University student leadership hailed

Baboki Kayawe | Wednesday February 12, 2014 19:52

The UB Student Representative Council (UBSRC) will this afternoon convene a meeting against gay discrimination and related issues. This comes after the homosexual population sought their intervention against escalating intimidation and non-tolerance towards minority populations.

BONELA coordinator of Lesbians Gay Bisexuals Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI), Caine Youngman is impressed by the UBSRC’s proactive move towards advocating for the marginalised. It is an indication that BONELA and the Lesbians, Gays and Bisexuals of Botswana (LEGABIBO) are not alone in the fight for impartiality and inclusion.

“It sounds very good and does show that the student leadership has the interest of their members at heart as opposed to some leaders who opt to select who they represent,” Youngman said.

That the SRC is reaching out to the gay community, and ensuring that they are protected also epitomises the progressive nature of institutions of higher learning, according to Youngman.

When asked whether he believed the SRC would achieve its intended objective, he maintained that UB was progressive as evidenced by the role its professors have played in upholding democracy and public good in general through research and commentary in the media.

“I think they will succeed, and we will be more than willing to offer a hand if approached for anything regarding this campaign. Many clubs are running successfully at the institution and this one will as well,” he opined.

Homosexual, transgender and bisexual students recently approached student leaders to help address high ranging issues from harassment, intimidation, and rejection in the UB community.

UBSRC vice-president Tiro Diepo confirmed to Mmegi that the meeting, which is only open to the said people and sympathisers is on.

“We have been approached by the homosexual community about the challenges they face here at UB. As the SRC we have taken a resolution that a meeting be held today at 5:30 pm to address such,” Diepo said.

Further, he said as student leaders they have heeded these marginalised community’s call because their mandate is to serve students from all walks of life regardless of political affiliation, religious inclination and even sexual orientation.

Though he maintained that most of their grievances were confidential, he said discrimination is bad enough to impede progress in any aspect of life.

“We don’t have any statistical evidence to say these people are doing bad academically as a result of the environment they are in, but we all know that any form of discrimination has the potential to derail one from their given task,” he said.

Another thorny issue is allegations by the gay community that they do not receive medical assistance from the UB clinic. However, he was quick to say they are yet to confirm it.

A gay club will be formulated, which will affiliate to the SRC. Moreover an anti-gay campaign will be rolled out, with the student leadership calling for support and lobbying for assistance from faith-based movements on campus as well as charitable organisations.

In addition, Diepo said they would discuss formulation of policies with UB management geared towards inclusion and safeguarding the rights of the gay community.

Asked whether they see that materialising given that government has denied LEGABIBO recognition at national level, he is optimistic that they will push hard to see it happen.

He assured all potential attendees of this meeting that security will be taken care of after homophobic attacks on social media and threats to frustrate the gathering.