Edition 7, 13 August 2009

7 >> Intervarsity 2009

Take a look at our special Intervarsity supplement
15 >> Fact or fiction?
Swine flu: is the paranoia justified? All your questions answered

Distribution subsidised by the Oppidan Committee and the South African Post Office.

NEHAWU makes a song and dance over adjustment

NO SOLUTION IN SIGHT
Rhodes students marched in protest of the continuing NEHAWU
strike. Disruption of lectures, violent behaviour, inadequate meals

Pic:s: Megan Lewis

and dirty residences have students demanding their money’s
worth.

Jade Smith and Robyn McCormick
The National Education Health and
Allied Workers Union (NEHAWU)
strike may cause even more disruption
for Rhodes students. If the University
postpones Intervarsity because of the
continuing strike and the outbreak of
seasonal and swine flu, we will have to
wait a little longer to don our overalls.
The NEHAWU members embarked
on industrial strike action on Monday
3 August. Despite the University man-
agement meeting with union officials
every day last week, by Friday morning
the two parties had not yet reached a
compromise.
Conditions of the industrial action
stated that NEHAWU members were
allowed to demonstrate only in the area
of the Drostdy Arch lawns and along
certain roads; a stipulation that they
kept until Thursday.
Debbie Robertson, a third year
member of the Gender Action Project
(GAP) was on duty at the Women’s
Week information table on Thursday
morning when she witnessed the
strikers trash the library quad. “They
were very energised and immedi-
ately started destroying the area. They
picked up the bin and other people
tried to pull it away. We physically
had to stand on our banner to stop
them from ripping it up off the floor,”
Robertson said.
A striker who asked not to be
named said: “We feel like we are taken
for fools. All we have been given are
empty promises. Money which should
be used wisely is given to useless
people who do not work. They spend
their entire day playing computer
games. We will continue to strike until
we are given what is rightfully ours.”
“Without me fighting for my
rights, no-one else will,” said another
striker, who also requested anonymity.
“This strike has boosted my confi-
dence. Our needs will definitely be
fulfilled if we strike together.”
The crux of the matter is the one-
off market-related salary adjustment
for support staff that Vice-Chancellor
Saleem Badat envisioned as part
of his action strategy on arrival at
Rhodes. The University’s aim is to get
the salaries of its staff as close to the
national average as possible, as with-
out competitive salaries Rhodes will
not be able to attract academic staff.
Because it would be financially unwise
to raise the salaries of all grades of
staff simultaneously, the University
has staggered this process.
NEHAWU’s main demand was
that, of the R10 million allocated
to market adjustment in Rhodes’s
budget, R6 million should be divided
equally among grades one to eight
support staff members. The University
Council rejected this demand because
these grades of staff already earn close
to the national average of their job,
and with the increase, would earn
above average, while other grades
would still be earning below the
average.“It would be unfair to other
support staff if we divided it equally,”
said Badat. “What Rhodes is doing is
distributing the money equitably.”
For the duration of the strike,
the no-work-no-pay principle has
applied. NEHAWU has appealed
against this but the University has
not budged. Meanwhile, lectures have
been disrupted by strikers, property
has been damaged and library con-
struction workers intimidated. Police
were called to monitor the strikers’
behaviour and Rhodes made an inter-
dict against the union on Friday. Also
on Friday, the SRC organised a march
for students to demonstrate their
dissatisfaction with the consequences
of the strike. SRC President, Kholosa
Loni appealed to students to stay
within the Union Lawns rather than
march through campus. However,
students ignored this appeal and
surged to Main Admin, where they
presented a memorandum to both the
University and NEHAWU, demand-
ing a “sustainable and workable solu-
tion as quickly as possible”. Students
complained about the quality of food
they were receiving in dining halls,
with posters reading, ‘Rhodes: Where
leaders learn to starve’, and ‘Badat,
what did you have for lunch today?’.
Meanwhile, the University is aim-
ing towards a peaceful resolution of
the situation. “We want to resolve [the
strike] as soon as possible,” Badat said,
“and then I’ll invite their strike man-
agement and our strike management
for a braai and a couple of beers and
we’ll talk about what we both learned
from it”.
2 The Oppidan Press 13.08.09

Got news? Send your news story ideas to us and we will consider
them for publication. news@theoppidanpress.com.

Leadership in Africa Conference the first of its kind

AFRICA’S DATE WITH
Robyn McCormick
DESTINY
Student delegates and
a range of prominent The first ever Conference on Leader-
ship in Africa, held at Rhodes last
speakers discussed ways to
month, saw students from all over
strengthen leadership in
Africa come together for a weekend
Africa at the Rhodes-held to discuss creative ways to improve
conference in July. leadership on the continent.
Organised by a group of Rhodes
students, the indaba opened up a space
for debate and discussion on the weak
sense of leadership that seems to be a
common trait of African countries. De-
spite having been thoroughly assaulted
by a spate of Grahamstown’s unpredict-
able weather, the delegates bundled
up to attend Rhodes VC Dr Badat’s
opening address, which focused on the
“interesting times” we live in.
Badat quoted President Barack
Obama in saying that “as the world
grows smaller, our common humanity
shall reveal itself ”, and that through
today’s globalisation, there has been “a
negation of human values, a closing of
mind and hearts…that have promoted
intolerance and made the world a less
safe place to live”.
The delegates from Rhodes, North-
West University and Fort Hare were
addressed by prominent South African
leaders from varied backgrounds. Chief
Strategy Officer of Altech Africa, Dr
van der Westhuizen spoke on the quali-
Pics: Robyn McCormick ties of a great leader. Another speaker
and Chairman of Nedbank Group, Dr
Reuel Khoza, outlined the unique chal-
lenges facing current and aspiring Afri-
can leaders. One of these was the need
to break down what Khoza termed “a
false sense of African camaraderie” in
preference of independent, conscien-
tious, compassionate leadership which
is necessary in order for Africa to keep
its “date with destiny”.
CEO of Business Leadership in
Africa, Michael Spicer, emphasised the
double-edged characteristics of the cur-
rent economic crisis, saying it should
be viewed not only as a challenge,
but also as an opportunity. All of the
speakers condemned the prevalence
of corruption in African countries
and cited it as one of the causes of the
African crisis.
Rhodes student, Katherine Furman,
who is reading for her Masters in
International Relations, spoke as part of
a discussion panel on South Africa’s re-
lationship with other African countries.
“We are at a junction. It is around the
one year anniversary of the xenophobic
attacks in South Africa. We need to
question how we, as South Africans,
treat people as people,” Furman said.
The Dinokeng Scenarios (http://
www.dinokengscenarios.co.za/ ) made
up day three of the conference, where
delegates discussed the state of the vari-
ous African countries that they came
from, including Ghana, Zimbabwe,
Malawi, and Togo. Other South African
leaders who addressed the conference
included: Dr Khoza; MTN Chair in
Media and Mobile Communications,
Professor Harry Dugmore, Rhodes
Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Academic
and Student Affairs, Dr Sizwe Mabizela,
and Professor Jìmí O. Adésínà, director
of the Transformative Social Policy
Programme and professor of Sociology
at Rhodes
Head of the Conference Organising
Committee, Dale van der Lingen said:
“Overall, the conference went well. The
hard work of getting it off the ground
has been done, and this provides a base
for future conferences to be hosted here
at Rhodes. I hope that this will be the
seed of a conference focused around
giving young leaders the tools to lead
Africa to its rightful place in the world
economy”.
Despite the enthusiasm of the
delegates, Dr Khoza pointed out that
the journey to leadership was no easy
one: “You could choose to curl up and
die, or you could persist. I would sug-
gest persist. There will be pain, but you
must persist”.
For more information on the
conference, or to get involved in next
year’s conference, go to http://coliafrica.
wordpress.com/, find us on Facebook
at http://www.facebook.com/event.
php?eid=236395780645 or email rb-
sconference@gmail.com

If at first year you don’t succeed, try again

Khanyisa Titus
Results have shown that the recent June
examinations were a serious challenge
for many Rhodes first year students. In
comparison to previous years, the first
year failure rate was notably high.
Deputy Dean of Law, Advocate Les
Roberts said the Law faculty has noted a
marked difference: “This year’s first year
results were definitely worse than last
year but the reasons are being investi-
gated”. Dean of Law, Professor Jonathan
Campbell offered possible explanations
for the downward trend in Legal Theory
1. “I believe that ‘spotting’ [covering
a certain amount of the work and not
all course material] when studying is a
problem among the students, as they are
mainly relying on their own impres-
sions of what will be asked,” Campbell
said. He also noticed a lack of certain
basic skills amongst law students, such
as writing and reading skills. “These are
rather poor as seen in the faculty and
today students are less inclined to read,
instead of the more complex Mathemat-
ics”. As a result, the department called
on high school Maths teachers to hold
extra classes for students who could not
cope with difficult mathematical con-
cepts. “This has never been done before,
it was our first time in the department
and we thank those teachers for sup-
porting us,” Jager said.
However, results did not seem to
suffer in the Statistics department. “The
first years’ results were certainly not
worse than the previous years. There
are many reasons that contribute to this
and we are very pleased with the Stats
department,” Jager said.
Head of the Anthropology depart-
ment, Robin Palmer said that in the
last 30 years, the failure rate has never
been particularly high. But Palmer
mentioned that poor lecture attendance
by first years, especially on Thursdays,
could have contributed to this year’s 39
percent failure rate. “Rhodes students
tend to party on a Wednesday night and
are too tired to attend lectures the next
day,” Palmer said. He also believes that
the pass rate.
“Our June pass rate this year, on the
basis of the number of students who
wrote, is the same as last year and only
fractionally lower than the year before
and has been within a fairly stable band.
Very interestingly though, the propor-
tion of students who scored a first class
pass this year has increased slightly
compared to last year,” Hugo said. He
said that first year students need to work
hard from day one, as some take longer
than others to settle into university life.
Professor Paul Bischoff, head of
the Politics department, was similarly
content about first years’ performance
in the exams. “We are satisfied with the
distribution of marks this June. We also
believe the failure rate for us is lower
than last year at this time. As such, I
think our students have generally done
well this June. The reason could be
interested, motivated students and good
teaching.”
Students, likewise, expressed mixed
views. First year student, Martin Bomela
was dissatisfied with his results: “I think
Pic: Megan Lewis

which is a problem,” said Campbell.
The Statistics department observed a
similar lack of basic skills. Head of De-
partment, Professor Gunther Jäger said
of first years’ performance in the Theory
of Finance exam: “We experienced a
large problem with students who did
Mathematical Literacy in high school
the suggestion that students dedicate 40
hours a week to academic work is not
being followed, and this was reflected in
the June marks.
The Economics department did not
note a substantial drop in first year
results this year. Head of Department,
Professor Hugo Nel was pleased with
I did badly because I was not focused
enough for these exams, but I know I’ll
do better in November”. Gemma-Leigh
Goosen, a first year student, felt that she
worked well to obtain her marks. “I’m
quite happy with my marks and just TIME OF RECKONING
hope that I’ll do as well in November,” June results revealed that many first year students struggled, particularly in
Goosen said. the Legal Theory and Theory of Finance exams.

