UFS considers hotline to report racial incidents

A hotline for the reporting of racial incidents involving students is being considered by the University of the Free State, UFS Rector Frederick Fourie said today.

"We are also looking at the possibility of appointing an ombudsman for diversity," Fourie said on steps the UFS was considering to investigate and referee the behaviour of students at the university.

Fourie was reacting to media reports of two alleged racial student attacks on the Bloemfontein campus. Dean of student affairs at UFS, Natie Luyt, said the incidents happened about a month ago in the vicinity of the Reitz men's hostel.

"But at this stage I cannot say for certain that students from Reitz were involved in the alleged attacks," Luyt said in a statement. He said the matters were being investigated by the university's protection services division.

One of the incidents involved white male students throwing a liquid substance at two black female students. In the second, a black male student was allegedly attacked by white male students.

Fourie said he was concerned over such incidents and strongly disapproved of them. He urged students to immediately report such incidents. "If we do not have incidents on record, proper investigations cannot be conducted."

Disciplinary process to be reviewed
Fourie said the UFS was in the process of reviewing its disciplinary process for students to make it more streamlined and accessible.

Other attempts to better monitor student behaviour include the introduction of a system of full-time live-in residence wardens at men's residences, which could improve supervision.

"This system will be in place shortly, as soon as the necessary accommodation has been provided," Fourie said.

The UFS recently made international headlines after a student video surfaced showing black university employees on their knees eating food which had apparently been urinated upon by white students.

It was filmed last year by students from the Reitz men's residence. The film depicts a mock initiation of five staff members into hostel activities and was condemned nationally for its racist content. - Sapa