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Science in and for society
Grahamstown business at war with the internet
In an ever-increasing technologically-dependent society, many businesses
cannot keep up. Photo: GABRIELLA FREGONA
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Opinion
6 Te Oppidan Press 1 April 2014
Tarryn de Kock and Michal Dahan
I
sraeli-Apartheid Week (IAW) has
been the subject of much controver-
sy since it was introduced at Rhodes
University. Tis year, campus was
awash with posters in an attempt to bet-
ter portray the Israeli side of the story.
As with everything else IAW touches,
the posters were controversial. Both
writers write in their personal capacity,
the views expressed are personal views
only and do not refect those of Te Op-
pidan Press or any other organisation.
Criticising the poster
- Tarryn de Kock
Although students would recognise
the posters put up around campus
towards the end of Israeli Apartheid
Week (IAW), the two most prominent
ones did nothing to excite support for
the Israeli cause. While the frst fea-
tured Miss Israel 2013 Yityish Aynaw
pledging a story of multiculturalism,
the second showed Israeli Supreme
Court Judge Salim Joubran with the
caption Yes, hes an Arab!
It was at this point that I found
myself questioning an argument which
had suddenly become quite familiar:
it was in a similar vein to the cries of
Some of my best friends are black, so
I cant be racist that one hears from
the most obviously undercover racists
out there. Having an Arab Supreme
Court Judge does not make Israel any
less oppressive than having homeland
chiefs made apartheid South Africa a
fair, multicultural state.
Tat line of argument could not
elicit my support because it side-
stepped the heart of the issues of IAW.
Te organisers of IAW were dealing
with these issues at an in depth level
throughout the week, but these posters
focused instead on petty examples of
how and why Israel was not as bad as
IAW was making it out to be.
Furthermore, pleading to the mul-
ticultural nature of Israel says nothing
about its politics. Tese arguments are
appealed to in a bid to balance a de-
bate. Tis debate is defnitely weighted
in favour of those opposing the unfair
and unlawful persecution of dis-
placed peoples, and I am not sure that
balancing attempts are well-received
in a country where oppression is still
a raw and painful memory for many.
I used to believe I was neutral on the
Israel-Palestine issue but the more I
learned about the confict - from both
sides - the more I found myself oppos-
ing Israels continued occupation and
expansion in the region.
Defending the poster
- Michal Dahan
Te posters put up around campus
were not there to give an in depth
analysis about the Israeli side of the
story, but were put in place to attract
attention and push students to think.
Israel has been accused of a heinous
act, one were all too familiar with in
South Africa. If we are to equate black
South Africans under apartheid to
Palestinians and white South Africans
to Israelis, we ask the question: where
during the apartheid era would we
have seen a black South African judge
convict a white South African and
send him to jail? Tis was the primary
purpose of the poster to point out
one of the many diferences between
the current situation in Israel and the
previous situation in South Africa.
In the other poster, it is argued
that Israels multicultural nature has
everything to do with its politics. It led
to policies that were responsible for
bringing thousands of African Jews to
Israel when they were being perse-
cuted by their own neighbours.
For the last couple of years, the de-
bate revolving around IAW at Rhodes
has been far from balanced. Ofen afer
IAW, many people at Rhodes act as
though Israel has been tried and con-
victed and they are personally ready to
escort it to its execution. Tere are two
sides to every story and those posters
were used as a tool to make that fact
abundantly clear, as well as to draw
students into a discussion with the
three Israeli representatives who few
down specifcally to combat this week.
If all it took were a couple of one-
sided seminars to completely educate
you about a confict that has been
going on for thousands of years, then
we need to re-evaluate the way we are
being taught to critically analyse what
we are being shown.
Double-sided posters
An IAW poster that has caused controversy in an attempt to better refect the
Israeli side of the story. Photo: GABRIELLA FREGONA
>>Inter-res swimming results
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evolution of the Green Revolution
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The Oppidan Press staf and contact details
The Oppidan Press
Editor: Kyla Hazell. Deputy Editor: Amanda Xulu. Executive Consultant:
Binwe Adebayo. Managing Editor: Sindisa Mfenqe. Financial Manager:
Lorna Sibanda. Advertising Managers: Chiedza Guvava, Tinashe Jani.
