Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
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Illustration: AMY SLATEM
and attributed this to her inappropriate display of being Pro-Israel. However, the SIC also charged Klazinga with a number of other actions which they thought proved her to be an incapable Student AntiHarassment Officer. Some of the more contentious charges included being aggressive and uncompromising with students, to the detriment of the good reputation of the University; failing to ensure that her position at the University is one of neutrality as far as political issues are concerned; behaving in a sexually provocative manner in public; and manhandling a student very aggressively during the 1 in 9 Silent Protest. Klazinga was given the opportunity to respond to the charges brought against her by the University and refuted a number of them. In her response, Klazinga provided a number of contrary statements that challenged the Universitys charges. To the charge of having displayed sexually provocative behaviour, Klazinga said that the University was unable to provide a name of the witness who saw the inappropriate behaviour. Klazinga accused the University of producing homophobic and sensationalist charges to make her behaviour seem more aggressive than it was. These charges, along with the charge of Klazinga being unable to remain politically neutral while in an administrative position, were later withdrawn, according to a later statement released by the University. Following the hearings, Klazinga left Rhodes University at the end of 2013 after reaching a confidential settlement with the institution. However, the beginning of 2014 saw Klazinga release an article in the South African Jewish Report where she categorically stated that Rhodes was not a home for all and voiced her feelings of frustration and anger due to what she deemed to be the unexpected alienation and humiliation she faced as a result of being Zionist.
Larissa Klazinga addresses students involved in the 2013 Silent Protest. Photo: ROBYNNE PEATFIELD Klazingas article and a following article in the South African Jewish Report covering Rhodes anti-Zionist stance were met with contrasting opinions, ranging from sympathy for Klazingas ordeal to support for the University for upholding an anti-Zionist stance. Former Rhodes student Caroline Wilkes expressed her disappointment with the University for the alienating and unfair treatment Klazinga faced, particularly considering her influential role in advancing gender equality at Rhodes. Student Mlamuli Hlatshwayo applauded Rhodes University for not tolerating Zionists. Other publications like the Daily Maverick and the Mail & Guardian also published a number of opinion pieces that critiqued the influences of Klazingas Zionism and the bias found in the South African Jewish Report depicting Rhodes University as the clear villain in Klazingas TwoYear Zionist Odyssey. Following Klazingas departure, questions surrounding the consequences for the 1 in 9 Silent Protest and the future of gender activism have been asked. Student Fezi Mthonti voiced particular concern over the commitment of Rhodes University to genuine transformation following the departure of Tshidi Hashatse, Rhodes Universitys former Director of Transformation, and now Klazinga, who played an integral role in promoting gender equality for Rhodes students and staff alike. The Oppidan Press made several attempts to contact Klazinga for comment but no response was received at the time of going to print.
The Observatory Museum is one of many historic sites in Grahamstown. Photo: GABRIELLA FREGONA
Politics
Tarryn de Kock
Service Delivery
The Makana municipalitys difficulties in delivering basic services such as water and electricity attracted national attention in 2013. It also drew the universitys involvement through an advance payment of R3-million to Makana that was meant to alleviate the crisis somewhat during the exam period. This did not happen and throughout the December holiday period Grahamstown was plagued by water shortages lasting several days at a time, as well as periodic power cuts. With the situation unresolved as yet, it remains to be seen what measures will be put in place prior to and after the April elections.
Party Politics
South Africas political landscape shifted last year with the introduction of new organisations such as the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and Agang, both of which promised to effect change following the troubled and much-critiqued 20-year rule by the African National Congress (ANC). In the run-up to this years general elections, media reports have surfaced about the new parties, with claims that Agangs internal structure was already crumbling under intense ideological pressures - claims which were apparently vindicated when Agang leader Mamphela Ramphele joined the DA ballot as their presidential candidate, only to revoke this decision shortly after. EFFs leadership has also been under scrutiny as it has engaged with, and been harshly attacked by, the ANC and the ANC Youth League. Whether the ANC will retain its near-majority grip on power depends on how well new parties such as the EFF can change the mind of the voting public, and whether they can convince them that different leadership and policy has the possibility of changing the socio-political and economic landscape of SA.
