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The Oppidan Press Edition 5 2011
The Oppidan Press Edition 5 2011
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long-term contraception?
Participants in the recent protest against sexual violence wore black tape over their mouths for the day in support of rape survivors. Many were subjected to various forms of verbal harassment
Benjamin Katz n investigation of a 100 participants involved in the 1 in 9 Sexual Violence = Silence protest, conducted by The Oppidan Press last week, showed that 55 of the protestors were subjected to various forms of verbal abuse during the protest. Students who participated in what has become the largest student, and anti-rape, protest in the country, were asked to complete an anonymous survey about harassment they had experienced while their mouths were covered with black tape. Of the 55 participants who said they had experienced verbal harassment: 26 participants said they experienced inoffensive, light-hearted comments; 30 experienced joking that was offensive; 26 experienced comments that were offensive; 1 person said she experienced verbal sexual assault; 1 person said she had experienced physical assault (the participants were allowed to circle more then one option). Those surveyed were also asked to give examples of the verbal harassment they had experienced, of which one re-
sponse read, This man in town, seeing me and my friend taped, asked us if we had also taped in-between our legs. One protestor said the comments had been emotionally exhausting. It feels as if the message and symbolism of the protest is wasted. The investigation found that the most commonly used slur were variations of, If I rape you now you couldnt scream, or Youd be easier to f*** with your mouth taped up. Larissa Klazinga, organiser of the 1 in 9 protest wasnt surprised when asked about the occurrences of verbal abuse. There are women who have perpetually experienced these comments since the protest started five years ago. She said hearing comments, such as those mentioned above and You were raped, how was it? were perennial features of the protest. Sarah Green, a councillor at the Rhodes Counselling Centre, said there were many potential causes for such responses: Prejudice, fear, own personal inadequacies; people could feel shocked and not understand [the issue] - but that doesnt excuse it. There is always spin-off from the protest; always people who come in feeling distress. The Counselling Centre was actually open later on Friday to deal with these problems, Green said.
When asked how the protest can prevent verbal abuse Klazinga said, Weve tried all types of things, people speaking in residences, lots of ongoing publicity on campus, but theres only so much prep that we can do, then we have to let the protest speak for itself. She said she felt the best way to combat the issue of verbal harassment was in the growth of the protest, which in its first year saw 80 participants, and this year had close to 1600. Were trying to surface these comments, those people who feel that way behave like that behind closed doors. The protest is there to bring those misogynists to the light, to expose them, Klazinga said. Despite these comments none of the 55 students who had experienced verbal abuse said they would not participate in the protest again because of it. [Im] appalled at the lack of support or respect, one student commented at the bottom of her survey page. Another said she was terrified to note that the same people we are pleading not to harm and hurt us are making a joke out of it and are not prepared to change. Commenting on the protests impact, Green said, I dont think anyone can pass a student with tape and not feel something. Being taped is a very powerful act.
No 45%
Yes 55%
31%
31%
36%
Inoffensive, light-hearted comments Joking that offended you Comments that offended you Verbal sexual harassment Physical assault
Charity drive aims to make 1000 cranes for Japanese earthquake victims
Neko Anime Society and The Oppidan Press have joined forces in an attempt to fold a thousand sponsored cranes to help provide relief for victims of the earthquake and tsunami that ravaged Japans Northern Coast earlier this year. Folding a senbazuru (one thousand cranes) is, according to Japanese tradition, a gesture of well-wishing, Katherine Kirk, Online Editor of The Oppidan Press said. It was made famous by a little girl who was a victim at Hiroshima. She decided to fold 1000 cranes before she died, but she didnt manage to finish it. In the end, her friends and family finished it in her memory. Kirk noticed other universities around the world doing similar initiatives, and thought Rhodes students would be interested in the charity drive. She approached Joanne Kahn, head of Neko Anime, who had mentioned her societys interest in helping the earthquake survivors. So far weve folded over 500 cranes, Kirk said. After the first week of folding cranes every day, I got RSI (Repetitive Strain Injury) in my thumb. We need all the help we can get! Interested students and staff are able to either sponsor a crane for a minimum donation of R10 or pay R5 to fold one themselves. A stall has been set up at the Kaif and operates from 10am to 2pm daily. All proceeds will be donated to the Japanese Red Cross. Its a great chance to make a difference, says Kyle Langley, a member of Neko Anime Society.
