The Oppidan PressEdition 7, 25 September 2012

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RU Choir tours the Cape

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By Kyla Hazell

In commemoration of the life of anti-apartheid activist Stephen Bantu Biko, Grahamstown residents, Rhodes University academics and stu-dents marched through town from the Drostdy Lawns to St. Philip’s Anglican Church in the Fingo Village township on 19 September.

The route followed during the march was that taken by Biko and his comrades when they left a National Union of South African Students (NUSAS) conference, which was held at Rhodes University in 1968. Biko had been deeply offended by the segregation of black and white students in residences and dining halls during the conference. It was in the Fingo Village church that Biko and those with him slept that night.

The break of some black students from the predominantly white NUSAS that year precipi-tated the formation of the South African Students’ Organisation (SASO), of which Biko was the first president. From the start, SASO was committed to Black Consciousness philosophy, assisting in the creation of the Black Peoples Convention (BPC) and playing an important role in the struggle.

Organised by the Unemployed Peoples Move-ment (UPM), the march on Wednesday was followed by a commemorative ceremony at the St Philip’s church during which a number of speakers addressed the congregation.

Despite the poor attendance, the UPM Chair-person, Asanda Ncwadi believed the event was successful. “What is important is that it was a similar small number who walked out from Rho-des to this church and who organised themselves to bring about black consciousness and SASO,” Ncwadi said.

Richard Pithouse, a lecturer in the Politics Department, expressed a similar sentiment during the ceremony, emphasising the significance of the day in the wake of the Marikana Massacre in August. “Marikana has shown to us and the world

the oppressive face of the state in South Africa today,” Pithouse said, continuing to explain how Biko walked into an uncertain political future when he chose to leave NUSAS and relating this to the present day. “We are not quite sure of the future, but we know that something needs to be done differently,” he said.

Pithouse argued that the Black Consciousness Movement provided an example of rejecting the status quo in the pursuit of a better future. “We need to walk away from the consensus that we must continuously obey,” he said, “We need to find something new.”

Fundile Mafungosi of the Masifunde youth development organisation echoed Pithouse, saying

that while the struggle, aided by the work of organisations like SASO, succeeded in disman-tling a racist system, the fight against all forms of oppression is far from over. “We are in a world, a continent, and a country faced with massive inequalities,” Mafungosi said.

Pauline Wynter, associated with the Steve Biko Centre in Brazil also addressed the crowd. The organisation works to uplift impoverished black Brazilians through education.

Wynter spoke of how the organisation had been encouraged by the life and work of Biko. “I am re-ally here to thank you for keeping this dream alive for minorities not only in South Africa, but across the world who find strength in Biko,” she said.

Not enough zombies to fearBy Jenna Lillie

The shift in atmosphere has nothing to do with weather, my fellow humans. You are not crazy, nor are you imagining things. You feel it, you feel them. They are back and they want you.

Zombies are set to threaten Rho-des University for the third time in 12 months, as Humans versus Zombies (HvZ) returns to campus. This reap-pearance of the undead has led some to question what the zombies’ motive may be and if they are succeeding in achieving their goals.

HvZ was created in 2005 at Goucher College in Baltimore, USA, by Chris Weed and Brad Sappington, who later created an official website explaining the general guidelines, rules and information for other universities to customise their own games. Since the games’ inception, HvZ has spread to over 1,000 locations, spanning six continents.

Zombies made their way on to the Rhodes campus for the first time in Live Smart Week last year. It was supported by the Dean of Students office who hoped the game might broadened the activities students take part in. However, the third coming is being run independently by the Game Society (Game Soc), whose main objective is simply to create a fun-filled atmosphere for all to enjoy.

Many US universities have banned HvZ due to the sensitivity around gun violence and the violent nature with which some students played the game. Game Soc has put careful precautions in place to ensure that HvZ is played as safely as possible. Security briefings before the game aim to explain the rules and avoid any violence, disruption or danger. “We emphasise that players must use common sense and abide by the rules,” explained William Walters, Game Soc chairperson.

“We have received no complaints concerning safety or injuries with regards to this game, however, maybe they should consider running it once a year to maintain the novelty and excitement,” said Dean of Students Dr Vivian de Klerk. De Klerk said that the game may not decrease drinking or change people’s attitude, but said that she believes it does demonstrate that there are others ways to be involved, and that the gamers are setting an exam-ple of this.

The game has stuck to its original for-mat with a few changes. “We have thrown in a few surprises and made the missions far more exciting. New supply drops will mean more participation than previous games,” explained Walters. However, according to Walters, sign-ups this week were less than desired when compared to the last game.

Players from previous Rhodes HvZ games, speaking at the security briefings, said they have generally had a positive ex-perience. “I force my friends to join. It is so much fun,” said Christina De Gouveia, a veteran zombie.

Former Game Soc chairperson Jonathan Funcke encouraged players to remain in the game even if zombified. “There are no losers: there are just two sides and two very different experiences that you can play in.”

News2 The Oppidan Press 25 September 2012

The Dean of Students (DoS) of-fice is currently running their annual Alcohol Usage Survey in

order to gain insight into the alcohol consumption patterns and perceptions around drinking culture among Rhodes University students.

“We try monitor patterns of usage, in order to counteract the myth that Rhodes University students drink much more than other students,” said Dean of Students Dr Vivian De Klerk. “My view is that Rhodes students probably do not drink that much more than students at any other university, but are just more visible when they go out to drink, since the town is so small and there are only a few ‘drinking spots’,” De Klerk added.

In order to prove this statement the Dean of Students needs facts, and these facts are sought through the promotion of the Alcohol Usage Survey.

However, many students seem to not know about the survey. BA student Roberto Queiroz said, “This is the first time I am hearing of [the survey]. I think the organisers need to make more of a conscious effort to create awareness”. It has been suggested that awareness is perhaps limited due to the lack of alcohol

awareness student groups available on campus.

Prime bartender and student Keith Manuhwa believes that Rhodes students do not drink as much as people perceive them to. “I think we have average levels of alcohol consumption,” Manuhwa said, adding that he found drinking levels where he bartends at home in Zimbabwe similar to those in Grahamstown. “You get [alcohol consumption] everywhere, not just at Rhodes University.”

The university intends to make the results of the survey public internally and then use the data to give substance to various awareness raising initiatives. De Klerk is working hard to create awareness and wishes more student groups would get involved. “Allan Webb Hall has re-cently run a ‘High on Life’ campaign and my office runs a ‘Live Smart’ competition among all the halls, encouraging students to organise fun events where moderate drinking is the norm,” De Klerk said.

The DoS decided to extend the dura-tion of the survey by a week after it had reached 1429 responses, saying it can only be significant if more than 2000 students participate.

Students who completed the survey are entered into a lucky draw and stand to win a return flight to any South African destination of their choosing.

Biko Remembered in community march

Annual alcohol survey underway

The Unemployed Peoples Movement (UPM), along with Grahamstown residents and Rhodes University staff and students, march from the Drosty lawns to Fingo Village Township on Wednesday, 19 September 2012, to commemorate the life of Steve Biko. Picture: KYLA HAZELL

The annual Alcohol Usage Survey, run by the Dean of Students Office, has been extended due to not having reached the re-quired number of participants. PICTURE: HANNAH MCDONALD

By Canny Maphanga

News25 September 2012 The Oppidan Press 3

Biko Remembered in community march

Annual alcohol survey underway

By Joshua Oates

The Gender Action Project (GAP), in conjunction with the Community En-gagement Division, is currently hosting Scarlet Letter Week from 25 to 28 Sep-tember. The aim of the week is to raise awareness of victim-blaming involved in incidents of rape, and to give space to Rhodes students and staff to think critically about rape culture.

The week will replace the Slutwalk event, as organisers felt that the name ‘Scarlet Letter Week’ was more appropri-ate. “Some people found the name to be alienating and offensive; others felt it was an attempt to appropriate the term 'slut' and recast it in a positive light; and others still loved the name,” said vice-chairperson of GAP, Lauren O’Brien. She said that the old name of the protest was overshadowing the aims and the mes-sages that they wanted to communicate.

“The focus is to draw attention to the culture of victim-blaming,” said O’Brien. “We wanted something that would be engaging and relevant to a Rhodes con-text,” she said. For this reason, the protest

will be confined to Rhodes University campus.

“Scarlet Letter Week seeks to question norms in our society that vilify survivors of sexual violence through ‘slut sham-ing’ and make them responsible for the actions of the rapist,” said Coordinator of Student Volunteer Programmes, Nosipho Mngomezulu, “hence the name ‘Scarlet Letter’, like in the late 19th Century novel by Nathaniel Hawthorn, in which social stigma was worn on the body.”

According to Mngomezulu, it is hoped that people who participate will think about the way rape culture informs and labels the roles and responsibilities of women and men, particularly in cases of sexual violence. “We seek to make clear that the crime of rape is a crime that disproportionately affects women and that it ought to be treated as a crime, not as an indictment of the survivors of that crime,” she said.

There will be various events happen-ing on campus throughout the week. A discussion exclusively for men will be held on Tuesday 25 September at 7pm in Arts Major. The talk will be about males and their relationship with feminism.

Entitled “Wear the pants?”, this discus-sion will be hosted by GAP Administra-tion Manager, Stuart Lewis. “The reason behind it being ‘men only’ is that I want men to speak as openly and freely as pos-sible without fear of attack or disapproval from their female contemporaries,” said Lewis.

There will be another discussion en-titled “Is our culture a rape culture?” on 27 September at 6pm in the Eden Grove Seminar Rooms. The discussion is open to all students. In addition, there will be displays and photo exhibitions in the Li-brary quad and around campus all week. These discussions will focus on different aspects of rape culture.

By Hlumela Mkabile and Benjamin Katz

Concerns over electoral fraud were aired following the second round of the Student Representative Council

(SRC) elections, hosted in the final week of the university’s third term. Publicly addressed by SRC liaison and 2013 electoral officer Eric Ofei, complaints of interference from electoral offic-ers at voting stations, and errors with the voter lists were lodged with the SRC.

Ofei assured students at the first inaugura-tion ceremony in its new format on 7 Septem-ber. Despite the allegations the official report submitted by the election’s impartial officer, James Tsabora, unequivocally confirmed the 2013 SRC’s legitimacy.

Notwithstanding the questions and accusations made on social networking platforms – in par-ticular the Rhodes SRC Facebook page - only four official complaints had been lodged. The election office stated that only officially-laid complaints would be investigated, of which all four had been interrogated.

Discussing the complaints, Ofei said the issue of student numbers not appearing on the Op-pidan student voter list was raised. The complaint

insinuated potential for electoral fraud. Ofei stated that his team had ensured that all signa-tures were counted and corresponded with the ballot numbers.

Two other complaints were laid against Sarah Price-Jones, the newly instated SRC media councillor. Jones and her team were accused of campaigning on Election Day, a practice that is not allowed by the electoral office.

Accusations were made against Jean-Michel Gaud, who, while supervising the Jan Smuts vot-ing station, was asking voters to vote for Jones. According to the official report compiled by Tsab-ora, Jones claimed she was unaware of Gaud’s actions, only discovering the accusations on the evening of the election after reading comments on the SRC Facebook page.

The report stated that Gaud had not denied his actions and had acknowledged their questionable nature. At the time of going to print Gaud was unwilling to comment on the situation.

