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Pets in digs
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LLB student Mbali Baduza [left] and Masters student Chantelle Malan discuss the debates surrounding students involvement in Grahamstown. Photo: NDILEKA LUJABE
I think its a fantastic and necessary step for the development of young journalists, Lewis explained. It forces you out of your comfort zone and ties you to the area in which you will spend your whole degree operating. Lewis noted that learning a new language not only broadens a students ability to converse with mother-tongue speakers of isiXhosa, but goes beyond linguistic exchange. You are also exposing them to cultures beyond their own, thus making them far more effective journalists, said Lewis. They can appeal to multiple demographics and source stories from a far wider pool. Not so-optimistic opinions concerning the new addition are, however, still evident. Chelsea Sanford, a first-year newcomer to the JMS School, was not as enthusiastic as the second year students about the newly introduced requirement needed to accomplish her journalistic ambitions. I do believe it should be an optional course and not compulsory and we, the students, should be able to decide whether it will benefit our future or not, said Sanford. The prospect of learning an African language as a compulsory subject really scares me. Languages are not my forte but if I need to study it in order to achieve my goal of being an outstanding journalist, then I will give it my best, she added. I understand that journalists in South Africa should learn a language closer to home and I do see those benefits of learning isiXhosa; however it only caters to a certain group in society, said Sanford. We are conscious of the talk among students, du Toit concluded. Nevertheless, no formal complaints have been made.
We [the JMS School] were open to the idea of incorporating an African language due to its success in other courses. Students need to be multilingual in order to be good journalists.
-Jeanne du Toit JMS Curriculum Chair
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Non-compulsory events a change for the better
By Matthew de Klerk and Lonwabo Nodada espite some student scepticism concerning the 2013 changes to Orientation Weeks activities, namely that they are now officially non-compulsory, the Dean of Students (DoS) Dr Vivian de Klerk is adamant that they have been for the better. De Klerk stressed that the O-Week events should never have been forced. They have never been compulsory, but there were complaints that they had developed into something verging on initiation in some residences, she said. According to de Klerk, some students were forced to get up at 5am to practice for the serenades, culminating in one incident where 16 doors were smashed open in a residence last year when its first-year students did not emerge on time. De Klerk also noted that the presentation of serenades forced participants to dress in ways that made them feel very uncomfortable and to engage in extremely awkward encounters. Certain religions forbid singing and dancing, she said. We need to be sensitive to the diverse backgrounds of all of our students. Although complaints concerning serenades had been in abundance among students in the past, a formal complaint in the form of a letter was made to the DoS office last year. Sent by a new student at Rhodes University, the letter expressed complaints of sexual objectification and concerns about the mounting pressure on firstyear students to participate despite the non-compulsory nature of the event. More importantly, their personal unwillingness to take part based on religious beliefs or personal principles were also addressed. These complaints were echoed by other students, even appearing in the Residence Quality of Life survey that is run annually. In a move to deal with these claims and complaints, de Klerk worked with Hall Committees, who were required to discuss the matter in their respective halls and residences. Negotiations took place between elected representatives of each hall, hall wardens, the Vice Chancellor and Deputy Vice Chancellors, the Students Representative Council (SRC) and the DoS. Despite the controversy surrounding these implementations, de Klerk believes the serenades have been received in a much more positive light this year. I was a judge at the RU Jamming event, and was impressed with all the performances, which were not offensive or highly sexualised as they have been in past years, she said. However, the option to ignore the wake-up calls and not take part in the residences activities during O-Week has been met with divided opinion, with some feeling that newcomers are unwittingly opting out of one of the best traditional experiences of residence life. [Having serenades] not being compulsory is kind of sad, said secondyear student Anthony Hodgson. I really enjoyed doing the serenades and getting to know my fellow res mates without having to go out and party, seeing as that might not be some peoples vibe. The house as a whole, in my opinion, came together and made a very new, intimidating experience very comfortable and welcoming. You also get to know a lot of the girls reses, which is social and relieving for those who are possibly shy and timid, said Hodgson. Second year student and member of the Olive Schreiner House Committee, Anelisiwe Tsotsi, expressed similar feelings towards the way in which the serenades took place this year. Of course it was more appropriate because everything had to be done in a very restricted, civil way. The experience that I had last year when you wake up at 5am and you havent brushed your teeth and you still have to sing to these guys and have an awesome time was more fun for me. I feel this year was quite dry, said Tsotsi. Some feel the voluntary nature of the serenades is a good change. I believe that it being voluntary is not necessarily a bad thing, said Lucy Holford-Walker, who served on the Victoria Mxenge House Committee last year. Serenades most certainly make for a bond among new students, due to their being thrown in the deep end and having to sing a song and learn a dance with their counterparts, but now there is excess pressure on House Committees. It is now up to them to ensure that the other activities on offer in no way give cause for discomfort for anyone - teas or picnics with other residences, for example. De Klerk does, however, believe that the changes are for the better and has evidence to prove it. Showing emails sent to her by members of various House Committees at the University, she said that there was much praise for the new system. Giving our first-year students a choice when it came to serenading actually made them more excited for it, said a student in one email. All of our new students wanted to be involved in the process, and girls who were shy were quite happy to stand in the back row and sing along. The email, which de Klerk shared on Facebook, went on to say that upon consulting the first years about whether they were happy to be woken up at 6:30am for serenades, they readily agreed and all seemed to be excited about the serenades, as opposed to the previous year when girls were grumpy and unhappy at the rude awakening. Another email agreed, saying the changes were much needed even if they were unpopular at first. When we made it clear that everything was voluntary it really seemed to help the first years to understand that we were not superior to them in any way and they seemed more comfortable when interacting with us. It remains to be seen whether House Committees will rise to the challenge and whether or not 2013s first years will be exposed to all the usual traditions as the year progresses.