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News
News
SA Campus News Rhodes ANCYL hosts evening to mark end of National Freedom Week
Compiled by Senior Reporter Khangelani Dziba
ANC MP, Lulu Johnson: Develop a system that does not exclude white South Africans
Lebogang Tlou embers of the ANC and the ANC Youth League gathered on Rhodes campus on Thursday 28 April to mark the end of National Freedom Week in the country. Vuyo Gwayi, Branch Chairperson for the ANCYL in ward 12, outlined the key discussion on the evenings agenda: Striving for and attaining economic freedom and the relevance of Black Economic Empowerment in society. The event kicked off with a 15-minute video that highlighted the impoverishment of some members of the Afrikaner community since 1994. The clip showed a number of Afrikaans people who had lost their jobs, and subsequently their homes, to social reforms in the countrys system.
The ANC should be striving for a programme that includes the white members of society in [the mainframes] of the ANC Youth League, said Mr Lulu Johnson, the keynote speaker for the evening. Johnson, a former ANC Youth League president and now a member of parliament, said that by developing a system that does not exclude white South Africans, the government could establish a more non-racial society. The idea of this is so that the ANC [can] strive to unite the people in order to bring about a successful South Africa. According to Gwayi, although black South Africans have attained political freedom through their struggles over the years, economic freedom has yet to be accomplished for the majority of people in South Africa. The outcome that the discussion
Lebogang Tlou
MP Lulu Johnson, ANCYL ward 12 Councillor Vuyo Gwayi and Professor Jeff Peires attended the ANCYL event celebrating Freedom Week aimed to reach was to come up with possible solutions to the problem of economic transformation in South Africa so that we do not end up with a society in which the majority of the people own less than 3% of the countrys economy, Gwayi said.
As part of the 1 in 9 protest, students took part in activities including a die-in and a slient march to the Cathedral
that the message to Stop the war on womens bodies is being heard. To have so many people stand up and declare their support for victims of rape and sexual violence removes feelings of isolation and shame. It is an incredibly powerful thing, she said. The protest is named for the statistic that only one in nine cases of sexual assault are reported to the police. The protest features various campaigns throughout the day to vocalise the issue of sexual violence including the taping of participants mouths, a die-in, and lastly, the Take Back the Night march.
Watoto childrens choir brings hope to Grahamstown OutRhodes organises Born This Way
Enathi Mqokeli
Go meatless on Mondays
Megan Burton The Rhodes Organisation for Animal Rights (ROAR) is campaigning for Meatless Mondays whereby students are encouraged to go without meat once a week. The Meatless Monday initiative at Rhodes was originally started by graduate Kathryn McConnachie to create awareness about animal rights and the environmental impact of meat consumption. Simone Marais, the chairperson of ROAR and an Honours student at Rhodes, explained that the aim of the initiative is to change the perceptions of students everyday life choices. She adds that by becoming active consumers, people place more pressure on industries to produce more environmentallyfriendly products. We do not seek to assert extremist views but rather to create awareness, making a broader impact, she said. By participating in Meatless Mondays, I felt like I was taking a stand in something important that I believe in, stated Georgia Humphrey, a First Year BA student. According to Marais, with enough support, the default meals in residence on Mondays could be changed to vegetarian. This could mean that students would then have to actively choose meaty meals. Marais stated that the success of such an event would also make Rhodes University only the second University in South Africa (after the University of Cape Town) to follow this trend. In addition, ROAR has created a questionnaire on RUconnected, asking students about their views regarding eating meat. The society has also recently visited different residences to speak about animal rights and to create awareness amongst students. Doing something small in our own capacity that is also fun, can make a difference, Marais said. ROAR believes that eating habits have an important role play in environmental impacts. Why Meatless Mondays? For the environment, for yourself, and for the animals, declared Marais.
Enthusiastic Rhodes flashmob participants are set to dance up a storm at the Kaif during lunch hour today (Thursday 5 May). The flashmob event is part of a bid to raise further awareness about the Lesbian, Gay. Bisexual, Transexual and Intersex (LGBTI) Pride week among students. We hope at this point just to amuse people, have fun and let everyone see past the controversies that surround LGBTI issues in conservative debates, said Grant Goodwin, the head of the OutRhodes society that represents LGBTI students. According to UrbanDictionary.com, a flashmob is: A group of people who appear from out of nowhere, to perform predetermined actions, designed to amuse and confuse surrounding people. The group performs these actions for a short amount of time before quickly dispersing. The flashmob is one of many events that have been organised by OutRhodes and other student groups over the past few days to highlight issues around sexuality on campus. Themed Born this Way, after the song by popular singer Lady Gaga, the event is a culmination of
many hours of hard work in the lead-up to Pride week. Lara van Lelyveld, the driving force behind the LGBTI flashmob said flashmobs were positive, fun outbursts that often involve song, dance and fancy costumes. Van Lelyveld was one of the first people to introduce the concept of flashmobs to Rhodes University last year. Life so often gets you down, is unfair, not fun and unavoidably difficult. But it is possible to inject some joy into it, van Lelyveld said. Flashmobs are all about having fun and feeling awesome. The participants of todays flashmob hope to illustrate, through their performance, that they hope sexuality will become a non-issue among Rhodents. Its impossible to worry about your English tut or very much else when someone is dancing in front of you in a Lady Gaga costume, said van Lelyveld. Most of the group feel that sexuality should never be an issue. Were born this way and have no problem with it, van Lelyveld said. She encouraged students to make their way to the Kaif to see for themselves what the flashmobs are all about. Though specific details were unavailable at the time of going to press, there have been reports that another flashmob, themed Rocky Horror, is in the pipeline.
