On Monday 12 August at 18:30, Stellenbosch University’s (SU) Director of the Centre for Student Communities, Pieter Kloppers, and the coordinator of the Listen, Live and Learn (LLL) community at SU, Enos Lekala, announced in a meeting with the LLL village students that the residential space will be transformed into senior housing in 2020.
According to Lekala, the meeting, which took place in House 3 in the LLL village, was to provide the student community with “information on the change and provide them with an opportunity to consider the information.”
Kloppers told students that the village will transition to senior housing next year.
“We have two programs, the village and the free-standing houses. If you apply for the program next year and get accepted into the LLL program, that will happen in the free-standing houses. The village will then be used as senior housing,” says Kloppers.
Pieter Kloppers addressing the LLL village community during the meeting in House 3 on Monday 12 August. PHOTO: Lucian van Wyk
He adds that the university will elect leadership in the coming weeks and that the reformed village will have a residence head too.
According to Kloppers senior housing rules will apply to the village next year.
“In terms of repositioning the LLL village, it will also have an academic qualification that is higher,” says Kloppers.
Spokesperson of SU, Martin Viljoen, says the decision to transform the village into a senior housing space, comes from a growing need for accommodation, especially for senior students.
He adds that it is important to note that the village will become a senior living space, not a postgraduate residence.
“The LLL Programme is an experiential learning platform and the stand-alone houses provide us [with] the best chance of managing both success and failure at any given time.”
“Not only is this attributable to them being the foundation of LLL as initially conceived, but also because their spatial design and structure allow us to break the houses into easily manageable hosts,” says Viljoen.
Kloppers adds that he is in conversation with the placement office, for those students who applied for senior housing and want to be considered for the village next year, to make a list and give their names at the placement office until Friday 16 August, where they will be considered for the village for senior housing for next year.
“So nobody living in LLL currently will be kicked out in any manner,” says Kloppers.
LLL village resident Marecia Damons (21) on her way to a fellow resident in the village. PHOTO: Lucian van Wyk
Students were however disgruntled with the university’s decision, stressing that they were not consulted in the implementation of the new senior housing.
Olona Ndzuzo (23), LLL village resident and final year Bcomm Financial Accounting student, says that students never got an opportunity to raise their concerns and provide solutions to problems that the University might have with the programme and residence space.
“After the applications for the 2020 academic year closed, students were informed that there were only 74 spaces available. A significant drop from the usual 190 or so. We were all shocked,” says Ndzuzo.
She adds that this change will greatly affect many students.
“LLL is more than just a programme or residence. It has been a safe space for marginalised communities; people who felt excluded from the traditional residence structure of the university.”
“The programme inspired growth and excellent leadership. What space will cultivate and provide these environments in 2020 and beyond?” asks Ndzuzo.
Another LLL village resident and BA Humanities student, Cady Balie (22) says the change leaves her with no other residential options for next year.
“If I continue my studies for next year, I need to look for accommodation off-campus or travel from home,” says Balie.
According to Viljoen, the university is aware of the frustration of some students about the decision to change the LLL Village to a senior living space.
“This decision has been made after consulting students about accommodation needs and a clear voice for more senior living spaces was heard.”
“At this stage, we can guarantee that the senior living space will accommodate 112 students in 2020. We are in communication with the community to best assist with their needs,” says Viljoen.
The applications for LLL have already closed for the 2020 intake, with the shortlist of candidates having been released on Wednesday 14 August.
According to Viljoen, the university is in the process of contacting students for the interview process.