Helen Joseph first years being serenaded by Guy Butler first year residence during this years O-Week. Photo: MATTHEW de KLERK
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F a M been done in the beginning, we might w not be in the situation of having a by- J S election., he said. Voting took place on Tuesday the n a 26th and Wednesday the 27th of February. Ballot stations were situateds in dining halls as well as at the library r for off-campus students. According 2 to Ofei, participation at the end of the w first day was very promising with voter j numbers looking better than last years general election and certain of the voting stations running out of ballot c w papers. The election results are due to be released at the first student forum meeting of 2013 on Thursday 28th of February. Regardless of the result, it is almost certain that the new councillors will be under close scrutiny by the student body. Check online at www.oppidanpress. com for the results of the by-election and interviews with your new SRC councillors.
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be a disservice to you, the students, said Jones. My strength and passion lies in interacting with students on a personal basis, not virtually via Facebook, Twitter, etc. Jones went on to say that the runner up to the portfolio in the 2012 elections, Luluma Qongqo, was more qualified to do the job than she was, and subsequently felt she was doing the SRC a disservice by holding onto a portfolio she did not feel capable of fulfilling. She ended off her statement on the SRC Facebook page with her signature pink slogan, PINK signified never forgetting; I will never forget you ever. Similar to last year, the controversial slogan seemed to attract the heat of some student commentators. In the press statement from the SRC, the council supported her decision and added that they admired the honesty and courage exhibited by her in the latter statement. Although the comments on the SRC Facebook page were also supportive, generally thanking Jones for her honesty, students expressed their concerns that Rhodes begins yet another year with a string of resignations. Subsequently, a stir was caused among students, with comments such as another Councillor resigns! SRC Liaison Officer, Eric Ofei was confident that the resignations had not affected the SRC this year as it had last year. Last year, I think the trouble with the resignations had to do with the handover, said Ofei. This year, the outgoing Media Councillor [Jones] had a good relationship with the runner-up [Qongqo] and also, the new Residence Councillor shadowed the outgoing councillor during O-Week so that there wasnt a huge void left. Ofei went on to say that last year a crucial portfolio was vacated, that of Societies, and that this year the only by-election is for that of Student Benefits Councillor. Qongqo, as the runner-up, automatically replaced Jones under the terms of the SRCs constitution, and in Jones opinion she was far more deserving of the position than herself. According to the students constitution, if the runner-up in the vacated constituency is available and willing to take the forfeited place, the SRC shall co-opt the runner-up according to the results of the previous election. Although SRC Environmental Councillor, Luke Cadden, had assured worried students that this was only the first actual resignation due to the other two resignations based on technicalities, the fact of the matter is that there were still gaping holes left by the other two councillors resignations. According to the press statement released by the SRC, Phiri resigned due to a constitutional conflict. As she no longer lives in residence, Phiri is no longer eligible for the position of Residence Councillor. Luckily enough for the SRC, the Residence Councillor position also had a runner-up and so Tendai Mapuranga was instated. The SRC encountered their third stroke of bad luck when Pholo indicated that she would no longer be a student at Rhodes University, having finished her undergraduate degree and unexpectedly stepped into the working world, as the SRC had called it. The uncontested position left no easy replacement for the council. Just three days after this, Jones announced her decision to run for Pholos old position. I have learned where my strengths, my weaknesses and most importantly, where my passions lie: with serving and helping students in a more holistic, personal and compassionate manner, she explained. The scene is now similar to last years with Joness controversial Pink campaign set to line the walls of the university. Last year, her Pink campaign picked up a fair amount of
After a lengthy and complicated election process at the end of 2012, the Student Representative Council (SRC) has been hit by three resignations in the first two weeks of the academic year. The initial resignations of both Residence Councillor, Khanyisile Phiri, and Student Benefits and Sponsorship Councillor, Naledi Pholo, were overshadowed by the later resignation of Media Councillor and controversial Pink Lady, Sarah Price-Jones. In a press release on Tuesday 12 February, the office of the presidency announced that the elected SRC Media Councillor for the year 2013 was stepping down. This was after Jones released a statement on the SRC Facebook page where she felt she needed to properly and informally address the students (whom I owe so much to) with regards to my resignation as SRC Media Councillor 2012/2013. Jones reasoning for stepping down r was related to a misunderstanding of s job titles and her own capabilities. I discovered that I neither have the capabilities nor the passion to continue with this portfolio as doing so would