Features
Pic sourced
Features
THE DOPENESS
Binwe Adebayo
The mysteries of your dreams could potentially help you tap into and communicate with your subconscious mind
ow that the relatively short first term holiday is over, many of you have been propelled back into the never ending cycle of academic work. Usually, at the end of the day, there is barely enough time left to do the things you enjoy doing. And if by some rare chance you do have a couple of hours to spare, its often used to catch up on the sleep you have lost during the week. This is a cruel predicament whereby students constantly have to choose between sleep and enjoyment. It seems inevitable that this battle wont be won. If only it was possible to do all those enjoyable things while youre sleeping... This is where the phenomenon of lucid dreaming saves the day. Have you ever become conscious
that youre dreaming and that nothing Professor Stephen LaBerge, who has been successful in teaching subjects the around you is real? Lucid dreaming is this state of realisation. It may seem art of lucid dreaming. Those who are trivial and irrelevant but this experience able to dream lucidly on command have experienced interaction in the dream is the stepping stone towards controlling your own dreams. Dutch psychiarealm while being completely conscious. This often promotes the ability trist Frederik van Eeden was the first person to define this term in 1913. He to work through emotional issues in a creative environexplained that ment of which in this sort of The re-integration of the dream the you have compsychic functions is so plete control. The re-integration complete that the sleeper of the psychic pragmatic use of functions is so reaches a state of perfect lucid dreaming awareness. enables people complete that to freely express the sleeper themselves, as a therapeutic tool. reaches a state of perfect awareness and How do you begin learning how to is able to direct his attention, and to attempt different acts of free volition. dream lucidly? Simple enough, accordYet the sleep, as I am able confidently to ing to LaBerge, you have to focus on a stimulus you are exposed to constate, is undisturbed, deep, and refreshtinuously while youre awake and ask ing. Since then, the most predominant yourself whether you are dreaming or figure pertaining to lucid dreaming is
not. An example stimulus is looking at your hand, if you consider whether you might be dreaming every time you look at your hand then at some point in a dream you will do the same thing. Thus you will begin triggering lucid dreams. Once you have this down, you can begin to revel in the infinite possibilities of your imagination and experience a dream reality just as convincing as waking reality. The distinction between these two different realities sounds like something out of Inception, but the mysteries of the sleeping state have yet to be fully unravelled. We spend approximately one third of our lives sleeping, we might as well make the most of it. Reality may be better than fantasy, but the realism of lucid dreams opens up a new and exciting cosmos where you make the rules. Sleeping has never sounded better. Sweet dreams...
Be ready to break out the old Monopoly, Scrabble, Uno and anything else you can get your mitts on.