Hungry stomachs trump injustice as cause for protest

Robyn McCormick
“If you live to 50, you have a 100
percent chance of being raped. I have
a 10 year old sister and a 40 year old
mother…” Zizipo Mgobo, a mem-
ber of the GAP working group was
emotional at the conclusion of the
protest held outside the High Court
last Friday.
Students gathered to protest
against the way the justice system in
South Africa treats cases of sexual
assault and rape survivors, specifi-
cally ‘curative’ rape for lesbians, and
the rape of ‘Buyisiwe’, who has been
waiting for the sentencing of her eight
rapists since 2005.
The protest, organised by the Gen-
der Action Project (GAP), saw two
women being chained to lampposts
outside the High Court alongside
GAP and 1 in 9 banners. Volunteers
handed out pamphlets detailing the
repeated postponement of Buyisiwe’s
rape case as an example of how the
South African justice system delays
rape trials, often indefinitely. Howev-
er, the response was less than desired,
as few students attended, seeming to
prefer the student protest against the
consequences of the workers’ strike.
Skye Martin, a member of the GAP
working group said, “I think the pro-
test was disappointing because there
were very few people there and very
little interest in it. I also think that it’s
sad that more students are interested
in what they’re getting for lunch than
the rape rate in this country. There
are so many more important things
for us as young South Africans to be
concentrating on than service delivery
in our residences”.
 The Oppidan Press 13.08.09 3

SRC Strike. What do you think of the SRC’s march to the main admin building
this past Friday? Let us know. letters@theoppidnapress.com

The flaw in the liquor law

Leigh Hermon
By now, many Rhodes students have
felt the effects of the new liquor by-law
as they experience earlier closing times
at Grahamstown’s beloved social spots.
The by-law has resulted in the strict
control of trading hours of alcohol in
the Makana Municipality.
Many students are outraged at the
had almost 50 employees before the
enforcement of the liquor by-law.
This number has since been reduced
to approximately half. Many Friars
employees are students at Rhodes, who
rely on their wages to help fund their
education.
However, those who have been hard-
est hit at Friars are the cleaning staff,
many of whom are the breadwinners for
their families. These men and women
you ever phone the municipality they
refuse to talk about this particular issue.
It’s like it doesn’t exist,” said Hubbard.
Minutes from council meetings about
the by-law are unavailable though they
are meant to be publicly accessible.
Dean of Students Dr Vivian de
Klerk believes that little has changed:
“The laws of supply and demand will
continue to operate. Customers are still
free to purchase their alcohol during
trading hours? What about next year’s
FIFA World Cup?
Aside from these issues, there is the
question of whether or not the by-law
is effective in any way. According to
Hubbard and Vos, the amount of binge
drinking has increased. “Now we’re
selling more Stroh Rum, Tequila and
Jagermeister than we’ve ever done,” said
Hubbard.
Many students have responded by

World
development, which has disturbed
precious partying hours, but has any
thought been spared for the local busi-
nesses of Grahamstown?
have gone from weekly earnings of ap- opening hours”. ‘pre-drinking’ earlier, ensuring that they
proximately R500 to a mere R170. During the Festival last month, the are just as drunk as before. Further-
In addition to staff cutbacks, Hub- liquor laws were adapted to accom- more, the practice of ‘post-drinks’
bard and Vos have to deal with regular modate the influx of tourists and artists. is becoming more popular, whereby

champion
There is no doubt about the detri-
mental effects of alcohol, which range
from liver disease to chronic embarrass-
ment. While there is indeed a strong
police harassment. A police van is often Trading hours were extended to 02:00 students gather at places like Grey Dam
stationed outside the door of the club throughout fest for all venues, except and Settlers Monument to carry on
from 23:45, with officers chasing away Lounge Around and The Long Table drinking long after the 02:00 closing
customers and enforcing the closing which were allowed to trade until 05:00. time.

rapists
case for the restriction of alcohol, it is
debatable as to whether we can afford to
suffocate this part of our economy.
Mike Hubbard and Katy Vos, the
owners of Friar Tucks, said that they
Benjamin Fogel
time.
Pub owners in Grahamstown have
asked for more information regarding
the liquor by-law but have received
little response from the municipality. “If
Could it be that the extension of
trading hours is based on what best
suits the municipality at various times
of the year? Are other big events like In-
tervarsity enough to warrant extended
Evidently, some issues have not been
thought through. Meanwhile the by-law
continues to be enforced, heavily affect-
ing parts of the Grahamstown business
community.

Blunder >>
August is Women’s Month, and a
good time to revisit the issue of rape.
It is common knowledge that South
Your new drinking hours Ginger snaps, cat food and an
Africa has the worst rape statistics in

ice cube tray

the world. Daily, we are confronted
with shocking accounts of violent
sexual crimes against women, men
and children, which are rife through-
out the country.
The same facts are thrown around
time and again. Well over 500 000 rapes
are reported in this country every year,
but according to statisticians only one in
nine victims report their assaults. This
means that in reality there are nearly 5
000 000 rapes in South Africa annually,
and these are said to be conservative es-
timates. It has even been suggested that
a woman in South Africa has a better
chance of being raped than of learning
how to read. A recent study released a
new disturbing figure: one in four South
African males is a rapist.
The appalling rate of sexual violence
in our country has not been addressed
adequately as a political issue. The ANC
According to the Makana Municipality website, bottle
stores and retailers may sell alcohol between 9:00 and
21:00 Monday to Saturday and between 9:00 and 13:00 Lonwabo Fayo
on a Sunday and Public Holidays.
Restaurants, pubs, clubs and shebeens are permit- Britain's Daily Telegraph published
dodgy details of claims on taxpayers’
ted to sell alcohol between 11:00 and 00:00 Monday to money made by various ministers and
Thursday. On weekends they may sell alcohol between lawmakers.
10:00 and 2:00 and on Sundays and Public Holidays, The documents revealed how some
between 11:00 and 22:00. lawmakers used lax regulations to
their benefit, paying for housing taxes
If business owners fail to adhere to these new times,
and costs of furnishing homes. Others
they may be fined R3 000 or imprisoned. Ruby Blue, bizarrely claimed for trivial amounts,
a club in Fourways, Johannesburg, was recently shut including a packet of ginger snaps, two
down due to the new liquor law. cans of cat food and an ice cube tray.
One lawmaker claimed compensation
for the cost of servicing the swimming
pool of his country home, while another
paid for a hunter to catch moles that had
invaded his garden.
Even British Prime Minister Gordon
Brown – Britain's treasury chief at the
time – paid his own brother £6 500 for
cleaning services between 2004 and
2006. Brown's office said the leader's
brother had handled payments for a
cleaner the two men shared.
Figures released to Parliament show
that the 646 House of Commons legisla-
tors claimed £93 million in allowances
and expenses last year. Seems like some
power elites were cutting costs long
before the global economic recession!

Strike for strike: students join the action

Women’s League was all too quick to
support Zuma during his rape trail
and condemn the alleged survivor.
The entire judicial system needs to be
addressed in order to counter sexual
violence and the rights of victims must
be stressed and protected.
Rape survivors are often subject
to shame, humiliation and threats
throughout their trials. It is no surprise
then that only one in nine cases are
reported to a police force which is con-
sistently unable to counter the problem.
South Africa is home to a sinister
phenomenon of disempowered men
who look to empower themselves
through rape – the ultimate act of vio-
lent patriarchy. In order for this country
to combat the problem our men need
to redefine their identity. A way must
be found to remedy the perverted
patriarchal distortion of masculinity,
which results in a sense of entitlement
over others.
The current political leadership
needs to take a stand against the issue
by admitting the extent of the problem.
In the wake of Women’s Day, people
must awaken from their apathetic
slumber and realize that a war of sexual
violence is being waged and sides must
Nonceba Mhlauli
Since Monday 3 August, students have
been left confused and hungry as the
strike has resulted in dirty residences
and smaller packed food portions.
The National Education, Health and
Allied Workers Union (NEHAWU) took
industrial action against Rhodes Univer-
sity management over a wage dispute.
Divania Timmal, a second year BA
student who lives in Allan Gray said:
“The strike is messing up everything, we
pay a lot of money to stay in residence
and we are made to eat out of polysty-
rene, it’s ridiculous”. She supports the
workers but feels that it is unfair on stu-
dents, who have been kept in the dark.
“We would have also expected a reaction
from the SRC by now informing us as to
what’s happening,” she said.
Another residence student, Zinziswa
Mani feels that the workers are justified.
“The workers would not have gone on
strike for such a long time if they were
Xhanti Njozela, chairperson of SASCO
who spoke on behalf of the Progressive
Youth Alliance (SASCO, YCL and AN-
CYL) said they fully support the strike
said that supporting strike action and
being supportive of workers’ demands
are two different things.
“Strike action is unfortunate, we
wouldn’t encourage it any day because it
causes unpleasant disruptions and ought
to be an action of last resort, but the PYA
is strongly supportive and stand by the
demands of the workers. Our loyalties lie
with the workers,” he said.
The SRC eventually released a press
statement on Wednesday stating that
they also supported the strike, but that
no student shall be forced to perform,
against their will, tasks or services that
they have already paid for. It is students'
prerogative to undertake these duties at
their own discretion.
In response to the press release,
Njozela said he was disappointed with
the SRC. “What we need from the SRC is
for them to act strongly on this matter, a
Pic: Megan Lewis

be taken. Misogynistic violence needs to

stop before we lose another generation
to these awful statistics.
Men, ask and you shall receive. If
not, get the new issue of FHM and some
lotion!
not serious about their demands and I
feel that they should be met,” she said.
However, Mani feels that the Univer-
sity is also not considering the needs
of students. “The food they give us is
not enough and our residences are very
dirty,” she said.
press statement is not only late but also
ineffective,” he said.
At the time of going to press, there
was no clear indication as to how long
the strike would last as NEHAWU was NOT ENOUGH
still negotiating with University manage- Students protested on Friday 7 August to express their dissatisfaction with the
ment. University’s service delivery during the NEHAWU strike.
4 The Oppidan Press 13.08.09

Opinion Feel like ranting and raving? Let us know what you think.
letters@theoppidanpress.com.

