NYAMEKA MBETE

On Thursday 13 October, the piazza played host to the first ever Tukkie Pride Day. The event was aimed at bringing together all the students of UP to embrace the value of Tuks traditions and culture.
Initiated by the SRC, Chairperson Charl Oberholzer hopes to see it become an annual event. “We are a large university and need to go the extra mile. We have a rich history and culture; the university is over 100 years old.” Oberholzer hopes to see the university become more serious about student traditions, referring to this year’s cancellation of the Spring Day.
Highlights of the day included the university’s song being recited, the facts of Oom Gert’s origin, as well as the Tukkie handshake.
Rag Committee member and first-year Political Science student Lerato Masilela said, “Tukkie Pride day is about embracing and celebrating being a student at Tuks.” Beth Mahlangu, a Bcom Marketing student singled out diversity as the biggest element that we can be proud of at UP.
The day involved getting students to participate in activities such as the taking on the mechanical bull and hand printing that allowed students to leave their mark.
According to Chris Jones, a third-year Zoology student, “The varsity has a good name and produces the highest number of Master’s and Doctorate students in the country.” He however hoped to see an increase in entrance requirements due to overpopulation.
This positive initiative from the SRC is a reminder of the significant factors that bring students together moulding us into proud Tukkies along with the privileged opportunity to study here.