be someone to play with. Grab some friends, boil the kettle, wrap up warm and you will be amazed by how much fun you can have from playing an oldtime board game. Tip 3: If board games are not your style, then there are always movies. Go on the internet, legally (stress on
Sipping sizzurp and popping Panado: the dangers of going over the counter
Bakhulule Maluleka When I was in school I had a friend who used to drink cough syrup like it was water. Im sure he went through four bottles in the space of two days. Now, you may call it an addiction, for it manifests most of the symptoms of addiction but he actually stopped. And he did so voluntarily. By addiction, I understand an overwhelming impulse to do something, to such an extent that it interferes with other aspects of your life. I think thats the standard conception of addiction in most peoples minds. My friend wasnt finding his affair with cough syrup as a hindrance to everything else in his life. In fact, he said that it made things better. Last week, I found it strange when another of my friends, this time a female (lets call her Melissa) told me how she also enjoyed taking mild tranquilisers and painkillers. She even had a perfect mix: two mild tranquilisers, four painkillers and one pill of something else. Again: bells and whistles are probably flaring in your mind ringing with the word addiction. Yet, again, this person has stopped. So, being curious, I asked her to explain to me why she did it in the first place if she wasnt addicted? Her reasons were quite interesting... Firstly, she started taking the painkillers to prevent future pain. Melissa actually has a phobia of pain in all its forms. She doesnt like emotional pain, in the same way that she dislikes physical pain. Further, she doesnt want to have her own pain and her friends pain to deal with. There are those days when your friends are in so much pain you can see it on their faces. They dont want to be where they are or their situations are just messed up. The hell Im going to feel like that when I have painkillers, she says. Weirdly enough, before writing this article I thought that such thoughts would be rampant in a university. But when Ann van der Merwe from RET Butlers Pharmacy was questioned, she said its rare that they have a case of substance abuse in their pharmacy. Furthermore, the pharmacies in Grahamstown communicate with each other and anyone who looks to be taking suspiciously too much is flagged and not allowed to buy any more. I dont know what separates Melissa from Sizwe who goes to the Rat and Parrot and Pirates nearly every day; or Tony who actually takes illegal substances; or Ayanda who consoles herself with series and fast-food? All of them are looking for a source of numbing: There are those days you just want to feel out of it, says Melissa. And I guess its that much easier to feel out of it when the resources are right on the shelf at Pick n Pay, than being distributed illicitly by a man in a grey hoodie and busted jeans.
As Rihannas music style changes, so does her hairstyle Most individuals have diverse cultures, yet the one observably uniting us all, is in fact hair culture. Most of us know, and this especially rings true for females, that new beginnings are often signified by a change of hair colour, length or in some cases a brand new coif balancing perfectly on the top of your head. Nowadays, hair isnt simply that string like thing jutting out from your scalp. Hair defines you. Messy hair as opposed to neat hair is an instant representation of the qualities that
Nono-respirocytes (injectable robotic blood cells) will be able to allow humans to do things that they would not normally be able to do, such as staying underwater for long periods of time
Politics
Politics Campus water leaks Free the Cape the Cape Party
Matthew Kynaston PVC have a lifespan of between 20 and 25 years. Hazell admits that copper piping could have been used instead, as it is more hard-wearing, but it is also more expensive. In the long run PVC works out cheaper, he said, adding that repairs have been planned and budgeted for. The reason why the pipes incur damage over time is due in part to the ground they are laid in. The pipes at Rhodes are built in clay, which means that they move ever so slightly in the ground as opposed to being set in concrete. This movement increases wear and tear. Hazell says that a new plan is in the pipeline for the newer parts of campus, such as the residences at Hilltop. This plan involves cutting down on irrigation of the sports fields on that part of campus, for two reasons: firstly, water is a scarce and expensive resource. Secondly, maintenance costs would increase. For example, the petrol needed for lawn mowers to maintain the grass all year round adds up to a hefty sum. So the plan is to maintain the lawns in the warmer parts of the year. If this sounds a bit neglectful, consider that new work has been done on the sports fields for the last 18 months and is continuing today. Hazell knows about the continuing problem of burst water pipes and can be contacted during office hours at the Rhodes Grounds & Gardens Centre. Matthew Kynaston First they ignore you. Then they laugh at you. Then they fight you. Then you win. These are the words which greet you upon entering the website of the Cape Party (CAPE), whose goal is to declare the Cape independent. The party was founded in 2007 by Jack Miller. It grew out of a Facebook group and ran in the general election in 2009. It had a registered membership of approximately 1000 people and garnered 2552 votes, or 0.13%. They have no seats in parliament but will stand for the municipal elections on 18 May. Contrary to what you may be thinking, CAPE does not only want to make the Western Cape an independent country. They also want to unite the Western Cape, the Northern Cape (excluding two districts), six municipalities in the Eastern Cape and one municipality in the Free State. The area includes all municipalities in those provinces with an Afrikaans-speaking majority. CAPE has cited statistics in an attempt to illustrate how the Western Cape spends much of its money outside the province, because of the Division of Revenue Act. If they had their Pic sourced
leg do either of these parties have to stand on? As all citizens of South Africa have the right to freedom of expression and to hold our own opinions. Struggle songs are an important part of the heritage of many South Africans who were part of the fight against apartheid. Yet, as the pain and suffering are remembered 17 years after the first democratic elections, should we not sing more positive anthems? Admiring how far South Africa has come in achieving freedom and equality for all, we should replace these angry words against the previous oppressor with words remembering those who gave their lives for the struggle. From the other point of view, the case against Malema seems petty and unnecessary in many respects. Words in most modern music today can be seen as offensive and provocative in some way. Take Rihannas I love the way it hurts; it could be seen as promoting abuse against women, or Eminems Im not Afraid: cause aint no way Im let you stop me from causing mayhem so f*** the world could promote violence and angry behavior towards others. Yet these artists have not been sued for expressing their emotions about
Is Afriforum hindering Malemas right to freedom of expression through the use of anti-aparteid song? whatever personal struggle they faced. As the trial continues all eyes will be on the court proceedings to see who shall walk away victorious from this battle of words. A better understanding is what Afriforums attorney Willie Spies wants to come out of the trial. Then with all aspects and points of view taken into consideration, it would only be fair to say that our granted right to freedom of expression be upheld.
