Professional Documents
Culture Documents
transport woes
Grahamstown
airport grounded
Its a (wo)mans
world
News Features
Students fight for space on Oppidan Bus
Nkcubeko Balani
The Oppidan Bus is a necessary mode of transport for students, but a lack of funds means that
students will continue to struggle for space in the small vans. Photo: BRONWYN PRETORIUS
Bus would not operate indefinitely but would
be available until a permanent solution to the
transport issue could be found.
The Oppidan bus will be running for the
rest of the year unless the University finds other
reasons for it to stop, but we [the SRC] will not
take that decision sitting down if it so happens,
Tyobashe stated.
Despite the good-natured aim of Give5, some question the sincerity of the campaign. Photo: KELLAN BOTHA
News Features
Rhodes scrambling to fill
student funding gap
Aviva Lerer
The emergency Student Forum held last Thursday allowed students to voice their concerns and opinions about various
issues, including changing Rhodes name. Photo: BRONWYN PRETORIUS
Rhodes name to
remain the same
Despite continued student activism, Rhodes University is still unlikely to rebrand.
Leila Stein and Liam Stout
We must
deal with
uncomfortable
issues
Politics
Free education changes varsity standards
Kathryn Cleary
Although university fees may be exorbitant, Germany and Sweden prove free
education does not equate to low-cost living. Photo: KELLAN BOTHA
this comment from an article in
the Slate online journal: German
universities consist almost entirely of
classroom buildings and libraries no
palatial gyms with rock walls and water parks; no team sports facilities.
This shows that a German higher
education would be just that an education. Before ridding their country of
all fees in total, students in Germany
paid no more than R7 000 a year for
25 March 2015
Business
Between CemAir and Makana Municipality, flights from Grahamstown will not be happening any
time soon, despite previous agreements and plans. Photo: KELLAN BOTHA
means it could occur any time between a month
or even a year from now.
CemAir will continue holding talks with the
municipality to speed up the airport deal but
even when the lease is signed it will be a while
Owner of Relish, Lauren Lawlor, is a businesswoman by heart and has ambitious future plans for her restaurant.
Photo: BRONWYN PRETORIUS
Arlene Ramokolo
McDonalds. It is cheap, delicious
and I dont know of anyone who doesnt like it.
They always have free WiFi which is awesome.
Nosipho Dlamini
It would be really cool if
we had a local cinema so
that we can watch the latest
movies and maybe they can
have some kind of discount
for students.
Gift Mnukwa
Next should [come to
Grahamstown]. I think it should come
because What can I say? I need a store that
can improve my swagger. Im just joking!
It is a good store with great
quality brands.
ot
os:
Ph
i
Nathi Mzilen
Moeketsi Lerotholi
McDonalds. I think everyone wants McDonalds
to come. They are good at what they do. Besides
I have eaten every meal on the KFC and Steers
menu: I could do with something new. Imagine
if it came here and it was 24 hours; bye bye Steers
and Debonairs.
Opinion
The Oppidan Press publishes letters which are bona fide expressions of opinion provided that they are not clearly defamatory,
racist or sexist. We publish anonymous letters, but as an act of
good faith on your part, we require your full name. We reserve the
right to shorten letters due to space constraints and to edit them
for grammatical inaccuracies. Letters that do not make it into our
print edition will be published on our website.
if a human
right is simply
willed into
existence from
the mouth of
some slack-jawed
politician, why
do we afford
them such ethical
superiority?
25 March 2015
Opinion
Thinking the impossible through stories
Deane Lindhorst
Fictional storytellers such as the late Terry Pratchett have a way of making readers view their world in a captivating and
original light. Illustration: AMY-JANE HARKESS
women) in his earlier writing, his later
work became complex, subtle, and
provocative, with its characteristic
humour intact, showing a continual
engagement with the world and the
self through writing stories. He not
only reflected on, but pushed the limits
of what is imaginable through continuously creating and recreating imaginary worlds and their inhabitants.
By playing around with ideas,
are completely relevant and meaningful because they are made up of their
own context.
In order for readers to fully
understand these stories and their
importance, they are involuntarily
thrown into understanding an intricate
imagined context. Readers encounter
new worlds with different cultures,
creatures, religions, myths, people and
politics. With all of this complexity,
stories often inspire a deep curiosity
that leads to readers becoming hooked
on this world and to fervently seek to
better understand it.
For some this becomes an obsession
that turns to dedication; a hunger that
is only sated by a deeper understanding. If this enthusiasm and curiosity
for diversity was kindled in more people, the world would be better off.
Out of this effort also comes novel
ways of thinking about and engaging
with the world, both real and imagined. These stories are not just made
up of meaningless words; they are
sometimes truths that hit home with
the reader, and at other times they
are uncomfortable reminders to not
see the world routinely. Gifted storytellers provide us with rich worlds
and subtly shaped details that leave us
profoundly changed.
