The Wilgenhof Alumni Association will not simply accept the closure of the men’s residence.
The group shared this sentiment in a statement on Tuesday, adding it will approach the Western Cape High Court to request the review and settings aside of the Stellenbosch University (SU) Council’s “irrational decision” to temporarily close Wilgenhof.
On Monday, the council ruled it would shut down the residence for one year, along with the consideration of a change of name for the residence.
Wilgenhof made headlines earlier this year after the discovery of disturbing contents in two of its rooms. A panel was then appointed to investigate the contents, which were found during an audit of the spaces and amenities of the residence and to report to the SU Rectorate on its findings and recommendations.
The panel recommended the closure of the residence – a decision supported by SU rector Prof Wim de Villiers. However, groups like the alumni, current students and even parents objected to the findings.
In a bid to address the findings and seek a solution, interested parties were invited to present alternatives for the closure.
In their suggestions to the US Councuil earlier this year, the current students urged that closing the residence would create an undesirable precedent “where the university’s default response to a challenge is elimination rather than reformation”.
In agreement with the alumni association, the current students also felt closing Wilgenhof, would shatter the inclusive and supportive community that has been created at the residence.
According to the alumni they have now, with the help of legal representatives, written to Dr Nicky Newton-King, chairperson of the SU Council, as well as Prof Deresh Ramjugernath, the deputy vice chancellor of Learning and Teaching, requesting that they share the reasons for the council’s decision to temporarily shut the doors, by today (Thursday 19 September).
Jaco Rabie, spokesperson of the Wilgenhof Alumni Association, said the university risks a permanent break between it and its alumni.
