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
1 comment:
Well put Secretary General. Student life is as you say created by students, therefore if we as students complain that this is not like a UCT or Rhodes then they themselves are actually saying we cannot create a student life like the students of those universities.
Student apathay will result in a non proactive student life.
We as students create student life and let us as students make the NMMU George Campus a breeding ground for student leadership, business, natural science initiative and an amazing student life all of this can be achieved and maintained in the BLS.
Students and members get active in the most prestigious student Society on campus and soon in South Africa as we plan to establish branches in other universities starting in SA then worldwide. Enough of the poverty of apathy members, rather build on the principles of initiative. As the Prof said that we are a very well run and organised student society.
Shaun Pritchard
President
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