Editorial cartoon >>

Bursting our bubble
In light of the many incidents of
industrial action that have taken place
throughout the country recently, I have
been forced to do away with my idea that
Grahamstown is not, in any way, part of
the greater South Africa.
I bet I’m not the only one who used
to think that bad things like strikes and
swine flu couldn’t affect us – here in the
middle of nowhere. Gone are the days
when Rhodes was a peaceful and flu-free
campus. We may be living in a ‘fish bowl’
but it seems the water keeps getting
dirtier.
It’s good to get a wake up call every
once in a while. As much as this town of
iRhini is small and significantly removed
from what many students feel is proper
civilisation, it is still in South Africa. That
means that whatever economic crisis
comes upon the nation will affect us…
eventually. And when national unions
are up in arms because of this or that,
it’s only a matter of time before our local

Illustration: Leigh Stadler

municipal workers start striking too. Oh
wait, that happened two weeks ago.
It is not surprising that the central
reason for all these unionists’ industrial
actions is money (I wonder if the SABC
will ever enjoy as much publicity as
they have been getting lately). With the EVERYONE’S DOING IT
economy taking the direction that it is, It seems that our cartoonist has succumbed to the season of striking, along with the municipal workers, NEHAWU members, Wimpy staff and students. She
realistically, we should all be up in arms.
is demanding longer deadlines and unfortunately, at the time of going to print, The Oppidan Press management and cartoonist union were still locked in
Could this have anything to do with the
negotiations.
new government or is it just an unfortu-
nate coincidence?

The Oppidan Press is looking to fill positions for 2010

Money and service delivery are the
buzz words of any strike action, with
the cycle coming full circle right on our
doorstep. NEHAWU strikers are, crudely
speaking, demanding more money; and
students are striking about the poor If you think you have what it takes to excel in the field of student journalism, apply to join The Oppidan Press team. It’s sizzling hot!
service delivery they are getting from Positions available:
the University as a result. As the strike Executive Editorial
continues, a staff member (earning about
R3000 per month) is losing approximate- Editor Arts Editor Pictures Editor (x4)
ly R200 per day. It seems like a lose-lose Business Editor Politics Editor
Deputy Editor
situation to me. Does the end really Chief Designer & Assistant SciTech Editor
justify the means? Managing Editor
Multimedia Editor Chief Sub-Editor (x2) Sports Editor
Don’t get me wrong. I am all for voic-
ing concern at any sign of poor service Advertising Manager (x2) Entertainment Editor
delivery and unjust regulations. Sure, Marketing Manager Environment Editor
people’s demands should be met but at Financial Manager Features Editor
what cost? And at whose expense? Won’t Distribution Manager Marketing Designer
that mean that somewhere down the Community Engagement Officer Advertising Designer
line my parents will have to make a plan Training and Development Officer News Editor (x2)
about how to pay my now exorbitantly Opinion Editor
Technical Officer
high fees? And won’t that simply set the
ball rolling for another student striking
saga? Job descriptions available on request, email applications@theoppidanpress.com – it is recommended that you familiarise yourself with the job you are applying for!
A compromise really is the only solu-
tion. And hopefully, in the case of the All you need is:
NEHAWU strike, the dispute over the - relevant electronic form, filled out (found on our website or e-mailed upon request: editor@theoppidanpress.com)
wage adjustment will have been resolved - CV
by now, as you read this paper. - 2 character references from referees, preferably the ones on your CV.
As for the flu outbreak, hopefully These should be no more than 500 words, and confidential, i.e. submitted by
that will also be under control before
your referees, not by you
Intervarsity this weekend. Nothing ruins
good purple fun like a flu-ridden and
dirty campus. Send your applications to applications@theoppidanpress.com. Referees must do the same, separately (their email subject line must be you, the applicant’s,
name).

Tumelo Tladi Applications close Friday 21 August.

072 589 7230
editor@theoppidanpress.com

Letters
Editor: Tumelo Tladi Community Engagement: Hlengiwe Kweyama News Editor: Robyn McCormick
Deputy Editor: Siphosethu Stuurman Community Engagement: Nicole Wilson News Editor: Vimbai Chikukwa Letters to the Editor:
Managing Editor: Dagmar Kahn Designer: Andisa Ndlovu Opinion Editor: Shea Karssing letters@theoppidanpress.com
Multimedia Editor: Lisa Bringham Chief Sub-Editor: Cath Boulle Pictures Editor: Amy Attenborough
Editorial complaints: r.brand@ru.ac.za
Multimedia Editor: Paul Harris Chief Sub-Editor: Laura Durham Pictures Editor: Jess Hall
Advertising details:
Marketing Manager: Mohammed Shabangu Chief Sub-Editor: Catherine Sackville-Scott Pictures Editor: Megan Lewis
advertising@theoppidanpress.com
Advertising Manager: Sam Masilakhe Arts Editor: Lauren Minnie Politics Editor: Lonwabo Fayo
Financial Manager: Garth Alistoun Business Editor: Marcelino Nkuna Sci-Tech Editor: Zukiswa Kota
Distribution queries:
Distribution Manager: Gugu Baduza Entertainment Editor: Melissa Radebe Sports Editor: Anesu Chingono distribution@theoppidanpress.com
Assistant Distribution Manager: Qcobani Qambela Environment Editor: Nicole Venegas Ombudsman: Robert Brand
Technical Manager: Andrew Lynch Features Editor: Sarah Cohen Printers: Dupli-Print