here have been many burst water pipes in the lower part of campus since the beginning of March. With the Rhodes University campus in a water scarce province, can the University afford to waste such a valuable resource? The amount of water lost amounts to many thousands of litres, but the manager of Grounds & Gardens at Rhodes, Mark Hazell, says it's under control. He explains that there are two suppliers of water for the University: the municipality and Rhodes itself. There is a bore hole being used to provide water for campus and it is stored in tanks and pumped through underground pipes. The pipes on the lower end of campus (between the Drodsty lawns and the Student Union) are more than 20 years old. It is at this stage, according to Hazell, that they begin to show signs of wear and tear. He has known that the leakages could start to occur at this time, and has planned for it. You always hope things will last longer, Hazell said, referring to the pipes used around campus. The pipes used are made of a common industrial-strength plastic called Polyvinal Chloride, or PVC. PVC is the third-most common plastic in the world because it is cheap, durable and easy to assemble. Pipes made from
Could South Africa possibly have another neighbour if the Cape Party wins? way, CAPE believes its new country would be one of the top 10 wealthiest countries per capita in the world. It is worth pointing out that the Western Cape is doing well financially under the governance of the Democratic Alliance (DA), not CAPE. The DA is the party with control over the Western Cape at the moment, and all signs point towards them maintaining that control. The Cape Party has said it would like to build consensus with the DA, but DA spokesperson James Selfe has said the Cape Party Pic sourced
is not a party we take seriously. With 820 followers on their Facebook page and not many more registered members, it looks like the only Cape party will be in the headquarters of the DA.
Gasland has encouraged South Africans to wake up and get talking about the Karoo, now a potential fracking area
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Letters
Editor: Lauren Granger Deputy Editor: Mikaila Thurgood Managing Editor: Lwandlekazi Gaga Marketing Managers: Jamie Bezuidenhout and Motlagae Konyana Marketing and Advertising Designer: Amy Slatem Designers: Shavaughn Haack, Samkelisiwe Dlalisa, Chevawn Blum, Ayanda Mhlanga and Claire Smith Cheif Sub-Editor: Nadia Moore Sub-Editors: Sarita Pillay, and Wilhelmina Maboja Online Editors: Katherine Kirk, Maricelle Gouws Arts & Entertainment Editor: Benjamin Greaves Assistant Arts & Entertainment Editor: David Williams Environment Editor: Carina Truyts Features Editor: Bakhulule Maluleka News Editor: Benjamin Katz Assistant News Editor: Relebone Myambo Business Editor: Neo Khanyile Sci-Tech Editor: Muhammed Bemath Opinion Editor: Matthew de Klerk Pictures Editors: Chelsea Nelson,Storme Sydow and Binwe Adebayo Politics Editor: Leigh Hermon Politics Assistant Editor: Johnmark Kajese Sports Editor: Fabio De Dominicis www.theoppidanpress.com www.facebook.com/theoppidanpress www.twitter.com/theoppidanpress
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Terri-Lee Adendorff (vocals) and Nick Mulgrew (guitar) of Grahamstowns Life of Riley recently played at Splashy Fen
Diarise this!
Purple Thursdays Wear purple or your overalls to show Rhodent pride. Recurring weekly, campus-wide. Innovations A festival of student-directed performances around the theme Burlesque. 5 and 6 May at the Rhodes Theatre, R5 tickets (Limited). MyOwnMusic Rhodes students DJ a myriad of alternative music. 6 May at Slipstream Sportsbar, 9pm, R20 tickets. Broken Lizzard Tattoo Art Expo Tattoo and snake exhibition in conjunction with live music. 7 May at Alec Mullins Hall, all-day event, tickets R20. Monsters and Aliens African Drum Society presents trance, minimal, and dubstep DJs. 7 May at The Tunnels, 9pm, R20 tickets (max). SRC Celebrates 101 Years of Student Governance Commemorate our right to selfgovernance. 12 to 14 May, event list available at www.ru.ac.za/alumni/src101. Jiggered Online Content Release Local artists and writers push the boundaries of South African art. 16 May, content available at www. jiggered.co.za. IDaHo (International Day Against Homophobia) Raise LGBTI awareness and make a stand against the crime of homophobia. 17 May, campus-wide.
