By Chelsy Rickard
From faxes to WhatsApp voice notes, from bicycles to electronic scooters and Uber, from Ricoffy to flat whites and bubble tea – student life at Stellenbosch University (SU) seems to have changed significantly over the past 85 years.
When talking to one’s parents about their years at SU, it may seem like we have moved into a completely new era. The trends have changed and social life has shifted. But have things changed as much as it seems? Die Matie gathered some opinions from current SU students and alumni.
What social activities did/do you do with your friends?
Current SU students:
Gym, go on double dates, play pool and go clubbing.
— Daniel Keyser, first year, BCom (Management Accounting)
Hiking, at-home movie nights and drinks at a wine bar.
— Gizelle Classen, third year, BA (Humanities)
Braaing at my friends’ flat, having picnics and going for walks.
— Emma van der Merwe, second year, BEng (Industrial Engineering)
Picnics are still a favourite student activity. Photo: Chelsy Rickard
SU alumni:
Drinking wine or beer at a bar. Spending time at a digs.
— John Giles, graduated LLB, 1996
Spending time with friends at karnavals (parades held by students), sokkies and at church.
— Elizabeth Strijdom, graduated B (Home Economics), 1970
Playing sports, having picnics and making trips to the beach.
— Liezel Rickard, graduated BSc (Physiotherapy), 1999
Picnics are still a favourite student activity. Supplied: Liezel Rickard
What student spending patterns have you observed while studying in Stellenbosch?
Current SU students:
Students do not refrain from spending the money they have, although some are more money conscious than others.
— Anja van Rooyen, first year, BSc (Molecular Biology and Biotechnology)
I live in a private student residence, have my own car, make my own meals and can visit the gym. I budget well and don’t spend money unnecessarily outside of grocery shopping or coffee with a friend.
— Jasminka Kurz, fourth year, BEng (Industrial Engineering)
SU alumni:
We were dedicated to our academics. We did not have the finances to spend on any luxuries.
— Liezel Rickard, graduated BSc (Physiotherapy), 1999
Limited resources!
— Antoinette Loggenberg, graduated BSc (Actuarial Science), 1995
Which social trends have you observed among students while studying in Stellenbosch?
Current SU students:
There is a big fitness culture with a focus on running or going to the gym. There is a large percentage that will take any opportunity to get drunk and even think it’s cool. Many people go to support Maties rugby but, again, there is often alcohol involved.
— Emma Loggenberg, third year, BEng (Civil Engineering)
Vaping and binge-drinking. Everyone is running.
— Luhan Steenberg, second year, BEng (Electrical Engineering)
SU alumni:
Most people smoked. Going out for drinks after an exam.
— John Giles, graduated LLB, 1996
Going out to clubs and dancing.
— Liezel Rickard, graduated BSc (Physiotherapy), 1999
It seems that Down-Downs is one tradition that has remained. Supplied: Liezel Rickard
Campus Security’s opinion on changing student trends
Dr Viljoen van der Walt, who has been the Director of Risk Management and Campus Security at SU since 1997, has also observed changes in student culture and lifestyle in the time that he has worked at the university. “Many more students have their own cars and many more students reside in private accommodation around campus. It might thus be that alcohol abuse and related incidents occur off-campus and are not observed by Campus Security,” he said.
Van der Walt also noted, “I would say that there are lesser incidents of binge-drinking which are related to security incidents throughout the years. Such incidents used to be more frequent than they are now.” He added that crime trends on campus have decreased since 2016 due to a deliberate refinement of safety and security measures by the university.