The impartial officer’s judgement was that Jones had been guilty of the complaint laid against her, only because she had failed to ensure that her campaign team refrained from cam-paigning on Election Day. Jones’s penalty was to forfeit all votes from the Jan Smuts voting station.

Competing candidate for the media councillor position Kirsten Allnutt expressed her frustration

with such interferences. “I believe the elections, which have been marred by controversy already, are such a delicate issue and behaviour like this is abhorrent and serves only to exacerbate the already high level of student apathy,” she said.

Former SRC president Matthieu Maralack attributed the irregularities of the election to the introduction of the ballot system. According to him, the SRC was contacted by the Inde-pendent Electoral Commission (IEC), which had explained that difficulties in monitoring digital elections pro-vided space for electoral fraud.

Asking for over R20 000, accord-ing to Ofei, the IEC offered to run this year’s election. However, budget constraints prevented their involve-ment in the second round, leaving the SRC to rely on senior students, hall representatives, and SRC alumni to act as voting officials.

Maralack maintained, that the 2013 SRC is legitimate. “All formally lodged complaints were appropriately han-dled and students are free to approach

Scarlet Letter replaces Slutwalk

Complaints challenge legitimacy of SRC elections

The annual Alcohol Usage Survey, run by the Dean of Students Office, has been extended due to not having reached the re-quired number of participants. PICTURE: HANNAH MCDONALD

Student, Jacqueline Pinto volunteers as a helper for the 2012 Student Representative Council (SRC) elections at Nelson Mandela dining hall. Picture: KIRSTY MAKIN

“Where are they now?” A closer look at Rhodes University Alumni and their stories

Herman Wasserman gave his inaugural lecture last week: a “new dawn” for Journalism and Media Studies

The world observes Rhino Day this week to protest the poaching of Rhinos across the globe

>>”New dawn” >>RU flashbacks>>Rhino Day

oppidanpress.comCheck it out at:

the SRC with any issues,” he said.

News4 The Oppidan Press 25 September 2012

On the 200th anniversary of the founding of Graham-stown, the controversial

debate over whether to rename the city or not has resurfaced. Gra-hamstown is currently named after Colonel John Graham of the British Army. Graham was infamous for his brutal campaign against the ama-Xhosa in the Albany region, in which he employed what he described as a “proper degree of terror”. Former president Thabo Mbeki described him as a “butcher”.

Last month, Grahamstown’s execu-tive mayor Zamuxolo Peter announced that a decision regarding the town’s name change would be taken in the next six months. He said that a budget of R250 000 has been put aside for the name change, adding that if it was not used to rename the town, the money would go towards renaming streets in Grahamstown East. The Makana Municipality’s Naming Task Team (NTT), headed up by Councillor Julia Wells, is in charge of putting forward a proposal regarding the name change.

Wells, who is also a senior lecturer in the Rhodes University History Department, declined to comment as she has yet to present her findings to the Municipal Council, but noted that after this she would be able to discuss it more freely with the media.

The debate over the name change has been ongoing since 2007 when then-mayor Phumelelo Kate announced that the name had to go.

The Keep Grahamstown Grahams-town (KGG) movement was launched by Advocate Jock McConnachie to prevent the name change and has been fighting the process since its inception.

The KGG believes that in the interests of reconciliation, the names should be kept as they are because they represent a combination of opposing histories. It also stresses the impor-tance of the brand that the town has built around the Grahamstown name as a cultural and educational centre. In a survey conducted by McConnachie, the KGG found that 80% of residents were in favour of keeping the town’s name. This included 60% of residents polled in Grahamstown East.

Dr Sally Matthews, a senior lecturer in the Rhodes University Politics

Department, felt that it was worth considering renaming places that are named after “objectionable” historical figures such as Colonel John Graham. She also stressed however that the pro-cess would be meaningless if only the name changed.“Changing a name of a place does not miraculously change that place and… [it] can be used in order to obscure concerns about the lack of significant and meaningful transformation,” she said.

Matthews also said that it was important not to frame the debate in terms of the poor not benefiting, as local businesses would be given the opportunity to be involved in produc-ing changed signage and anything else that would be required.

When approached, many Rhodes students felt that the idea of a name change is farcical. Older students pointed out that the debate has been going on for a long time and that ulti-mately nothing would come of it. Jess Jooste, a PGCE student, echoed the KGG’s sentiments about the brand of Grahamstown, saying, “You send your kid to Rhodes University in Grahams-town. There’s no real point in changing either of their names.”

By Stuart Thembisile Lewis

Zubeida Jaffer, heavyweight journalist and Rhodes University alumnus, addressed students last week Thursday at the annual Public Debate on the content of her article entitled, ‘What’s wrong with Mandela Day?’.

Responding to Jaffer was Anthea Garman, an associate professor in the school of Journalism and Media Studies, and chairing the Rhodes University Debating Society’s annual event was Nosipho Mngomezulu.

Jaffer said that Mandela Day - an annual event where participants dedicate 67 minutes of their day to helping others - had become an opportunity for people and companies to show themselves off. She singled out former US president Bill Clinton’s opening of a primary school library as an example of this. Jaffer also argued that the current system of “touching and going” by companies had actually retarded community development.

Both Jaffer and Garman touched on this

issue and asked companies to rather build a sustainable relationship with a community in which the community took ownership of what was being done for their benefit. “It mustn’t be just charity work,” said Jaffer.

Jaffer invoked the legacy of anti-apartheid activist Steve Biko, and founder of the South African Native National Council (precursor to the African National Congress), Pixley ka Isaka Seme, to call on South African students to build a new nationwide student movement. She argued for a need to combat problems in education and to investigate issues and incidents such as the Marikana massacre. Garman echoed her sentiments, calling for a powerful and credible critique from members of institutions like Rhodes University.

Jaffer said that activists from the 1980s like herself were running out of steam and needed the new generation. “When I was a student we felt battered and beaten, but students these days have so much confidence. You must have your say,” she said.

By Stuart Thembisile Lewis

Name change debate resurfaces

The Gender Action Project (GAP) is taking the next step in their initia-tion of the Mooncup project, which they intend to start introducing this month. The Mooncup, a reusable sanitary product, is soon to arrive in Grahamstown as part of a project which premises itself on advocating gender empowerment and environ-mental safety.

The initial plan was to distribute the Mooncup to high schools in Gra-hamstown and then potentially take the initiative to other disadvantaged locations. However, Lauren O’Brien of GAP said this proved impossible. “We realised we were being unrealistic in wanting to involve school girls in the original programme, so we are begin-ning a pilot project with volunteers from the Women’s Academic Solidarity Association (WASA),” she said.

WASA is a network of Rhodes wom-en established to deal with some of the more complex issues facing women in higher education institutions. “WASA members welcomed the initiative, as the Mooncup is a safe, environmentally friendly and cheaper product for women to use,” said Siphokazi Magadla, chairperson of WASA and lecturer in the Politics Department.

“It is not only important for the organisers to demonstrate that the Mooncup is ideal for struggling teen-age girls, but also that the product is useful for all kinds of women,” she added, alluding to the research ele-ment of the project.

The pilot project involves the distribution of the Mooncup to the

volunteers from WASA, who will then meet with GAP once a month to dis-cuss any issues or comments that arise. “From here we will go about compiling information that can be distributed to school students,” said O’Brien.

Should the Mooncup project make it to local schools, GAP is also consider-ing distributing the product to the mothers of the girls involved. “This is in order to overcome taboos such as those about tampons and the stig-mas attached to menstruation,” said O’Brien. Nosipho Mngomezulu of the Community Engagement office added that the Mooncup will be promoted as a tool for gender empowerment.

Debate around the initiative is already growing on campus. Student Chelsea Maloney said, “I think it is a good advancement in terms of the environment and being cost effective but I think it will cause a bit of a stir in the community because it’s such a new concept that a lot of people are unsure about how it works and the morals behind it.”

Ruth Kruger, vice chairperson of RUGreen and former SRC environ-mental councillor, said, “I think it is an excellent initiative. Feminine hygiene products are expensive, not to mention wasteful. Mooncups can be re-used for a long period of time, which makes a lot of economic and ecological sense.”

The Mooncups have been ordered with funding from RUGreen and the Gender Action Project. O’Brien hopes that further funding will be received either from a menstrual cup distribu-tor or company with environmental interests. Although the Mooncups have taken longer to arrive than antici-pated, O’Brien said that GAP expects them soon.

Mooncup project to take its first steps in GrahamstownBy Jesame Geldenhuys

Students gather at Botany Major on Thursday 20 September 2012, to find out about ‘What is wrong with Nelson Mandela Day?’ Picture: HANNAH MCDONALD

Annual DebSoc debate questions Mandela Day

The Grahamstown name change debate has left many people questioning the future of the town, but Executive Mayor, Zamuxolo Peter, said the fate of the town’s name will be decid-ed in the next six months. Picture: MADIEN VAN DER MERWE

News25 September 2012 The Oppidan Press 5

Despite recent publicity of vio-lent muggings and assaults, the Grahamstown Police De-

partment has said that violent crime statistics are not increasing.

“There have been a few incidents in the last month but this type of crime is not necessarily on the increase,” said Captain Mali Govender of the Grahamstown Police Service.

This concern follows a number of incidents that have occurred in Grahamstown and in the coastal towns of the Eastern Cape. Recently, a source who wished to remain anonymous was mugged and stabbed during a beach visit in Kenton. “My friend and I were walking back from the beach to the car through the bush and a young guy fol-lowed us,” she said, “He stopped us and asked for our belongings but we put up a fight. That was when he stabbed us and ran away.”

Rachael Wood, a Wits student who was visiting a Port Alfred beach during June, was also in a mugging-related assault. “I was on holiday when the assault took place and I was a lot less vigilant,” said Wood. “They pressed a knife to my side while they took all they could from my beach bag. Once they had emptied my beach bag, I was sexually assaulted by the oldest of the

three,” she said.Colonel Lizette Zeellie of the Port

Alfred Police Department assured that despite these recent incidents, crime is not on the increase. “The cases of mug-gings and mugging-related assaults are quite low,” she said. “Previously we relied on car guards to provide se-curity, but we are looking into getting cameras installed in strategic places which will be monitored by a local security company,” said Zeellie.

“These incidents usually occur the most around the festive season and during the holidays,” said Sinethemba Mabona, the junior consultant at the Port Alfred Tourism Office. “The police force is good and people should feel safe visiting our beaches,” she said.

In both cases, the South African Police Services have been praised for their efficient and thorough action. “[The Kenton Police Department] were very good. They instilled confidence in us and have been in contact ever since, keeping us updated with any progress,” said the anonymous victim of assault. Wood echoed these sentiments. “[The Port Alfred Police Department] were very helpful in staying in contact throughout the investigation, even once I was back in Johannesburg,” she said.

At the time of going to print, no ar-rests had been made but investigations were still ongoing.

Police: crime stats low despite recent attacksBy Alexandra Maggs

After great success last year, Rhodes Society Masincedane Soup Kitchen is hosting another creative Picture Pot fundraising event on 27 September in aid of Cynthia’s Soup Kitchen in Xolani.

Inspired by Johannesburg’s one night exhibition, ‘1000 drawings’, Pic-ture Pot aims to raise money for chari-ties from art donated by the public. Society chairperson Jocelyn Coldrey said, “The event was great last year we raised more than we ever had on any student fundraiser before.”

Participants in Picture Pot submit one A4 piece of art and anyone in the community is able to take part. The piece can be any medium. Ali Coldrey, a Sociology student and one of the organisers of the event explained, “Last year we even had some yummy foods and home-made goodies”.

