THE withdrawal of sociologist Eddie Webster from the race for the post of vice-chancellor of Rhodes University has left a conservative as the only contender.
To the dismay of Grahamstown progressive organisations and academics, Webster has chosen to stay at the University of the Witwatersrand. Academic sources said his work on proposed new labour legislation was a contributory factor in his decision.
This has left only one man in the running: Rhodes’ vice-principal Dr Michael Smout, who follows the conservative tradition set by the current vice- chancellor, Dr Derek Henderson, who retires at the end of the year.
Rhodes’ staff and community organisations have been fighting a running battle with the University Council over Henderson’s successor since late last year. Despite protests from the forum, which wants the selection process to start again from scratch, selection committee head Dr Brian La Trobe says the process will go ahead. — Ecna
Webster said his withdrawal had nothing to do with the squabble over the post. The allure of the new industrial relations era had led to his “change of heart”.
Webster spoke of his “excitement” at being put up for the position and his “sadness” at having to withdraw. It had been a “crucial” and “very difficult” decision, but the change towards management and labour working jointly in industry was “something I have been working towards for 20 years. I felt that my central interests were with my discipline and my current work.”
While being at pains to emphasis that he did not want to comment on the selection procedure, he did say that “divisions in the Rhodes community” were “cause for concern”.