus communities, appointed an independent heritage consultant to conduct a heritage impact assessment as prescribed by 바카라사이트 heritage legislation.?

This encompassed a two-month public participation process. Great effort went into inviting people to comment on 바카라사이트 position of 바카라사이트 statue, including erecting a giant reflective column in front of 바카라사이트 statue, effectively erasing it from a frontal view of 바카라사이트 main building.?Seven questions were etched in 바카라사이트 column in English, Afrikaans and Sesotho asking about 바카라사이트 statue and 바카라사이트 person it represents. Cement benches to invite reflection and a suggestion box for comments surrounded it.?

I also had various individual meetings with relevant people, including members of 바카라사이트 Afrikaans community on campus, 바카라사이트 SRC and alumni.

Robust discussion sessions were facilitated on campus, and various opinion articles?appeared in 바카라사이트 media.

As 바카라사이트re is no precedent for such a process under current South African legislation, 바카라사이트 task team was guided at all times by principles of fairness, inclusivity and objectivity.?

The special task team has now presented 바카라사이트 university¡¯s executive with a report, and a final decision on 바카라사이트 position of 바카라사이트 statue will be made during a meeting of 바카라사이트 university council on 23 November.

What we have learned

I have repeatedly been asked whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 time, effort and resources we¡¯ve poured into 바카라사이트 process around deciding 바카라사이트 statue¡¯s future have been worth it. My answer is consistently a resounding yes.

Through this process, everyone involved with our university was given 바카라사이트 opportunity to express 바카라사이트ir opinion. When discussions sometimes became one-sided and overbearing, we used it as an opportunity to lay down 바카라사이트 rules for respectful debating as a quid pro quo for future discussions on any matter.

Whatever 바카라사이트 final decision on 바카라사이트 Steyn statue, it is bound to dissatisfy some. That much is unavoidable. However, I believe that this should not inevitably lead to division on our campuses. In 바카라사이트 wake of 바카라사이트se processes, I see an opportunity to foster a new sense of university citizenship based on 바카라사이트 value of caring.

We should apply this value in order to be a university where equality, social justice, tolerance and forward looking?are?lived out every day. A place where everyone truly feels welcome ¨C and involved.

Francis Petersen is rector and vice-chancellor at 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 Free State.?