Transformation Issues
The resignation of Transformation Officer Tshidi Hashatse late last year came amidst claims that Rhodes was not doing enough to create meaningful transformation among its staff and students. There were also claims that the University was slow to the challenge of responding to issues relating to sexism, homophobia and racism on campus. This was followed a short two months later by an online story by former Anti-Harassment Officer Larissa Klazinga with similar claims against the University and members of its staff. This topic remains unresolved and requires further probing due to conflicting opinions and the confidential nature of the finer details of both staff members departure from Rhodes.
non-academic texts; Politics at all you need to do is Rhodes has go on a walk through its aisles. Or just use many faces, Google, if you dont but do not feel like climbing be afraid stairs. You will discover to dive in the Rhodes SRC and get page, where daily discussions take place involved and where it may where you seem chaotic at times can. when people get at each others throats. Question anyway. Ask why, where and how. Try to learn from the different points of view while being critical of the agendas and political stances being projected by the statements people make. However, do not feel pressured to choose a side early on in your university career in doing so people often mistakenly shut themselves off from the diversity of views and ideas that they will continue to encounter as they progress. Be wary of declaring yourself an ist - whether a communist, capitalist, feminist or pacifist - until youre fully aware of the different histories, goals and stances that these perspectives represent. It might seem cool to be in with the crowd, but you can offer your allegiance to many different causes without declaring yourself a member of any single one. It is exactly because of this that the Politics team at The Oppidan Press is dedicated to giving you a wide array of opinions and information to allow you to form your own ideas about the things happening on campus, in the greater Grahamstown area, and nationally. Like the rest of the team here at Oppi, we are writers and thinkers with our own opinions on matters, but we hope to never allow those opinions to come before our commitment to be fair, impartial and respectful of the many different sides that inevitably come with every story you see on these pages. Should you feel we are failing in this, please: tell us. We will engage. We wish you a fantastic year of fun experiences, new friendships and insightful conversations.
Gender Questions
Gender issues remain a sensitive topic on campus as the University tries to navigate the complexity of identities and sexualities among students and staff. One measure proposed at the end of last year was the introduction of unisex bathrooms, which would be more respectful of gender identities other than the widely used male/female identities. This has started to become the vogue at clubs and some restaurants in major cities. However, coverage of gender-related issues last year showed that some students were uncomfortable with the difference in treatment and rules between female and male residences, as well as the manner in which different gender identities and their experiences are publicly expressed. One such case involved the manner in which the annual Silent Protest deals with male presence, especially as the majority of participants (and those who identify themselves as rape survivors) are female.