Swine flu. Do you think the media is over rating the spread of swine flu?
Tell us what you think. opinion@theoppidanpress.com
Too much whine about the swine
Sungeni Chithambo
This newspaper has not been sneezed
on. And even if it was sneezed on,
you probably would not get swine flu
(unless the distributors definitely have
swine flu and you got your hands on
this paper within a few minutes, then
immediately rubbed your mouth, nose
or eyes on it). Swine flu is an airborne
disease, and the only pigs that will be
infecting you are the people breathing,
coughing and sneezing in your direc-
tion.
Biology lesson aside, judging by the
way people are oinking on about swine
flu one would think that Ebola hit
the place, or that Robert Mugabe was
becoming the president of the UN.
Nomsa Vaphi, a nurse at the Rho-
des Sanatorium agrees that peoples’
BIG BUCKS
Students are enticed by the money BCom degrees supposedly offer, but at
what cost to their potential for social contribution?
response towards this pandemic is hypochondriacs, tutorial-dodgers and
exaggerated. “To them it has a stigma generally paranoid people everywhere
of death,” she says. According to Vaphi, have jumped on the bandwagon.
many students go to the san thinking The first swine flu death in South
they have been infected. “When they Africa was reported on 3 August. A 22-
cough, they think it’s swine flu,” she year-old male from Stellenbosch Uni-
says. “People shouldn’t panic.” versity died on 28 July but, according to
Swine flu is highly contagious, as is Western Cape Health Minister, Theuns
normal seasonal flu. Shared symptoms Botha, his death was unusual and the
between the viruses are fever, cough- majority of people who contract the
ing, body aches and fatigue, and may virus recover fully.
also include a sore throat, vomiting and Hygiene is a major factor in prevent-
diarrhoea. ing the spread of flu. You can avoid the
Dr Bert Evans from Drs Marx & porky situation by covering your mouth
Bennett has treated about five swine when you sneeze or cough and dispos-
flu patients. He says that “one must ing of used tissues properly. In other
treat any infection with respect”, so it words, be considerate to those around
might be wise to report any flu-like you – it’s not particularly nice to share
symptoms. And these don’t include a your germs. You – reading this – swine
random cough in the middle of a lec- flu won’t kill you. But if it gets you,
ture. Evans feels that swine flu has been please don’t turn into a virus-spreading Panic all over the world has caused people to take drastic steps to
sensationalised by journalists. And pig.
It ain’t just about the money
Benjamin Fogel
Why do Bachelor of Commerce students
choose this particular degree? If asked,
most do not consider their studies to
be particularly interesting or enjoyable.
Rather, they repeat Theory of Finance
(TOF) several times to make money, or
because mom and dad were unwilling to
foot the bill if they decided to dabble in
a BA (or another exhaustively so-called
“Bugger All” degree).
It is exceptionally irritating when a
BCom student smugly dismisses a BA
degree as a one-way track to nights of
endless revelry and subsequent unem-
ployment. Accountants’ arguments often
conclude that BA subjects “have no right
answers”. But university is not necessarily
about the black and white, and should
certainly challenge one’s opinions and
beliefs.
Surely there should be more to study-
ing than the incentive of getting a job in
the real world. What about becoming
a well-rounded, educated individual
capable of critically engaging with the
world, for example? The fields of Politics
and Philosophy are often dismissed as
Pic: Mikaila Thurgood
having little practical application but the
knowledge gleaned from both can shape
our lives in many different ways – even
in commerce-type considerations. For
example, the idea of money having value
that can be exchanged for goods is a
philosophical concept.
But that is not to say that the “BA all
the way” attitude is correct. A Bachelors
EXTREME MEASURES
avoid contracting swine flu, and Grahamstown is no exception.
of Science degree challenges an individu-
al in a completely different way as the
fields of Physics, Earth Sciences, Maths
and Chemistry deal with topics which
force us to revalue our existence on a
cosmic level. Are we nothing more than
a bunch of small particles vibrating? Are
we still evolving?
This goes back to the questionable
contribution made by BCom students.
BA subjects contribute ideas, Sci-
ence contributes technology, and both
provide explanations of our existence.
BCom students may make the moola,
but the reason the world is in such a
Men replaced with semen
Danelle Wessels
Imagine a world without sex. Techni-
cally, humans have not needed it for
reproduction since In Vitro Fertilisa-
tion (IVF) erupted onto the ultra-
sound. Making a baby can be like bak-
ing a cake – the ingredients are mixed
up in a laboratory dish and popped
into the oven, with the final product
coming out as a carefully timed, nine
month-old bun of a bouncing babe.
And now men may have even less
to do with the baby-making process.
Scientists at Newcastle University in
the UK and the North East England
Stem Cell Institute (NESCI), led by
Professor Karim Nayernia, have alleg-
edly succeeded in creating artificial
human sperm. The laboratory-pro-
duced sperm, called In Vitro Derived
(IVD) sperm is produced from em-
bryonic stem cells. While the idea may
not sound very raunchy or romantic,
this sort of research may help scien-
tists to better understand the causes of
infertility in men.
Sorting out sterile sperm? Great!
But everyone seems to be getting
a little carried away with the baby-
making business. Gung-ho (and
perhaps slightly unstable) feminists
have already jumped at the idea of a
society without men, where women
shall reign supreme. There’s talk of
two women one day being able to have
children genetically related to both of
them.
But surely it’s a little too early for
this man-eliminating procreating? Be-
sides the fact that the research is still
in its preliminary stages and it may be
The Oppidan Press 13.08.09
Opinion
Pic: supplied
dire economic crisis is primarily due to
greed and the urge to make more money
from things which are not really there.
Although we cannot live without money,
there is far more to life then getting rich.
If you are going to become an entrepre-
neur and a BCom equips you for that, go
ahead, but there must be something your
business can give back.
If we value money above ideas and
discoveries, we are already on the route
to hell. In an age of smug condemna-
tion and the undervaluing of academ-
ics, scientists and teachers, we need to
re-examine our priorities.
at least a decade before the IVD sperm
is of any real value, the stem cells used
to create fully mature sperm need XY
(male) chromosomes. Sorry ladies,
world domination will have to wait.
While men suffering from infertil-
ity may be grateful for the advance-
ments, those with highly obsessive
female stalkers may not be so happy
with the direction in which stem cell
research is headed. Theoretically, IVD
sperm can be created from human
skin cells, so genetic fraud could
become easy in the future. A woman
would only have to obtain a skin
sample of the desired father of her
child and presto! All she would need
is a ring to make a decent woman of
her.
This may sound like something
out of a science fiction novel or Hol-
lywood horror film but, to the relief
of many, DNA dabbling will only be
possible in the distant future. It is cur-
rently illegal to test sperm by trying to
create a baby from it, and the research
team has no intentions of that sort.
Professor Nayernia and his team
have also been questioned about the
validity of their findings as many
scientists argue that the claims are
unsubstantiated. To add to this,
the original publication in which
their research was released has been
temporarily withdrawn due to alleged
plagiarism of an earlier publication in
the introductory paragraphs.
If everyone calmed down, they
would see that there’s nothing to
worry about. We’re not going to have
mutant babies running amok from ex-
periments gone wrong just yet, so let’s
save the melodrama for the movies.
 6 The Oppidan Press 13.08.09

Entertainment Celebrity Recipe. Do you have any celebrity friends? We want their
recipes! Let us know. entertainment@theoppidanpress.com

Celebrity Recipe >>

Couture for a cause Rules of
Bongo Maffin’s Stoan, shows us how to make his Freestyle
Chicken Soup.
Staff Reporter
second year Journalism student, Melissa
ngagement
Radebe and third year Drama student,
Ingredients rooms in the olive oil. Goitsemang Nkomo,. There will be a
1 sachet of Knor cream of mushroom • Cook the pasta and boil the water Twenty models are set to hit the catwalk variety of additional entertainment on
soup separately. on 21 August 2009 for the highly antici- the night. Hip hop dance routines, soul-
• Add the boiling water, pasta, Big Tyson and Thulani Mahamba-
1 sachet of Knor cream of chicken pated SHARC Anti-Fashion Show. The ful poetry, a contemporary movement
chicken spice, salt and Aromat Sithole
soup glamorous evening will take place at piece and singing are just some of the
2 cups of frozen mixed veggies to the chicken, onion, green pepper Rhodes’s Great Hall with local student extra acts that will make for an energetic
and mushroom mix. Let it The game has changed. The rules that
Deboned chicken thighs designers showcasing their diverse atmosphere.
simmer for five to seven minutes. regulate interaction between men and
Mushrooms creativity. The event is organised by the SHARC
• Add the mixed veggies and women have shifted in a more liberal di-
Half a packet of pasta (any kind) Aside from the glitz, glam, fashion committee with assistance from Honours
spinach. rection. Today’s women are independent
Spinach, 2 cloves of garlic and fun, the event aims to promote Drama Student, Saint Francis. SHARC
• Mix both soup sachets into a paste and unafraid to pursue what they want
1 onion, 1 green pepper acceptance, respect and love for other aims to get other Rhodes societies in-
and add to pot, stirring aggressively.
Thyme, Coriander people, and for the self. The SHARC volved in the event to show their support
occasionally. The rules of engagement have be-
Chicken spice committee is hoping that the fashion for the cause.
• Add fresh cream and coriander come more interesting and spontaneous,
Salt to taste, Aromat show will change perceptions of what The SHARC fashion show is defi-
and simmer for ten minutes. but they also present a whole new set
1.5 litres of water, 1 cup fresh cream models should look like. All proceeds nitely not to be missed so be sure to go
• Serve with your favorite bread. of problems: they are somewhat unfair,
Olive oil for frying from the event will go to a school in and get your culture fix. Its more than as they complicate the game for women
Joza. just a fashion show, it’s a fiesta! The event more than for men.
Method Serving suggestion A few of the student designers who starts at 18:30 for 19:00, but go early to A 57 percent majority of the Rhodes
• Slice the veggies and chicken Crumble blue cheese over the soup will be showing off their talent are get your front row seat. student body is female, and in many in-
into strips. just before serving and garnish stances ladies find themselves having to
• Brown the chicken, onion, green with chopped coriander. make the first move to initiate relation-
pepper, garlic, thyme and mush ships. It’s no longer enough for ladies
to look pretty and assume that love will
find them. These days, women have to
take charge, even compete against each
other at times.
The “typical Rhodes guy”, as girls on
ROCKING OUT campus put it, is the way he is because
women have allowed it. Girls regularly
Patrick and the Swayzes, Jacob and compete for our attention amongst
the Zumas, Jude and the Laws. Stickers themselves, with plots, plans, gossip and
were placed all over campus and rumours, to the extent that we don’t have
beyond just in time for Pretoria band to play the field – the field plays itself.
Desmond and the Tutu’s launch of Women have become more comfort-
their EP “____and the ____” last Friday able with seeking sexual pleasure and
at the Scout Hall. The indie kwela pop acting on feelings of love or lust. They
are increasingly, and more confidently,
band wowed the audience with their
taking the necessary steps to meet their
uniquely South African sound, which needs which, as history tells us, has not
features emphasised spoken word and always been the case.
Pics: Catherine Cunningham

whiney, yet smooth vocals. Innovative sex toys, masturbation,

and finding new and interesting sex
moves are various ways of experi-
menting with pleasure. Women who
actively engage in such behaviour are no
longer entering strictly taboo territory,
although society still lays down certain
boundaries. As unfair as it is, women
are often judged for having multiple

ADVERTISE IN
partners or seeking sexual gratification
in a relationship – behaviour which is
traditionally associated with men. We
live in a society that strives for gender
equality, but if this is the case then why

The Oppidan Press

are women still made to feel ashamed

The Oppidan Press

about the same things for which men are
praised? Let’s rehash the classic example:
if a guy cheats he’s a ‘playa’, sometimes
even a hero; but if a girl does the same
The Trivarsity Trio she’s a slut.
Women are increasingly displaying
The Early Start Contact our Advertising Manager: characteristics for which chauvinist men

2 Eggs, bacon, toast, chips and grilled tomato with a Contact our advertising TEAM
Anzet: 083 557 2322 have been criticised in the past such as
flirting, ass-groping and the ‘I-was-so-
a coffee, tea or regular juice or drunk’ excuse, used when lust leads to
Only R 29.90 DAGMAR: 079 892 3051
Email: advertising@theoppidanpress.com infidelity.
The result is that men have adapted to
this changed situation, which has in turn
OR resulted in somewhat of a role-reversal

The Halftime Lunch in the interaction between men and

Our FANatical Beef or Chicken Burger Schwarma

with chips and a regular juice or coffee
Email: advertising@theoppidan.com ‘the fairer sex’. This is also perhaps why,
to a large extent, chivalry has become
obsolete.
But aren’t men are still the one’s
Only R 49.90 wearing the pants?