Students from local Grahamstown schools protest outside the Department of Education on Constitution Street on Thursday, 21 March. The children, alongside parents and teachers, gathered to see Mayor Zamuxolo Peter to whom they wanted to deliver a memorandum demanding three things: the participation of educators in schools, safety in schools and the promise that these demands will be met within seven days. Photo: KIRSTEN MAKIN
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Do pets dig digs?
student has to have sufficient knowledge of how to look after the pet and must have long-term plans for the pet, including care during the holidays. Finding someone responsible to care for your pets while you are away, or alternatively, taking them on holiday with you often proves to be a challenge. According to Karen Kouari, the Vice Chairperson on the local SPCA, there are cases where students buy pets and then abandon them over the December holidays. Often the neighbours then take responsibility for them either by adopting them or taking them to the SPCA. Dogs are especially vulnerable, because they cannot fend for themselves like cats can. Pets add a lot of fun, love and humour, and can be a wonderful addition to a house, provided they are well-trained. Untrained dogs can cause quite a mess in a house, and it is important to consider the other residents in a digs before getting a pet. Tegan Scales, a third-year student who lives in digs with three dogs, has experienced the hassles of badlytrained dogs: The owner of the bull terrier mix didn't train his dog so it always rips up rubbish. She chews a lot of things as well. She also advises not getting too many pets. It was a lot of work at times, said Scales. Despite this, though, her account of pets is a very positive one and she recommends getting pets, saying that they add character to a digs. Pets cost money not only to buy, but also to take care of. There are many ongoing costs involved after buying a pet. Cats and dogs need to be dewormed three times a year and given their general shots every two years. Veterinary costs in the case of pets getting sick or hurt should also be accounted for. Pedigree animals are more likely to get
ne of the perks of moving out of residence is being able to get a pet or two. Many people are heard saying that they miss their pets back home and are quite excited to move out of res and get themselves a fluffy companion. Unfortunately, pet-keeping has a bite to it as well. Pets become problematic when students start running low on budget or when they need to leave the digs for a long period of time during the holidays. They can be quite pricy to look after and some species require much attention and affection, which may be taxing on stres students stressed by exams. First and foremost it should be noted that, because of the abundance of homeless animals and the often questionable conditions of breeding facilities, it is always better to adopt pets from the SPCA, rather than buying them from breeders. There are plenty of cats and dogs of all ages who would love a warm and comfortable home. The SPCA is in the industrial area off the N2, not far from campus, and easily visible from the N2. ROAR (Rhodes Organisation for Animal Rights) has a shuttle going there every other weekend to visit the animals, so transport should not be a problem. Dogs generally cost from R455 to R565, and cats from R295 to R395. This includes deworming, spaying, vaccination and an ID tag (for dogs), and is a very reasonable price. When adopting a pet, a student needs to take their student card and ID along, and the SPCA will make sure the property is suitable for the pet (it is important to have a garden and enough space for certain pets). The
There are a number of factors to consider when adopting a pet into your home or digs. Photo: JOSHUA OATES sick than mixed-breed animals. Food, blankets, toys and miscellaneous equipment for pets should also be taken into consideration. Cats and dogs are the more expensive pets to keep, whereas birds and small rodents are cheaper, and fish generally the cheapest. According to the manager of the Hoof & Hound pet store in Pepper Grove Mall, the pets most commonly bought by students are goldfish and rodents. This is undoubtedly because they cost less and are more practical when travelling. Before buying a pet it is important to check at the local shops and pet stores how much it will cost every month. The average price for a one-meal packet of cat or dog food is R5, where a can of 400g, which serves approximately four meals, is around R14. A pack of cat litter usually costs approximately R40 and a kilogram of kibble for cats or dogs ranges from R33 to R46. Then there are also treats, like dog biscuits, which can average at R38 per kilogram. As for the more budget-friendly pets, fish at the Hoof & Hound cost from R7.50 to R29, depending on the species. A bowl is a low R90, but a tank is more advisable, as it gives the fish more space. It costs R329. All the other miscellaneous things, like food, plastic plants, and pebbles could amount to around R120. The food, will of course be a continual expense. Monthly expenses for birds, including food, a beak sharpener and snacks come to more or less R40, but birds themselves tend to cost more than fish, and they have more expensive maintenance costs. Apart from money, pets also cost time and affection. A pet left at home alone for too long is likely to get very lonely, and the busy life of a student often requires being on campus for long periods at a time. A pet is a wonderful companion to have, but students are advised to be very careful about getting them, as they are costly and require much effort, time, attention, and above all, love to care for. Students need to be well dedicated to look after a pet, and those who are likely to have commitment issues should think twice before adopting or buying on a whim and thereby seriously affecting an animals life.
