If the name of the city of Pretoria is changed to Tshwane, as expected, does that mean that the University of Pretoria will have a similar name change? -=Steve=-
I thought it had already changed to Tshwane. I saw a CV yesterday of someone that said "Univ of Pretoria in Tshwane" but I can't seem to find it again.
My pal in South Africa (formerly a member of parliament) says the name change thing is extremely controversial, and may be in the courts for years. This article suggests that its use -- on everything from major cities to local streets -- is driving wedges between the African, the Afrikaaner, and the English communities. http://www.guardian.co.uk/elsewhere/journalist/story/0,,1921921,00.html Regarding Pretoria/Tshwane, the article also says, "The consensus, amidst much controversy, seems to be that a number of municipalities including Pretoria were combined to form the City of Tshwane metropolitan municipality. But at the same time, the city of Pretoria somehow remains doggedly Pretoria, with marches, petitions and threats of legal action against anyone daring to challenge it." My pal is especially annoyed that the Johannesburg street on which a building he owns is located was changed from "Harrow Road" to "Joe Slovo Drive" after the late leader of the Soth African Communist Party. John Bear, near Berkeley, California, where the street signs still say, after 20 years, "Martin Luther King Junior Way (former Grove St.)"
Dr. Bear, I am very glad to see you posting here again as well as the other site. Please disregard Janko's cries of betrayal because I am sure he is in the minority when it comes to this issue.
Thanks, John. The good news is that I ask not just out of curiosity, but because it may be personally relevant. Someone's been recommended to me as a potential doctoral thesis supervisor there, and if things work out it would be nice to know what my diploma would say on it. -=Steve=-
This is an interesting case. I probably would prefer (not that my preferences matter to anyone but me) that transcripts, degrees and letters issued by the erstwhile University of Pretoria be converted, maybe not permanently but at least, for some time, to "University of Tshwane/Pretoria." This might possibly soothe some unnecessarily aggrieved sensibilities. Or not. I wonder, though. We have several similar instances to ponder and review. What happened, for example, to the University of Burma when in 1989, Burma became officially recognized (at least, to the Burmese) as Myanmar? Note, though, that according to the respected publication "View on Asia," "since 1989 the authorities have promoted the name Myanmar instead of Burma as a conventional name for their state. The name change is recognised by the UN but not the US. Australia does not seem to have an official position on the choice of terminology. Burmese expatriates, including those residing in Australia, continue to use the old colonial name. This paper uses both names, attaching no political significance to either term.." What about the African nation of Dahomey which upon gaining political independence from its colonial (Eoropean) impresarios, renamed itself and became the Republic of Benin? And, for that matter, when the oft- but incorrectly-touted city of Peking (in China) became Beijing (as it is known today and should have been so recognized aeons before the political, official change), what happened to the University of Peking? Things change, societies change, civilization rolls on ... but it appears that the most difficult change is the one which affects many of us in the species homo sapiens sapiens, at least when it comes to changing names of human institutions, land masses, processes, ideas, people ..... Oh, well. No one said that evolution (of man and all things manly and otherwise) would be pretty. Carry on! Thanks. ---------------------- Jake_A "A good name is better than riches."