News Features
Restaurants
Saints Bistro - 131 High Street Tel: 046 622 3007 Open: Mon-Fri (11:30-22:00), Sat-Sun (8:00-late) The new kid in town, the Bistro is split into three separate sections consisting of the main restaurant, outside patio and a beer garden, which is a new addition to the venue. Each section offers a different vibe intended to draw in a variety of patrons. The menu includes a variety of European-styled cuisines which are reasonably priced. 137 High Street - Same address Tel: 046 622 3242 Open: Mon-Fri (7:30-21:30), Sat (8:00-14:00/17:00-21:30) and Sun (8:00-14:00) This cosy haven is tucked away behind an old door at the top of High Street. Their signature fireplace warms the room and creates a relaxed atmosphere. Specials change every two weeks, with a menu that boasts everything from waffles and cakes to steaks and lamb shanks. Rat & Parrot - 59 New Street Tel: 046 622 5002 Open: Mon-Sun (11:00-late) This is Grahamstowns most popular pub which has an excellent selection of quality pub grub and drinks. This triple threat of great food, music and drinks is a fun student playground with a festive atmosphere and is the usual spot to kickstart a great night out. Ginos Restaurant - Hill Street Tel: 046 622 7261/ 046 622 7208 Open: Mon-Sun (11:00-23:00) Walking into Ginos feels like you have just entered an 80s Italian diner-styled restaurant. The red booths and dark wood decor make for an intimate atmosphere, and the candlelight and secluded seating create a prime setting for the perfect first date. However, if you are having a more platonic night out, gather your friends and try the pizza specials every Monday and Wednesday or chip in to share the family-sized pizza special on Sundays. Morgans Restaurant 7 New Street Tel: 046 622 2874 Open lunch and takeaways (12:00-14:30, 16:30-22:00) With its authentic Asian fusion cuisine, Morgans is known for their delicious Indian and Thai food and their curries are always in
Revelations - Peppergrove Mall, African Street Tel: 046 636 2433 Open: Mon, Tues, Thurs (7:00-17:00), Wed-Fri (7:00-21:00), Sat (7:30-21:30) This relaxed caf offers a great space to have a drink and sit on your laptop for as long as you like as there is free WiFi. With great service, great food and a spacious indoor and outdoor area, Revelations is the perfect spot to get comfortable. Their popular breakfast special runs every day from 7:00-11:30. Juice Bar Diner - 28 New Street Tel: 046 622 4479 Open: Mon-Fri (9:00-17:00) and Sat (9:00-13:30) This diner offers a strictly Halaal menu offering a wide selection of light meals. Their menu includes a soup of the day, burgers, sandwiches and a variety of salads. A great spot to grab a quick bite, this place serves good quality food on a budget, especially their jumbo rolls. Home Ground - 24 Somerset Street Tel: 046 622 5020 Open: Mon-Sun (8:00-15:00) The perfect kickstart to a full day. Home Ground Coffee Roasters is known for its Espresso Bar and freshly roasted coffee beans. If you love
Photos: GABRIELLA FREGONA caffeine, be sure to get a student loyalty card that ensures a free cuppa when you have all of your stamps. The veranda is the perfect spot to recharge just in time for your next lecture. The Provost Caf - Lucas Drive, off Somerset Road Tel: 078 027 6322 Open: Mon-Fri (7:00-18:00), Sat (9:00-16:00), Sun (9:00-18:00) Situated in the old Grahamstown panopticon on Rhodes campus, Provost has become the go-to caf for lunch breaks and coffee dates. Complement the delicious coffee with savoury eats like quiche and muffins or treat yourself to a giant choc-chip cookie. This historically-enriched cafe boasts old cells as dining areas while the circular upstairs is filled with an array of fun games. Champs Action Bar - Scotts Avenue Tel: 046 622 2324 Open: Mon-Sun (11:00-late) This is your typical bar where you can go to shoot pool, eat good quality pub food and listen to great live music. You may even see a few of your lecturers there. There is also Karaoke every Wednesday night.
Scitech
Wearable technologies such as the new Samsung Galaxy Gear (pictured) and Google Glass are presenting new opportunities for cheating amongst students. Photo: WWW.DIGITALTRENDS.COM being excluded from the university. Its too great of a risk - just because you werent disciplined enough to study, he said. Education sectors around the world are just beginning to experiment with, develop and implement wearable technologies. But the idea of using the latest technologies to cheat are nothing new. For years, schools have required students to remove their watches and some have even gone so far as to clear the memory from graphing calculators. Every education system will have its own way of addressing the use of these new technologies, whether its through an academic honesty pledge, a no-tech policy, use of monitoring systems or making students walk through scanners before exams. Cheating will always be discouraged as it interferes with every aspect of education, including the intrinsic pursuit of independent knowledge and wisdom that an academic course of study normally encourages.
