Price tackles issues

In the hot seat: VC Dr Max Price faced some tough questions at the Graduate School of Business and Hiddingh Campus, as well as at later meetings.

Vice-Chancellor Dr Max Price held a number of meetings on 20 August with staff and students around UCT campuses to discuss issues raised in his installation address.

The meaning of being a university in a democratic country, the labelling of people in debate as either racists or affirmative action candidates, and the failings of the current education system were just some of the topics Price raised.

At the series of meetings, titled Campus Conversations with the Vice-Chancellor, staff and students took the opportunity to respond and raise a few points of their own.

First stop was Hiddingh Campus where there was consensus that it suffered from inferior network and internet access, in comparison to the rest of UCT, because of its location on the "other side" of Table Mountain.

Feedback at the Graduate School of Business touched on the sensitive issue of the "independence" of the school, and its profitability. Another major concern was the Department of Home Affairs' refusal to issue study permits to foreign students who already have work permits - an issue which some feel has had a negative impact on the GSB.

Further meetings were held at the Medical School and with representatives from student organisations.