As the saying goes, “Out with the old and in with the new”. The outgoing chair of the BA Student Committee (BASC), Mr Sam Morrick, had the opportunity to introduce the new BASC members for 2025, including incoming chair, Ms Jordan Dart, to the outgoing dean, Professor Anthony Leysens, the designated dean, Prof Vasti Roodt, Professor Lindy Heneicken (Vice-Dean: Research), Mr Pieter Janse van Rensburg (Faculty Manager) Cheryl Richardson (Faculty Senior Administrator), Mr Asanda Alex Plaatjies (Marketing and Communications) and Ms Khanyisa Xinwa (Student Support Coordinator).
The new BASC members are Ms Jordan Dart (Chair; BA Humanities I), Ms Penny Campbell (Vice-Chair; BA (Language and Culture II), Ms Shila Chabalala (Secretary; BA Humanities II), Ms Misha Fray (Treasurer; BA Language and Culture III), Ms Jade Lopes (Student Relations; BA Humanities I), Ms Tana Benn (Social Impact; BA Humanities II), Ms Ayanda Gqolana (Transformation and Culture; B Social Work III) and Ms Neuza Langa (Social Media and Marketing; BA Development and Environment II).
This engagement provided a cordial platform where faculty management and various student-centred portfolio support staff could meet the new members of the BASC. Staff will be interfacing and engaging with them in various programmes, event and affairs in 2025. It was also an opportunity for the faculty leadership to thank the outgoing chair and his team. Mr Sam Morrick and his team received all-round praise for their achievements during the year. Prof Leysens noted that this was the best BASC he had worked with during his term as dean, and thanked Mr Morrick for his outstanding leadership. As Mr Morrick handed over the reins to the new chair and her team of women, he noted, “I am grateful for the opportunity of having been able to, with my team, serve and lead the students of this Faculty and for the support we received from them and the Faculty’s executive committee.”
The Faculty is excited at the prospect of working and collaborating with the new BASC on issues such as learning and teaching, transformation and social impact. The new BASC members will serve in various faculty committees, which include the Faculty Board (Ms Jordan Dart and Ms Penny Campbell), Higher Degrees and Research Committee (Ms Shila Chabalala), Faculty Board and Teaching and Learning Committee (Ms Jade Lopes), Social Impact Committee (Ms Tana Benn), Transformation Committee (Ms Ayanda Gqolana) and Marketing and Recruitment Committee (Ms Neuza Langa).
“These faculty structures and committees provide you with an opportunity to be the voice and representative of the students within the Faculty and to play a proactive and an active role,” said outgoing dean, Prof Leysens, whose term ends in December this year.
The new BASC members are currently engaged in a leadership handover process within their respective portfolios and meeting key people within the Faculty (and their portfolios) as well as mapping their vision and projects for 2025. “It is indeed going to be an exciting journey ahead. Right now we are slowly busy with the handing over process, having met some key figures within the Faculty, and in due course, we will discuss in detail our BASC vision 2025 as a committee and share it with the Faculty,” said incoming chair, Ms Jordan Dart.
“I am certainly excited and looking forward to steering your vision for 2025 and working closely with the team as well as various key portfolios within the Faculty such as student administration, marketing and student support services and the new vice-dean (Teaching and Learning) who will take over from me,” said Prof Vasti Roodt.
Caption: Left to right: Back Row: Prof Anthony Leysens, Mr Pieter Janse van Rensburg, Mr Alex Plaatjies, Prof Lindy Heinecken. Middle Row: Prof Vasti Roodt, Ms Jade Lopes, Ms Penny Campbell, Ms Neuza Langa, Ms Misha Fray, Ms Khanyisa Xinwa, Mrs Cheryl Richardson. Front Row: Ms Ayanda Gqolana, Ms Shila Chabalala, Ms Jordan Dart, Ms Tana Benn.
The BA Student Committee (BASC) is a team of student leaders who are elected as representatives for all students in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS). BASC representatives sit on faculty committees together with academic staff and administrators to provide a student perspective and advocate for students. Their task is to manage academic enquiries, promote social and cultural awareness, and spearhead initiatives that are relevant to the Faculty and its students. They organise events such as sustainability and outreach programmes, as well as the BA Ball. Their work is intended to ensure a well-rounded and stimulating academic experience for all the students in our Faculty.
We say goodbye to outgoing members, Sam Morrick (Chairperson), Nosiviwe Mpukane (Vice-Chair), Amber Nieuwenheyzen (Secretary), Sisiphiwo Jaca (Treasurer), Zybian Anders (Student Relations manager), Kauthar Jardine (Social Impact manager), Qobo-Lwam Damane (Transformation and Culture manager) and Sbusiso Zwane (Social Media and Marketing manager) and wish them well in their further studies and endeavours.
To read more on the BASC constitutional mandate:
https://arts.sun.ac.za/files/2024/02/Code-of-Conduct-BASC-2023-24-1.pdf