effective treatments. In a report made by the Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) in the United States of America earlier this year, it was announced that a vaccine for HIV had been discovered. During extensive trials carried out on monkeys, researchers created and tested a vaccine that could completely destroy the virus that causes AIDS. One of the main issues with the development of HIV/AIDS treatments is that the virus is known for adapting to treatments, sometimes becoming entirely resistant to the medicines. In the past 30 years, as many as 30 different medicines have been approved to treat HIV/AIDS, but all these have still not been enough to stop the pandemic. The disease continues to account for a significant number of deaths worldwide, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Tino Govere, a local pharmacist, believes that continued research into possible treatment options for HIV/AIDS is the answer to reducing the number of people affected by the disease, especially in Africa. Finding a cure would free millions of patients worldwide from the need to take continuous HIV medication and save health services across the world billions of dollars. Although many scientists believe we are still a long way off from finding a viable cure, every step counts in the fight toward eradicating the disease. Students at Rhodes University have access to treatments and other services for HIV/AIDS. SHARC, the HIV/ AIDS resistance campaign society at Rhodes, aims to raise awareness on issues around HIV/AIDS education and holds talks, testing drives and HIV/ AIDS Awareness Week. SHARC member and former Vice President Mbongeni Ngwenya stated that SHARC forms an integral part of student life and is a body that cares not only about student health, but the health of those beyond Rhodes University.Students and staff are welcome to visit the Health Care Centre for advice and treatment with regards to HIV/ AIDS.
7 February 2014
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Cullen Bowles House
Map of Rhodes University campus showing panic buttons (X) along the Blue Route.
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Piet Retief House Walker House Thomas Pringle House Africa Media Matrix
Centenary House
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In addition, Timothy advised: If you live in a big digs, make sure that everyone in the digs always remembers to lock the doors and windows as there have been some problems in the past with this. The biggest problem is students neglecting their houses, not turning on alarms, [or] leaving windows open, said Tactical Response Officer Hi-Tech Security Kenny Knoetze. Every year its getting worse. There hasnt been much improvement. With both residences and digs it is
important that students immediately report any incidents that occur. Students in residence should inform their warden or sub-wardens as well as contact CPU, who will then get the police involved. Those in digs must contact and report the incident to the police straight away as well as report to the Oppidan offices. There are also Oppidan sub-wardens who can be called to assist after an incident.
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Transport Department
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Prospect Field
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Alec Mullins
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Gym
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Great Field
Rhodes Theatre
Humanities Faculty
Sexual harassment: how to report it Rhodes University has a zero tolerance policy on harassment of any kind and there are structures in place for students to report sexual harassment. Larrissa Klazinga, the former Student Anti-Harassment officer for Rhodes University said, Sexual harassment is any behaviour or speech or action that demeans you and which is unwanted. She went on to note that, People are not psychic, you actually have to say The thing you are doing, I dont like it, please stop and if they carry on then that is harassment. It is thus essential that as a student you know your rights and what you can do if you find yourself in this situation. The University has a number of facilities and qualified people that will help you free of charge, and all this information can be found on Student Zone on the Rhodes website. It is essential to note that the University only has jurisdiction over Rhodes students in cases where the alleged perpetrator is also a Rhodes student. This rule applies regardless of where the incident occurred. If the person is not a student at the University, you may still seek counsel but the University cannot administer any kind of punishment. That will be the job of the Grahamstown SAPS should you choose to press charges. There are a number of people you can speak to including Wardens and various members of your House Committee if you are in
Safety when you hit the town Grahamstown is known for its student night-life. While having a great time may be partly why we came here, it is also important to keep safe, so here are some standard precautionary measures that should be taken to ensure that nights out are not ruined by avoidable incidents. Theft is a common problem in Grahamstown. Cell phones, wallets and keys get stolen on nights out on a regular basis. In light of this, those carrying bags must be aware of them at all times. Do not leave bags unattended or beyond reach. Also, when going out to any of the pubs and clubs it is very important to be aware of what you are drinking. There have been reports of students drinks being spiked. It is important to always open bottles yourself, watch your drink and to not leave your drink unattended at any time. A useful tip is to hold your thumb over the opening of your bottle when not drinking to make sure that there is no possibility of anyone spiking it while you are not looking, said Catherine Baytopp, Sub-warden in Allan Gray House for 2013. Most importantly, Grahamstown may be a small place but it is not advisable to walk around alone at night. On campus there is a specifically demarcated route, called the Blue Route, which is well lit, has panic buttons and CPU guards patrolling. This is without a doubt the best route to take when back on campus. Grahamstown is like any other place in South Africa and there have been reports of muggings and other crimes against students who live off campus. Have pepper spray [on you], said Timothy. It can be purchased from the Oppidan Union offices at Eden Grove. This advice is applicable to all students as a precautionary measure. A final option is to request a security guard to escort you on campus should you be walking alone. This can be done by either approaching one of the CPU guards who are on duty or by going to the CPU office and placing the request.
