Words congratulations, encouragement ,support and the #IceBucketChallenge We, the students of the Democratic Alliance, rooted in the values of constitutional liberal democracy, believe that education is the cornerstone of the liberation of all South Africans and the catalyst for the full realisation of the rights and freedoms guaranteed by our Constitution. Last week marked the end of our CSRC Election season. We would firstly like to show appreciation to the North West University (NWU) Mafikeng management and the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) for administering a successful, free and fair election season. Secondly, to the Democratic Alliance Student Organisation (DASO) Mafikeng activists and supporters who came out and voted for DASO, it is much appreciated. By voting for DASO you were protecting and promoting open and free educational environment based on academic freedom, equality of opportunity and respect for individual worth. Lastly, a word of congratulations to the newly CSRC 2014/2015, Jim Collins once said, “Good is the enemy of great. And that is one of the key reasons why we have so little that becomes great”. DASO would like to wish you all the best in your term of office. This was the second time that DASO participated in the CSRC elections at our campus, and it must be said, one of the most challenging election seasons to date. The average of 700 votes we received this session should serve as prove that we do have a constituency of liberal activities and support here on campus. It is with these numbers that we should pave a way forward. These numbers should mean that we an average of 700 voting activists and supporters that we need to serve. In expressed practice of our principles, we as a free association of individuals at South African tertiary institutions affirm the absolute necessity of upholding the civil and political rights of all; our mandate is to educate and provide leadership that is blind to innate phenomenon of racial colour and gender, but visible in its promotion of the Open, Opportunity Society. Student governance is currently in disarray around much of the country, reflective of the political situation at a national level. As a result, students are largely apathetic, having lost confidence in their student leadership. DASO will remedy the situation by upholding accountability and a zero tolerance approach to corruption core elements of leadership at tertiary institutions. DASO should endeavour to achieve this by working with the DA Shadow Minister of Higher Education, Hon. Yusuf Cassim, for the duration of the term of their appointment where parliamentary support would further assist DASO in its cause. We affirm that corruption is a stain on the values of Open, Opportunity Society and equity. We affirm that accountability in governance is a core component of liberty. Voters deserve to know the action, plans and activities of those whom they have elected to hold power. We affirm that openness and transparency require limitations on power and a strong linkage with the electorate. Communication and an open door approach by student leaders are thus necessities. The Democratic Alliance Students Organisation will strive for openness and accountability expressed through action and the execution of liberal values in student leadership. Before we can talk about the nuances of social change, we need to understand the building blocks that construct society. In both a metaphorical and literal sense, our society is our world. A society is nothing more than the people in it. Nothing is permanent. Societies, cultures, countries, all change depending on the people who live in and lead them. Anthropologists seek to explain cultures at particular moments in history. It is easy to take each society and culture as something given, predetermined in some way that makes it independent of the people within it. But this is not the case. Every culture and society reflects the beliefs and actions of its people. When people change, the society changes . No matter what ideas or customs the people bring with them, people can change them. And a person can change society simply by sheer force of will independent of the ideas they seek to change. An idea is a conception either of hoe the world works or the ends towards which we ought to act. People do not act randomly or without purpose. Nor do people typically act upon instinct alone. They have the capacity to reason and evaluate alternatives. They are able to set their own ends and evaluate the complex operations of the world to determine the best means of achieving them. In a sense, to ignore an idea that one takes to be accurate is to ignore what one recognises as reality. It can be done, but it is difficult. The more a person believes an idea is correct, the more one must fight their power of reason to ignore it. To try to act against correct ideas is to try to act contrary to the way the world works. The point is: An individual or group of individuals with enough fortitude, conviction, and ability can change everything. An idea that explains how the world was and how the world can be has the potential to change the course of human history In conclusion, DASO NWU Mafikeng would like to, again, congratulate the newly elected CSRC 2014/2015. We as the students of the Democratic Alliance, would therefore like to challenge all the members of the CSRC to a Ice Bucket Challenge that should be done publicly for all students to see. To all DASO activists and supporters, be on the look-out for other correspondences regarding a meeting where the Branch Executive Committee will be reporting on the recent CSRC election as well as way forward as we enter a new term of student governance. #DASOcares Yours in fellowship DASO NWU Mafikeng (outgoing) Chairperson TM Gabaphete
Posted on: Mon, 01 Sep 2014 16:06:37 +0000
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015