Social media: SU disapproves of offensive actions
Stellenbosch University (SU) strongly disapproves of any action that could possibly offend any of its students, staff and members of the public, and which is contradictory to the Constitution and the welcoming campus culture that SU wants to promote.
On Tuesday, the University Management was informed about a photograph and caption on twitter which, on face value, remind of the recent ‘blackface' incident at another university. Stellenbosch students are involved in this latest incident.
Read the statement of the Student Representative Council here and the statement of the students involved, here.
According to Susan van der Merwe, SU spokesperson, Prof Leopoldt van Huyssteen, acting Rector and Vice-chancellor, requested that the matter be investigated as the tweets on twitter were the only source of information at the University's disposal on Tuesday morning. He had also requested all resident and visiting heads of residences, private student organisations and clusters to discuss the sensitivity of such actions with their student leaders and students.
"Based on the buzz on social media, including references to ‘blackface', it is clear that there are various views and opinions. It would be premature to jump to conclusions or to anticipate the actions to be taken. The SU management will consider appropriate steps pending the outcome of the investigation.