residence. Equip yourself with the relevant information regarding safety not just for yourself, but for your friends as well. Start the year off on a good note.
Opinion
This is it. Youve beaten the odds. Youve jumped through all the hoops and now youre at university. These could potentially become some of the best years of your life and you are lucky enough to be at Rhodes University, where leaders learn. Welcome to the town with a diverse group of people, a strong academic environment and more churches than any other place in South Africa. Grahamstown is our little hole in the wall, and now its yours too. We at The Oppidan Press have covered a lot of bad news from the water crisis and fraudulent societies to even the deaths of students and other members of our community. Nevertheless, we remain optimistic about the future of this town, the University and its students. We hope, like most other newspapers, to inform, educate and entertain. But above and beyond this, above all things, we hope to be YOUR voice, always reflecting the true experience of all who share the Rhodes University space. As you enter this, the busiest period of the year, look to us to guide you towards the news which matters and which affects you most. With a staff of roughly 150 people, we represent one of the biggest organizations at Rhodes and as a news organization particularly, we take this mantle incredibly seriously. Our intention is to celebrate the good news with you and share your moral indignation and sadness at the bad news, but above all, we hope always to represent the student body and the wider town with as much honesty and fairness as we can. This year is an important year for news, with the national government elections around the corner. We hope not to push you towards one party over another, but to provide you with as much information and insight as we can so as to help you to make the best decision for you, whatever you deem that to be. And even on matters less serious than national security, nationalisation and the like, we hope to be a sane voice in areas such as politics, environmental debate and sports commentary. The Oppidan Press is an evolving institution and we hope that you, the first years (and other years) of 2014 will help us to reach new heights. We have a new-age approach planned for this year, with our online platform growing every day. Live broadcasts of OppiTV will become a regular feature on your Facebook news feed and we hope to flood your social media with photographs and coverage of all the best events. Although we believe ourselves to be professional journalists, we welcome queries, criticism and suggestions, all of which we think will take this organization forward. But less about us and more about you. We wish you the best of what 2014 has to give, and all the success you can muster over the next few years. Seize every opportunity which this university has to offer and make it your own. We at The Oppidan Press have come to see our office and our paper as a home. We hope that you would come to find the same sense of belonging.
The importance placed on exams often prioritises performance over knowledge. Photo: GABRIELLA FREGONA
The Oppidan Press publishes letters which are bona fide expressions of opinion provided that they are not clearly libellous, defamatory, racist or sexist. We publish anonymous letters, but as an act of good faith on 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.
7 February 2014
Opinion
Illus
n: Michelle du To tratio it
BA/ BSocSci Paradoxically, you take great care to look like you dont care how you look. You deliberately dress down. You have no idea what happened in the news last week but you can recommend multiple books and films to support every sentence of the conversation. You will be some form of vegetarian at some point in your degree and you often respond to questions with there are bigger issues involved here. Money doesnt matter very much to you, which is the reason why youre not particularly worried (at the moment, anyway) about a job after your degree. This is also the reason why youre always broke halfway through the month. You justify bare feet with complex ideological reasoning. You have a tendency to have very deep existential conversations when drunk. There will be at least one controversial (and heated) argument in at least one of your tutorials this year. You dont understand how people could do a degree in something which theyre not interested in. You are used to reading over a hundred and writing over a thousand words a week. Youre more interested in Marx than marks.
