Deaton advocates ties to South Africa
April 1, 2008
Discussing the University of the Western Cape in South Africa’s history and involvement with the UM system, UWC professor Brian O’Connell describes the success of the two universities’ involvement on Monday in Ellis Auditorium.
A panel held by Chancellor Brady Deaton on Monday encouraged MU students and faculty to become aware of and involved with the UM system’s 20-year-old relationship with the University of the Western Cape in South Africa.
MU students and faculty met in Ellis Auditorium for a forum hosted by Deaton to discuss the UM system’s relationship with UWC with UM system Executive Vice President Emeritus Ronald Turner and UWC Rector and Vice Chancellor Professor Brian O’Connell.
“There’s a national buzz surrounding what the UM system has done with the University of Western Cape,” Deaton said. “Learning about and working with the program has been one of the most intellectually stimulating experiences of my career.”
Turner explained the UM system’s history with UWC and how the relationship began, while O’Connell provided information about the success of the university and how it was affected by its connection with the UM system.
O’Connell said the development of UWC as a major educational and national power began in the 1960s when the South African government began the institution for just more than 100 individuals with mixed black and white heritage.
In the 1980s, UWC invited black students from all over Africa to come to the university despite disapproval from the officials funding the institution, who wished the school to remain for only “mixed” students. The school grew to house 15,000 students by the end of the decade.
“We gathered the brightest and best young revolutionaries who had strong spirits and a will for change,” O’Connell said. “This was around the same time the UM system came in ready to work together.”
In the late seventies, MU students gathered in tents and constructed shanties on Francis Quadrangle to house protests of UM system retirement and endowment fund investments in corporations doing business with South Africa. Their efforts led to UM system President Peter Magrath’s appointment of a task force committee to address the issue of divestment in 1985.
The committee, made up of students, faculty, staff, alumni and Board of Curators members, held public hearings across Missouri and met with consultants across the state to devise a way to improve relations with South Africa. As well as agreeing to divest funds, the committee suggested the UM system develop a relationship with UWC.
President Emeritus Brice Ratchford was appointed chair of the newly founded University of Missouri South African Education Program committee and made a call to UWC Rector Richard van der Ross, who agreed to host a delegation from the UM system. In April 1986, a team of four UMSAEP representatives traveled to UWC to explore a possible link.
“We have had visits from a long train of American educators who stop for tea, offer to help and we never hear from them again,” Ross told the representatives. “But there is something different about Missouri. You sent four people, you stayed here and tried to get to know us, and I think we can work with Missouri.”
Turner said the partnership’s greatest achievements included overcoming initial faculty resistance at both campuses, overcoming South Africa’s academic and cultural boycotts, achieving more effective communication and dedicating attention toward research and exchange of professors and students between institutions.
Goals for the future include involving more students and faculty in the exchange program between the UM system and UWC.
“The more people we can get involved with the program, the more we can achieve,” Turner said.
More April 1, 2008 News Stories
- Chess Association sees bright future — The Missouri Chess Association prepares members for multiple tournaments throughout the year.
- Library deficits deepen — Despite attempts to eliminate budget deficits, MU Libraries’ financial woes could lead to a new student fee in the near ...
- Colleges to vote again for senators — The BEC invalidated results in four of 11 schools and colleges.
- MU student in critical condition — An MU senior was struck by a vehicle on late Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning in Panama City Beach, ...
- Voters to elect new LBC executive board — Voting is today until 5 p.m. at Brady Commons and the Black Culture Center.
Most recent News Stories
- Officials OK younger STRIPES drivers — Program leaders hope to inspire similar programs at other schools.
- Fire department says Thursday night blaze set intentionally — Officials are searching for one arsonist in two cases
- Department of Student Life diverts money from diversity fee — Diversity groups were not notified of a transfer of $30,771 for the equipment reserve fund.
- MSA Senate recommends fee decrease — The committee recommended a decrease of 25 cents to $1.70.
- MU to gradually ban smoking — Officials cite student support for the policy.