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The Democratic Alliance (DA) salutes the vision of Professor Jonathan Jansen for the University of the Free State. Jansen embraces the values the DA believes are good for higher education and students: intellectual independence, cultural justice, academic excellence and a robust and creative defense of university autonomy. Jansen will not be pushed around by the political authorities, a welcome trait in the ranks of our university leaders who can often be quite timid in the face of their pay-masters. In his inaugural address of 16 October Jansen committed the institution to, among others:
• Upgrade the distant campuses of the university system and make them equal in standing with the Bloemfontein campus;
• Have all first year students live in residences that are thoughtfully and sensitively integrated;
• Expose students to international experiences to advance the parochialism of their background;
• Redesign the university curriculum to give students a broad-based high quality education and compulsory language studies;
• Filling 25 new senior university positions with the best academics the university can find;
• The immediate prohibition on the consumption of alcohol on campus and banning of initiation of new students;
• Inviting the return of the infamous Reitz students to complete their studies and withdraw university charges against them;
• Paying reparations to the victims of the Reitz students' assault as an act of reconciliation and justice;
• The creation of the Reitz Institute for Studies in Race, Reconciliation and Social Justice.
In ringing tones, Jansen said that he seeks to lead a provincial university to global excellence; that he will widen access and insist on excellence; that his leadership will celebrate and build on the university's Afrikaans heritage; and that he will be driven by good ideas and not political correctness. He rejected a narrow quota approach to affirmative action in favour of a more sophisticated philosophy of inclusivity, cultural justice and diversity. There is no question that to make his experiment work at the University of the Free State he would need considerable financial support. 25 chairs alone would cost R125m over five years. Jansen commitments therefore require a proper budget and a major funding drive. South Africa needs workable experiments that embraces academic excellence and broadens the access all students with talent have to higher learning.