Marketing Manager: Sarah Taylor. Community Engagement Ofcer:
Abigail Butcher. Online Editor: Stuart Lewis. Assistant Online Editor:
Chelsea Haith. News Features Editor: Emily Corke. Assistant News Features
Editor: Mila Kakaza. Politics Editor: Tarryn de Kock. Assistant Politics
Editor: Mitchell Parker. Opinion Editor: Ben Rule. Arts & Entertainment
Editor: Jenna Lillie. Assistant Arts & Entertainment Editor: Matthew
Field. Business Editor: Chris Fisher. Scitech Editor: Bracken Lee-Rudolph.
Environment Editor: Mikaela Erskog. Sports Editor: Douglas Smith.
Assistant Sports Editor: Kimara Singh. Chief Photo Editor: Gabriella
Fregona. Assistant Chief Photo Editor: Kellan Botha. Chief Online Photo
Editor: Alexa Sedgwick. Chief Sub-Editor: Kaitlin Cunningham. Chief
Online Sub-Editor: Melian Dott. Sub-Editors: Kate Jennings, Danica
Kreusch, Leila Stein Jessica Trappe, Amy Wilkes. Chief Designer: Madien
van der Merwe. Assistant Chief Designer: Hannah McDonald. Advert
Designers: Amber-Leigh Davies, Amy Davidson. Junior Designers: Amy
Ebdon, Alex Maggs. External Content Advisors: Lucy Holford-Walker, Tope
Adebola, Ndapwa Alweendo
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The Oppidan Press publishes letters which are bona fde 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.
U
pon the release of the infamous Nkandla Report, it was
disconcerting to see that much public commentary paid more
attention to Public Protector Tuli Madonselas second-hand
weave than to the actual substance of her fndings. Some comments
on Twitter seemed to suggest that Madonselas questionable hair
choices could be causally linked to her competence as Public Protec-
tor. To discredit Madonselas tireless quest to inform the public about
the institutionalised corruption in South African government based
on something as irrelevant as her hair speaks volumes about the
continued gendered discourse of this countrys politics.
Madonsela is not the only woman whose credentials have been called
into question on the basis of her appearance. Most recently at the state of
the nation address, Member of Parliament Tandile Sunduza was serious-
ly scrutinised by the media and South African public for her fashion faux
pas. Heavily pregnant, Sunduza chose to wear a garishly yellow boob-
tube dress that admittedly did not fatter her fgure. Talk soon turned to
comments about her looking like Big Bird and other ofensive compari-
sons. Te discourse surrounding Sunduza was extremely gendered and
disregarded her abilities as a politician and a Member of Parliament. It
highlighted the continued conservative and masculinised nature of South
African politics.
Incidents like these have led us here at Te Oppidan Press to question
whether there has been any real transformation in South African politics.
It is apparent that women politicians continue to be subjected to a sexist
understanding of this countrys politics, as many of their contributions
are analysed to a far greater extent than those of their male counter-
parts. Tis leads us to wonder why women in South Africa are still not
treated as rational and capable agents; but are viewed in a reductionist
manner that sees them as either being an accessory of a greater political
event (one need only look at Riah Piyegahs complicit involvement in the
Nkandla cover-up) or presents them as angry women with an unjustifed
agenda, something that Madonsela has fallen into.
In this edition, the conversation with womens progress in South
African society is carried on through a refection by WASA about the
state of gender transformation at Rhodes. WASA recently celebrated their
10th anniversary and frst chairperson Darlene Miller stressed the need
to challenge patriarchal forms of power that champion individual success
and the accumulation of infuence. It is arguably this attitude to leader-
ship that underlies the corrupt practices Madonsela seeks to decry. It
seems somewhat ironic, then, that Madonsela was criticised based on the
kind of patriarchal presumptions that underscore the very corruption of
power her position aims to control.
Thank you for helping us raise over R1500 for breast cancer last week!