Ultimate
The Final Whistle Toys & Gifts
A Tender 200g Sirloin, topped with 2 eggs, served
with chips and a regular milkshake 046 622 7131 Next to Edgars
Only R 69.90 ▪ dress up ▪ hooka pipes, flavours & coals▪
cameras ▪ mp3 players ▪ comupter ▪ speakers ▪
And also come and try our fabulous new headphones ▪ body piercings ▪ jewellery ▪
▪ gifts for all ages ▪
Cocktail Menu Closed from 18 - 23 August 2009

Budding with creative inspiration? Send us your recommendations on what to do
and see on the art scene. arts@theoppidanpress.com
Recreational reading - really?
Lauren Minnie
It’s no secret that we basically spend all
three years of our university degrees
reading. Those big, chunky course read-
ers and lists of ‘recommended readings’
seem to haunt us the most right before
exam time, when we realise that they
were dead serious about keeping up
from the word go. We are, after all, sup-
posed to be ‘reading for our degrees’.
Then there are those who enjoy read-
ing for fun (shock horror!). These are
often the same people who enjoy writing
for fun (I’m really sorry, I don’t mean to
alarm you with this information). See
exhibit A – The Oppidan Press office.
Before our weekly editorial meeting,
I had a very interesting conversation
about being judged by the book you’re
seen reading. Not so much a ‘don’t judge
a book by its cover’ scenario, but more a
‘don’t judge the reader by the alarmingly
New magazine gets the inside scoop on journos
Yvonne Nhuta
The School of Journalism and Media
Studies has recently launched a new
digital magazine Quote, aimed at reflect-
ing the ideals of the school and the high
quality of work that its students learn
to produce throughout their years at
Rhodes.
Taking the idea from the school’s
previous publication, JQ, the founders
of Quote felt it necessary to go beyond
what they had previously achieved
BE THE CHANGE
Nominations for SRC elections open
between 7-14 August 2009
Collect nomination forms from the SRC office
(top floor of the Bantu Stephen Biko Building)
between 08h30 and 17h00
bright pink book he/she is reading’ kind
of set-up.
Even those who rarely pick up a
recreational read must know the slightly
embarrassing feeling of reading Marian
Keyes when a Classics major walks
past with his copy of The Odyssey. Or
that feeling of ignorance when you’re
sitting outside the English department
in the lovely afternoon sun, completely
engrossed in your Jodie Picoult, while
third years walk out with books you’ve
never even heard of. The little child in
you just wants to jump up and shout
“Don’t judge me, last week I was reading
Tolstoy!”
So for all of you who enjoy the oc-
casional chick lit, or even just a bright
cover, between your more thought-pro-
voking reads – I’m here to tell you that
it’s okay. One day you’re going to catch
those guys in a Lindsay Lohan movie, or
listening to Paris Hilton, and then who’ll
be judging?! Mwahahahaha!
with regards to conveying their mes-
sage. The purpose of the publication is
to communicate the school’s activi-
ties to various stakeholders, alumni
in particular, as well as current staff
and students. The alumni network is
sponsored by Telkom which supports
the publication.
According to Jolandi Snyders,
Alumni, Marketing and Events officer
of the school and co-founder of Quote,
the magazine was created to “reflect
what the school is all about and the
high calibre of its students.” Unlike
Shaken or stirred: the art of
cocktail creation
Lauren Minnie
Ever heard a barman call himself a mix-
ologist? I don’t think the fad has quite
hit G’town yet, but mixology is the art
and science behind cocktail and shooter
recipes. I hit the local nightspots to find
out whether any Rhodes student has
what it takes to be the next big mixolo-
gist.
Our first stop is Friars, where barlady
Alexandryna Audagnotti, a third year
BA student, whips up her two favourite
shots: the Friars ‘slinky’, and a ‘star wars’.
Having known Alex since she started
bartending two years ago, it’s slightly
strange for me to watch this whirlwind
other magazines and newspapers on
campus, it cannot be classified as just
another student publication, but rather
a combination of both student and staff
participation. “It is not a student, not a
staff publication, but a School of Jour-
nalism and Media Studies publication”
and the magazine is a platform for the
school to show “who and what we are,
what we do and what we have to offer,”
said Snyders.
The staff includes student writers
and photographers as well as lectur-
ers and specialists of the department.
of energy so calmly and patiently layer
the different spirits.
The ‘slinky’ ends up being a perfectly
combined pyramid of colour. “I like
playing around with the density and
stuff, it’s really fun, and it has aesthetic
appeal,” says Alex. Her next shot, a ‘star
wars’, is an amazing little creation, with
drops of red and blue sambucca explod-
ing all over the surface of the drink
before falling to the bottom of the glass
in two balls. “They really react beauti-
fully!” Alex says, pleased with the final
product.
Next stop is Cafe Blanca, where I
hope to find the Mona Lisa of cock-
tails. The first two shooters packed
quite a punch, so I am not sure that
Third year photojournalism student
Nicola van Rensburg, commented on
being part of the Quote team: “Al-
though I was not too experienced as a
photographer [the founders] were help-
ful and understanding.” She added that
working on the publication was a great
experience.
The magazine will be produced bi-
annually, reporting what has happened
in the school within six month periods.
The first edition, published last week,
reflects the aim to represent journal-
ism from various angles such as what
The Oppidan Press 13.08.09 11
Arts
I still have 20-20 vision to judge this
effectively. Barman Tim Cooper, a first
year BSocSci student, whips up one
of his favourites: a kiwi martini. The
result is a delicate, light green cocktail
spotted with the black dots of the kiwi.
Hmmm…pretty, but not enough.
On my way home, I pass Pirates and
decide to test the waters. If mixology
is the art and science of mixing drinks,
then toxology is the art of combining
drinks, with general disregard of the
palate, for ridiculously cheap prices. The
Bergie bomb? Really? Clearly not all
Rhodents worry about the aesthetic ap-
peal of their drink, as long as it gets the
job done! I suppose, beauty is in the eye
of the beholder.
students are being taught, how they are
taught and what they can produce as a
result.
The magazine is not exclusively
of interest to journalists or potential
journalists as it covers many issues that
affect the school as a whole such as the
Highway Africa Conference and the
Future Indaba project dealing with the
alumni network, which will be covered
in the next issue. The magazine will
give students an opportunity to learn
more about what it means to be a jour-
nalist and what journalism is all about.
12 The Oppidan Press 13.08.09
Features
San’s service needs renovating too
Mikaila Thurgood
In your haste, you’ve cut yourself shav-
ing. You see blood. Your hands and feet
go clammy. It’s deep – too deep for a
plaster. But where do you go? Do you
frantically bang on your neighbour’s
door, screaming out of pain and squea-
mishness? Do you brave severe blood
loss and drip a blood trail all the way to
the sanatorium? Or do you phone your
doctor and demand an ambulance and a
stretcher?
In such cases, the most convenient
and immediate option would be the
sanatorium, which has a sister either on
duty or on call 24 hours a day. But would
it be the most reliable option? Over the
years, the san has been a steady source
of contention amongst students. The re-
views have not been good. Emma Mor-
ris, a third year student living in Kings
Manor objected to the san sisters’ lack
of concern: “The one time I went there
they weren’t even sympathetic. I mean,
don’t mollycoddle but when someone’s
Big Brother
Make your R2.05 go
Grahamstown
further
Lerusha Reddy
I gathered all the coins together and
discovered that I had only two rand and
five cents to my name. Then I thought
to myself, ‘how far can one go with a
measly R2.05 in Grahamstown’s Central
Business District’? I put my thrift hat on
and hit town to find out.
And that is when I got my surprise.
For all the cocktail lovers and cheap
drunks out there, I recommend making
your way to Café Blanca where you can
buy a drink made up of cocktail leftovers,
suitably named the ‘shit shot’, for just
R2. Use the 5c piece to chuck at the
bartender for talking you into buying the
shot in the first place.
How to enjoy a pint at Eden Grove
Liza Smith
At the end of every month, Eden Grove
is abandoned and silent. No, not due to
frequently held exams, but because of a
test for only the most daring students –
donating a pint of blood.
Maryke Harris, of the South African
National Blood Service (SANBS), was
excited about the 47 new donors re-
cruited at the last blood drive held on 30
July. Out of the 190 potential donors, 167
feeling sick, show a little sympathy”.
Should you trust the san to attend to
your medical needs? According to an-
other third year student, Breanne Robb
the answer is no: “The ‘service’ wasn't
very good [when I went there]. I felt it
was half-hearted and they didn't really
go in depth, the treatment seemed very
superficial”.
When asked about students’ negativ-
ity and complaints regarding the san,
head sister, Jeanne Shaw says that people
expect too much: “People need to un-
Pic: Caroline King
derstand that it’s a sanatorium – it’s a day
clinic not a hospital”. There are currently
four sisters on duty at the san and on
average they will see 1280 patients per
month, which is more than a sixth of the
Rhodes student population. Shaw also
says that the facility is understaffed and
underfunded, having only just received
funding from the European Union in
order to start refurbishing the old san.
What do these renovations prom-
ise the san? Shaw believes it will do
wonders. “It’s going to be tremendous,”
she says. Extensive planning and effort
But the dirt-cheap deals don’t end there.
If you’re low on tumblers, then travel
down High Street and visit May’s fashion
where you can purchase two tumblers
(for next to nothing) for those raucous
digs parties.
If tumblers are not on your things-
to-get list, why not spend your princely
sum on a packet of toothpicks? Seriously.
Toothpicks have an abundance of uses
but a favorite of mine is arranging the
wooden sticks to resemble my name.
Jessica’s Fashions next to Shoprite
boats a number of trinkets you can pur-
chase with R2.05 such as pens, key rings
and even hair dye.
But I say, stick with the toothpicks.
Your room probably needs some creativ-
ity.
students were able to donate blood.
Those who don’t venture near the
venue come blood donation day out of
fear of needles, should take a look at
these guidelines which make donating
blood as pain free as possible. Bear in
mind that blood is needed every two sec-
onds, and your donation can help save a
life. Do your bit and become part of Club
25 – youth caring enough for others to
give a little of themselves.
How to survive donating blood
1. Get a good night’s sleep!
Have a knack for creative writing? Join the features team.
Just drop us a line. features@theoppidanpress.com
ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT
Students may change their negative perceptions of the San after the
extensive renovations are complete.
have gone into the san’s remodeling. It
will soon boast new private consulta-
tion rooms, a new waiting room and
consultation desk (with a private nook),
renovated male and female wards, a
private telephone room, and an outdoor
Wilhelmina Maboja
Ever had the feeling you are being
watched on and off campus? Today,
your paranoia is not unwarranted. The
beady eye of surveillance is ever-present,
always watching.
Consider Facebook, cell phones and
student cards for instance. These three
things are so common and so frequently
used that we rarely stop to look at them
for what they really are – evidence of
21st century surveillance.
Gone are the days when your de-
linquent self could party hard with the
reassurance of no recorded proof the
next day. Today, your credit or debit card
can show whether you’re a successful
future investor or a poor alcoholic miser.
We take it for granted that this rectangu-
lar piece of plastic with a magnetic strip
contains all sorts of information, such
as your last spontaneous overdraft at an
obscene hour, to the last place, time and
date you swiped it for a R4.95 Kit Kat.
Our own campus has us on surveil-
2. Avoid caffeine drinks like Red
Bull and coffee, as well as fatty foods.
3. Eat chocolate and drink Coke
before and after donating. A handy little
trick to justify those sweet cravings.
4. Keep your bandage on for at
least four hours after donating to avoid
infection.
5. Do not donate blood if you
know you are at risk of STDs or HIV/
Aids or are using drugs of any kind.
6. Eat a good meal some two to
four hours before donating.
area for patients.
Unfortunately, Morris isn’t as
optimistic. “You’d have to renovate the
people as well as the building,” in order
to see noticeable benefits and differences
she says.
lance. If you’re not signing up with your
student number, then you’re chipping in
or out with your dallas chip.
Students who live in residences such
as Jan Smuts have the opportunity of
starring in their own show: CCTV,
which airs 24 hours a day. Oppidans who
live in Kings Gardens are also watched
by security cameras 24 hours a day, bad
hair or not.
Some students would like to get in on
this big brother-like treatment. “There
have been a few incidents that happened
along African Street, which is really
close to my digs, so cameras wouldn’t
be such a bad idea,” said first year BSc
student, Michelle Chan. Other students
see security cameras as an invasion of
privacy, especially considering the size of
Grahamstown.
Being under surveillance no longer
means you need to be in one place. With
cell phones, bank cards and Bluetooth
technology, you could be scanned like a
can of baked beans at Pick ‘n Pay, have
all your personal information exposed,
and never know.
7. Do not look at the blood
draining from your arm – IT NEVER
HELPS!
8. Forget about the needle. Mind
over matter.
9. Avoid alcohol a day before and
after the donation.
10. Drink more fluids after the
donation and make use of the biscuits
and juice on offer at the donation centre.
11. Do not do heavy lifting or
strenuous exercise of any kind for a day
after donating blood.
THERE’S AN ALOE ON MY
STOEP >>
A hellish place
of peace
Daneel Knoetze
The dusty Swartberg Pass which starts
at the Karoo foothill village of Prince
Albert and eventually gives way to a
tarred highway to Oudtshoorn, is not
a road to a destination, not a means
to an end, but an end in itself. The
pass showcases the weirdest and most
staggering geology to be witnessed
anywhere in South Africa.
Navigating the pass is a pleasant
and straightforward affair: the road is
well-maintained and a little stone wall
provides some psychological comfort
regarding the 50 metre dead drop to
the left. There is, however, a single
turn-off signposted ‘Dangerous Road’
and ‘48km = 2 hours’. Those 48km
twist and turn along the crest of the
Swartberg range and lead to an abrupt
and foreboding dead-end plainly
labelled ‘Die Hel’. With a tank of petrol
and time to spare, it is a near irresist-
ible invitation.
The story of Die Hel, also known
as Gamkaskloof, is one of a resilient
and intensely isolated farming com-
munity. The first European farmer
settled here in 1830 and was followed
by a handful of families whose names
are now synonymous with the Kloof.
For over one hundred years, the only
way of reaching the outside world (in
other words, the relative metropolis of
Prince Albert) was by foot, a journey
through rough terrain which took
days. Legend has it that a taxman
returning from Gamkaskloof likened
this trip to “Hell”.
Yet there is, in fact, little about
Gamkaskloof which justifies its name.
The basin itself is watery and fertile,
somewhat of an Eden in the wasteland
that is the Swartberg range, and the
community of old were God-fearing
conservatives who detested the stigma
attached to the tag of the taxman.
However, the last leg of the journey,
the near vertical ascent down Elands-
pass is, to this day, a trying experience.
No problem, mind you, for the flash,
high-rolling Cape Town 4x4s which
come for their weekend kicks. But
mine is a Nissan 1400, with an abomi-
nably low clearance and a broken
petrol pump. Sadly, upon arrival hopes
of finding an abandoned fringe com-
munity are laid to rest. The road was
opened in 1962 and it was the pin that
burst the bubble of ‘Die Hel’ – slowly
letting the outside world in and the
inside world out.
Nevertheless, the unique heritage,
both natural and cultural, is being
preserved. Under the maintenance of
Cape Nature Conservation, Gamkask-
loof is today a world heritage site for
its diverse mix of fauna and flora. Cape
Nature has also set about restoring
the rundown farmhouses to accom-
modate visitors. It is a peaceful and
beautiful place in winter, but I’m told
that summers in ‘Die Hel’ are filled
with diesel fumes and the sounds of
city slicker thrill seekers. So pick your
visiting time wisely, for it always was,
and should remain, a place of solitude
and quiet.
 The Oppidan Press 13.08.09 13

