Today students of the University of FORT HARE  woke up on an email that seeks to change the University name to Chief Maqoma Fort. While we do welcome the removal of the colonial name Hare we are concerned with retraining of the word "fort" as if the University is still a fort. 

Maqoma is a prominent figure in the history of Xhosa people in the region where UFH is situated and in the history of black in general. But the most prominent and most fitting figure in the History of UFH in particular is Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe, the first President of Fort Hare SRC. A freedom fighter who was identified as the most dangerous political prisoner by the apartheid regime as a result he had laws dedicated to him which were "Sobukwe clauses". Sobukwe once said that "fort Hare must be to thw African what Stellenbosch is to the Afrikaner, it must be barometer of  African thought". His thoughts and philosophies are still effective and relevant even in the current status quo. 

With all that this man has done for Azania, he receives no recognition. So changing the University name to Robert Sobukwe University would be both to recognize his academic and political work, and setting a standard for the caliber of students that must come out of this historical university.  

“We meet here today, to rededicate ourselves to the cause of Africa, to establish contact beyond the grave, with the great African heroes and assure them that their struggle was not in vain.”~Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe . Let us remember this African hero

While we reject the proposed name, we should further propose a name so that the next name should be a name that came from students, the primary stake holders of the university. 

We hope that you find the above in order and you will fully participate in this initiative.

Long live the spirit of Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe long live��✋�

Izwe lethu ✋� i Afrika �