Opinion
1 April 2014 Te Oppidan Press 7
Binwe Adebayo
F
or a generation which so ofen claims to have no
cause, were awfully busy on the internet. We hit
share to pledge our allegiance to Jesus, like news
articles about NGOs helping food scarcity and most
recently make the brave, risky choice to post #nomake-
upselfes in order to create breast cancer awareness. Our
Apple-loving, trend-following, neknominating conscienc-
es have never been so clear.
Let me not be misunderstood here. I think that the
internet and modern technology have opened up incred-
ible avenues for the proliferation of ideas and campaigns of
which a global audience can take charge. But are we taking
charge if we simply hit share without reading a full article,
or profess outrage without having checked our facts? Tis is
not activism; it is slacktivism. Besides refecting the stereo-
type that the youth are fippant and unaware, it can also be
harmful to those whom we purport to support.
Lets stop sharing the photos of starving children in
Africa. If you have ever turned down the chance to take
part in a Community Engagement trip in favour of nursing
a hangover, you are who I am talking to. Te Africa youre
trying to save is right outside, minutes from your doorstep.
Rhodes boastsseveral community engagement societies and
community engagement initiatives are also open to resi-
dence and Oppidan students alike. But why bother to spend
a morning at a soup kitchen? Afer all, you can simply wave
your righteous indignation around online for an audience
who will revere you as a modern day Mother Teresa. Isnt it
great how easy activism is these days?
Even if the internet is your chosen superpower for world
peace, make sure to use it efectively. Somehow, word of
mouth (that highly reliable source) spread the idea that the
#nomakeupselfe campaign was started by Cancer Research
UK. Allegedly the organisation pledged to donate money to
breast cancer research every time the hashtag was used. Te
group fully denies this, unsure of where this misinformation
came from. It came from us, churning untruths through
cyberspace.
In any case, most of the participants are wholly unaware
of this, rather using the opportunity to show of their fresh
faces. Tese pictures have been accompanied by hashtags
ranging from #asscaryascancer to #cancercanbecute. Tis
is where things get really problematic. For the countless
people afected by breast cancer, as well as those who have
loved ones sufering or indeed dying from the illness, these
platitudes are insulting to say the least. Activism of any
kind requires understanding, information at your hands and
a sensitivity to the audience (which in many cases, extends
beyond your own social network). In the wise words of
Uncle Ben from Spider-Man, With great power comes great
responsibility and social responsibility is no exception. In
the age where what goes on the internet stays on the inter-
net, this has never been more true.
In addition to this, it is important to be consistent in your
cause. Particularly with recent debates around LGBTi rights
in countries like Uganda and Nigeria, or campus-related
gender-based violence issues, it is important to live what
you speak. Phrases like thats so gay or what a good frape
refect with far more clarity your true position on an issue
than the number of times you retweet Avaaz or Greenpeace.
Tere must be a commitment which extends past the realm
of your social persona - the lived persona must follow.
Tere is a choice to be made. As young, educated indi-
viduals who have access to countless opportunities for social
change, we can become part of sincere movements with
real aims towards improving the lives of other people and
our world. Although it is incredibly tempting to simply hit
share, it is important to be aware of the fact that this is your
statement to the world. If you really mean to make a difer-
ence, make sure your statements hold true value. We are not
the generation without a cause.
Nonsense conscience on the social networks
#Selfesdontcurecancer
Selfes for change. Because actually doing something is too mainstream. Photo: ROCHELLE-MARI SMITH
Double-sided posters
Letter to the editor
Ms Orla Quinlan, Director:
International Ofce.
Prompted by a complex and rath-
er unpleasant encounter with the
South African bureaucracy, Ms Mi-
kaela Erskog, in her opinion piece
dated 11/03/2014, infers that her
difculty in fnding immigration
information, which was specifcally
and exceptionally requested of her,
somehow suggests a prejudice
against international students at
Rhodes. Ms Erskogs allegations
of prejudice are taken extremely
seriously and she is invited to come
to the International Ofce to share
any remaining concerns with us,
which we would be more than
happy to discuss.
