Oprah receives South African honorary doctorate

[June 25, 2011]  BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa (AP) -- A central South African university known for fraught race relations is welcoming a visit by Oprah Winfrey.

On Friday, Winfrey is to receive an honorary doctorate from the University of the Free State, bringing international media to normally quiet Bloemfontein.

In 2006, four white Free State students made a video humiliating black cleaning women and expressing opposition to integrating the historically white school. Jonathan Jansen, who in 2009 became the university's first black rector, has been credited with pushing for change.

Nadipha Jacobs, a black student, says the university is slowly becoming more tolerant, and that Winfrey's visit shows that.

Winfrey, who is to give a speech and take questions from students Friday, has yet to comment.

[Associated Press]

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