Woza Andries directed by Christiaan Olwagen from left to right De Klerk Oelofse and Johan Botha all around we have to hear how sorry we should be, he added. Olwagen also spoke of how they regularly stumble upon some shaky ground, as they are walking on a artistic road that is still under construction. Stellies has not seen such a degree of theatrical innovation in a long time. But thats OK, Olwagen mused. Well create our own future.
we recommend...
...Picking up a copy of Hot Sauce Committee Part Two, in which the Beastie Boys (three MCs and one DJ!) have held back nothing in their quest to get down. This album contradicts the notion of white rappers losing their shine (and their rhyme) when they turn 40 and go vegan. Theyve lost the boom box and replaced it with the hip hop mixed with a street vibe. ...Listening to South Africas own Holiday Murray on their recently released self-titled album Nothing is more sacred, nothing more is true encapsulates this bands folk-rock sound from their song Stop Thief! This album is for bike riding down your favourite street with your iPod and loving every moment, the kind of sound that keeps you travelling. Catching a showing of Fast Five, the latest addition to the action-packed Fast and the Furious series. Dom Toretto (Vin Diesel) and Brian O'Conner (Paul Walker) pick up from the last installment by escaping from American authorities only to find themselves in Brazil, pulling off heists to gain their freedom.
Pics sourced
Putting away the ribs for a stab at Meatless Mondays. Organised by ROAR (Rhodes Organisation for Animal Rights), Meatless Mondays is a campus-wide initiative aimed at lowering our intake of meat. A diet high in meat has been linked by various studies to high cholesterol, diabetes, cancer, and a host of other long-term health issues.
Opinion
Pic sourced Amy Davidson little while back we all became accustomed to hearing the phrase shoot to kill said by a SAPS official in the news. It seems that this phrase is rearing its ugly head again, but now in a much more real sense. As a crowd of around 4000 disgruntled protestors marched to the Ficksburg municipality to complain about their poor standard of living, Andries Tatane was shot and killed by policemen. For a change, a protest-turned-ugly was not due to the rowdiness of the protestors; but rather due to the brutality of the police force. There are now several debates surrounding the issue of Tatanes death. Firstly, there is the question of the police. The people who have the huge responsibility of protecting the citizens of South Africa have time and again slipped upat the cost of others. Secondly is the debate as to whether or not the footage showing the death and beating of Tatane should have been aired. With regard to the police debate, I believe that if you cant trust the police, you cant trust anyone. Tatane did not
Opinion
Residents of Ficksburg protest outside the court against bail for the six police officers who killed Tatane during a service delivery protest over water in April
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Pic sourced Rebecca black is one of many example of the current Youtube sensations gracing our computer screens
Environment
Green Eggs and Ham
Binwe Adebayo
Business
paint a picture of inevitable doom and gloom but surprisingly, it doesnt. It would be rather far fetched to say that the global crisis was a blessing in disguise, but one can only see the halted demise of the gold industry as being a result of the uncertainty caused by currency fluctuations. A recent meeting of the World Gold Council concluded that the worlds central banks had now become net buyers of gold after being net sellers for 22 years. This movement to net seller is a clear indication of the new appeal of gold as a stable asset in a world of uncertainty and instability. The new move to holding gold has now seen a continuous rise in the price of gold, making gold the asset to have and South Africa safe for the meanwhile. We hope. Neo Khanyile The national treasury has a new director-general in Lungisa Fuzile. The 44 year old who hails from Port Elizabeth succeeds public service veteran Lesetja Kganyago on 16 May when Kganyago is to take up the position of deputy governer of the Reserve Bank. Fuzile, who has been with the treasury for 13 years, has been tipped by many to be a rising star. He is currently the manager of the treasurys liabilities Pic sourced and assets department and has been introduced to international investors and is well respected among his colleagues. Fuzile is an expert in capital markets and state debt. The internal appointment ensures continuity in the treasury. Fuzile himself believes that having traveled with Kganyago and being exposed to the position has gone a long way in preparing him for the job. Lungisa Fuzile has worked as a school teacher, a university lecturer as well as with StatsSA.
