On Monday 27 January, Stellenbosch University students received an official email from Student Affairs Director Dr Choice Makhetha, announcing that alcohol and its consumption will be temporarily banned on campus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This decision, as described in the email, is one that was reached by university management after a number of tragic events occurred on campus in the last few years, and following a \u201ccompelling memorandum\u201d from the Anti-GBV Movement of SU. In addition to this, the university\u2019s council requested that stakeholders need to do more to combat alcohol abuse on campus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
SU management has decided that this ban must include: banning pubs in men\u2019s residences, reviewing Residence Rules regarding alcohol usage, banning alcohol consumption on university property, banning the display of alcohol on university property and confiscating alcohol found on university property. This is all with the aim to eliminate \u201cbinge drinking culture\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Leading up to this announcement, there had already been mixed messages and uncertainty since House Committee members of residences and PSOs were introduced to the \u201cidea of a ban\u201d, but staff members had called it \u201ca conversation\u201d and did not have any physical policy to show student leaders what the ban would actually entail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A few alumni and students have come out in support of the ban and have stated that it is not appropriate for an education institution to encourage drinking culture in any form. An alumnus even expressed that the drinking culture at Stellenbosch University is so damaging that it has \u201cruined people\u2019s lives and futures\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another alumnus expressed approval of the ban by stating that it would make spaces more inclusive for Muslim students who often are not accommodated in spaces since alcohol is left or spilled on counters and tables where they may need to cook or stay in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is, clearly, a quite radical decision that the university has taken, and it has sparked outcries as well as praise by students and alumni alike. The first issue that some students raised was the lack of consultation and information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This decision seemed to have come \u201cout of the blue\u201d without considering students\u2019 interests, needs and wants. This top-down strategy is nothing new, considering that the university has made various decisions without student consultation, notably that of removing The Village from the LLL program, converting it to a senior residence, as well as the shuttle fee \u201cmess\u201d in 2019<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some students, such as Michelle Almendro, believe that there should not have been a \u201ctotal ban\u201d but rather \u201ccontrol mechanisms\u201d in place to limit alcohol consumption. She also expressed concern about this policy possibly resulting in students drinking more outside of their living space which could result in more consequences for them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Stellenbosch Alumnus George von Berg says that this decision is clearly focused on \u201cprotecting the university\u2019s brand\u201d. The true aim of this policy, Von Berg argues, is to \u201cminimise future incidents\u201d in order to prevent \u201cbad PR\u201d. It is essentially the \u201ceasy solution\u201d for the institution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n QueerUS Executive Member and iLizwi contributor, Paul Joubert, took<\/a> to<\/a> Twitter<\/a> to raise a number of questions regarding this ban. \u201cIs this the end of the beer and wine societies? Can societies still serve alcohol at events? Can resident heads still drink in their flats?\u201d He goes on to question whether alcohol will be served at Varsity Cup or whether the university will choose to be \u201cselective\u201d when it comes to the ban.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are clear contestations to the decision made by Stellenbosch University. Perhaps a further question which management did not consider is whether the binge drinking culture is a result of deeper problems at the institution. The truth of the matter, as Paul Joubert put it, is that we live in a \u201cbroken society\u201d and the broken pieces are not being repaired. The university does not want to solve the reasons \u201cwhy<\/em> students drink\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n