Having requested information
from the International Ofce to
write an ofcial Oppidan piece, Ms
Erskog chose to write an opinion
piece, neglecting to check the facts
or verify her assumptions, some of
which I hope to clarify here. Coming
from a national history of segrega-
tion, student services, which fall
under the Dean of Students Ofce,
are available to all students at Rho-
des University. Te International
Ofce is responsible for Internation-
alisation at Rhodes, which pertains
as much to South Africans as to
International students. Te Interna-
tional Ofce is developing a portal
on internationalisation, which will
expand its communication, improve
access to information, and provide
links to the Department of Home
Afairs (DHA) and other websites.
Turning to Ms Erskogs unpleas-
ant experience renewing her study
permit, for which she has my full
sympathy (getting a stamp on my
own new passport took less than 5
minutes but required queuing for
four hours in Home Afairs and a
three hour round trip to PE). Tere
is no provision for a full immigra-
tion service on campus. Information
on study permit requirements is
available on: http://www.dha.gov.za/
index.php/immigration-services/
types-of-visas. Te website states
that forms will no longer be avail-
able from this website. Please visit
your nearest Home Afairs ofce to
obtain ORIGINAL APPLICATION
FORMS&necessaryinformation. We
apologise for any inconvenience.
To facilitate international stu-
dents, the International Ofce con-
tinues to provide the list of require-
ments for standard applications
and we have confrmed with DHA
Pretoria that, as of March 2014, B1-
178 and B1-179 forms are still valid.
However, immigration regulations
are in transition and it is imperative
that students check directly with
their nearest issuing authorities.
An immigration ofcer may, at any
time, request additional informa-
tion beyond standard practice, as
was the case with Ms Erskog. Such
requests cannot be preempted by
either the International Ofce or the
professional immigration agencies,
who make immigration advice their
full-time business.
Te International Ofce has an
open door policy and welcomes
suggestions and ideas to further
internationalisation at Rhodes. We
may be contacted at:
internationaofce@ru.ac.za
The International Department at Rhodes University aims to refute an
opinion piece written in the previous edition of The Oppidan Press.
Photo: GABRIELLA FREGONA
If you go everyday and
make it a real thing,
change can happen
- Sarah Mitchell, founder of the
Tunnels dam cleaning initiative
If hunting
was banned
tomorrow, its
almost certain
that the ban
would have
a negative
impact on the
environment
and commerce
Elisa Edmondson
On 29 March, people were encouraged to celebrate Earth
Hour by turning of all their energy-consuming devices
between 20:30 and 21:30. Te overarching message was
that humankind needs to reduce their high energy con-
sumption.
In order to identify ways in which Earth Hours message
could be practically and sustainably applied in our daily
lives, this question was posed to some members of the com-
munity: How can we embody the ideals of Earth Hour on a
day-to-day basis?
Switch of your geysers. Remind people that its important
to live sustainably. Peter DeLacy, Masters student,
Environmental Science
Environment
1 April 2014 Te Oppidan Press 11
Luke Cadden
K
itchen waste can accumulate quickly and excessively, with most of
the waste simply becoming fodder for the bin. Te truth is, you
may not be aware of the intrinsic value your cooking scraps can have
on your garden and your pocket. Instead of buying someone elses lefovers,
homemade compost is a great way of reducing your own household waste
and disposing of organic matter appropriately.
Here is how you can make your own compost:
Construct a large wooden box, fenced cylinder or get an old bin with holes
in it in order to store the compost. Te size of the container should be around
2m x 1m and it should be positioned on an elevated surface (preferably made
out of wood if you use a wooden box). It is useful to have a stick in it to aerate
the compost once it has fermented over a longer period of time.
Te key to successful compost is efective layers. Layer the bottom of the
compost box with newspaper (but not magazine or colour print/glossy fnish
pages) as well as lawn trimmings, dry leaves, small sticks, and wood chips
and compact this all with a rake. Place used cofee granules, carrot and potato
peelings as well as egg shells that are not boiled in the next layer. Most other
organic matter can also be put in this layer, but citrus fruits must not be used.
To repeat the process, add another layer of newspaper and lawn trimmings
followed by more kitchen lefovers. Te top layer should have dry leaves and/
or lawn trimmings. Once the compost box is at capacity, it is vital that the up-
permost layer is lef to ferment for at least three months. To start the fermenta-
tion and whilst the fermentation process is occurring, pack the contents within
the box with a garden rake or shovel and water it occasionally to add moisture
to the mix.
Compounding waste with compost
Lauren Buckle
In a number of recent environmental
campaigns, music has played a cen-
tral role in ensuring that the protests
stand out so that their personal
battles become public concerns. Both
the Global March for Lions and the
Rhodes Earth Hour followed this
increasingly popular trend and used
music to attract more attention to
their cause.
Nathi Mzileni, organiser of the
Earth Hour event held at Rhodes on
29 March, incorporated music into the
Earth Hour campaign to encourage
students to protect their planet. Music
allows people to come together and to
protect the one thing that we all share,
our planet, remarked Mzileni. He also
feels that the use of music at the Earth
Hour gathering drew more people
towards the campaign efort at large.
Music also drew people to the
Global March for Lions, held on 15
March. Animal rights activist Harry
Owen commented, Apart from draw-
ing attention to the [lion] march itself,
it seemed to me that the drumming
applied a kind of breathing, a heart-
beat, to the demonstration.
Tis was a living thing. People felt,
rather than thought, the power of the
cause.
Te campaign seemed to focus on
music to communicate the serious-
ness of the cause and its goals. Ofcial
songs were created for the march, but
there were also many participants
who added their informal chants and
drumbeats to the campaign.
Julie Lines, founder of Voice of the
Animals and co-founder of Awakening
to Animals International Conference,
and singer and songwriter David Cha-
beaux, created the song Lionhearts
for the march. Music is a universal
human language that resonates with
us all on a deep level, commented
Chabeaux. As such, it has the power
to unite and bind us in this world of
so much separation, to galvanise us
towards positive change.
German singer and songwriter
Anouschka Pearlman actively
promotes nature conservation and
environmental awareness through her
music. Her song Dying to be Free was
played on South African radio stations
to garner support in the weeks leading
up to Global March for Lions. Te lyr-
ics in the song are based on Dying to be
Free by Gareth Patterson, an expos on
the canned lion hunting industry.
On a more informal level, Chair-
person of African Drum Society and
activist Kestrel Raik as well as fellow
activist Emma Tompson brought
their bongo drums to the lion march
to generate interest for both the
participants and the onlookers. Te
music gives us a sense of connection
to the protest, explained Tompson,
showing how protest songs can appeal
to peoples feelings and unite a crowd
under a single cause.
Pearlman echoed this sentiment:
A song goes straight to the heart and
bypasses all our flters which would
otherwise stop us from engaging.
Music as a means of communication
for a campaign has great mobility as
it allows the message to travel beyond
the bounds of the protest.
Te songs of the Global March for
Lions exhibited a means by which
people could better hear the voice of
an ofen distant cause.
Music enables the awareness of a
campaign to sink in at the level of the
individual as well as the community.
Te Rhodes Earth Hour not only paid
homage to the planet, but encouraged
mass participation and community
action that unites us all in a collective
environmental consciousness.
Music for the march
Illustration: AMY SLATEM
Applying Earth Hour beyond the blackout
Rhodes encourages going beyond Earth Hour to become conscious consumers. Photo: GABRIELLA FREGONA
Simplify your life as much as possible reduce, re-use,
recycle.Tat basically sums up my philosophy!
Eileen Shepherd, Science and Pharmacy Principal
Faculty Services Librarian
Research the numbers and the costs and then use this to
consciously think about the power you are wasting. Imagine
what could be saved if everyone switched of appliances
not in use. Dont feel shy aboutreminding your digs mates,
friends and family to do so. Soon you will not be able
to leave a room without switching of frst. Professor
Sheona Shackleton, Head of Department, Environmental
Science
Reduce your carbon footprint by purchasing recycled
clothing. Whats not sold at our shop goes to the hospice
shop so a worthwhile charity benefts too. Nothing is
wasted! Di Westcott, owner of Te Nearly New Shop,
a second hand clothing store
Use rain water tanks, plant indigenous plants in your
garden, use vehicles as little as possible, recycle, and
buy local foods. Professor Ian Meiklejohn, Head of
Geography Department
Before you throw something away, see if it can be used
for something else. Use what youve got. Less is more.
