
Helshoogte may not be the oldest residence on campus, but rest assured that in the 46 years of the existence of this residence, a long lasting history and many traditions have been created. Our residence is already respected for this reason on campus. The following is just a brief summary of the various traditions and snippets of history in Helshoogte:
Helshoogte was opened in 1973 on May 11, and officially inaugurated on May 12. However, the residence was christened as "Ellehoogte" in 1972 during the building phase on May 12, but the name was soon changed to "Helshoogte" in the same year.
Helshoogte's house coat of arms symbolizes the three aspects of a healthy education in Stellenbosch: academic life, which is the main reason for our presence in university, the social level, where human relations play a major role and lastly the sports field, where physical development contributes to maintaining a healthy mental balance. The three arrows depart from a common base and find course and unity in a vortex of motion. The horizontal part indicates stability and steadfastness - to strive for all three at the same time and thus become symbolic of the upward pursuit of our ideals.
Although Helshoogte's official weapon is the three pillars, there is still a famous badge in this House: the Chicken. The residents of Helshoogte are proudly known as “Hoenders” (chickens) on campus.
The hostel is also known as the "Hoenderhok" (chicken coop), a fact that we as Helshoogters are proud of, and this was depicted by mounting a chicken rooster on the hostel's roof in 1982.
The rooster was stolen (and restored) in 1983, but replaced in 1998 with a new rooster. In 1995, this rooster started crowing on the roof every morning at 07:30 to remind campus of our presence here on Maties. Residents of Stellenbosch have already pleaded for our rooster not to crow for a day or two!
We also started our famous “Hoenderdag” in 1981, a day that is now one of the biggest social events on campus.
Helshoogte follows the BRUT value system:
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Helshoogte mag dalk nie die oudste koshuis op kampus wees nie, maar wees verseker dat in die 46 jare van die bestaan van hierdie koshuis, is daar al vele tradisie geskep en geskiedenis gemaak. Ons koshuis word met rede op kampus al so respekteer. Die volgende is maar ’n kort opsomming van verskeie tradisies in Helshoogte, brokkies geskiedenis en interessante stukke:
Helshoogte is in 1973 op 11 Mei geopen, en amptelik ingewy op 12 Mei. Die koshuis is egter in 1972 tydens die boufase op 12 Mei as “Ellehoogte” gedoop, maar die naam is gou na “Helshoogte” verander in dieselfde jaar.
Helshoogte se huiswapen simboliseer die drie aspekte van ‘n gesonde opvoeding op Stellenbosch: die akademiese lewe, wat die hoofrede vir ons teenwoordigheid is, die sosiale vlak, waar menseverhoudinge ‘n groot rol vertolk en laastens die sportveld, waar liggaamlike ontwikkeling ‘n bydrae lewer om ‘n gesonde geestelike balans te handhaaf. Die drie pyle vertrek vanaf ’n gemeenskaplike basis en vind koers en eenheid in ’n draaikolk van beweging. Die horisontale deel dui op stabiliteit en standvastigheid – om al drie tegelyk die hoogtes in te skiet en sodoende simbolies te word van die opwaartse strewe na verwesenliking van ons ideale.
Alhoewel Helshoogte se amptelike wapen die drie pilare is, is daar in hierdie Huis nog ‘n beroemde kenteken: die Hoender. Die inwoners van Helshoogte staan met trots as “Hoenders” bekend op kampus.
Die koshuis staan ook as die Hoenderhok bekend, ’n feit waarop ons as Helshoogters trots is, en dit is uitgebeeld deur in 1982 ’n hoenderhaan op die koshuis se dak te monteer.
Die haan was in 1983 gesteel (en terugversorg), maar is in 1998 vervang met ’n nuwe haan. In 1995 het hierdie Haan elke oggend om 07:30 op die dak begin kraai om kampus te herinner wie koning kraai hier op Maties. Inwoners van Stellenbosch het al navraag gedoen indien ons Haan ’n dag of twee lank nie kraai nie!
Ons het ook ons beroemde “Hoenderdag” begin in 1981, ’n dag wat nou nog een van die grootste sosiale geleenthede op kampus is.
Helshoogte volg die BRUT-waardestelsel: