Tell the VC of Rhodes: Keep Rhodes University's name!
- by: H. H.
- recipient: The Vice Chancellor of Rhodes University
Rhodes University has operated under the name of Rhodes for over 100 years. With that name, we have established an international reputation and also aligned ourselves to the Rhodes Trust. This Rhodes Trust not only gave the initial funding that allowed the creation of Rhodes University, but also provides funding for the Mandela-Rhodes scholarships which are presented to students with outstanding leadership qualities every year to allow them to attend Oxford University. In this way, the name Rhodes forms the basis of this valuable link with Oxford, as well as being the name under which we have established ourselves nationally and internationally.
Re-branding of any operation, corporate or otherwise, is a risky business. A spontaneous name-change inevitably erodes existing brand equity and alienates existing client bases. This fact is well-known in the business world, and it is unlikely that Rhodes will be immune from this risk.
The intention of keeping the name of Rhodes as Rhodes is not to 'glorify' Cecil Rhodes, but rather to maintain and uphold our reputation as a center of academic excellence, which is inextricably linked to our name. Rhodes, in this case, is not the name of Cecil Rhodes. It is the name of a dynamic, diverse community of scholars who have always been committed not only to academic excellence but also to diversity and social change. Keep the name of Rhodes. It is not the name of Cecil Rhodes: it is part of the identity of every Rhodent who has or aspires to have the name on their degrees and carries the Rhodes University values of leadership and excellence with pride.
Dear Vice-Chancellor,
Due to the many debates, controversies and inquiries surrounding the name of Rhodes University in relation to its benefactor Cecil John Rhodes, we wished to add to the dialogue. We wish to interject the voices of alumni and other interested parties who feel that the name of Rhodes University is a brand in itself and sufficiently distant from that of Cecil Rhodes to pose no immediate contradiction to the principles of excellence and leadership on which Rhodes is based. We wished to make clear our misgivings about the possible pitfalls of a re-branding and express our pride in the institution that is Rhodes.
We hope you will take note of our voices and that our effort to reach you will serve some purpose in the outlines of the debate and policy-making.
Yours faithfully,
All the undersigned.
Over 1500 signatures already! Things are looking great and thanks a million for all your support: it's empowering to know so many stand up for Rhode Uni's identity and reputation which mean so much to us. Unfortunately the ground situation is moving just as fast, and we need your support now more than ever to reach our goal quickly! Please Facebook share our link and ask your friends to share their support. Together we can save Rhodes's name!
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