Tracy Jefery, Owner of Kisma & Co., handmade
gifs and art store
We need to pay closer attention to what we do,
think about the consequences of our actions, and
make changes where we can. In terms of energy
consumption, avoid over-use switch of when
you dont need it and use smarter technology
wherever possible. Nikki Khly, Safety, Health and
Environmental Ofcer
Consider the role you can play. If you use less energy, if
you recycle, if you plant a veggie garden whatever you do,
it will make a diference. Karabo Chadzingwa, Masters
student, Environmental Science
Conserve water. We live in a town where there are always
water shortages.Use a cup and fll it with water and use only
that water when brushing your teeth. When showering, turn
of the water when soaping yourself and turn it back on to
rinse. Ruwa Nhamoinesu, Environmental Representa-
tive, Dingemans Residence
Use eco-friendly bulbs whenever possible. Be conscious
of daily light use. Keeping the lights of can prevent
structural fres as well. Leanne McKrill, Masters student,
Environmental Learning Research Centre
Sports
Kimara Singh
Rhodes Universitys soccer teams have started play-
ing their annual league games, which extend into the
third term. Both the mens and womens teams aim to be
consistent against strong opposition, with the hope of
qualifying for next years University Sports South Africa
(USSA) soccer tournaments.
Te frst round of league fxtures took place on Sunday 23
March. Te men lost their frst match against Walter Sisulu
University (WSU) Ibika 2-0, but bagged three points by
default as a result of WSU NMD not pitching for the second
fxture. Mens team captain Artwell Marazani said, We will
look to improve on our performances next time by execut-
ing all the chances we receive.
Te womens team was also awarded three default points
when their only game was cancelled due to their opposition,
WSU not registering for the league in time. Womens team
coach Brynmor Heemro said that it is difcult to focus on
improvements when they didnt get the opportunity to test
themselves in a match situation and that they could have
used the early opportunity to gauge how well their pre-
season training has gone.
However, Heemro has great faith in the team. I have high
hopes for us qualifying for USSA but it is important that we
take it one game at a time. During practice the girls have
improved immensely; passes are sharper and confdence
is building. Tey are humble and teachable and these two
qualities will make them amazing footballers and will keep
our prospects alive throughout the league campaign.
Rhodes mens coach Samkelo Papu added, Our goal as
Rhodes Soccer is to play in competitive, organised and well-
structured football leagues and our focus is to fnish in the
top three at the end of the season to qualify for USSA soc-
cer. Like Heemro, he stated that he enjoys working with the
players and believes that his team is improving day by day.
Te Rhodes soccer teams need to build on their good
work during the of-season - the men in particular have
changes to make afer their loss in the frst round of fxtures.
However, positivity and determination are essential in
reaching sporting goals and the soccer teams hope to take
courage from other sporting codes that have made it into
past USSA tournaments.
Qualifying for the USSA soccer tournaments would be a
huge boost for Rhodes soccer as a whole and the league has
the potential to become a positive stepping stone for both
soccer teams, provided that they play well and qualify for
USSA by the end of the season.
RU soccer teams aim to qualify for USSA tournaments
A well-shaped column:
calisthenics vs gym
Timothy Collier
We take it for granted that almost everyone goes to the gym to exercise
and ofen forget that before gyms existed people relied on little more than
their own bodies to achieve incredible ftness results. Calisthenics is an
alternative method of exercise which is based on this pre-gym style of
training. It involves performing sets of simple but efective exercises that
can be done anywhere. When used correctly, it can yield excellent results.
It is not a new concept or way of training. In fact, it has been around for
centuries. Although ofen sold as a sofer form of training, it is far from easy
and involves a range of exercises such as push-ups, sit-ups, burpees, pull ups,
dips and the signature move the
human fag. Te core of calisthenics
lies in the exclusion of equipment
from training, which is a popular idea
with 5th Dan kickboxing instructor
Shihan Shaun Rmer. I prefer to train
without weights so I think it is a viable
alternative, he said.