Rhodes University does not have a formal copyright policy but does keep within the law to alert students to what may or may not be allowed to be reproduced
- Rhodes University head librarian Vivian Botha
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Wine Tasting Society Committee members at this years Society Sign Up. Photo: MATTHEW DE KLERK (ACTS) charges approximately R120 subscription for the entire year, with members receiving more than just spiritual guidance for their money. Former ACTS Chairperson Colin Mkhize, who served the society for two years, said, It allows students to travel to our two annual provincial events, gets them a t-shirt, pays for the weekly social functions hosted by ACTS, pays for the national branch affiliation fee with the national body of ACTS, contributes to gifts for the priests at the end of the year, community engagement budget and exam mass cakes. For the most part, societies are working to the best of their abilities given constraints on budget, manpower and time. Its up to the students to choose wisely.
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A New South Africa built by Agang?
By Alex Maggs Politics In a move that looks set to change South Africas political landscape, former political activist and prominent South African academic Dr Mamphela Ramphele launched the political party Agang, during an address at Constitution Hill in Johannesburg on 18 February. Agang (which means to build in Sesotho) will run in the upcoming 2014 national elections. The party aims to take a stand against prevalent problems in South African government. These, according to Ramphele, include corruption, nepotism and poor governance. In her address Ramphele stated that passive citizenry is the cause of the unfavourable political state of the country and that consultation with those in villages, townships and suburbs, would aid in the creation of her partys policies. Today I announce that I am working with a group of fellow South Africans to form a party political platform that will focus on rekindling hope that building the country of our dreams is possible in our lifetime, she said. Senior lecturer in the Politics department, Dr Sally Matthews was at first ambivalent toward the rumours of Rampheles political undertaking. While she has many admirable qualities, I am not sure that participation in party politics is the best way to address some of our most pressing national problems, said Matthews. Matthews criticised Rampheles speech, saying that it was, Strong on emotive content and thin on clear political strategy. Of course this is her opening statement and she probably had to keep it quite vague and inclusive so that she can iron out strategy once shes built up a support base, she added. Third-year Politics student Kamogelo Molobye expressed his doubt in the partys future prospects. I feel like there are far too many parties trying to oppose the ANC without strong coalition with the other minor parties, he said. It would be better to form one strong opposition party. Ultimately, I feel that this wont work. Postgraduate Politics student and teaching assistant Yvonne Phyllis also doubted the partys potential for success. I think its good that we have female leaders of the calibre of Dr Ramphele who are trying to take a stand by branching out and doing something new, although in South African politics we have yet to see a party whose basis is not to criticise the ANC but to offer something new to our country, she said.
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Christopher Morris is a member of Students for Social Justice. Photo: CHARLES MACKENZIE
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Were busy planning the direction in which we want to go this year to get students more actively involved and broaden our reach beyond the Rhodes campus
-Chris Morris
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How is the Oppidan R155 Levy Spent?
1. The running and managing of the Oppidan bus - transport to student digs at night 2. Funding of salaries of six sub-wardens who attend to: Noise issues Neighbour and Landlordrelated complaints Student Crisises Legal Advice 3. Oppidan Common Room Tea & Coffee provided twice daily TV/DSTV Carpet & Furniture Cleaning 4. Promoting Team Oppi Sport 5. Promoting Oppidan Community Engagement 6. O-Week activities including lunch and dinner for all firstyear Oppies 7. Social activities incl. workshops/events eg. safety & security workshops/digs olympic/digs quiz 8. Flyers/Posters used in advertising of workshops/ events 9. Mentoring Programme 10. Telephone calls concerning the accommodation list and other Oppi-related issues 11. Telephone calls to firstyear Oppies living far from campus (Grahamstown East) to establish their welfare (subwarden telephone calls) 12. A portion of the levy is donated to the Dean of Students pocket money fund for Oppidan Students.
