Stellenbosch University (SU’s) election process for student communities’ new leadership will, for the first time in the Institution’s history, be taking pace virtually this month for the first time, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Elections for most leadership positions will take place during August.
It’s election season on campus as the new student leadership of residences and Private Student Organisations (PSOs) are voting online for the first time. PHOTO: Wilné van Rooyen
Each student community has made its own arrangements regarding how the online elections will take place, according to Pieter Kloppers, director at the Centre for Student Communities (CSC) at SU.
“The process is progressing at different speeds in the different communities. [CSC has] had no feedback of failures in the process thus far,” he said.
Metanoia, a co-ed SU residence, has already begun its election process, according to outgoing primarius, Leon Rossouw.
“[Metanoia’s] House Committee (HC) decided early on that we would convert our election procedure into a fully virtual process. It just allowed us to do things at our own time and be prepared and ready for the election season when it came around,” he said.
To date, Metanoia’s new incoming primarius and vice-primarii have been elected, and starting the process early helped prepare the candidates for the new year, said primarius-elect Divan Godfrey.
“We now have time to look at how we are going to approach our term, given the circumstances, as well as the strategies we can put in place to ensure fluidity when our term actually starts,” he said.
“Being elected will always be the best news. Knowing that your vision for the house aligns with the vision of many others in the house,” said incoming Metanoia Primarius, Divan Godfrey, on his recent election. PHOTO: Supplied / Divan Godfrey
Olympus, an SU PSO, is using social media platforms, such as Instagram livestreams, takeovers and Instagram TV, to promote the HC candidates, with caucus happening on Microsoft Teams, said Leoné Wilkinson, outgoing Olympus primaria.
“I’m very confident,” she said. “I think this is a really good outcome for the situation we’re in. I have full faith in the process.”
Wilkinson is also the new Prim Committee chairperson-elect, as of 6 August, and as such will now serve on the Student Representative Council (SRC) in the coming year.