Green living. Are you living a green lifestyle? Let us know what
tips and tricks you use. environment@theoppidanpress.com
Grahamstown wind in Eskom sales
Nicole Venegas
The ‘windy corner’ sounds like some-
thing out of a John Steinbeck novel but
it may soon be the site of Grahamstown’s
newly proposed renewable energy
project and a possible solution to the
load-shedding nightmare.
Waainek, as this area is more com-
monly known, is the projected site of
a new wind farm to be constructed by
the French company Innowind, which
specialises in wind-generated renewable
energy. The farm will have 12 turbines
that will each produce between two and
three megawatts (MW) of electricity
on average. This means that the total
amount of electricity produced on a nor-
mal day would be around 24 to 36 MW.
In layman’s terms, this wind farm should
supply more electricity than Graham-
stown will need in winter. The company
will then sell what is left over to Eskom.
However, before the project can be
approved, it must first be reviewed by
Environment
Coastal and Environmental Services WIND WISE
Waainek, also known as
(CES), which will assess potential en-
vironmental issues that such a project the ‘windy corner’ is where
could cause. They are currently at what Innowind plans to develop
is called the scoping phase, where a Grahamstown’s new wind
report is prepared to inform both the farm.
public and relevant authorities about the
project and any issues raised at pub-
lic meetings. The public is now being
granted a grace period to lodge any more
complaints or issues they may have with
the project, a process that will be com-
pleted on 13 August. Once this is done,
the draft of the scoping report will be
released for a month to allow the public
a final chance to comment.
Some of the issues already raised by
Grahamstonians are noise, the potential
problem of high visibility and the strong
sunlight reflection the turbines might
have. There is also a concern about the
ecological impact the wind farm will
have on the area, especially regarding
migratory birds. Innowind will consider
these issues and establish just how great
an impact this project will have.
Pic: Amy Attenborough

Look out for >> as The Green Shop or the Hemporium,

• The Enviropaedia
The Enviropaedia website is worth
having a look at as it has useful links
related to green living, such as the
Sustainable Lifestyle Guide. To find out
more, visit http://www.enviropaedia.
com/
• The Green Mall
If you are going to Cape Town during
the next vac, check out the new green
mall that has just opened at 210 Long
Street. For more information on shops
that promote sustainable living, such
Eco-fact >>
It is said that wind turbines have a negative effect on bats as the rotating
blades are so powerful that they strain the bats’ weak lungs, causing them
to explode.
have a look at their website at http://
www.210onlong.co.za/mall/ Wikipedia joins the green revolution
• The Digs Greening provide the internet community with
Project Tommie Gilbert
GRASS wants to help you green up If you are interested in learning more
your digs. So if you are interested in about the environment and how you
participating in this project or want to can ‘do your bit’ then Wikia Green is
find out more, contact GRASS at grass. right up your street. On 9 September
info@gmail.com. last year, Jimmy Wales, co-founder of
Wikipedia, launched the Wikia Green
website which is dedicated to those who
• Farmers' market
want to share what they know about
the environmental and sustainable
Every Saturday from 9:00 to 12:00 the
farmers' market at the Old Gaol takes universe. The project is part of Wales’s
second internet-related development,
place, where you can buy fresh and
healthy locally grown vegetables, crafts, ‘Wikia Incorporated’ – a collection
of individual sites all dedicated to a
and other goodies.
specific topic, ranging from Star Wars to
Liverpool FC.
As with Wikipedia, anyone can edit
these sites. But unlike its bigger brother,
Wikia aims to attract those who are
passionate about the topic, rather than
a general reference point. Take, for
example, the Wikipedia article on the
oil company ExxonMobil: it explains its
founding, its overall history and similar
sorts of facts. But the Wikia Green page
on the same topic will most likely look
at its environmental record, focusing on
the Exxon Valdez disaster of 1989.
Inspired by a conversation with Al
Gore two years ago, Wales hopes that
the site will become the pre-eminent
source of green-related information. He
also hopes that the more focused ap-
proach will allow readers to understand
environmental issues and technologies
without having to sift through all the
technical stuff.
Wikia Green will allow people to
search and explore topics relating to the
environment, but the focus is more on
information, suggestions of what people
can do and directions to other sites
with more information on the subject.
For example, the ‘calculating carbon
footprint’ article is mainly comprised
of a list of six or seven external websites
where you can calculate your carbon
footprint and add more if you know of
any.
So how, you may ask, is this differ-
ent from blogging? Well, it isn’t a blog
but Wales hopes that bloggers will use
Wikia Green as a source of informa-
tion, as well as a place for pooling their
resources and information. Wales also
intends it to be a site to which bloggers
will direct their readers so that they can
access a simplified version of the infor-
mation - a sort of environmental guide
for dummies.
If you want to check it out, take a
trip to http://green.wikia.com/wiki/
Wikia_Green

Wallace’s Pharmacy
Who is the greenest of
us all?
Always helpful to students...