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Oppidan Bus times: Pick up from outside main library 5pm - 11pm [Mon-Thurs] 5pm - 9pm [Friday] Oppidan events - First term Oppidan Olympics 9/3/2013 : 12 - 4pm Great Field Games evening 16/3/2013: 6pm Steve Biko Union
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Students make their voice heard at Rhodes Rising. Photo: Robynne Peatfield
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Opinion
The academic year has only been underway for 3 weeks and yet, 2013 seems to be full of promise. While sectors of Rhodes society seem committed to a clean slate, others seem to have dragged their dirty laundry from last year into this one. However, it would seem, both at The Oppidan Press and among the student body, that there is a greater commitment to analysis as opposed to apathy, paired with the enthusiasm which inevitably comes with a new year. On a macro level, issues of local government politics have spilled over onto the Rhodes agenda. Disagreements regarding the rights of Rhodes University, which comprises Ward 12, have forced a generally passive constituency to become more involved. On issues of water and a possible name change, it is incredibly important that students assert their place in Grahamstown, despite claims that they do not form part. Considering that 2014 will give the nation the opportunity to vote for provincial and local governments (with the addition of Agang), it is important, in all spheres of politics, for students to ascertain which entities show promise, and which are simply full of unlikely promises. On a micro level, the same discretion will be essential when looking at the Student Representative Council (SRC), especially considering the spate of resignations seen so early in the year and the fact that quorum was not necessary for the new councillors to be elected. However, an optimistic and more collaborative approach with the SRC this year could possibly yield more results than the unrelenting adversarial tone which underpins its Facebook page. The end of last year already suggested that students were more aware of what they expected to receive, not only from their government and their SRC, but from Rhodes University itself. The nature of serenades and other Orientation Week activities have been completely altered by the sentiments of students, whose complaints to the Dean of Students resulted in significant changes. However, it would seem that this particular issue is still fairly contentious, considering the non-compliance of certain members of the house committee structure. Also, one wonders what type of events did and will continue to bond first year residents, considering the separation between those who participated in serenades and those who did not. It seems that 2013 closed one compulsory door but opened another. Journalism students will be compelled to study isiXhosa as part of their degree. While the value of a local, African language cannot be ignored, there are significant consequences in so far as cost- where a student pays for a subject they would not have chosen and perhaps more pressingly, the way in which with which the Humanities policy of an autonomous subject combination is compromised. However, it is hoped that the benefits will be all those which have been promised. The Oppidan Press is committed to ensuring that the promise and promises of this year come to fruition. 2013 is the year for real results, in all forms and on all fronts.
The Oppidan Press publishes letter that are bona fide expressions of opinion as long as they are not clearly libellous, defamatory, racist or sexist. We publish anonymous letters, but as an act of good faith in your part, we require your full name. We reserve the right to shorten letters due to space constraints and to edit them for grammatical inaccuracies. Letters that do not make it into our print edition will be published on our website.
ffirmative action is a matter of fierce contention among South Africans. Black Economic Empowerment initiatives, seeking to redress the deeply institutionalised and racialised imbalances in the South African working world are dismissed by conservatives as being useless, unfair, as entrenching racist discourses and stereotypes and most ludicrously, as being reverse racism, or even more astoundingly reverse apartheid. It is a sad testament to the indifference of South Africans, particularly of the post-apartheid generation, that they so easily absolve themselves of any kind of responsibility in the matter of redressing the gross inequalities that the machine of apartheid cemented into a country already victim to centuries of racialised inequality and discriminatory practices. It is saddening that after the first South African democratic elections potentially exceptional students are either denied access to tertiary institutions or, due to a defective school education, are unable to perform at the level required at University. The solution to these issues lies in the increased support of bridging programmes such as the Extended Studies Units. Through the Extended Studies programme, entrance is extended to students who generally dont meet the requirements. There is a range of factors that determine entrance. Entrance can also be based on the school attended, writing ability, background of the student as well as the profession of ones parents. A level of preference is given to students from the Eastern Cape, although there is only one Grahamstown resident in the programme this year. The programme is funded by the Department of Higher Education and Training. This is their way of broadening access. Sceptics of such bridging programmes often assert that interventionist educational programs must be directed at younger school-goers. It is argued that it is not plausible to make up for 12 years of sub-standard schooling in a single year. As true as this may be, it is still not an excuse to do nothing. This excuse has been accepted for far too long.