BComm You deliberately dress up and are in touch with the current trends and styles. You listen to very commercial hip hop music. Any tutorial that involves discussion is awkward. You are at university because a degree will get you into the working world: money is the point and you dont understand how somebody could spend three years studying something which wont result in a job. The idea of a future salary is what drives you, although sometimes it struggles to compensate for how uninspired you are by your subjects. You will take a random humanities subject as an arb and wonder how people choose it as a degree. You wonder why nobody shares your ambition. You cant stand people talking about their subjects in social conversation. You think that most of the other faculties are a waste of time and expect to be employing most of them one day. You motivate yourself with inspirational quotes and advice about hard work from the success stories of internationally rich and successful people.
BSc/BPharm You dont care how you dress, as long as its efficient (lots of pockets). You are the nerds of campus. The BA kids make no sense to you, especially since none of them know what a dawnie is. Or a prac. You are the only bunch of people who know what campus looks like in the afternoon. Furthermore, you can be divided into two distinct groups: Maths/physics/chemistry/computer science: you are surrounded by lecturers and classmates who are smarter than many of your high school classes combined, although not necessarily smarter than you. You spend your weekends in various virtual or fantasy worlds, sometimes combining the two. You dont understand disciplines which ask questions that have no right or wrong answers. Botany/zoology/environmental science: you are surrounded by a colourful bunch of hippies and tree-huggers. You spend your weekends in the natural world, free from buildings and most people. You care more about plants (or insects/animals/fish, etc.) than you do about people. You have to understand things before you appreciate them. You often engage in extra-mural practicals. Illustrations: Michelle du Toit
Check out our online interactive map of Grahamstown to see where to go, what to do, and everything in between.
Environment
Alien invader plants: Scarier than Science Fiction
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Mikaela Erskog magine a Grahamstown where tumbleweeds hurtle down High Street, through a dry, dying and decrepit landscape. Drooping plants take their last breaths. Not a living human in sight. This could be our future. We could encounter apocalyptic environmental degradation if we do not eliminate the imminent threat of alien plant invasion. Much like the behaviour of aliens in the sci-fi genre, these plants are non-indigenous creatures that invade and take over foreign territories. The invasion of indigenous environments by foreign flora threatens the ecological balance and biodiversity of the area, as the invader tends to behave in a manner that is not conducive to the survival of the indigenous environment. The primary issue is that a lot of these alien invader plants are resilient, resourceful and, to put it plainly, greedy. Chairperson of the Kowie Catchment Campaign (KCC) Nikki Khly remarked that, Lantana [a thick, thorny bush] is quite difficult to remove properly. It has deep and aggressive roots and if a bit of root gets left behind this can actually produce new growth above ground a few months later. Gum trees are notoriously thirsty and, much like many alien species,
The flower of the hakea plant. Hakea is one of several invasive plant species found in South Africa which threaten indigenous plants. Photo: WWW.FLICKR.COM
pose a threat to water-scarce environments. Professor Martin Hill of the Rhodes University Zoology Department explained that alien invader species are responsible for huge amounts of water loss. As much as 9% of South Africas mean annual water runoff is lost to alien invader species that is, over 300 million cubic metres. The KCC is one of many groups in Grahamstown concerned with the impact of alien invader plants, as these plants threaten the existence of the spring and water catchment on the towns border. Part of the work they do is removing invasive, alien threats. We pull up smaller plants by hand (especially easy when the ground is soft, after rain), and also use tree poppers [a tool used for uprooting plants] for plants that are too large to pull by hand, explained Khly. Although the idea of plant clearing may bring to mind a casual day of weeding the garden, the opposition and environmental conditions are far more relentless. Soil that is damaged or disturbed (as a result of fires or plant clearing) does not deter the persistent alien plants, despite destroying indigenous species. Khly conjured a War of the Worlds, end-of-days scene as she explained that, Hakea [a small shrub] tends to explode into action after a fire the seed pods literally explode during fire,
bursting seeds far and wide. For the more resilient alien species, biological control agents are being developed. Hill explained that once biological control has gone through rigorous testing and has been approved by the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, it would be the most effective method of clearing harmful alien species. Bio-control research is developed out of the origins of a species. It identifies that which controls the alien population so that agents can be engineered that work with the biological make-up of the alien species to subdue the threat. Biological control aims to resolve the balance of nature, reduce the use of herbicides and create alternative solutions, said Hill. Having always celebrated National Arbor Day and with international encouragement to plant indigenous trees, it almost sounds blasphemous to speak positively of plant clearing. Yet, in the case of the intrusive alien invader plants, maintaining indigenous environmental integrity and access to water is dependent on the actions of these eco-soldiers who uproot and remove the danger. Students who want to know more or get involved in plant clearing initiatives, check out the Rhodes Environment page, http://www.ru.ac.za/environment/.