HANGOVER KITS
towards environmental sustainability for
Sun Stuff
Nikki Kohly
the common good in the long term.

The newly created Rhodes University

Environmental Awards, established by
the University’s Environmental Com-
mittee, is now open for nominations and
submissions. The awards, for both staff
and students, recognise environmentally
sound practices and operations that
promote sustainability.
Examples of such practices include
implementation of the University’s
environmental policy such as energy-ef-
ficient practices, use of ‘green’ products,
reduced consumption and waste gen-
eration, use of online course materials,
less jet setting around the planet, and
recycling or re-using items. It may also
involve active promotion of environ-
mental innovations and emerging green
technologies on campus, and improved
impact on the surrounding community
and environment. The awards place par-
ticular emphasis on working cohesively
Four categories are eligible for
nomination: (1) residences or student
Strapping
societies; (2) sections (within divi- Trans Act (Pain Afterwards)
sions); (3) institutes or departments and
(4) individuals. Successful nominees
Deep Heat
will receive recognition in the form of Reparil Gel
a unique, handcrafted Environmen-
tal Awards floating trophy, a framed
certificate, and a place on the Rhodes FLU Packs - R24.95
University Environmental Awards
Honours Roll. Their achievement will
also be announced in the graduation We will clean you up, stitch you up, fix you up!
booklet. The closing date for nomina-
tions is Wednesday 30 September. The
Vice-Chancellor will present the awards Open 7 days a week
to winners at a cocktail function on 30
October 2009.
To apply or nominate a colleague or STUDENT ACCOUNTS OPENED GLADLY!
peer for an Environmental Award, visit
http://www.ru.ac.za/environment/com-
Open an account with Wallace’s for Peppergrove Mall (Opposite Pick ‘n Pay)
mittee/environmentalawards for more high-quality pharmaceutical care and African Street
info. Submissions may be emailed to give-aways! Tel: 046 622 7373
environment@ru.ac.za 046 622 7320
14 The Oppidan Press 13.08.09
Business
Can old dogs learn new tricks?
Motshidisi Mokoena
Tito Mboweni is spending his last days
in office as Reserve Bank governor,
while his replacement, former ABSA
chairperson Gill Marcus, waits in the
wings.
Having chaired the board of one
of the domestic banking ‘Big 4’, she is
well-equipped for the job with a com-
prehensive understanding of private
sector’s position in the financial system.
She is also determined to achieve her
own most important objective – the
improvement of social justice in our
country.
Marcus’s appointment marks an
interesting turn of events as she returns
to the institution that rejected her just
five years ago when she was suddenly
relieved as Reserve Bank deputy gover-
nor at the end of her contract. Accord-
ing to The Times, Jacob Zuma stated
in his public announcement on the
appointment, that Marcus had “qualities
of proven leadership, sound judgment
and integrity. She will prove a worthy
successor to Mr Mboweni”.
Many seem to agree with Zuma’s
sentiments, particularly those unions
who have opposed Mboweni’s blind-
eye approach to utilising policy tools to
promote job creation.
South African unions have been very
vocal about their opposition to the Re-
Today’s graduates, tomorrow’s unemployed
Gwynne Mhlanga
The global economic recession has a
firm grip on everyone and world lead-
ers have made appropriate sympathetic
noises about the impact this will have
on the person on the street. Most of
these affected people are recent or
future graduates, trying to find jobs in
an economic climate marked by rapid
job loss.
Finding a job is challenging for all
graduates, but finding a job during a
recession is a whole new ball game. Un-
employment is higher than normal and
most firms are tightening their belts
and cutting their graduate recruitment
serve Bank’s inflation targeting frame-
work, arguing that it has not effectively
contributed to reducing unemployment.
Their opposition to Mboweni's re-
appointment was based heavily on their
desire for a new approach to monetary
policy.
But Gill Marcus can hardly be called
a union-friendly selection. She is also a
strong advocate for inflation targeting,
and she was one of the forces behind the
policy’s implementation, first as deputy
finance minister and then as deputy
governor of the Reserve Bank.
Unlike Mboweni when he joined
the bank ten years ago, Marcus has
tremendous experience with monetary
policy and her hard working nature and
professionalism put her in a position to
introduce and direct change.
Marcus has a difficult task ahead of
her because despite the outstanding job
done by Mboweni in fighting inflation,
she will have to focus on the bank’s
capacity advancement as well as keeping
unions happy in the face of rising wage
disputes.
WILL MARCUS MAKE US PROSPER?
South Africa’s trade unions hope that
new Reserve Bank governor, Gill Marcus
will introduce more unemployment-
Pic: supplied
reducing policies than her predecessor,
Tito Mboweni.
programmes to minimise costs.
This is of a great concern to students
who have degrees or qualifications
geared for industries such as banking,
finance and retail, as these markets
have been heavily affected by the reces-
sion and have suffered massive job cuts
in recent months. As Forbes noted, a
recent college graduate will be entering
an economy with an unemployment
rate that's twice as high as when they
entered school. These are not promis-
ing odds.
Nowadays, graduates cannot afford
to be picky. Many will find themselves
having to put aside their career ambi-
tions and be happy to receive a pay
cheque at all.
Old Gaol
Backpackers
40 Somerset Street
Tel. (046) 636 1001
It’s A Way
of LIFE!
Recessions are marked by many wage
strikes with workers demanding more
pay to match the inflation of prices.
We have seen evidence of this in the
industrial action of the Grahamstown
municipal workers and even closer to
home, the workers union (NEHAWU)
whose members disrupted lectures,
intimidated individuals and destroyed
property last week.
The wage issue is tricky. Compa-
nies argue that if they had money to
increase wages they would not need
to lay off workers and that if people
become patient the situation will
right itself without the need for wage
adjustments. However, workers need to
survive and, as economist John Keynes
Credit crunch: Have you been directly affected by the world economic
meltdown? business@theoppidanpress.com
MATERIAL GIRL >>
The butterfly effect
Ines Schumacher
pointed out, “in the long run we will all
be dead”.
But this scenario should only be
seen as a challenge for fresh graduates.
Advice from Exforsys.com states that
new graduates are young and mistakes
should be expected. Although in this
case the mistake is not theirs, graduates
can recover and adapt to the economic
climate.
During periods of recession, new
graduates must look beyond their
original career aspirations and consider
alternative sources of income, such as
potentially lucrative hobbies. Stu-
dents should not let the recession be
discouraging in the quest to become
financially stable.
Now how’s this for an example of
the butterfly effect. You know, a
kind of chain reaction, a snowball
effect. A butterfly flaps its wings on
one side of the world and causes
a hurricane on the other. Chaos
theory. And I think we can all
agree that the ANC Youth League
(ANCYL) is nothing but chaos.
The ANCYL established Lem-
bede Investments in 2001 to gener-
ate income for the branch. Basically
it has become the same as every-
thing greedy men get their hands
on, and that’s a shit-ton of money
used to enrich themselves.
But one thing these greedy men
lack is brains. Not only did they get
involved with the late Brett Kebble,
but they also did it in the most
public and stupid way possible.
Auditors investigating Lembede
recently released a report after
they found irregularities in the
company’s basically non-existent
bookkeeping. The report found that
the previous management breached
the Companies Act, didn’t keep
financial records of its dealings, and
hadn’t conducted an audit since
2001.
It has been reported that R436
million is unaccounted for.
So it’s no surprise that the
ANCYL now wants to kill Lembede
in the most obviously ostentatious
way possible. The organisation’s
president, Julius Malema is trying
to mop up the scandal and was re-
cently quoted as saying: “If you do
away with these activities, people
will understand that being in the
youth league does not mean you are
going to be rich. We have existed as
the youth league before without any
investment arm.”
But all that aside, it is my con-
viction that politicians and political
parties shouldn’t be involved in
business at all. One of the most
obvious examples is Tokyo Sexwale
who has his finger in many pies.
It has made him a rich, but also
questionable man.
The current leadership of the
ANCYL didn’t mess Lembede up
and they’re taking the right steps to
rectify the sticky situation they find
themselves in.
On a slightly unrelated note, it
seems Malema may be taking the
ANC’s guidance to heart and is
changing his image. Malema has
in the past said that he will go to
parliament only when he is “a shiny
polished diamond”. He’s just carbon
now, but he might become a rough
diamond sometime soon.
Unfortunately the hurricane
is spinning around the current
leadership of the ANCYL and not
the previous Lembede management
whom no-one is planning to hold
accountable. Enjoy your cham-
pagne and caviar boys! I hope you
choke on it.