Ideally, there would have been some kind of progress in the standard of South African schooling since the inception of our democracy. It is a matter of great concern that nearly two decades later, we are debating how appropriate or feasible programmes such as the Extended Studies Unit are. Notwithstanding the plague of articles about the abysmal state of South African education that have been published within the last year, the Limpopo textbook debacle being but the most obvious example, it is clear that the education imparted upon willing minds in South Africa leaves much to be desired. The kind of changes that need to take place will take a significant period of time. In the far from ideal situation in which we currently reside, these setbacks are further magnified. You cant redress 12 years or poor schooling in one year, said programme co-ordinator and lecturer in the Extended Studies (ES) Science unit Karen Ellery. As true as this may be, it is not an acceptable excuse for institutions to do nothing, or to do just what is required of them. For a long time universities have blamed schools, said Ellery. We will still get those kids for a very long time to come. We need to discover what we need to do to accommodate a wide range of students. We are not doing that well enough. In the interim, potentially successful students can no longer be allowed to fall through the cracks in the system of higher education. Since South Africa has a great deal of territory to cover before students can approach the application process with even a semblance of equality, foundation programmes must be made a priority. Emphasis must be placed on establishing a stable foundation on which students can develop. Currently, these programmes exist quite as an aside. There are currently two staff members in charge of facilitating the Sciences Extended Studies Unit at Rhodes University: Ellery and fellow lecturer Ms Leela Pienaar. Although guest lecturers are frequently brought in, this structure is not sufficient to support the full 50 students the programme can officially sustain. The programme generally has around 35 or so students a year, which fortunately, is just about all it can handle. According to Ellery, the Extended
Studies programmes are quite well supported at Rhodes University. Encouraging as this is, these units should not be regarded as a mere means to satisfy the criteria of affirmative action at the university. These programmes need to be taken seriously and the institutional backing of them needs to be more apparent, particularly since they can be seen to be effective. During this year of concentrated support, ES students are prepared so that they will be successful in the mainstream courses. Students take three year-long courses: Mathematics, Computer Literacy (including basic programming) and Introduction to Science Concepts and Methods as well as courses in Physics, Chemistry, Geology and Human Kinetics and Ergonomics. There is also a peer-mentoring programme that provides support to students during their first semester. In order to proceed into mainstream courses, students have to pass all three courses and obtain a minimum average mark of 60%. There are 31 students in the 2013 Science programme. In the last review of the programme, done in 2011, it is clear that although results are often without a clear trend and students are more successful in some subjects than others, students from the extended studies programme do fare well when they move into mainstream programmes. Indeed, in a comparison of the average marks received by ES and mainstream students in between 2006 and 2010, the ES students can be seen to fare as well as and in some cases, better than other mainstream Science students. Although this is a not always so, ES student can be seen to triumph in subjects such as Mathematics, Chemistry and Statistics. A number of ES students have also gone on to do postgraduate degrees. The programme shows evidence of success in allowing students to flourish and make a success of themselves. Indeed, Ellory noted that many courses in the mainstream science programme need better support structures, as it is not only students in the ES programme whos background has not adequately prepared them for university. When faced with this knowledge, one cannot fathom what excuse will be imagined up next by educational authorities. Intervention needs to be made and most of all, it needs to be made now.
Opinion
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Mamphele acknowledges that a large number of South Africans feel excluded and systematically shut off by the bureaucratic structures in government.
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By Jenna Lillie
raffiti. The word conjures up images of gangs tagging buildings, rebellious teenagers expressing angst against the world or an artist sneaking around in the dead of night to create a thoughtprovoking masterpiece. Most of these connotations derive from generic representations in the media and the widespread superficial understanding of graffiti culture. The question most people try to address is whether or not graffiti is considered art. With this comes the important question regarding boundaries which seems to plague the reputation of graffiti. When does graffiti cross the thin line between art and vandalism? Due to the illegal nature of graffiti, it will automatically be deemed vandalism or defacement by any institution. Patrick Jordaan of the Rhodes Building Maintenance Department believes that graffiti on Rhodes property is vandalism. The process of removal is not only time-consuming but also expensive, the cost of which is taken from the Maintenance Fund. Sometimes whole
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Under the Arch is becoming an arts and crafts zone, with local residents such as Nothemba Makinana pictured above, selling beaded and handcrafted products.Photo: IVAN BLAZIC.