G F t o V c t e
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7 February 2014
11
>>RU Jamming
Live coverage and results
Yasheen Deonarain performs at Open Mic night at Olde 65. Photo: JESSICA VAN TONDER Mic nights at Olde 65. Chelsea Haith manages the events which take place most Wednesday nights of the Universitys calendar. These events offer a platform for bands, solo artists, spoken word poets, acapella groups, drummers, slam poets and many more to get their work out there. People come through, jam a song or two or share their poetry and have their mates support - kind of like a community of like-minded people rather than having a set number of established performers, explained Haith. Open Mic nights were greatly successful in 2013, which has led to more and more acts vying for a spot in the line-up. Haith explained that, We have about fifteen acts asking for a spot each week. We generally give all comers an opportunity. If we have a lot of performers, we limit their sets to two or three songs or poems. This does limit the extent to which performers can use the evenings to
>>First impressions
New Rhodes students share their experiences
Alex Maggs
Grahamstown, famous for the National Arts Festival, sees thousands of visitors from around the world arrive every year for their annual dose of arts and culture. This year, students Danielle Vorster and Fiona Christensen will provide a more continuous insight into the cultural happenings of the town with the launch of their online magazine entitled Archetype. Our idea is to create a platform where young individuals can see what the youth has to offer in terms of arts and culture and other student life aspects, said Vorster. The magazine came about when Vorster and Christensen saw a gap in the market for South African lifestyle magazines aimed at authentic
we expected and now it has grown into something bigger than just Grahamstown, said Vorster. They have even received a few requests for work from international freelancers. The magazines staff currently consists of seven full-time members. Anyone in Grahamstown can contribute, but must submit at least two examples of their work before they will be considered. We essentially want our magazine to be a platform for young and upcoming people to get their work published with the artistic freedom that comes with being an independent publication, explained Vorster. Archetype launches on 1 March, but you can follow them on Twitter (@ArchetypeOnline) and check out their Facebook page (www.facebook.com/archetypeonlinemagazine) for regular updates.
Check it out at
oppidanpress.com
Stayin alive
Sports
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A-Crew rowers at the annual Boat Race in Port Alfred. The club intends to improve their performance with the help of new resources provided by the university. Photo: WWW.BACKSPLASH.CO.ZA
want, he said. Blom has experience in training international athletes and is adamant that he has enough tricks and tactics up his sleeve to benefit athletes at all levels. In addition to Bloms coaching, more coaches are being trained in order to help all the members better themselves and their track abilities. The ultimate goal of Athletes Without Limits is to produce successful athletes. The club will also strive to go beyond the athletics field and start more programmes in other sporting codes. Most importantly, Blom hopes that when the athletes stop participating in track, they will take all the principles that they have learnt from the club and apply them to their day-to-day lives.