Shot on campus, but still have to take exams

Rhodes University: #MoveTheExams to Protect Student Safety!

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Dear friends, It all started in September, when students at Rhodes University in South Africa began to protest in solidarity with students from all over the country. Their aim? Reducing fees to make higher education more affordable. But university officials saw these peaceful protests as disruptive, and called in the police. They arrested 11 students, and soon afterwards began showering protesters with rubber bullets and tear gas. Even journalists, student medics, non-protesters, and professors were caught in the police crossfire. One professor reportedly told an officer that these actions were against the law. The officer's response? They were "above the law." Right now the campus is not safe for students, but it is exam season. Ask Rhodes University to protect students and #MoveTheExams to January 2017. Recently, the situation has spiraled out of control even further, and students say campus feels dangerous. It is now exam time, but students are preoccupied with concerns about the heavy police presence and the possibility of being tear-gassed or shot at with rubber bullets. To ask students to take exams under these traumatic conditions is unfair and unreasonable. The students have started a Care2 petition urging Rhodes University to move all examinations to January 2017. This would be in the best interest of the University by giving academics time to prepare properly without fearing violence, and would also protect students, staff and other faculty. Will you sign the students’ petition? The more international pressure we can create, the more likely the university officials are to consider this request. Thank you for all that you do,   Miranda B. The Care2 Petitions Team