On the night of the event, those in attendance are able to take one artwork of their choice home in exchange for a R20 ticket. Last year the event was held at the music lounge. “It had a lovely back garden so once people had looked at the pieces of art and chosen one to take home they could come outside for some wine, soup and live music,” said Coldrey.

Organisers anticipate good partici-pation. “Last year many people left it until the last minute to submit things, so we’re hoping for a boom in the last week,” Coldrey explained.

All funds raised by Picture Pot will go towards Cynthia’s Soup Kitchen, which aims to provide free daily meals to adults and children who may other-wise go without. The soup kitchen was handed over to Cynthia Belwana in 2006 and she has been running it from her home since. Thabisa Belwana, her daughter, believes it is something that is made for her mother and said that

she always tries to help.More than 100 people come through

the soup kitchen every day. “Some of them don’t work or get anything so they need to come for a meal,” Belwana said.

The money raised for the soup kitchen is used mostly for ingredients and electricity. Masincedane also takes bread to the Belwana home every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. “Be-fore, it was only soup that we gave to the people, but now we have some rice, bread, mince meat and vegetables as well,” Belwana said, further explaining that the vegetables served are grown in her own back garden.

Belwana hopes that further funding might one day be used to build a shel-ter in the quad to protect people from bad weather when they are waiting for their meals.

Further details about the event can be found on the Picture Pot Facebook page.

By Jesame Geldenhuys

Picture Pot is back for another yearTwo Rhodes students are among the twelve finalists of the Glenister Challenge, a competition aimed at Law students accross the continent. The competition, run by well-known Johannesburg businessman Hugh Glenister, asked students to draft a legislation that would assist in the fight against corruption.

“We are very excited about making it through to the finals,” said Kyla Hazell, a second-year Law student, one of the Rhodes University finalists. “We never in a million years could have imagined we would make it.”

Both of the Rhodes teams that submitted entries have made it to the final round and have been invited to the final event in Cape Town on 29 September. They will compete under the University category.

“We are indeed very proud that two of the finalist teams are from Rhodes University,” said Dean of the Law Faculty Professor Johnathan Campbell, “Being the smallest law faculty in the country, this is yet another example of us ‘punching far above our weight’.” The competition was also open to the students in a number of African countries, including Angola, Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar and Mauritius.

Glenister’s call for citizens to participate in combating corruption was prompted by the recent Constitutional Court ruling that the disbanding of former corruption-fighting unit the Scorpions was unconstitutional and invalid. All finalists’ entries will be released to universities and think tanks for consideration.

Winners of the competition will share R60 000 and will each receive a Samsung 10” Galaxy tablet. In addition, R50 000 will be awarded to their faculty. The second-placed team will receive R30 000 and a Samsung 7” Galaxy tablet for each member, as well as R25 000 to their school’s faculty.

Law student Mbulelo Ncolosi said that before they found out their hard work had paid off, his team had already been content with the experience.

By Bulelwa Mthombothi

Rhodes teams make finals in Glenister Challenge

Cynthia Belwana and her daughter Thabisa Belwana run Cynthia’s Soup kitchen, an organisation which aims to provide daily meals to those Grahamstown residents who would otherwise go hungry. The money raised during the Picture Pot event will go towards aiding the running of the soup kitchen. Picture: JESAME GELDENHUYS

Following last year’s success, the art exhibition shows no signs of slowing down

We are indeed very proud that

two of the finalist teams are from

Rhodes University- Prof. Johnathan Campbell,

Dean of the Law Faculty ”

volunteers from WASA, who will then meet with GAP once a month to dis-cuss any issues or comments that arise. “From here we will go about compiling information that can be distributed to school students,” said O’Brien.

Should the Mooncup project make it to local schools, GAP is also consider-ing distributing the product to the mothers of the girls involved. “This is in order to overcome taboos such as those about tampons and the stig-mas attached to menstruation,” said O’Brien. Nosipho Mngomezulu of the Community Engagement office added that the Mooncup will be promoted as a tool for gender empowerment.

Debate around the initiative is already growing on campus. Student Chelsea Maloney said, “I think it is a good advancement in terms of the environment and being cost effective but I think it will cause a bit of a stir in the community because it’s such a new concept that a lot of people are unsure about how it works and the morals behind it.”

Ruth Kruger, vice chairperson of RUGreen and former SRC environ-mental councillor, said, “I think it is an excellent initiative. Feminine hygiene products are expensive, not to mention wasteful. Mooncups can be re-used for a long period of time, which makes a lot of economic and ecological sense.”

The Mooncups have been ordered with funding from RUGreen and the Gender Action Project. O’Brien hopes that further funding will be received either from a menstrual cup distribu-tor or company with environmental interests. Although the Mooncups have taken longer to arrive than antici-pated, O’Brien said that GAP expects them soon.

Mooncup project to take its first steps in Grahamstown

Features6 The Oppidan Press 25 September 2012

The long road to ‘free and fair elections’ By Emily Corke

Following a long process that elicited controversy and outrage from candidates and

the student body alike, the 2012 SRC elections came to its conclusion in the final week of the third term. After reaching quorum with 2137 votes, the election was declared free and fair by Impartial Officer James Tsabora.

The first set of elections, which were held on 20 September, failed to reach the required 33.3% quorum. After this, many of the standing candidates pulled out, leaving numerous posts empty or uncontested. Despite the challenges, outgoing SRC president Matthieu Maralack said he felt that the elections were well-conceived from the begin-ning. “Everything was planned well in advance, and then we didn’t reach quorum and that messed everything up,” he said.

SRC liaison and electoral officer Eric Ofei and newly-instated SRC vice-president Brad Bense said that there were various reasons for the challenges that arose during the SRC elections.

Ofei first attributed the difficulties faced by the electoral team to the prominence of Inter-Varsity weekend. “Inter-Varsity overshadowed the elec-tions, including the campaigning in the week leading up to the elections,” he said.

He went on to describe the confu-sion that surrounded the new ballot system, which he perceived to have left students feeling unsure as to how they should and could cast their vote.

Ofei and Bense felt that poor ad-vertising and campaigning were part of the issue around voting, as many students felt uncertain about and unfa-miliar with the candidates. Ofei called it “lazy campaigning”, lamenting how candidates in the first round failed to go further than poster-campaigns. “It was the worst campaigning I have ever seen. Some candidates in uncontested positions didn’t even put up posters,” said Ofei.

“Another factor was the contribution of Dylan Smith’s open letter, which was incredibly damaging to the election process and people lost confidence in the SRC, therefore they didn’t vote,” he said. (The original letter can be found at oppidanpress.com)

In addition to the aforementioned issues, a further controversy arose in relation to this year’s decision to involve the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC). “There were many issues about the electronic voting sys-tem (in previous years) and there was no control over it. So it is about time that we brought in the IEC,” said Ofei.

Unfortunately the SRC had not budgeted for the hidden costs of the IEC’s involvement, including transport and accommodation for the electoral officers. According to Ofei, the SRC spent over R20 000 on the IEC.

“I believe the IEC would have been useful, but since we didn’t reach quo-rum while they facilitated the election it does seem like an awful waste of money,” Bense explained.

Due to these costs, the second round of elections was facilitated by the SRC, who had been trained by the IEC dur-ing the first election. “Like any other election, we had a few issues. There were only four formal complaints which we could only deal with, and which were dealt with accordingly,” said Ofei.

However, students seemed to have had more issues with the SRC

candidates and their campaigns. The SRC Facebook page became a spotlight for humourous and hard-hitting inter-action. “People were really harsh this year. Their complaints and attacks at the councillors were borderline insult-ing,” said Ofei.

“The Facebook page has diverted from its original purpose: to serve as communication. I think students are allowed to express their opinions on that platform but that being said it is a reflection of the maturity of some in-dividuals,” said Maralack. “A lot of the time people fell into a trap of respond-ing to uninformed statements and it [became] sensationalist”. Ofei and Maralack confirmed that they were happy to respond to any complaints laid against the SRC in the correct manner.

Politics student Tarryn de Kock, who had been active in the group

throughout the election process, said, “[The Facebook page] got ugly really quickly and it could have been avoided in general. People sometimes took it too far - good conversations were taking place and [the ugly debate] was detracting from that.”

De Kock felt that students were logging on to the Facebook page to see the latest drama. However, she said that she had little confidence in the electoral procedure and so it was a way of viewing whether she felt the candidates were worthy or not.

Despite the furore, frustration, and final fruition of the 2012 election campaign, Bense was confident that the restructured training and handover process had been successful. “Now it all rests upon individual councillors to step up and perform their duties to their best ability, which I believe to be very high,” he said.

Events Management is a major component in the Postgraduate Diploma in Management (Tourism Management), and one of the fastest growing industries both in South Africa and elsewhere.

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EVENTS MANAGEMENT AT UCT? YES!

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OPPIDAN UCT AD 2012.indd 1 2012/09/21 3:56 PM

The controversial and often uniformed statements made on the Student Representative Council (SRC) Facebook page resulted in the sensationalist commentary and personal jibes at council candidates. Picture: HOLLY SNELL

Features25 September 2012 The Oppidan Press 7

The long road to ‘free and fair elections’

throughout the election process, said, “[The Facebook page] got ugly really quickly and it could have been avoided in general. People sometimes took it too far - good conversations were taking place and [the ugly debate] was detracting from that.”

De Kock felt that students were logging on to the Facebook page to see the latest drama. However, she said that she had little confidence in the electoral procedure and so it was a way of viewing whether she felt the candidates were worthy or not.

Despite the furore, frustration, and final fruition of the 2012 election campaign, Bense was confident that the restructured training and handover process had been successful. “Now it all rests upon individual councillors to step up and perform their duties to their best ability, which I believe to be very high,” he said.

Events Management is a major component in the Postgraduate Diploma in Management (Tourism Management), and one of the fastest growing industries both in South Africa and elsewhere.

Conferences, exhibitions, concerts, festivals and other types of events need graduates who have a wide range of key management skills and who can plan strategically.

The key elements of business, tourism and events management are taught in this intensive one-year postgraduate management programme, which has been rated the top programme in Africa in its

category by best-masters.com, and 11th in the world. Also offered at UCT are Postgraduate Diplomas in Management in Marketing Management, Sport Management and Entrepreneurship. These challenging but rewarding courses prepare students for the world of business and have a reputation

for dramatically enhancing career opportunities. A strong theoretical and practical grounding in management disciplines and area of specialisation ensures that graduates can make an immediate and

valuable contribution in their chosen careers.

To apply for admission, you need only an undergraduate degree in ANY area, a year of your time and the passion to succeed. Applications close end October each year.

EVENTS MANAGEMENT AT UCT? YES!

For more information contact Nashly Langenhoven: Email Nashly.Langenhoven@uct.ac.za Tel 021 650-3777, or visit the School of Management Studies website:

www.commerce.uct.ac.za/managementstudies/pgdiplomas

OPPIDAN UCT AD 2012.indd 1 2012/09/21 3:56 PM

Shifts, tips and hoursIs your bank account always in the red? Perhaps you need a student job

By Vanessa Louise Knight Business

Are those annoying five cent copper coins all you can ever find jingling around in your

seemingly barren wallet? Believe it or not, you are not alone. It’s unquestionably common that many Rhodes students are generally out of pocket money and are forever scrounging for those one or two rand silver coins. The cob-webbed pockets, negative bank balances and depressing cellphone banking alerts have forced a number of students into the part-time job market around Grahamstown. For some, the few extra rands go towards tuition fees and for others, it’s all about getting that one last drink at Friars on a pumping Friday night. Whatever the reason may be, student jobs are on the rise and are becoming increas-ingly popular.