Carina Truyts
years. Access to water is possibly the most basic human need: its something we cannot afford to leave to policy makers and those at the top. Water quality, where it comes from, the dynamics of access is something every person should know about and engage with, because its something no person can live without. World Water Day (WWD) takes place internationally every year on 22 March in an effort by UN Habitat to draw attention to the importance of conserving the planets freshwater resources. Conferences, events and celebrations are held all over the world. Each year has a different theme, and this year the focus was Water for Cities:
Responding to the Urban Challenge. The 2011 WWD Conference was held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, during national Water Awareness Week. It was co-hosted by the African Ministers Council on Water (AMCOW), drawing the spotlight onto water in Africa and South Africa in particular. In Grahamstown, concerned students (including this author) from a variety of organizations held an awareness campaign in the library quad and a bring your own blue party on the evening of the 22nd. Galela Amanzi (the student water project), GRASS, the Catchment Research Group, and a number of Geography graduate stu-
dents organised the events. So why are people in Grahamstown, Cape Town, South Africa and all over the world up in arms about water? Isnt most of the world covered in it? And whats up with the urban focus, isnt it usually people in far-off, dusty nowheres who have no water? To grossly oversimplify: the urban population of the world is growing rapidly. The provision of clean, safe water and decent sanitation is growing not so rapidly. This equates to huge numbers of (usually very poor) people living in urban areas with no access to clean water or toilets. Read more at www.theoppidanpress.com
Sisa Matabiswana
All that glitters just might be golden National Treasury appoints new director-general
outh Africa has long been known for being one of the worlds great gold producers. A charmed country, one could call it. The mines of olden days managed to absorb the unskilled labour force as well as promoting an influx of migrant labourers from surrounding countries. As some would say, South Africas gold was golden and eGoli (Johannesburg) was the place to be. Fast forward to 2011 and the story has changed. One of the biggest problems the South African gold mining industry is facing right now is the fact that though there is a relatively large quantity of gold coming out of the ground, its not exactly the highest grade of ore
and even worse, its now even deeper in the ground making it harder to mine. A lack of infrastructure particularly regarding electricity has therefore meant that the mining industry is behind that of its global peers.
A lack of infrastructure has meant that the mining industry is behind its global peers
The importance of gold in the South African economy, apart from the number of jobs it provides in the mining sector, stems highly from the money it injects into an economy, something that Julius Malema could tell you a thing or two about. So all these problems should
China holds 36.1 trillion cubic metres of technically recoverable shale gas reserves
The countrys shale gas reserves are said to be the largest in the world and the country is already fuel-hungry and relatively drought-plagued. It is
estimated that China holds 36.1 trillion cubic metres of technically recoverable shale gas reserves. China is soon to take over the United States of America as the worlds top energy user and is already the worlds biggest coal burner, pumping more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than any other country. The negative effects of fracking have become well known, such as the escaping of potent greenhouse gases during the process. Regardless of this, China is already pursuing the technology and infrastructure it will need to take on the unlocking of the massive reserves.
Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan (right) introduces the new Director General of the National Treasury Lungisa Fuzile in Pretoria recently
Pic sourced
of precious history had been presented to us on a silver platter. Attenborough surely has millions of stories that he could have regaled to us, but he specifically chose to tell us about his
friend and fellow naturalist. It seemed as if he wanted to use his storytelling gift to clear the air to leave another legendary memory: in the story of Alfred Russel Wallace.
