SIGNPOSTS AND SANDWICHES........ Comments about the CPUT strikes

On the news recently there was coverage of the University of Witswatersrand, where the students were protesting against the annual fee increase. The recording was of the students, sitting around on the steps eating their lunch. Some had protest boards, while others spoke calmly to the reporters. It resembled a university picnic, in contrast to the recent CPUT strikes and I just had to smile to myself. Not because I thought it was funny, but because I thought to myself “signposts and sandwiches? Try petrol bombs and riot police!”

I have been at CPUT for almost four years now, and every year there are riots when the fee’s go up, however this year’s riots reached new heights of violence and damage to the property. Lectures were cancelled for a week and there was no access to library or internet facilities which are most of the student’s main source of research and computers which was necessary to complete their assignments. For B-Tech and Master’s students, those days off were not a worry free holiday as it might have been for other students who took the week off. For students applying for jobs and going for interviews, it was embarrassing to say the least.

I suppose the frustration I felt, was similar to that felt by the students who were rioting. Over the years, I have experienced many situations which have the frustrated me to the point where I could just scream. Situations which just do not happen at other tertiary institutions, which shouldn’t be allowed to happen but they do.

The deterioration of tertiary facilities and level of education available to the students of CPUT over the past 4 years has been vast and very noticeable. Simple toilet paper and soap not being available to use for periods extending up to a month is just one example. But the fact that there were no consequences for the students that took part in the strike: that has been the saddest part for me. By letting the perpetrators off with no punishment or suspension, the management of CPUT has condoned their actions.

When I heard this, and other facts about the strike like a memorandum being issued to the chancellor about the concerns regarding the increase in registration fee’s which was completely ignored because she claimed she forgot to read it, I began to realize that students are not to blame for their frustrations. When I look back at the causes of each frustration which I have felt over the years, they all lead back to management and communication.

Somewhere along the line, there has been a major breakdown and both the management and communication systems within CPUT. It is failing the students, and many feel that their money is being misused. Because they cannot see any improvements, but only deterioration, it is obvious that a price increase would anger them. Not communicating with them about their frustrations is what fueled the fire. This I can also understand.

What I cannot however comprehend is how there were no consequences for their actions of the students participating in the riots. This is just wrong on so many levels, it has been the breaking point for me, the cherry on top of a cake which is not rising, if the batter contains no eggs or baking powder then how can it rise?