On Thursday 23 October, 180 students and staff staged a peaceful march from the Main Hall to the rugby stadium where Prof Quinton Johnson, NMMU George Campus principal, accepted two petitions: one from the students and a second from the staff against the exclusion of the name Saasveld in the new name.
Prof Laurence Watson, from the George Campus, said that the staff are proud to be associated with NMMU and strongly promote the NMMU brand, and are willing to be part of any processes that strengthens the brand further. "However, the removal of the Saasveld brand, which adds tremendous value to the NMMU name, has resulted in much unhappiness among staff and students."
Citing a lack of broad consultation with staff, students and stakeholders to drop the name Saasveld he feels that "the NMMU management have greatly misunderstood and underestimated the value of the Saasveld brand. In addition, the negative publicity that is currently being attracted to the NMMU brand is causing tremendous damage. Through proper consultation this could have been avoided and the Saasveld brand must be used to strengthen the NMMU brand".
Sikhumbuzo Nxumalo, convener of the march, speaking on behalf of the concerned students of NMMU George Campus, expressed his concern at the lack of consultation of the process followed. "Students received an e-mail inviting them to attend the branding ceremony scheduled for 16 October. An attached photo showed the boom gate of the NMMU Saasveld sign covered with curtains, which indicated to us that the management is changing the name. Upon receiving the news, students expressed their dissatisfaction in being excluded from the process when their own campus was undergoing a name change without prior consultation."
Nxumalo called for consistency in the university’s efforts to strengthen its brand and questioned why other NMMU campuses have their own distinct names like the Missionvale Campus, Port Elizabeth and Bird Street Campus, Port Elizabeth. The same should apply here and the name Saasveld Campus, George would be acceptable to all.
Prof Johnson thanked the students for the responsible manner in which they conducted themselves. "I will take these petitions to Port Elizabeth and undertake to return by Thursday 30 October with management’s response." Johnson added, "The university did consult on the name change but it is your democratic right to express your feelings, at least we are all on the same page regarding the strengthening the name of our cherished institution."
The messge was clear, they wanted the name Saasveld to remain. NMMU students start marching to the rugby field where Sikhumbuzo Nxumalo, the convener of the march handed over the petition to Prof Quinton Johnson.
ARTICLE AND PHOTOS: MYRON RABINOWITZ, GEORGE HERALD JOURNALIST
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