After the initial hustle and bustle of first year, many students return wiser about their monetary situations. Armed with better ideas on how to budget, they have clearer ideas on ef-fectively spending and earning money. Second year is a sizable jump from first year and for a number of students securing a heightened sense of inde-pendence scores high on the lengthy list of priorities. The first step towards this is getting a job.

How to get a job in GrahamstownWith Grahamstown being a “student

town” it gives way to numerous part-time or even full-time job opportuni-ties for willing and eager students. There are over 20 different bars and restaurants situated around town that are sometimes looking to hire. For most students in the job market, hop-ping from door to door was how they

hunted for and found the jobs they have. Adrian Romeo from Revelations Café suggests that putting in that extra 10% when job hunting often goes a long way. He suggests spending some one-on-one time with a manager as a great way to leave a longer-lasting impression than just your CV.

What you need when applying for a job in Grahamstown

For the most part, managers at the hostelries around Grahamstown are relatively lax on the presentation of formal documentation such as your CV and previous work references, but to avoid unnecessary disappointment and being turned away, bring along a copy of each.

Students are often daunted by the fact that they may not have had any prior experience or training in a serving environment, and at times are completely put off by the prospect of this type of work - but don’t stress. Managers generally understand if you are newbies with no experience. Ian Currie, owner and manager of New Street restaurant Ruanthai, says that getting a job at his restaurant involves a one-on-one interview and not much else, regardless of experience. With a chuckle, Currie adds that as long as he likes you, you might just get the job.

Things to keep in mind when apply-ing for a job

Beggars can’t be choosers. We often jump at the first opportunity given to us, but shift hours, wages, tips and general job satisfaction levels are all factors that need to be taken into

careful consideration before applying for or accepting any job. The chart be-low shows the shift hours, wages, tips and individual job satisfaction levels of working students across different establishments in Grahamstown. This will give you a good idea of the profile of the jobs at each place.

Another important factor to keep in mind when job hunting is to remem-ber that as a student, your course work must always take priority over your income, because after all we are here to get educated. Don’t accept a job that will run over your timetable or leave you feeling like a zombie the next day, regardless of what the pay might be. It won’t do you any favours in the long run. Kayla Lidstone, a Journalism student and bartender at Friar Tuck’s Pub and Grill (Friar’s) explains that the hardest part of her job is waking up for classes after a Wednesday night’s work. She goes on to add that it is extremely difficult and that sometimes she only gets about two hours of sleep. Lidstone also admits that she often misses lectures and tutorials due to sleep deprivation.

So if you are looking at getting a job all the factors need to be carefully considered first. Different jobs suit dif-ferent people. Have a look at the chart to see where is best for you. For exam-ple, employees at Friars receive more tips and decent pay, but their hours are particularly hectic. The Rat and Parrot has better hours, but offers a lower wage. You need to find a balance that best suits your lifestyle.

Good luck!

Don’t accept a job that will run over your timetable or leave you feeling like

a zombie the next day, regardless of what the pay might beTI

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Training camp for the new SRCHogsback was the location for bonds to be formed within the new SRC

By Jenna Lillie Politics

In line with the changes made to the Student Representative Council’s (SRC) constitution this year, the newly-elected SRC was sent to Hogs-back during the September vacation to kick-start the first week of the new SRC ‘shadow term’.

Early this year the 2011/2012 SRC raised concerns that the handover process each year failed to adequately prepare new councillors for their responsibilities. The former SRC body took to introducing a longer shadow period which has been aimed at recti-fying this problem.

Former SRC President Matthieu Maralack explained the mechanisms of the term as a relay race: the prede-cessor continues to run alongside their successor even once the baton has been passed on. Setting up camp at the infamous Away With The Fairies back-packers lodge, the aim of the training camp was to encourage team building and create a united organisation to work on behalf of the student body.

Rhodes University has hosted SRC training weeks in previous years, but the 2012/13 SRC had been further de-veloped. The departure from Rhodes campus allowed the team to work with each other every day without distrac-tions. “They cooked, ate and brain-stormed together,” said SRC liaison officer Eric Ofei.

The extensive program involved team building exercises, vision discus-sions, plan implementation for 2013

as well as lectures from key figures at the University. “Spending a full week with each other allowed us to know one another on a personal and profes-sional level,” said Thabo Seshoka, the incoming community engagement councillor.

Key speakers included the univer-sity’s registrar Dr Stephen Fourie, deputy vice-chancellor Dr Peter Clayton, and Allan Webb hall warden and senior lecturer John McNeill. They explained important concepts, ranging from a lecture on the history of Rho-des University, to an explanation of the protocols and procedures within the administrative system. “In comparison to previous years, this camp has been the best,” explained Ofei, “They have had a start that no other SRC has had”.

Mathaabe Thabane, the newly elected SRC secretary general (a posi-tion that was added to the council this year), said that it was “extremely informative... you thought you knew stuff; now we understand what is expected of us.”

Maralack was pleased with how the week was conducted and expressed surety in the incoming SRC’s abilities. “I am confident in them, they now have a strong footing,” said Maralack.

”They cooked,

ate and brainstormed

together- SRC liaison officer

Eric Ofei

Graphic: CORY SMIT

Student political societies absent from campusBy Stuart Thembisile Lewis Politics

South Africa’s two largest student political organisations, the Democratic Alliance Stu-dent Organisation (DASO) and the African National Congress-affiliated, South African Students Congress (SASCO), are both regis-tered with the university’s Societies Council. Despite this, there is little evidence around campus that suggests they are active.

This is even despite outgoing Student Rep-resentative Council (SRC) societies councillor Mfundo Makana’s acknowledgement that these groups are in fact active.

DASO chairperson Luyanda Mfeka is the first to admit that a person would be forgiven for thinking otherwise: “DASO hasn’t been as effective in creating a real space for itself within the student body as we had initially envisioned.” He blames issues internal to the Grahamstown student society, as well as the larger DA-wide debate on what their student-branch should strive towards being (other than “a mouthpiece for the party”).

Mfeka took over as chairperson at the begin-ning of the year when the previous repre-sentative opted to resign. DASO, he said, is a small society with only 68 members and their

internal attempts to get members involved, primarily in the first semester, had been poorly attended. “It’s hard to run a society when there’s hardly anyone to run it for,” he says.

Some DASO members complained that they had not received any e-mails from the society, which Mfeka attributed to an administrative error with the DASO mailing list. He said the society had made efforts to track down these e-mail addresses but received a very limited response. Mfeka also pointed to an e-mail that DASO had sent out just before this year’s June exams, a time when students are bustling in preparation for their final tests. Mfeka admits that the timing may have contributed toward the poor response they received.

The e-mail contained notification of a society meeting and listed several items for discussion, including a community engagement project with a local pre-primary school, a planned public lecture and the opening of a DA Youth branch in Grahamstown. The e-mail also called for any candidates interested in contesting the SRC elections on behalf of DASO to put their names forward.

Bulumko Dukada, chairperson of SASCO, acknowledged that allegations of “sweeping statements about the ineffectiveness of SASCO” from “non-sympathisers of the movement” had been made. He noted that they had had issues

with visibility on campus and not as many members had signed up as had been originally anticipated. Dukada stressed that SASCO was indeed highly involved on campus with open support for the annual Sexual Violence = Silence protest and Muslim Student Associa-tion’s (MSA) Israeli Apartheid Week (IAW). Dukada also noted that they had organised several events that included representatives of the Makana Municipality in order to strengthen ties between the student populace and the rest of Grahamstown.

Mfeka pointed out that the major purpose of political societies was to contest SRC elections but that even when they do succeed in doing so, they “struggle to maintain control of those candidates such that we can say that that was DASO or that that was SASCO”.

Features8 The Oppidan Press 25 September 2012

2012/2013 SRC president is confident about the year ahead

By Lucy Holford-Walker Politics

A small town guy with big ambitions, newly elected 2013 Student Represent-ative Council (SRC) president Sakhe

Badi was officially inaugurated as president on 7 September at the first SRC inauguration ceremony in Rhodes history.

Badi served this year as the SRC’s academic councillor, which gave him an advantageous level of experience of the University’s mechanisms. However, Badi is aware that there is much to be done, and that there is a need for a change in mindset on both the part of the SRC and the student body. With the enthusiasm he shows for Rhodes University and its students, one can believe that he may just achieve that on which he chooses to focus.

Descending from the small village of Wil-lowdale, about 80 kilometres out of Umtata, the Bachelor of Economics student believes that the SRC as a student governing body needs to look to developmental goals - one of which is rel-evance. He trusts that students need to be aware of what the SRC stands for, and know how each councillor is positioned to aid students and work for their benefit.

“I want to make a change,” Badi said, in response to why he decided to run for president, “and I could see areas where I could be a part of that change”.

Badi continued to say that he sees student governance as an area that needs adapting. “We need to redefine the mandates of student govern-ing structures and move into a modern context.” Badi believes that in this way mistakes from the past will have less chance of reoccurring.

In terms of where he sees the SRC moving towards in 2013, he was confident that the SRC training camp, held in Hogsback in early Sep-tember, gave the council a solidified vision and allowed them to have “gelled as a team”.

The purpose of the training camp was to prepare the SRC councillors for office by imple-menting team-building and forming a united front with which to better serve the student body. Badi believes this was achieved. “We now have a vision and want to realign the local agenda of student governance to the provincial and national agenda - we need to look at our student body as one not in isolation,” he said.

When probed about the mishaps of the current SRC body, Badi acknowledged that there is more they could have achieved, but feels that they were hampered by time constraints.

Badi congratulated the current SRC in their achievements, such as the initiation of an operational shuttle for students living on upper campus and the changes made to the general stu-dent governance constitution, but feels that there is room for more to be done. This is because he believes a legacy must be left. “After all, the insti-tution lives longer than you do,” he said.

To those that cavalierly state that the SRC has failed to perform as they should, Badi explained that all bodies or organisations have to “continu-ously prove themselves” and that their respon-sibility is never complete. “It is our job to con-stantly prove that we are worthy representatives and live up to the mandate – student governance should not only be the mandate of the SRC, but of all students,” said Badi.

He admits that the low levels of enthusiasm for voting were disappointing and encouraged students at Rhodes to be less apathetic and more politically conscious.

Whilst only time will tell if Badi and his team will deliver on their promises of change and transformation at Rhodes, His level of enthusi-asm is refreshing, especially in the wake of the recent struggle for quorum.