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stocks items such as jewellery, loose beads, artwork, airtime and snacks. Owner Janet Flynn started the business in 1998 out of a desire to help people through her creative talents.The shop, managed by Nadine Stein, also receives some of its products from senior citizens and people from town who need a platform to sell their artworks. Located right opposite Under the Arch is another gift shop called Transfusion. Here you can find handmade clothes, colourful scarves and beautiful bags. They also sell beaded bracelets and other accessories at studentfriendly prices. When looking for any arts and crafts items, be it a piece of clothing or a special gift, you need not leave campus. Just visit one of the shops under the Arch or the ladies sitting at the entrance with their beadwork for unique and affordable items.
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Members of the local band, Gentlemen Callers, include: Grant Mears, Robert Cairns, Wietsa Marais and Craig Albers. Photo: PHILIP GORDON WILSON By Davy Williams they still kick out the jams with raw power. They are resident performers at Champs Action Bar and their live malevolent shows contain varying set lists which always manage to surprise the crowd. The band also came in third place at last years live music competition, Battle of the Bands. The band is comprised of Robert Cairns on vocals, Craig Albers on bass, Wietsa Marais on guitar and Grant Mears on drums. They were established in March 2012. The music of Gentlemen Callers is influenced by metaphysics, reincarnation, failure, addiction and punk rock.
ome will know the title, The Gentleman Caller from Tennessee Williamss play The Glass Menagerie. The expression is also reminiscent of a suitor in the American South, a buttoned up and claustrophobic world of sexual anxiety. Now meet Gentlemen Callers, a band that describes themselves as neurotic astronauts, masters of the dark, arcane arts and high society rakes. Whether you classify them as punk, punk rock or post punk,
Whether you classify them as punk, punk rock or post punk, they still kick out the jams with raw power
Responding to such diverse themes, they have managed to collect an abundance of material. Their repertoire includes the 30 second song of pure blood and adrenaline, The Shit Song. Another fan favourite of theirs is Road to Damascus. Gentlemen Callers is the brainchild of frontman Robert Cairns and previous bassist, Scott Chapman. Speaking about how they got started, Cairns explained that it is something they thought up because they were so utterly disappointed with their lives in general. We were always talking about starting a band and doing something creative. Then at one stage we just decided to go for it, even though we were musically inexperienced. We just decided to take the plunge, said Cairns. Drawing a laugh from his fellow bandmembers, drummer Mears said that they are in technical terms, awful. However, Cairns asserted that the band just has a different approach to thinking about music. So where do these outsiders see themselves in the scene of what frontman Robert Cairns sees as the imperialist approach to music? Its becoming more difficult for me to genrify what were doing. Id say a conflation of hardcore punk and post punk, somewhere in the middle ground there, said Cairns. However, he noted a wariness when using the term punk, loaded with connotations as it is for certain people. Gentlemen Callers are currently in studio, working on the production of their first album, entitled Im Feeling Old Testament.
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s young business people, its true that we often look to those who have succeeded for guidance, inspiration and motivation. Given that most people are not personal acquaintances with Mark Zuckerberg or Mark Shuttleworth, this mentorship usually happens vicariously through books and other similar channels. A craze seems to be spreading, fuelled by a global economic crisis, rising costs of living, a shaky international job market and mans insatiable appetite for wealth. The revolution has had many proponents and leaders, but none has had the impact or been able to capture the imagination of people quite like Robert Kiyosaki and his book Rich Dad, Poor Dad. The April 2000 release has since fuelled an industry based on motivational speaking, books on how to be successful and a seeming attack on the formal education system.
In this book, two of the most successful authors on business and entrepreneurship come together to give insight on why they feel that the world could use more rich people. Kiyosaki of Rich Dad, Poor Dad teams up with best-selling business author and real estate tycoon, Donald J. Trump, to bring you this fascinating exploration into what makes people succeed in business and in life. The two authors offer readers the opportunity to think big and not be limited by circumstance, financial standing, social class or any other influence. The essence is that people are often limited in what they can achieve because of the way they think. A person cannot be expected to achieve greatness if they are not even aware that such greatness exists. The book makes for an interesting read, offering two distinct lines of thought that culminate in a unified message, offering the typical style that has made both these authors such a success.
Editors choice:
Motivational speaker, author and preacher, John C. Maxwell brings together years of research to explore an area which makes people who they are but which is hardly ever focused on in literature. Maxwell proposes that success very rarely ever endures through talent alone: that it takes a solid character and a number of other factors such as passion, belief, the right decisions, focus, practice, perseverance, courage and the ability to teach to truly make a person successful. The major selling point of this particular book is in the way that Maxwell highlights that. Unlike other authors, the focus is not on building talent or improving what a person is good at. Taking the case of a business person for example, the book shows that good business acumen alone will not guarantee a long and successful career. The businessman has to be able to be communicate effectively, get good deals, network properly, be patient even in tough times and have enough dignity and honesty not to be tempted by corruption.