WTF? Seen anything weird and wacky online lately? Send us a link.
scitech@theoppidanpress.com
What’s all the fuss about flu?
FLU FREAK OUT
Despite media hype, swine flu is not much more contagious or deadly
than normal seasonal flu.
Nokwanda Kota
Somebody please help me understand
because I quite honestly cannot, and I
have tried with earnest determination.
What is the big deal about swine flu?
The past couple of weeks have been
Influenza A (H1N1) mania. Everywhere
you turn there’s some random layman
(no disrespect intended) spewing the
most fantastic ‘swine flu’ trivia. For the
record, it’s as easy to contract Influenza
A (H1N1) as it is to contract other vari-
ants of our everyday seasonal influenza
viruses. You don’t have to exchange
copious amounts of saliva in marathon
kissing sessions like I heard on the radio
a while ago…Trust me, I’m a doctor…
almost.
Science one step closer in the fight against HIV
Zukiswa Kota
Scientists in the United States have
decoded the HIV genome. After more
than two decades of mystery surround-
ing the manner in which the virus
attacks the immune system and escapes
detection, researchers at the University
of North Carolina have made a break-
through.
This has serious implications for the
development of HIV treatment. Like
Polio and influenza, HIV is an RNA
(ribonucleic) virus, which means that it
Peppergrove Mall (Oppisite Pick ‘n Pay)
African Street
Tel. (046) 622 2246
Fax. (046) 622 3915
Pic: Megan Lewis
Okay, admittedly the panic was warrant-
ed in the beginning. I too experienced
an increased heart rate. It is always a
cause for worry when an animal source
of a virus combines with a human virus.
The result is usually a potentially fatal
novel hybrid. If the population has no
previous immunological exposure to
this new ‘mutant’ virus, a pandemic is
born. Enter Influenza A (H1N1).
FACT: Although it is commonly
called ‘swine flu’, the origin of the virus
is unknown and there have been no re-
ported cases of infection from exposure
to pigs. You cannot get it from well-
cooked pork. Thus you can still host
your bacon party, no worries.
FACT: Influenza A (H1N1) is spread
from person to person via infected re-
spiratory droplets expelled by coughing
utilises RNA and not DNA (deoxyribo-
nucleic acid) to replicate and go about
its business. One of the characteristics
of HIV is its rapid mutation, thus the
North Carolina scientists hope that at
some stage a new class of drugs will be
created to fight what they refer to as a
shape-shifting virus.
Current treatment does not eradicate
HIV; drug cocktails only help to control
the virus and prolong the lives of people
living with it. While a great deal of
progress has been made since the 80s,
scientists have a long way to go before
they can present the world with the ulti-
Science & Technology
or sneezing that can either be inhaled or
contaminate surfaces or hands. So let’s
cover our mouths when we cough girls
and boys!
FACT: The virus is sensitive to anti
viral meds like Relenza, Tamiflu and
the generics (which are just as good,
and affordable in these economically
turbulent times).
FACT: Most people recover from
infection without the need for hospitali-
sation or medical care. Levels of severe
illness from influenza A (H1N1) appear
similar to levels seen during local sea-
sonal influenza periods.
Thankfully, the time for mass hys-
teria has now passed. Or has it? With a
mortality rate lower than one percent
and a severity rating of ‘moderate’ from
the World Health Organisation, ‘swine
flu’ is clearly not the bad boy it was
initially toted to be. However, all it takes
is a cursory glance at the media and an
occasional ear to the radio to appreciate
swine flu’s dynamic nature.
In case you’re interested, there are
three main Influenza viruses: A, B and
C. Influenza A and B are of the family
Orthomyxoviridae. Influenza B and C
are almost exclusively found in humans
(rarely pigs and seals). Influenza A
infects mostly birds and mammals.
There are many sub-types of Influenza
A, divided according to the protein on
their surfaces (surface glycoprotein):
heamaglutinin (HA) and neuroamini-
dase (NA). Hence Influenza A (H1N1).
*Kota is a 4th Year MBChB (Bachelor of
Medicine) student at The University of
Pretoria.
mate breakthrough in HIV research.
Until then, the role of non-govern-
mental organisations, governments,
education institutions and individuals
in promoting awareness and educa-
tion regarding HIV/Aids cannot be
underestimated. In South Africa, there
is a growing focus on scientific research
to support the fight against HIV/Aids.
Examples include SHARP (South Afri-
can HIV/Aids Research (and Innova-
tion) Platform) within the Department
of Science and Technology and a variety
of research units based in universities
around the country.
Watch this space: new health and
fitness column on the way
Zukiswa Kota
In the past, the SciTech section has run
a number of health and fitness related
articles, and based on readers’ interest,
we’ve decided to introduce a permanent
column dedicated to the subject. We
have a number of interesting people to
interview, fitness fads to explore, health
tips and hazards to discuss and, most
interestingly, ideas around the science of
exercise. One of the upcoming reviews
The khaki colloquium
Mathilde Brassine
Everyone who attended the third
Eastern Cape Wildlife Colloquium on
25 June seemed to have discussed and
agreed on a common dress colour for
the day: khaki.
The event took place in the Bio-
logical Sciences building at Rhodes
and was hosted by the Association of
Eastern Cape Private Nature Re-
serves (Indalo) and the Wildlife and
Reserve Management Research Group
(WRMRG) of Rhodes University.
The event, which has been growing
every year since the launch of the
colloquium in 2007, included a wide
variety of people, ranging from farm-
ers to nature reserve managers and
researchers, all with a shared interest
– wildlife management issues and
natural resource conservation.
The presentations covered a wide
range of interesting topics and several
of the invited speakers were Rhodes
lecturers and students. Professor
Adrian Craig, an ornithologist in the
Zoology and Entomology department,
gave a presentation on the history of
oxpeckers in the Eastern Cape, the
chemistry of Euphorbia bothae and
its role in the diet of black rhinos was
explored by Dr Wendy Popplewell, a
Post-Doctoral Fellow in the Chemis-
try department, and Professor Nigel
Barker of the Botany department gave
The Oppidan Press 13.08.09 15
will be of the sixth Discovery Vitality
Fitness Convention to be held in Johan-
nesburg later this month. The three
day long convention, which we will be
attending, is hosted by the Sport Science
Institute of South Africa (SSISA) and
Discovery Vitality.
We are, however, having creative
difficulties naming our new column. Do
you have any ideas?
Send your creative suggestions for
our new column to the SciTech editor at
scitech@theoppidanpress.com
an interesting talk on the Great Es-
carpment Research Programme. There
was also a presentation on carbon
sequestration in the Eastern Cape by
Dr Ayanda Sigwela, who worked for
SANParks for several years before be-
coming an environmental consultant.
Further talks by invited speakers
included: Mr Andrew Skowno’s talk
on how landowners who promote
conservation of biodiversity and
threatened ecosystems can save large
sums of money through WF/WWF
tax incentives; Mr Nelis Wolmarans
who spoke about anti-poaching tactics
in the Shamwari game reserve, and a
talk on wildlife disease management
in the Eastern Cape by Dr W. Fowlds
and Dr P. Brothers (a qualified wildlife
veterinarian with extensive experience
in disease management).
Shorter talks were presented by
research staff from some of the attend-
ing Indalo reserves including one by
Dr Jenn Gush from Amakhala game
reserve, and by WRMRG student
Jeannine McManus with an update
on her research on the spatial ecology
and activity patterns of leopards in the
Baviaanskloof.
A cocktail party closed the
highly productive day, and managers,
farmers and researchers exchanged
anecdotes and opinions on environ-
mental issues, while students took the
opportunity to hone their networking
skills.
 IF YOU READ NOTHING
ELSE…
Men As Partners (MAP) special
supplement for Intervarsity 2009

Schumi’s second coming onto the F1 scene

DEPRIVED OF A HERO’S
Litha Mpondwana
WELCOME
Motor racing legend,
The return of F1 Grand Prix legend, Mi-
Michael Schumacher
chael Schumacher has been surprisingly
has not recieved the
unceremonious in motor racing circles.
attention you would This may be due to the fact that team
expect upon his Ferrari is struggling with its nemesis,
re-entry into the F1 McLaren. Or perhaps it is because of
racing world. the sour relations between manufactur-
ers in this year’s championship. For
whatever reason, Schumacher’s return
has been just another sports news story,
instead of the celebration of a legend’s
return.
Schumacher retired from Grand Prix
racing in 2006, ending his career while
Pic: supplied
still on top of his game. Although he did
not win the Grand Prix championship
that year, he still commanded respect
from fans and fellow racers alike, and
was undoubtedly of legendary status.
During Schumacher’s time away
from the race track, no other motor-
ists have been able to better him. The
shining light that was Fernando Alonso
has not yet lived up to his early promise,
which saw him pip Schumacher for the
Grand Prix championship in 2006.
The emergence of dynamite Lewis
Hamilton was met with varying opin-
ions from Grand Prix fundis.
Schumacher’s return to F1 racing is a
timely one, coming right in the middle
of a chaotic season, which has seen
much frustration, controversy, threats
and court battles. The sport is in major
need of something positive and Schu-
macher, arguably the eternal face of F1
motor racing, might be just that.
Schumacher will officially make his
comeback to racing on 23 August at
the European Grand Prix in Valencia,
Spain. However, his return is temporary,
and the length depends on how quickly
Brazilian Ferrari driver, Felipe Massa,
recovers from his head injury. Never-
theless, for the moment, Schumacher is
in the best position to ignite the thrill
and excitement which the Grand Prix
so badly needs this season.

We're about to paint Grahamstown purple again

Taona Karidza
Grahamstown will once again become
a hive of activity this weekend with the
eagerly-anticipated arrival of Trivarsity,
sorry make that Intervarsity. The event
returns to the Rhodes campus this year
after we were controversially denied
hosting privileges last year. Trivarsity
was last held here in 2006, when ques-
tionable conduct by students tarnished
the University’s name.
Supporters will be able to enjoy a
range of sporting fixtures in addition to
Saturday’s rugby, the annual crowd fa-
vourite. Other sports worth watching are
hockey, soccer, and netball. The Rhodes
teams have been training tirelessly to
ensure that they will not disappoint sup-
porters on the day.
This year’s rugby team to watch is
the first team, which has had a rather
impressive season so far, beating many
tertaining rugby from all Rhodes teams
over the weekend.
Apart from the sport there is, as
always, an array of entertainment to be
enjoyed. The occasion has been known
to attract people from all over and this
year should be no different with many
making the trip to Grahamstown from
as far as Stellenbosch. Celebrations will
peak at the main event – the tent party
on the Great Field.
Although it will undoubtedly be a
fun-filled weekend, bear in mind theft
tends to be rife over Trivarsity with large
numbers of people expected at the ven-
ues. Students are advised to leave valu-
able belongings at home, and bring only
strictly necessary things to the events.
Most female residences have banned
inter-visiting of both males and females
for next weekend, but male residences
are still vulnerable – try stay alert guys!
Overalls are still available for around
R100 for those who are not yet or- SPORTING HOPEFULS

Pics: supplied
opponents, including Nelson Mandela ganised. Let’s suit up and support our Students look forward to Intervarsity every year — an occasion for fun,
Metropolitan University (NMMU). teams this weekend and remember, friends, drinks and a little bit of sport.
RUFC fans can expect clinical yet en- drink responsibly

•NEW hockey and rugby

gear in stock

•Show student card for

DISCOUNT

•Top brands at
awesome prices

Contact Clint
Shop 21 Tel: 046 622 3146
Fax: 0466367828
Peppergrove Mall Cell: 0787261878