Hit Richards, President and founder
of Calisthenics Kingz, also praises this
style of exercise, I think calisthenics
is the best viable alternative to gym
training, he said. One of the main reasons is because it can be done any-
where, at any time and you specifcally dont need any equipment. Richards
went on to say that he prefers calisthenics training due to the fact that it
helps to build better functional strength, increases fexibility and endurance,
and sharpens both balance and coordination skills. According to Richards,
training in this way leaves one less prone to injuries.
Another option, especially for those who are concerned about retain-
ing muscle mass, is to combine calisthenics and weight training. Qualifed
personal trainer Brandon Redman says that the advantage of this is that
you are able to achieve a more athletic build, rather than that bulky, heavy
look. You will also be able to mix up your workout routine, because train-
ing solely in the gym tends to get monotonous. Te choice comes down to
the specifc individuals training needs, but calisthenics does seem to ofer a
dynamic alternative to weight training.
Hit Richards of Calisthenics Kingz successfully represents the human fag.
Photo: SUPPLIED
Calisthenics
is the best
viable
alternative to
gym training.
Douglas Smith
L
ast month the South African
u18 fve-a-side hockey team
qualifed for the 2014 Summer
Youth Olympics which are to take
place in Nanjing, China from 16-28
August. Rhodes Universitys very
own Cody van Wyk was part of the
nine-man squad which conquered all
opposition at the African qualifca-
tion round in Zambia.
Van Wyk has represented Eastern
Province hockey since he was 13 years
old. Tis year he became one of the
frst students to come to Rhodes on
a hockey scholarship. Te University
has placed an emphasis on the sport
since the mens frst team qualifed to
compete in this years inaugural Varsity
Cup hockey tournament. His selec-
tion for the national fve-a-side team
was announced in December 2013
and since then van Wyk has made a
smooth transition to the shorter for-
mat of the game.
Te fve-a-side format was created
to make the game even faster and more
exciting, much the same as sevens has
done for rugby. Each team consists of a
goalkeeper, two defenders, two attack-
ers, and rolling substitutes. Te turf is
surrounded by low boards to keep the
ball from going out of play, so players
hardly get to take a breath during the
game. Teir only relief comes in the
two minute breaks between each of the
three 12-minute chukkas.
During the qualifcation rounds,
the South Africans managed to fend
of some strong opposition despite
being down by a player in most of their
matches. Its really tough when some-
one on the team gets a yellow card,
because then you have to run twice
as hard, explained van Wyk. One of
our defenders got a card in every game
except one.
Teir 4-3 win over Kenya was a clear
example of the team defending their
precarious lead with only four players
and scraping through to the knockout
rounds.
Although they qualifed for the
Youth Olympics by defeating host na-
tion Zambia 3-1 in the fnal, the team
is still not certain of its participation
in China. South Africa will only send
one sports team from each gender to
compete and the fve-a-side hockey
team is in contention with the mens 7s
rugby and badminton teams.
Regardless of whether or not they
get the nod to compete in China, the
mens fve-a-side hockey squad will be
preparing. Van Wyk is happy with the
way his game is improving under the
Rhodes system.
Te Universitys frst team squad
has been hard at work this year with
training camps, early morning gym
sessions and video analysis sessions.
Van Wyk has found that adding weight
training to his routines has helped him
to develop his game. Ive got more
confdence compared to last year, I
would never throw overheads, he said.
He and his national teammates are
holding thumbs that they get their
well-earned chance to compete in Chi-
na against the best in the world. Until
then, he will continue to be an asset to
the Rhodes frst XI as they strive for
success in this years Varsity Cup.
Van Wyk helps SA fve-a-side
hockey qualify for Youth Olympics
Cody van Wyk (bottom right) and his national team-mates celebrate after
securing victory in Zambia. Photo: BRANDON SWART
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- Hit Richards
President and founder
Calisthenics Kings