When all you need is some Badi

DASO hasn’t been as effective in creating a real space for itself

within the student body as we had

initially envisioned- DASO chairperson,

Luyanda Mfeka”Newly elected Student Representative Council (SRC) president Sakhe Badi aims to make a change during his term in office. Picture: MADIEN VAN DER MERWE

MEET YOUR SRC 2013

SECRETARY GENERAL: Mathaabe Thabane

TREASURER: Ntsikelelo Qoyo

ACTIVISM & TRANSFORMATION: Mbongeni Ngwenya

ACADEMIC COUNCILLOR: Victor Mafuku

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COUNCILLOR:

Thabo Seshoka

ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCILLOR: Luke Cadden

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS COUNCILLOR:

Ndana Tendayi

MEDIA COUNCILLOR: Sarah Jones

OPPIDAN COUNCILLOR: Sixolile Timothy

PROJECTS MANAGER: Carey Frazer

STUDENT BENEFITS COUNCILLOR: Naledi Pholo

RESIDENCE COUNCILLOR: Khanyisile Phiri

SOCIETIES COUNCILLOR: Amanda Green

My Name is Sakh’usomeleze Badi. I’m in my 3rd year as a Bachelor of Economics student. The portfolio that I was elected to serve in the year of 2011/2012 is that of an Academic Councillor, and I have been elected to serve as the SRC president for the year 2012/2013.I would like to acclaim SRC councils both past and present for their incom-parable contribution to the institution and student governance as a whole, the solid foundation laid, not over an afternoon or a day but over years of selflessness. With new relations formed in 2010, the courageous con-versations started in 2011 (“Let’s talk” was the motto). With improved service delivery in 2012 through the reforma-tion of student governing structures (“U-Matter”), it is crucial to understand where we come from so that we may know where we going. Thus in 2013 we are saying: it’s time to build on the foundations laid by being innovative, using a hands-on approach and by making student governance a man-date for all us.This is accompanied by a vision of realigning the local agenda with both the Provincial and National Agenda.

My name is Naledi Pholo and I am a 3rd year Bachelor of Social Sciences student. My desires for the sake of the student body are driven by my passion and belief that students are stakehold-ers of the university. Additionally, their views, aspirations and needs are of equal importance to that of the work-ers, academics and of senior man-agement. Through the philosophy of bringing a solidified solution to the fore, I aim to consolidate individual needs. In the interim I look forward to building strong relations.

As a BCom in Accounting student, I enjoy facing new challenges on a day-to-day basis, as these keep me on my toes. I look forward to serving the Rhodes student constituency as their 2013 Residence Councillor, and in assisting them with any challenges and residence related issues that they may face. It will be a priority to ensure that students’ needs are met within their respective residences and to make sure that Rhodes residences are really a home away from home for all students.

My goals and responsibilities fall into both the internal and external spheres of university life. The internal progress and objectives remain unseen by the student body up until the progress report is made public. Externally, I promise to implement a steadfast and proficient recycling system across cam-pus, promote a recycling culture and encourage environmental conscious-ness within the residence system. The issue of food wastage in the dining halls has been seriously noted. Togeth-er we will be assessing ways to either minimise or use this wastage in a way that is environmentally beneficial.

I am Sixolile Timothy, your Oppidan Councillor for 2013. I am currently do-ing my third year, majoring in Econom-ics and Legal Theory. I’m 100% Team Oppi and as your Oppidan Councillor, I would like to address safety and security concerns off campus through the relevant channels. I would also like to improve communication and acces-sibility between the SRC and the op-pidan community. I also want to assist students on financial aid in relevant matters and be a vibrant voice for all oppidans.

I believe that each and every one of us has an impact, directly or indirectly, on someone else’s life in a positive or negative way. As the Community En-gagement Councillor I want to get peo-ple involved so that we can help the people of Grahamstown overcome the problems that they are currently faced with, such as poverty and illiteracy. This will only be possible if we build up and update on the current projects that are in place, so that we can see what is working or not. Only then will our impact be larger and felt. “Don’t tell me the sky’s the limit when there are footsteps on the moon” - Farrah Gray.

My name is Ndanatseyi “Ndana” Tend-ayi and I am currently a second year, studying BCom Accounting. As the 2012/2013 International Affairs Coun-cillor, I aim to transform the portfolio of International Affairs Councillor. In order to do so, I will try by all means to fulfil all the tasks that are set out for my portfolio within the SRC Constitution. I am hoping to work with everyone pretty well and have an awesome year.

My name is Sarah Jones and as Media Councillor for 2013, I have a vision to make information regarding activities happening within Rhodes more acces-sible to students. I want to utilise all communication channels efficiently, so that boundaries between students and the SRC become non- existent. I’m a confident and capable individual ready for any challenge I may face. This year I started my journey at Rhodes and I am currently majoring in Law and Anthropology.

My portfolio is the treasury, which ensures that the SRC spends its al-located budget well and keeps proper record of all its expenditures. During my term of office I want to improve communication between students and the SRC. I believe that the SRC ought to be transparent and students have a right to hold the SRC accountable to how they spend their budget.

I am a Bachelor of Social Sciences student from Durban who is an aspiring organisational psychologist. The vision of the SRC speaks of being a body founded by students, for students. I believe that among many objectives it seeks to inform, listen, be compassion-ate to and benefit the student body as a whole. My aspiration as the Societies Councillor is that values such as these are carried out.

I am final year LLB student who shall be pursuing a Masters Degree in Taxation next year. My duties will be to contribute towards an environment that is conducive to study here at Rhodes, to be involved in academic planning and represent students who face academic exclusion and the loss of their DP certificates.

My name is Mathaabe Thabane and as the newly elected and first ever Secre-tary General of the Rhodes University SRC, I hope to lay foundations of sound principle, organisation and excellent administration. My job is to see that the internal workings of the SRC are intact and that the objectives of the council are fully carried out. I am also mandated to be the spokesperson of the council and represent Rhodes on a provincial and national scale. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone who voted and hope to ef-fectively and efficiently serve you, the Student Body. Rhodents, I salute you.

I am very excited about being the 2013 SRC Activism and Transformation Coun-cillor! I have many ideas and plans on how we can get Rhodes students in-volved in social issues that directly and indirectly influence our lives. These issues are local, regional, national and international in their scope. I plan to work with student societies, hall representatives, hall and house senior students, oppidan and residence stu-dents, as well as with staff. The aware-ness that I aim to promote will lead to transformation for a home away from home and a home for all.

I am a 2nd year Journalism student and as the new SRC Projects Manager, my responsibility is to organise projects and events on behalf of the SRC. These in-clude co-ordinating the organisation of entertainment functions throughout the year, including O-week, and to actively seek sponsorship for the SRC, together with the Student Benefits Councillor. I aim to focus more on working together with international, community engage-ment and environmental councillors, to organise events within their specific portfolios and agendas so that greater awareness of their causes can be achieved.

PRESIDENT: Sakhe Badi

VICE-PRESIDENT: Bradley Bense

After a year serving the students as the SRC Media Councillor, I have real-ised and learnt many things about the SRC, the university and the students. This is in terms of institutional bureau-cracy and building networking relation-ships from scratch across campus, Grahamstown, University Divisions and Academic Departments, respectively. My experience across this multilateral spectrum has opened my eyes to many issues that exist pre-conditionally for the University. However, many issues that I have noticed are easy to solve if the correct management of time and resources are utilised.

Solving the issue is easy compared to being made aware of them. After running the SRC media portfolio, the SRC Media Team, Purple Thursdays as well as Intervarsity this year, on top of my third year academics, I have the experience and the practical mindset needed to make things happen. All I need is you, the student body, to make the effort on your own behalf. I be-seech you to assist me in transforming a student vision, to have communica-tion and improve on a relationship that is over a hundred years old between the student body and the SRC.

ADVE

RTOR

IAL:

The snowy escapeThe Drakensberg offers affordable holidays for students keen to get away

By Jordan du Toit

As the most famous mountain range in South Af-rica, the Drakensberg is a haven for anyone eager to get away, and it can be done on a relatively low

budget, too. Getting to the central Drakensberg involves a lengthy 12-hour trip from Grahamstown (only two and a half hours from Durban and roughly five from Johan-nesburg) but once you’re there, you will quickly forget your aching lower back as you face the stupendous cliffs towering over the horizon.

I was greeted by snow on the peaks when I arrived just after a nasty cold spell. The area surrounding the immense cliffs is a place that feels so much simpler and calmer to a girl used to city life. This could possibly be due to the fact that the cows outnumber the people two to one and rural landscape is all you have to feast your eyes on.

Faced with the utter beauty of the natural world, you can-not help but feel that your problems are insignificant and surmountable.

The area is littered with B&Bs, self-catering cottages and hotels, depending on your budget. Permanently hungry students can get great meals at reasonable prices. The Waf-fle Hut, on the way from Winterton towards the Berg, is a must. With pages of combos to suit every palate and the main prices ranging between R20-R55, it is always swarm-ing with both tourists and locals.

I sat in front of a table of Americans who were eagerly

taking family snaps and next to a group of youths who polished off more food than I thought possible. Attached to the Waffle Hut are the premises of the Kwa-Zulu Weavers & Candles. I’m currently accumulating digs furnishings and I found carpets, metal work and décor for a steal when compared to city prices.

The Thokosiza Lifetsyle Centre also demands a visit. The restaurant has delectable meals which are admittedly a bit pricey. However, with such unusual flavours and combi-nations, the prices are forgivable. I had a trout salad that looked to be straight out of a top-tier restaurant. For those of us whose pallets are less refined and who would prefer a simpler meal, there is a deli at the centre where normal groceries can be bought.

Hikes, fishing, horse trails and the famous canopy tour are some of the delights of the Berg. Even if you merely string up a hammock and stare at the mountains while attempting to read another English novel, you will come back feeling refreshed. The ancient majesty of the crags and peaks cannot help but awe and inspire you, particularly when they are dusted in snow and oh so bravely trying to rival the Alps.

A working vacation in South KoreaBy Alexandra Maggs

The Teach Korea Program is an exciting and easy gateway to a new culture and an invaluable experience, especially for students looking to travel abroad. The international agency places students qualified to teach English in the high-tech world of South Korea.

The program has been operating since 2005 and takes pride in its placement of over 1200 students in various South Korean primary schools. Applicants must have obtained a Bachelor’s degree from a na-tionally accredited university, speak English fluently, and be highly motivated, willing to engage with learn-ers and embrace the culture.

“The application process takes a bit of effort. There’s a lot of paperwork to do, and they’re a little finicky about making sure everything is just as it should be,” said Christopher Kemp, who has recently spent two-year teaching post at a public school in South Korea.

Students are hired as guest English Teachers (GETs) on a 12-month renewable contract. South Korea is a desirable destination for students due to the high de-mand for English teachers, the low cost of living and the excellent pay. The program provides a fully fur-nished apartment, travel insurance and international health insurance. Apart from these basic perks, this is also an opportunity to experience different customs and immerse yourself in a new culture in a way that tourists simply visiting the country cannot.

South Korea is a blend of high-tech culture and old tradition. It is a tourist’s mecca, having something of both the old and the new to interest the hungry trav-eller. Working as a teacher you get to experience more of the cultural flavour from a local perspective.

The typical working day of an English teacher in Korea differs, depending on which school you are placed in. “I know people who worked 22 hours a week, and I know people who worked as little as 5

hours per week,” said Kemp. “No matter what your working hours are, you will be expected to be at the school all day,” he added.

For Stephen Smith, another recent participant in the program, the most difficult part of working at a Korean school was the disinterest in English shown by the students. “I would walk into the classroom and most of the kids couldn’t care less about English. Some were half asleep,” he said. Kemp echoed these sentiments. “[The] kids can be boisterous and naugh-ty. Don’t expect angelic schoolchildren,” he said.

At times the difference in culture can be a major adjustment. “This is probably the hardest part of living in Korea. The fact is that the English level in Korea is mostly very poor – people will generally find it very difficult to understand you,” said Kemp. “Experiencing new cultures is great, but just be aware that it can also be very challenging at times as well,” he added.