Lecturers choice: At the core of these books is the idea that successful people think in a certain way, that a change in mindset is a step in the right direction to attaining great wealth. To get an expert opinion on the psychology of advice books, we spoke to Gary Steele, a lecturer and a research psychologist in the Psychology Department at Rhodes. He is also the Deputy Director of the Centre for Applied Social Research and Action (CASRA). Of motivational writings and advice, Steele feels that many of the books on offer have the problem of prescribing a one size fits all solution to being successful or making it in life. These authors usually entice people by promising immense riches and success if people follow their methods or use their product, he said. People have different circumstances and situations to deal with, so it makes no sense that what works for one person will work for everyone else. Despite all this though, he did concede that some of the authors
writing advice books actually have some substance. To this he offers his own recommendation of one such author: Tal Ben-Shahar is a Harvard University psychology lecturer who has used many years of research and observation to write his book, Happier. The book wins favour from Steele because it is an academic work that has been simplified and made applicable to everyday life and for the ordinary person. The books aim is for people to learn how to be happy, the logic being that this will trickle down to the other aspects of a persons life with the result that they have a greater potential to excel when in that state of mind. It is a very different take on motivational thinking, and is generally known as positive psychology. It remains to be seen if the secrets offered by authors will truly lead people on the road to success. In the meantime, for those that read such books, look to each as one persons take on life and that we are all ultimately the authors of our own lives.
Sport
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The athletics competition, on Friday 22 February, saw all first years racing either for fun or to show off their athletic capabilities. Photo: Ivan Blazic
While the event was marred by a number of false starts, poor officiating and the starting gun repeatedly failing to work, participant Denzil de Klerk believes that the informal nature of the event did not allowed these mishaps to warrant any serious concern or complaint. Mandla Gagayi of Sports Admin said that this year the event was better organised as they used an entry system. Halls were asked to submit an entry forms listing the participants. This helped speed up the process of starting races. In addition, the event was advertised quite early on resulting in a greater number of spectators and participants. Gagayi said that he hopes that the event will in the future be used by the Athletics Club as a recruiting platform and that it will continue to improve with each coming year.
change holds much promise for the club, which won three gold medals and four bronze medals in various competitions last year, despite its low numbers. While not all clubs reported record numbers of new members, many of them comfortably broke even, with expectations of increased numbers. Pool Club secretary Manqoba Hlatshwayo said that even though they only got 90 signatures, they are expecting this figure to rise to the same number (129) as last year before they submit their final member list. According to Table Tennis Club chairperson Cyril Makwembere, the Table Tennis Club got 22 signatures on the day, compared to their total of 23 members last year. This club is expecting their ranks to fill even more as they have opened up their membership to the Grahamstown community. This exciting aspect - that a club has both students and non-students alike as members - was also seen in the Grahamstown Cycling Club. Other clubs that are relying on this extended 8 March date for increased numbers are Basketball (55 signatures, as opposed to 2012s 72), Chess and Archery. These latter clubs both equalled their 2012 membership numbers. Students still interested in joining one of the many sporting codes on offer at still have until 8 March to email the various committee members of their desired club to submit their membership.
WINNING TIMES
100m race Nicole Milne, Kimberly East Hall - 14:8 seconds Denzil de Klerk, Founders Hall - 12:03 200m race Geanette Ngorima, Jan Smuts Hall - 32:25
Miles Lamensky, Founders Hall - 26:56 800m race Katherine James, Courtenay Latimer Hall 2:50:19 Mthabisile Sthole, Kimberley West Hall 2:12:29
Mens 4x100m relay Lilian Ngoyi Hall - 50:66:63 Kimberley West Hall (2nd) and Drostdy Hall (3rd). Womens 4x100m Allan Webb Hall - 1:03:99 Kimberley East Hall (2nd) and Nelson Mandela Hall.
Photo: Madien van der Merwe
SRC Elections
Voluntary activities
see page 3
Sports
see page 4
initial team selection as it allowed for the older members to see where the newcomers could fit in and what development would be needed. I felt really short, joked spectator Nikki Carruthers. The evening had, in her opinion, a great sense of community, but said the lack of a refreshment stall was a disappointment. With blasting music and a cheering crowd, the two challenging teams eagerly went up against their first teams. With such a successful start to the year, only great things can await the club.
The results:
The basketball rookie competition took place on Thursday 21 February. Photo: THABILE VILAKAZI