University freedom, Ranjeni Munusamy, The Reformation, Moshe Dyan

Should the vice-chancellor of a university publicly show allegiance to any given political party? This is the subject of my first column here, published in the Herald in 2003. Below it is the response of then Fort Hare VC Derrick Swarts. I also run a review I did of an interesting novel about the Reformation, and a letter I wrote again tackling the thorny issue of Israel, along with the inevitable responses.

My article critical of then Fort Hare vice-chancellor Derrick Swartz. It continues below. (Please click on the text to see it larger.)

The concluding part of my article on Derrick Swartz.

Prof Swartz, now vice-chancellor at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, was quick to defend his position. His article concludes below.

The last part of Prof Swartz's article.

This letter appeared in the Sunday Times on August 3, 2003. I took umbrage at reporter Ranjeni Munusamy's slanted views on Zimbabwe. Not surprisingly, she later became a close political ally of the likes of Blade Nzimande and President Jacob Zuma.

My review of Q, a novel by Luther Blissett, set at the time of the Reformation.

With daily reports of the ongoing violence which beset Israel at the time, I again wrote on this issue. My letter in the Herald was published on August 26, 2003.

On September 2, these responses were published.