Some of Kemp’s strangest experiences usually involved Korean cuisine such as dog, octopus and silkworms.

“I think the first few months are hard, but once you get into the swing of things it will be one of the great-est experiences of your life,” said Smith.

Kemp’s advice to prospective applicants is to seri-ously consider whether the program is definitely for you. “You need to be aware that it is challenging, and it will be tough at times,” he said. “Overall it was good. There are bad days, but it really is an adventure and an opportunity to go to places you wouldn’t be able to otherwise.” Smith agreed and had high praise for the experience and the program. “It was awesome and a great way to see the world while working.”

For more information visit the Teach Korea website at www.teachkorea.co.za or pick up a

brochure at the career centre.

The snow-capped peaks of the Drakensberg and the abundant outdoor activities are a welcoming break. Picture: JORDAN DU TOIT

TOP: The class of Rhodes graduate Roxanne Henderson, who is currently a guest Eng-lish teacher at Silnae Elementary School in Korea. BOTTOM: A letter and drawing sent to Liane Le Roux in the Think Korea programme, from one of her students. PICTURES: ROXANNE HENDERSON

The area surrounding the immense cliffs is a place

that feels so much simpler and calmer to a girl used

to city life ’’

send an email to travel@oppidanpress.com if you’d like to tell us about your travel experiences

Gamtoos: nature's nookBy Ashleigh Brown

Most people know about the hustle and bustle of Jeffreys Bay. But away from the noise is a small settlement (because it can hardly be called a town) of which many people remain unaware. Situated right on the river mouth you will find Gamtoos.

Gamtoos is a small, scattered place along the river bank, close to the Gamtoos river mouth. It has the sea roaring just over the sand dunes, and the calm water of the river lapping at its feet.

Quite a number of wooden clad beach houses can now be found in and among the bushes. Further down the river is The Ferry Hotel. This old-style boat house offers vaca-tioners a nice quiet place to stay away from the cramped and noisy Jeffreys Bay.

There are plenty of water activities on offer, from canoeing, to fishing and jumping off the bridges. A gentle boat cruise slowly sailing down the river is a relaxing way to spend your afternoon with friends. Cast a line and wait for dinner to catch, while you float away with the current. Or perhaps get some wood and meat and lightup a braai along the river-bank, watching the sun burn up the dunes as it slowly fades away.

If you would rather have you feet on solid ground, then there are hiking trails and whale watching spots just for you. The bush behind the river offers numerous trails which are clearly marked out for new visitors to the area. The Gamtoos Home Owners Associa-tion has maps of the various trials and peaks in the area, which rank from beginner and up. These can normally be found at the estate agents offices just as you get into Gamtoos. There is also game in the bushes, darting around, to keep your eyes open for. For the more adventurous among us, there are op-portunities to go sand boarding down the many dunes lining the coast. The Ferry Hotel has sand boarding packages on offer.

If you are looking for a more rustic experi-ence, there are camping grounds right on the river banks, which are a 10 minute walk from the lapping ocean shore. Just bring a tent, some friends and you’re set. There are bathrooms and braaing facilities, as well as a small cafe with all the basics (at a slightly more expensive price).

Gamtoos is a silent paradise where water meets bush and time seems to tick by slowly. It is more of a place for the nature-loving, peace-seeking soul. It is a place to kick back with a beer and watch the sun set over the horizon as the stars take hold of the night.

Gamtoos, otherwise known as Baviaanskloof, is the perfect spot for lovers of both bushveld getaways and seaside tranquillity. Picture: SOURCED FROM WWW.MONKEYLAND.CO.ZA

Route 62: LARPing all the way homeBy Kyla Hazell

As the final pressured days of term drag by, the thought of a trip home by car or bus fills many students leav-

ing Grahamstown with dread. What many students may not realise is that the long road home has the potential to be more than simply reoccurring fields and the odd pass-ing cow. In fact you might find, as I did, that where the N2 crosses Memory Lane, standard childhood games can in fact reignite the im-agination and remind us of what it is to play.

As the subject of many American movies and Red Hot Chili Pepper anthems, the classic road trip is much lauded as one of the quintes-sential university experiences. Beer pong and burgers notwithstanding, there does seem to be something in the moment of tar passing under tires around a carefully engineered curve that lends to perspective. Yet the question still remains, how do you pass the time between these glorious turns? This was a question a group of us came to ponder on a recent trip to Cape Town. Having chosen our road (Route 62 through the heart of the Karoo) and assembled our allies, we Glad-wrapped the sandwiches, plugged in the iPod and were finally in transit but at a loss as how to occupy ourselves.

Traffic laws and road blocks seemed to rule out our first few ideas, inspired as they were by the on-screen shenanigans witnessed in our preteen years. Already hoarse from singing Hansen and having thoroughly exhausted the bank of road trip conversation topics, we cast our minds back to childhood in the hopes that some or other gone-by games would capture our collective imagination.

I Spy, unsurprisingly, failed to do so. Twenty-one questions proved similarly uninspiring. We then decided to try a new game: My Team. It was here that our mental adventure began.

My Team is a common car game which, depending on your company and particular inclination, can prove, for the truly bored consciousness, either vaguely entertaining or fundamentally mind-numbingly dull. What it involves is the choosing of players for your own “team”. Anything seen in the course of the trip may be claimed. The point of this game is often unclear, ranging from gathering the most practical set of resources for the building of a civilisation, to the assembling of a team revered by all as simply (and nebulously) “epic”.

We chose war.As the first few hours of the drive sped past,

we cunningly amassed our troops. Fields and flocks were kept in store, bridges seized and factories occupied. Soldiers were enlisted

from among the scary-looking. Misty gorges were snatched up and decoy cows deployed. The wolf sanctuary was argued over and won. A sunny hill. A pristine beach. The world of birds. One by one, the things that crossed our path were drafted and, as the commanders ex-plained their choices, it became clear we were engaged in a far more complex operation than had initially been thought.

What had started as a mindless pass-time somehow became World of Warcraft meets Humans versus Zombies. We had unintention-ally begun a live action role playing game, or LARP. Yes folks, we were LARPing.

Basically the adult form of make-believe, LARPing involves playing a game according to certain invented rules in an imaginary or created world. Our rules were simple and our world was South Africa at war in a science fic-tion story. Politics students at heart, we decided our armies would need to be backed by parties and that these parties ought to make clear their respective manifestos. Any acts of war contra-dicting their stated ideologies would result in a loss of party support and the forfeiture of their next move.

We also decided that the war of the new-South African future would need to be envi-ronmentally responsible and that any acts, such as the burning of forests, which would damage

the natural world would also cost the player a turn.

“I situate my troops within my forest fort and station my cows in the field outside.”

“I send my snipers to shoot your cows and take your troops.”

“I reveal that the stationed beasts were in fact my decoy cows and, as your bullets betray your position, deploy my hidden troops to take your snipers hostage.”

And thus the game progressed. Perhaps mercifully, Cape Town was upon us before victory was claimed. But we maintain that one day the war will be won, and as we stand in the ruins of our once beautiful country, we will be captured by a gentle song; a soft humming is on the wind. We will look to see the victor, broom in hand, beginning to clear the wreck-age alone. Slowly, our armies join in. The battle has passed and differences are set aside.

The four commanders, on a sunny hill above a misty gorge astride four giant wolves, observe as their forces unite to rebuild the nation while birds of paradise spin through the sky and the sound of Hansen’s “Mm-bop” sung in unison swells to meet their ears.

So what if we got a bit carried away? It’s a pretty long drive.

Picture: JORDAN DU TOIT

The snowy escapeThe Drakensberg offers affordable holidays for students keen to get away

taking family snaps and next to a group of youths who polished off more food than I thought possible. Attached to the Waffle Hut are the premises of the Kwa-Zulu Weavers & Candles. I’m currently accumulating digs furnishings and I found carpets, metal work and décor for a steal when compared to city prices.

The Thokosiza Lifetsyle Centre also demands a visit. The restaurant has delectable meals which are admittedly a bit pricey. However, with such unusual flavours and combi-nations, the prices are forgivable. I had a trout salad that looked to be straight out of a top-tier restaurant. For those of us whose pallets are less refined and who would prefer a simpler meal, there is a deli at the centre where normal groceries can be bought.

Hikes, fishing, horse trails and the famous canopy tour are some of the delights of the Berg. Even if you merely string up a hammock and stare at the mountains while attempting to read another English novel, you will come back feeling refreshed. The ancient majesty of the crags and peaks cannot help but awe and inspire you, particularly when they are dusted in snow and oh so bravely trying to rival the Alps.

Thursday night saw Zebra & Giraffe play an intimate, dark and dramatic show

with opening act Tailor starting the evening off. Accompanying Zebra & Giraffe on their tour, this band has proved to be a sound to look out for and one that the crowd loved.

The fact that Tailor’s debut album The Dark Horse was written within a day is just one of the remarkable facts about the band. Steaming talent from Cape Town, the band presents a new, dark pop that without a doubt comple-ments the feelings of Zebra & Giraffe’s, The Wisest Ones tour.

“As Tailor, it was my first time solo in a proper studio with a producer,” recalls the singer, “I took what I thought were my twelve best songs, written over a few years. Just as we finished laying down the last one, I began playing about on my guitar and singing lyrics that seemed to sail in to my head. I didn’t even realise I had written a song until the producer asked me to play it again because he

We heard a Zoo Tailor opens for Z&G with first single ‘Wolf’

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Opinion12 The Oppidan Press 25 September 2012

tweets from the week @oppidanpressJordan du Toit (@JordErin) 13 SeptemberCopy of @oppidanpress being passed around my hair salon in Benoni- and the praise is glowing!

Black spot (@MrPhamodi) 7 SeptemberCoz everybody needs some-Badi! RT @thembi_lewis: RT @oppidanpress: The 2012/2013 @RhodesSRC president is Sakhe Badi

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Babalwa Nyembezi @BabS_Nyembezi 6 September The @oppidanpress reports that 2137 votes were cast, 2046 votes were needed to reach quorum. Okay. Well done Rhodents!

Keitumetse KekanaTM @iam_shakes 6 SeptemberBeing a "Journalist University", I believe @oppidanpress and Rhodes University should dedicate a day for the journalist killed in Syria

Illustration: AMY SLATEM

What’s wrong with Mandela Day?

The Rhodes Debating society hosted our annual public de-bate last week. Zubeida Jaffer

presented her paper, ‘The Problem with Mandela Day’, with Journalism and Media Studies professor Anthea Garman as her discussant.

Both speakers were introduced and invited by chairperson Nosipho Mngomezulu to share their perspec-tives on issues surrounding Mandela Day. The debate was then opened to the floor and members of the audience could challenge, agree with, or ques-tion what they had heard.

I had already engineered the type of analysis that I thought both Jaffer and Garman would gauge with in the subsequent debate.

I expected to hear some contro-versial analysis about why Mandela Day is an inherently flawed concept. I expected them to question whether our current philanthropic approach to Mandela Day is disingenuous or not. Considering that we are only asked to pledge 67 minutes of our time once a year, I was expecting them to explore this once-off approach to charity.

I was interested to find out whether the speakers thought that charity is necessarily a good thing in a coun-try such as South Africa, where the culture of entitlement is increasingly pervasive and finds the number of people who simply expect to be given disproportionate to those who take initiative.

I expected this discussion to have some snap, crackle and pop.