Sci-tech
Cindy Slater
Sports
Cancer stem cell therapy points towards an effective cancer treatment the cells that represent those found in fully established tissues. The other daughter cell remains a stem cell, representing a small subset of the population; a phenomenon not only reported in normal cells but which can be extended to numerous cancers as well. This discovery, along with the isola-
Crysis 2 Review
Jonathan Funcke Pics sourced Crysis 2 surprisingly contains jawdropping visuals despite it running on only DirectX 9. This sequel has been developed for consoles as well as the PC and there are certainly times where it does feel like a console game, yet it still made for a fantastic gaming experience. The plot is initially very confusing, even for someone who played the original, it takes a bit of digging to get into it. In 2020, an elite team of soldiers, wearing state-of-the-art performance enhancing nanosuits, discovered an alien ship buried beneath a mountain and failed to destroy it. Crysis 2 begins three years later with the aliens commencing their purification of the planet. The captain of the original nanosuit team is infected with a virus and in a final dying act gives you his second generation suit along with the only hope for humanity. The suit is the driving force for both the plot and game play. Using nanotechnology to alter itself to its users needs: Be it superhuman strength, speed, tank-like armour, heat-vision or even invisibility, the suit gives the players a great deal of freedom to approaching situations. Unlike the tropical landscapes of the original, Crysis 2 is set in the destroyed city of New York. The urban combat is tight and exhilarating while still being vast enough to cover the feeling of linear progression; each level consists of large areas with multiple routes to take toward your target, giving it great replay value, and impressively maintains great juxtaposition between intense combat and calm storytelling. In the multiplayer modes, the unique suit again takes centre stage. There is an evolutionary combat system, where your suit becomes more efficient the more a certain feature
Its on for Rhodes ping pong MSA finds success in cricket tournament
Stefan Ploos van Amstel Zintle Ngubeni he Muslim Student Association (MSA) took full advantage of the recent cricket euphoria when they staged a seven-a-side tournament on the weekend of 22 and 23 April. The well-supported event took place mid-campus on the tennis courts and the playing surface prompted the organisers to opt for an action cricket ball for all games. The informal sporting spectacle attracted enthusiastic participants and yielded a total of six registered teams. The bulk of the teams comprised of five men and two ladies. Particularly striking for the participants of the two-day event was the atmosphere. It was really played in good spirits, noted Third Year BPharm student and MSA Vice-president Azeem Battey. The most memorable thing is that even though people might have had aches and pains, everyone had fun, he added. Many of the rules of normal cricket were abandoned to add spontaneity and encourage audacious play. Girls bowled to girls and guys to guys, said MSA Media and Communications Officer Jehan Khonat. The different set of rules added a different dimension to the manner in which teams approached their games. Many of the participants revelled in the environment which did not pile pressure on the players. Zaheera Mulla, a Second Year journalism student and team member of Flat One recalled how everyone cheered each other on during the tournament. Even if you played a stupid shot or got out, people were screaming for you, she added. MSA continues to encourage as much participation in its events. The winning team, Sons of Pitches, triumphed in an entertaining final against Flat One. The winning margin was 19 runs and Sons of Pitches walked away with this years bragging rights. There were also individual accolades given out for outstanding players. Sean Mcullock was named man of the match for the engaging final. Nabeela Sader was the woman of the match. Jason Aquadro was deemed the most fair player throughout the tournament. We hope to make it an annual thing from now because there was amazing attendance, participation and fun, said Khonat. It could have been bigger if it wasnt for the holiday, she remarked (the tournament took place during the extended Easter weekend). Judging by the turnout and amount of enthusiasm channelled to this years instalment, there is certainly room for growth and expansion. The response came as a pleasant surprise to Khonat, who explained that her initial tension was immediately eased by a turn out that she described as just amazing. One more sporting option has been made available to Rhodes students already spoilt for choice: internal league table-tennis. Teams of three to five players are permitted to enter, with the cost being a mere R25 per team. Matches are played on Tuesday and Thursday nights in the Hangar, and all the necessary equipment is provided by the Rhodes Table-Tennis Society. Registration is very simple. The first step is to rally up a team, e-mail the snazzy name of your team, as well as the names of your team members and the contact details of your captain to ace.legendary@gmail.com. If you arent able to do this, all that is needed is to find one of the committee members and give them the particulars of your team, and youll be ready to enter the tournament. This is the first edition of the tournament, with its creators finally putting their brainchild into action this
Crysis 2 boasts improved graphics and urban guerilla warfare in New York City
year. As already mentioned, matches are to be played on Tuesday or Thursday nights, from 18:30 to 20:00 every week, and teams will play a maximum of one game a week (until the final stages of the competition). The league will comprise of a group stage, round robin style format. After that, the top teams from the group will advance to the business end of the tournament: a straight knockout elimination stage. The winners move on to the final, and so the champions will be crowned. Prizes are up for grabs for the eventual winners of the league, so be sure to give yourself a chance of winning and enter this innovative competition. One day competitions have also recently been held, with one of the prizes being a brand new table tennis paddle. With this kind of prize available for the one day tournaments, one can only imagine what the prizes for the winners of the league will be. Make sure not to miss the registration deadline and make your way down to the Hangar for an intense, fun-filled league of table tennis.
Professor Alan Whitfield recently delivered a presentation on the application of modern technology to estuaries in South Africa
Sports
Morgan Collins he recent holiday seems to have done little to deter the determination of the Rhodes netball team as they started the new term with a Saturday of netball hosted by Makana Municipality. Waking up early on the first Saturday back at varsity, the Rhodes netball teams showed few signs, apart from tired eyes, of being used to sleeping in. Despite the early morning shock, a fun-filled morning of netball saw teams battling it out on the Rhodes netball courts. The day got off to a bit of a late start, and back to back matches were played. Starting on a fast paced note, the Madien van der Merwe