Those who attended yesterday's Student Council General Meeting (their first of the year), are surely rather depressed with the current state of this campus. I know that I, as a member of the BLS, was incredibly saddened by the priorities of a few that speak for many. To update those who were unable to attend, the BLS attended the meeting with the following key issues in mind:
* Creating a portfolio for environmental affairs;
* Determining how the management process can be quickened with regard to the 1,5 million investment (discussed in a previous post);
* Discerning the vision and policies of Student Council with regards to transformation;
The end result was that some clarity and resolution was achieved with regard to the first two points, but very little clarity and no policy was put forward with regard to transformation.
The greatest sign that there is something horribly wrong on this campus was a question raised with regards to BLS. Key issues on this campus not mentioned in the meeting included communication, and transformation. The society that put forward this question to the BLS claims to represent transformation. Surely then, this was the subject commented on?
Unfortunately not. Of the comments brought forward, one was indeed relevant: The desire for the Student Parliament to meet once per quarter as stated in the constitution. The other was a claim made that the BLS should have a chairperson, and not a president.
Yes, with the key issues of transformation, communication and the environment begging to be discussed, the most pressing problem was decided to be the way in which the leader of the BLS is defined. These are surely individuals who no longer care about the students of this campus. It has become a game of power and ego, in which students are always the losers. It makes one sigh deeply and question where NMMU George Campus is heading, if this is the stance taken by it's supposed leaders.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Sunday, March 9, 2008
1.5 Million Rand Investment Opportunity for Saasveld!
When the BLS had lunch with one of the Directors and Owners of Jetline along with the George Branch Manager, the Director said that he was willing to invest 1.5 million Rand worth of Capital for a much needed service for the NMMU students and staff members. Jetline offers services and products such as binding, laminating, making business cards, colour printing, graphic designing, etc. It would be a “world class service” for us as students. All he asked for was 150m2 and they will be at our University as soon as management of the NMMU gave the go ahead. We would have our own Jetline!
I have had a meeting since then with management and have requested vie email what exactly is needed for Jetline to do in order to get the go ahead. I am still waiting for the reply.
This business will also provide student employment and will provide great experience for the leadership of the BLS as they will gain management skills as well as for members.
Management of the BLS and to the members I say, let us work hard together to build business and leadership within this university because if we can lead now and if we can initiate business now then we can do it when we out of university. As Covey has said that learning is not learning until you are implementing it and trying it out.
Please Management of the BLS comment and members as I would like to show the NMMU management the comments for this much needed business for the NMMU, George Campus. I will invite management along with the Principle to read the post along with the comments.
Shaun Pritchard
President
I have had a meeting since then with management and have requested vie email what exactly is needed for Jetline to do in order to get the go ahead. I am still waiting for the reply.
This business will also provide student employment and will provide great experience for the leadership of the BLS as they will gain management skills as well as for members.
Management of the BLS and to the members I say, let us work hard together to build business and leadership within this university because if we can lead now and if we can initiate business now then we can do it when we out of university. As Covey has said that learning is not learning until you are implementing it and trying it out.
Please Management of the BLS comment and members as I would like to show the NMMU management the comments for this much needed business for the NMMU, George Campus. I will invite management along with the Principle to read the post along with the comments.
Shaun Pritchard
President
Thursday, March 6, 2008
The quest for initiative
Last year I was the researcher in my advertising campaign project group. Our task was to effectively market the campus, so I took it upon myself to speak to the marketing 1st years to gain fresh perspective as to why NMMU George Campus is viewed negatively. The almost uniform response was that there wasn't the same student life and traditions found at larger universities such as Stellenbosch and UCT. I found this rather strange, because after all, don't students create student life? Surely it is students who create those lasting traditions? This leads to what I believe is the greatest threat faced by this campus: Student apathy.
Student life is a concept that is usually narrowly defined, but that encompasses virtually all issues on campus. The quality of your student life can be affected by racism, student politics, student tradition and academics. It is the way in which you interact with those on campus, and the enjoyment you derive from studying at university. A university becomes more than just a place of learning: It is an experience. In a direct sense, those that contribute to your experience are your friends and the lecturers that instruct you. On a greater or macro level, however, your university experience is created by student leaders.
Amongst those to whom this responsibility falls are Student Council, and the various societies on campus. I have, however, observed two major issues:
1) Students are unwilling to take initiative, and become student leaders.
2) Events/Meetings/Campaigns organised by leaders are met with widespread apathy and are largely ignored.
It is easy to see the cycle that develops from this. I pose the following questions then to our members: Why is there such apathy (disinterest) on campus, and how can this situation be remedied?
Nathan Smit
Secretary General
Student life is a concept that is usually narrowly defined, but that encompasses virtually all issues on campus. The quality of your student life can be affected by racism, student politics, student tradition and academics. It is the way in which you interact with those on campus, and the enjoyment you derive from studying at university. A university becomes more than just a place of learning: It is an experience. In a direct sense, those that contribute to your experience are your friends and the lecturers that instruct you. On a greater or macro level, however, your university experience is created by student leaders.
Amongst those to whom this responsibility falls are Student Council, and the various societies on campus. I have, however, observed two major issues:
1) Students are unwilling to take initiative, and become student leaders.
2) Events/Meetings/Campaigns organised by leaders are met with widespread apathy and are largely ignored.
It is easy to see the cycle that develops from this. I pose the following questions then to our members: Why is there such apathy (disinterest) on campus, and how can this situation be remedied?
Nathan Smit
Secretary General
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
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