However Jaffer’s anecdotal style moved us in a different direction. The audience was encouraged to be more reflective about our role as students and young people in Grahamstown and in the country.

Jaffer raised questions and ideas around Mandela Day that were pos-sibly more important and more pro-vocative than my initial expectations.

She argued that our generation has inherited a vibrant legacy of doers, where the likes of Steve Biko and Pixley ka Isaka Seme did not confine themselves to their own problems; “they saw their challenges as being a means with which to instil confidence and pride in the student community that in turn would inspire the healing of an entire nation,” she said.

However, somehow we have dropped the baton in this country.

Throughout Jaffer and Garman’s address I questioned what about our era draws parallels to the previous generation of doers and whether our struggles could be considered similar.

Considering the fact that we live in a place like Grahamstown where inequality mocks us every day in the simple walk from campus to the middle of town, I quickly realised that there are still overwhelming chal-lenges in our generation that we need to engage with.

Perhaps Mandela Day forces our

generation to look inward and ques-tion why we are only proactive for a mere 67 minutes a year.

Garman argued that after apartheid we seemed to occupy this strange psychological space where we halted dialogue with those in power in order to make meaningful decisions about what we wanted our country to be. It seemed that we conceded our power as young people to transform our soci-eties and our livelihoods to a govern-ment that often fails us.

We’ve stopped being proactive as young people. What have we done and where were our voices as a student body during recent events?

When Mgcineni Noki from the Eastern Cape, the man with the green blanket at Marikana, voiced his con-cerns for his community against Lon-don Mining, what did we say when he was shot and killed by police?

Surely part of the purpose of Man-dela Day is to continue to engage with and talk about the problems that face our newly inherited country beyond the 67 minutes we’re asked to dedicate on 18 July?

Jaffer and Garman made compel-ling arguments about the necessity of saying and doing more than just the 67 minutes asked of us. Although the dialogue was not the harsh critique I expected it was an important discus-sion.

Fezokuhle Mthonti is the Media Relations Officer for Rhodes Debating.

Last week the Unemployed Peoples Movement invited Grahamstown to march from the Drotsdy Arch to St. Philips Anglican Church in Fingo Village to commemorate the life of Bantu Stephen Biko, a figure in whose biographies Rhodes University should feature prominently.

The march was the same that Biko and his comrades had undertaken in 1968, when a National Union of South African Students (NUSAS) conference was held in Grahamstown, which would later be his place of arrest at a roadblock just outside the settler town.

NUSAS (representative of the country’s university student population) was undergoing an interesting period in its existence. The organisation was facing concentrated challenges within its black membership against issues of representation. The fiery debate focused on the question of how appropriately the predominantly white student leadership could embody black student issues.

The debate waged from two aggressive sides: one calling for black students to rise up and take control of their own representation, the other fearing that these ideals replicated the racist ideology of the apartheid state.

Rhodes University policy promoted segregation in the university’s dining halls and residences. When Biko and other black students arrived in Grahamstown they were told that accommodation had been prepared for them in Fingo Village, separate from campus and on the other side of Grahamstown.

The blatant racist bigotry of the apartheid-era university administration drove Biko to begin the South African Student Organisation (SASO), a focal point for the beginnings and success of the Black Consciousness Movement.

The birth of SASO’s incarnate, the South African Students Congress (SASCO), came in 1991, twenty-four years after the original was banned following the events of the Soweto Uprising the previous year. A wing of the organisation is currently registered as an active society under the Rhodes University Student Representative Council (SRC).

The UPM march has brought the prominence of Rhodes University’s role in the history of South African political activism to the fore. The controversy in the final weeks of this year’s internal SRC electoral process managed to ignite the student body, placing pressure on previous claims of student apathy.

However, while the university may have weathered the political storm in having reached quorum in the second round of the elections, the debate surrounding political apathy needs to continue.

While the current Rhodes political groups may be registered as active, their presence this year and in previous years, has been disappointing. The university’s student body may finally be grappling with internal Rhodes politics, but the conversation must now expand its critique to answer the following question: why do our campus political groups struggle to find support in the very birthplace of such a fundamental political movement in the fight against apartheid.

Arts & Entertainment25 September 2012 The Oppidan Press 13

The commencement of the Live Music Society’s (LMS) annual Battle of the Bands, which started on 22 September, has local bands vying for the title of Grahamstown’s best. It is always an event well attended by LMS members and local music enthusiasts alike.

The competition presents a unique opportunity to reveal the under-ground sounds of Grahamstown with which few people are familiar. As such it promises to be a stellar showcasing of local talent.

The competition kicks off at the Un-ion building. The first band to perform is Shackles and Bones, who describe themselves as, “a four-piece rock band that meets you at the bar, chats you up, and then punches you in the face”. Heat Niner, along with grunge/alter-native rock band Counting Backwards, are the two other competitors who will take the stage during the first round of the competition.

The second round of Battle of the Bands is due to take place on 29 September, with a performance by the

Devil Sent Me Back, a five-piece metal core band. They will be joined by the Gentlemen Callers as well as Fletcher's Memorial.

The final round is due to take place on 13 October. The night will see the surviving bands battling it out for the prestigious title of winner. Despite the predominance of what many would categorise as heavy or alternative music, Rhodes students are eagerly anticipating watching their favourite bands shred away on stage.

Grahamstown bands fight for gold

By Dirk Steynberg

Thursday night saw Zebra & Giraffe play an intimate, dark and dramatic show

with opening act Tailor starting the evening off. Accompanying Zebra & Giraffe on their tour, this band has proved to be a sound to look out for and one that the crowd loved.

The fact that Tailor’s debut album The Dark Horse was written within a day is just one of the remarkable facts about the band. Steaming talent from Cape Town, the band presents a new, dark pop that without a doubt comple-ments the feelings of Zebra & Giraffe’s, The Wisest Ones tour.

“As Tailor, it was my first time solo in a proper studio with a producer,” recalls the singer, “I took what I thought were my twelve best songs, written over a few years. Just as we finished laying down the last one, I began playing about on my guitar and singing lyrics that seemed to sail in to my head. I didn’t even realise I had written a song until the producer asked me to play it again because he

hadn’t hit record.” The bewitching song ‘Wolf ’, is Tai-

lor’s first single from The Dark Horse. But it wasn’t a once-off.

“One by one, new tracks just flowed out of me,” says Tailor. “No one could believe I hadn’t prepared them. It was a bizarre, spiritual experience. I felt as though I had floated out of my body and was watching someone else. I learnt a lot about myself that day. I discovered a side to me I didn’t know was there.”

The songs deal with personal issues on which she would not elaborate and childhood memories she tried to forget, but forced herself to face.

Although it was a quiet show in Grahamstown, the fans that attended got to experience a dark side to pop, a show that was intimate and engaging.

Zebra & Giraffe commented on their new album.

“It's definitely a little darker than our previous stuff, but still accessible. I think it was just the natural sound that we were hearing in our heads, and it was the music that we wanted to play,” said Alan Shenton, the band’s guitarist.

They are planning to tour through South Africa for the rest of the year and then head to Europe for 2013. Although the Union performance was their best attended show for the launch of the album The Inside, front man Greg Carlin took the crowd for what it was and joked saying, “Did you all forget to tell your friends we were playing?”

There was no disappointment for the fans that found themselves in this small, intimate show.

We heard a Zoo Tailor opens for Z&G with first single ‘Wolf’

It’s time for Battle of the Bands

By Jessica van Tonder

Up and coming band, Tailor, opens for Zebra and Giraffe at the Union on Thursday 20 September. Picture: JESSICA VON TONDER ”

We’re a four-piece rock band that

meets you at the bar, chats

you up, and then punches

you in the face

- Shackles and Bones

Arts & Entertainment14 The Oppidan Press 25 September 2012

The Rhodes University Cham-ber Choir sang their way into the hearts of their audiences

during their most recent musical excursion. The choir’s annual tour, which took place during the Sep-tember vacation, began at the Dutch Reformed Mother Church in George, where they collaborated with the George Male Voice Choir, the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Saasveld Campus Choir and the University of Cape Town Choir.

Well known for their rendition of ‘Umshini wami’, the choirs preparation for the tour began months in ad-vance, with their performing twice at Haricots Deli and Bistro as a fundrais-ing measure. The choir boasts a rich sound, with each voice complimenting and contributing to its overall unique-ness. This is a breath of fresh air and a change from the all too familiar gyrat-ing music of club mixes and dubstep.

Under the gifted and experienced instruction of conductor Peter Breetzke, the tour proved to be a suc-cess and received favourable reviews from its audiences. Singing at an im-pressive total of 15 venues including a number of high schools and churches, the choir dazzled in Cape Town, unit-ing with the UCT choir for their last recital. “The recitals were such a joy to attend and the range of music, pieces, precision, clarity and obvious pleasure with which the various songs were delivered, was a delight,” said Mervyn Wetmore, a representative from the Holy Trinity Church in Kalk Bay.

Having begun in 1953, the Rhodes

Chamber Choir was one of the first university choral groups in the coun-try, and thrives on a spirit of diversity – combining the musical talents of members from different and almost opposing faculties at Rhodes. Cathryn Moodley, a soprano in the choir said, “Choir is full of amazing people - we’re all so different, but we love music and we’ve become a family now.” Joining at the beginning of the year, Moodley said that the choir had exceeded any expectations she might have had, and that she enjoyed the wide range of songs they sing.

Their final performance, Champs-Élysées, will be on 4 October

and will contribute to supporting Ikhaya Lethu, a local orphanage in

Grahamstown, as well as their tour to France in 2013, which will be the first time the choir has performed overseas

since 1960.

RU choir tours CapeBy Vimbai Midzi

we recommend

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The Rhodes University Chamber Choir performed at St Andrew’s Church in Newlands, Cape Town, conducted by Peter Breetzke on 14 September. PICTURE: RICHARD GRANT

”Choir is full of amazing

people - we’re all so

different, but we love music

and we’ve become a

family now

- Cathryn Moodley, first-year Soprano

Luniko Futshane, better know as DJ Von Dirty, is a local DJ whose sets are a fusion of dubstep, electro and house music. Well-known in the student community, his reputation as a diverse and skilled DJ precedes him as a regular at local nightlife spots.

Aside from playing at private events, the bulk of his time is spent spinning at Prime, Olde 65 and at the House of Pirates. Rhodents, although prone to clubbing in any case, have praised Von Dirty’s mixes and are assured of a night well spent when he’s on the decks. “I love the way he mixes his music. He’ll use songs that you would never really think go together and it really just works,” said student Amanda Mabela.

In addition to his mixing skills, Von Dirty hosts two music shows on Rhodes Music Radio (RMR), which air on Tuesdays and Fridays, from 6 to 9 pm. Branching out from only mixing other people’s music, he has recently created a mixtape called ‘The Von Dirty Project’.

His experiences at both RMR and in Gra-hamstown clubs have given him an edge in his music and have helped him develop a unique and recognisable style that he has grown into. When asked about his life’s three essential components, he responded, “Music. Times three.”

Bulelani Mkula first fell in love with house music on hearing “War”, an Oskido track on the album Church Grooves. Having tried his hand at spinning when he was in grade 12, Mkula only took a serious interest in DJing during his first year at Rhodes University.

He quickly landed himself a gig at RMR and he adopted the name Bleqdip, which was inspired by his love for deep house. Bleqdip, along with Rungano Zendera (also known as DJ RS), are the co-founders of RMR’s Monday 6pm show ‘Battle of the Sexes’ where the DJs discuss the Grahamstown nightlife. Bleqdip now hosts RMR’s Wednesday show ‘Mix Lab 4 Beats’.

