While Hatfield campus is home to multiple societies and campus‑wide events, Groenkloof offers fewer activities and promotional efforts, making it more difficult for students there to stay informed on UP affairs. A recent PDBY survey found that some Groenkloof students rely on WhatsApp groups for campus news instead of official channels such as ClickUp or official Instagram accounts. Respondents described these methods as reaching a limited audience. Physical posters are also frequently overlooked unless they are actively sought out.
According to one survey participant, “We never have those big events or even proper care of the campus.” This sentiment was echoed by Ecstasy Masingi, Culture Officer for House Education, who noted that while Hatfield‑based events are plentiful, her efforts to engage Groenkloof students face logistical hurdles. “It’s a dominating opinion that many students, including myself, share,” Masingi said. Respondents expressed interest in more academic seminars on site and in having university services visit the campus on a regular basis.
FLY@UP has made remarkable strides in bridging this gap: the team consistently brings its full suite of activations to Groenkloof and all other campuses, ensuring that students everywhere can participate in their signature events. FLY@UP coordinator Tayla Jonker told PDBY that every activation, from career fairs to wellness workshops, takes place at Groenkloof alongside Hatfield, Onderstepoort, Hillcrest, and Prinshof. The only exception is the thrift activation, which Jonker explained is exceptionally labour‑intensive and costly to stage across multiple locations. “FLY@UP does not have the capacity to facilitate it at the other campuses,” she said, underscoring both the team’s broad reach and the one practical limit on expansion.
PDBY also acknowledges that until recently, its printed editions were not delivered to Groenkloof. Since being notified of this, the publication has ensured that each new edition is stocked in the Groenkloof Library, providing students with reliable access to the paper.
Overall, PDBY’s survey results point to a communication gap and uneven distribution of events and resources between campuses. Students at Groenkloof continue to depend primarily on informal peer networks for updates, suggesting that adjustments to information channels, campus programming, and distribution practices could address their expressed needs.
Jason Visser