Bleqdip and other local DJs RS, Willy D and Fabiano host two parties, Drug House and Night Grooves, which happen only twice a year, with invites given to a selected few. Bleqdip also plays house regularly at Prime, Olde 65 and the House of Pirates.

Bleqdip’s series of mixes entitled ‘Sweet Sounds Cafe’ and are available on SoundCloud for listeners to download. When asked what his next project will be, he casually responded, “ I don’t know hey, I just DJ because of my love for house music.”

DJ Von Dirty DJ Bleqdip

Samukelisiwe Mnculwane at the Show Me Your Roots Festival on saturday 22 September, organised by The Zulu Society in collaboration with the Dean of Students Office and International Office, to celebrate Heritage Day and also to acknowledge and showcase Rhodes University’s diversity. Student cultural societies were invited to the event. Cultural groups from the greater Grahamstown community were also present. Picture: KEITUMETSE SHAKES KEKANA

Show me your roots

Though the year has yet to draw to a close, it could be said that 2012 was a good one for Rhodes sport. The football season in particular proved an interesting revelation.

Rhodes Internal League Soccer (RILS) concluded at the end of third term and, in true sporting style, pro-vided it all. From the dizzying heights of its thrilling conclusion to the dreary weather, prompting a number of cancelled matches, talking points were ever-present.

The Phoenix Knights and Titans remained level on points, with Titans having a superior goal difference when the final day of action descended upon us. League organiser Andrew Lowndes describes it as “the match of the season”. His was a role of constant action behind the scenes as commu-nication channels were maintained. “Phoenix Knights won 2-1 in a game that was frenetic and very tight,” added Lowndes, “It clearly illustrated the pas-sion of our league”.

That match was the climax in the new format of the league, which separated ‘Premier League’ teams from those listed in the ‘Championship’ division. Lowndes reflected that the changed setup “ensured that the stand-ard of play [was] consistent”.

The end-of-season Premier League table saw the Phoenix Knights and Titans dominate the results with eight and seven wins respectively.

The bottom of the log indicated MSA and Skova FC as this year’s struggling teams, with only one win between them. A total of eight games were played in this division.

The Championship, meanwhile, was a lot tighter at the top as only a point separated the teams at the summit. The bragging rights in that case went to Rhodes Staff with a tally of 22 points from their nine games. In second place was Micah 6:8 who were just one point adrift. Bottom-placed Cosmos notched up four points from their matches, having drawn as many games. Progress was also made as far as spectator

presence is concerned, with many teams enjoying decent support. “I would never have missed a single match this time around,” reflected Bernard Erasmus, who has followed the league since his first year in 2010. Though not a player himself, he boasts a unique distinction of having initially backed the two teams which emerged victorious in both divisions.

The 2013 version of the RILS is well set to grow from the strengths of this year’s campaign, with plenty positives noted by the organisers. It’s now all systems go for the rest of the Rhodes sporting calendar.

Sports25 September 2012 The Oppidan Press 15

By Andrew Tombs

The women’s A and B teams gave an impressive performance at the annual Mutual and Federal Boat Race, which

took place in Port Alfred between 13 and 15 September, setting a precedent in team perfor-mances. This year marks the 32nd Boat Race. Nine South African universities participated.

The weather over the three days was not ideal, as rowers experienced strong winds and choppy waters. Nevertheless this did not diminish the high spirits at the event and the competition ran as planned.

The day’s accolades for Rhodes University were counted in two bronze medals, one silver, one Mutual and Federal hamper, and one Mutual and Federal trophy.

The women’s A crew came in second place, happily clutching their silver medals. They also won the Mutual and Federal trophy for the most improved women’s crew, indicating that women’s rowing at Rhodes is headed in the right direc-tion. This was further proved when the women’s B crew came first overall, claiming the gold medal in their category. Both women’s crews were highly satisfied with their results.

The men’s A crew came fifth, which was their lowest placing since 2008. Kaira Bray, the coxswain for the men’s A crew, stated that this result has inspired the team to work aggressively towards the goal of first place next year, for which they have already started preparing. The men’s B crew came fourth, which was a disappointing result, seeing as they had won in the previous two years. The men’s crews did, however, win the Mutual and Federal hamper for best hair.

The women’s B crew win came around due to the crews being very close, especially in the weeks of training they undertook, said coxswain Nicole Wilmot. “The most difficult part of the race was lining up as the wind was blowing us around,” she noted. The University of Pretoria’s B crew was even blown onto rocks as a result of the weather. Wilmot hopes the crew will keep high levels of preparation and determination for future events.

Rower in the men’s A crew Sam Vosper expressed similar sentiments about the effect of the wind on the races. “The conditions were extremely challenging, with strong winds and opposing currents kicking up quite a lot of swell.” Vosper stated that crews pushed themselves all out for the 20 minutes that it took to cover the 6.2 kilometre stretch.

The Rhodes sides faced crews with some members having had a significant amount of

international experience. A number of competi-tors were Olympians, some of which had left Lon-don with gold medals. Others had participated, and in some cases won medals, at the Student and U/23 World Championships.

Vosper said that the Rhodes University crews underwent an intensive training program in preparation for Boat Race. He explained that this training consisted of vast amounts of mileage being done on water and land, with ergometers, bicycling and running, as well as time in the gym. Crews had been training for the races since May, twice a day for sessions ranging from 45 minutes to two and a half hours. He also mentioned a three-week training camp that all crews did.

Winners: Men’s A – University of Pretoria.Men’s B – University of Cape Town.Women’s A – University of Pretoria.

Women’s B – Rhodes University

Women outshine men at Boat Race

The Rhodes Staff team dominated during the Internal Soccer League Cup Final, which took place on Thursday 23 August. They beat the Phoenix Knights 2-1, marking the first time Rhodes Staff won the cup. Picture: JOSHUA OATES

Successful season bodes well for 2013By Zintle Ngubeni

The second season of the Rhodes Internal League Futsal is proving to be a highlight among football enthu-siasts, despite the previous attempt to establish the League having been unsuccessful earlier in the year.

Futsal, a game not known by many, is five-a-side indoor soccer, with several other alterations to the normal soccer rules. For example, goalkeepers can pick up back passes, there are no throw-ins but kick-ins instead, match-es are significantly shorter, and the goals and playing area are a lot smaller. The end product is a fast-paced, highly intensive, non-stop football game.

The failure of the first season was due to several factors, including the league being run at the same time as the Internal League Soccer, and matches being on Friday nights – a time in which most people would prefer to be enjoying a night out. This resulted in many teams not pitching on match days, and subsequently leaving committed teams frustrated several weeks in a row.

This time around certain changes were made by league coordinator An-drew Lowndes. These have succeeded in making the futsal league more reliable and better attended. “It needed more attention from me. I focused on soccer more. Now I am fully focused on season two,” he said. Lowndes also attributed the success of the second

season to referees now being more used to the game, their playing one longer match on a night instead of two shorter ones as well as a significantly higher number of teams signed up.

This season has 18 men’s and four women’s teams in the league. Lowndes explained that he really pushed to get more women teams involved in the league. “We only have four teams this season, but those four teams are really committed,” he said. “It is brand new to Rhodes Sport, so it will take time to establish a culture of social futsal soc-cer for women, but nonetheless, I am very happy with the current situation.”

According to the log status last week, Black Leaf United was on top of the men’s league, with The Honds in a close second. The women leaders were SD, followed by Royal Strikers. Match-es take place every night of the week, with Tuesdays and Thursdays devoted to a knock-out competition and the other days to the league. The venue is at the mini AstroTurf, adjacent to the hockey AstroTurf.

By Denzil de Klerk

Futsal finally takes off

Picture: HOLLY SNELL

It is brand new to Rhodes Sport, so

it will take time to establish a culture

of social futsal soccer for women

- Andrew Lowndes, League co-ordinator”

RU choir tours Cape

SportsSports

By Mvuzo Ponono

The semi-finals of the Rhodes Rugby Internal League were testament to the sublime form shown by two teams that

have dominated throughout the season.The results were in favour of the favourites.

Dream Team beat Founders 17-5 and the hard-playing Heathens ground out a victory against a resurgent Hill.

The Dream Team kicked off proceedings with a sparse crowd in attendance. It was a pity that too few eyeballs witnessed the quick exchange of tries in the first 10 minutes, which established an early score of 5-5.

It has to be stated that Dream Team carried themselves in the game like champions. In a tense match, Dream Team did the small things right. They scrummed well, mauled, drove and controlled possession and therefore the match.

The defining moment in the game came just before the stroke of halftime when Dream Team barged through Founders’ defence. They made it look easy, too. Like a patient war machine, they gained hard fought territory through a number of phases until they were in sight of the Hill headquarters. A breach of the last line of defence left the score at 12-5.

Founders tried their best to get back into the

game and fight themselves out of a corner, but when you are not quite a championship team, it tends to show.

Needing a converted try to even the match out, the Founders outside centre intercepted a Dream Team pass, finding himself able, had he possessed the natural speed, to run about 60 meters to score a try. This was not the case, as he was stopped five metres from the try-line. Dream Team quelled that rebellion and any hope of a comeback died alongside it.

The second game started off at a cracking pace. Both teams tried asserting their domi-nance, like two boxers who come out firing in order to subdue the opposition. The clash of heads continued throughout the game.

Heathens were the first to draw blood, converting a penalty. Hill levelled the scores a few minutes later. A match not high on points must be taken as a credit to the standard of the league that showcased two exceptionally prepared teams with little between them.

As in the first match, quality rose to the top. Although both teams were giving as much as they were getting, it was slowly coming to light that Hill was struggling. Heathens were hurting the opposition with more telling blows.

It was a matter of time before the knockout punch was landed. It came just before the end of the game, when Hill forwards marched over

the line for the only score of the game.What can we expect in the final? Heathens

have been the most consistent team in the league, despite losing to Dream Team earlier in the season. Heathens have been able to force their hand by dominating the big collisions upfront.

They have an impeccable forward unit. Their backline though, possesses the game-changing half back combination of Ryan Dewey and Mathew King. With both players easily slotting into scrum-half and fly-half and offering differ-ent skills in the position, the Heathens can turn a game upside down at will.

Looking at the opposition, what makes the final a humdinger of a game is the fact that Dream Team is a well-rounded side. Andrew Smith is the epitome of the forward muscle they have. The two packs of forwards will be locked in a titanic battle and both have the abil-ity to dominate.

In the backline, Dream Team possesses the likes of Jimmy Hitchcock and Graeme Elamo, Rhodes first team players who can bring the X -factor when required.

The final should be one of the most exciting in the Internal League’s history. Attempting to predict the outcome is a certain risk, but if this pundit can call it, Heathens are already strut-ting around in championship attire.

Clash of the titans in rugby semi-finals

1 Heathens

2 Dream Team

3 Founders

4 Hill

5 Troopers

6 WolvesCurre

nt R

RIL s

tand

ings

Hill and Dream Team engage in a scrum in the second half of the semi-finals last Friday, Hill ending the game on top, resulting in a final clash between Hill and the Heathens, taking place this Friday 28 September. Picture: MADIEN VAN DER MERWE

see page 12 see page 8 see page 13

Winners of ‘Best Hair’ Battle of the bandsPolitical groups invisible