It is precisely because stories are
able to do this that they are deeply
meaningful and necessary. Stories
have the ability to help us fully see and
understand the world we live in, even
if this is done by relating to characters
and situations in an imaginary world.
Stories have the ability to inspire and
spark the imagination.
It is through the characters and
worlds of storytellers like Sir Terry
Pratchett that many people have fallen
in love with a non-existent place that
has shaped them in a profound way.
For some this love is fleeting, for others it will last a lifetime.
Features
or
ius
Kathryn Cleary
Politics
Besides the
Universities
of Pretoria
and Cape
Town, Rhodes
has the best
rowing squad
in the country
Scott Walraven,
Rhodes Rowing coach
Missing an important notice from a lecturer can be stressful enough, but struggling to link your Rhodes email to your
phone can be equally nerve-wracking. Photo: ROBYN BARNES
Incoming settings:
Username: (student account)
Password: (student account
password)
Authentication: IMAP
IMAP server: imap.ru.ac.za
Port: 993
Security type: SSL/TTS
Outgoing settings:
SMTP Server: mail.ru.ac.za
Port: 465
Security type: SSL/TTS
Require sign-in: Yes (or checked
box)
Username: (student account)
Password: (student account
password)
Scitech
The 2015 Game Developers Conference announced that game-creation frameworks will be
available for free to developers, ensuring high-quality new games. Image: SOURCED
effect on aspiring game creators.
The point is not only to gain relevant and
useful knowledge on how to plan, build and
market games but also to provide an environment
full of people who are very passionate about
the subject which can push a self-doubting
prospective game developer into actually putting
Environment
Despite assurances by Boswell Circus that performing animals are treated fairly, animal lovers unsatisfied with the use of animals in any performance protested outside. Photo: BRONWYN PRETORIUS
he Brian Boswell Circus has been touring South Africa since it was established
in 1982. The circus visits between 90 and
100 venues a year, and has even ventured into
neighbouring countries. The performers like to
keep their audience entertained with local and
foreign acts, but the most notable acts are those
of the various animals that perform.
The fact that animals are used in Boswells
circus has been the subject of much debate
among animal rights activists in Grahamstown,
especially since the circus arrival. Protesters have
gathered outside of the circus gates to protest
against using animals for entertainment purposes, and there have been silent protests every day
since the circus arrived in town.
On the circus website, they state that these
animals are an integral part of the circus and that
their well-being is of the utmost importance.
While this may be true, it does not satisfy those
animal lovers and activists who still strongly
believe that animals should not be used as entertainment in any kind of performance.
The protesters have been taping their mouths
shut and handing out pamphlets to everyone who
enters the circus grounds. The primary aim of
our protest is to stand in silent solidarity with the
circus animals who have no voice, commented
Director of the Farm Animal Centre for Education (FACE) Jenny Copley-Forster.
The circus does not have any wild animals
such as lions, tigers, or elephants travelling or
performing with them, although they have done
in the past. Currently, however, the circus only
features horses and they are all in good condition.
In a statement on Facebook, the Grahamstown
SPCA said, We will be closely monitoring the
welfare of the animals while the circus is in our
town. Although we are opposed to ANY animal
in captivity or being used for entertainment purposes, the SPCA will not be part of the protest on
Tuesday. We will be inspecting the animals on the
day of their arrival and also during their stay and
ALL performances.
It is important to understand that circuses can
be successful without the use of animals, and that
some of the most famous circuses (such as Cirque
Du Soleil) focus on entertaining audiences with
human actors only. This proves that a circus does
not need animal performances in order to excel.
The Brian Boswell website says that they do not
condone the abuse or mistreatment of animals,
and the Grahamstown SPCA has taken precautions to ensure that this is the case.
While many audiences will still attend and support establishments like the circus, animal rights
activists will continue to ensure that the entertainers without a voice have the last say.
Think Twice: When to draw the line Scars beneath the fur
Nita Pallett
During the recent Rhodes Environmental Week, students
had the opportunity to attend talks and become more
educated about how to preserve their surroundings.
Encouraging sustainable fishing through awareness is just
one step that residents as well as business owners can take
towards a more healthy environment.
According to the Southern African Sustainable Seafood
Initiative (SASSI), the major problem in South Africa lies in
inshore resources. In an attempt to end the decline in numbers of targeted species, SASSI has compiled a list of most of
the fish consumed and fished in South Africa, and done this
according to a sustainability-status:
Best Choice
Think Twice
Dont Buy
11
While issues of representation in mainstream media are a constant topic of debate, the global #BlackOutDay movement
has been celebrating diversity online. Photo: KELLAN BOTHA
Making an impact
with Loose Change
Demi Drew
Described as a company that creates parties for the people Loose
Change Events raises funds for
charities by arranging a variety of
parties for Grahamstown students.
Founded by Rhodes students Jarren Thomas and Andrew Lawrie,
the aim of the events company is to
give back to the community in the
most unconventional ways.
For their debut, Loose Change
Events organised the Kenton Beach
Party which took place in October
2014. While the price of tickets was
initially quite steep, students could
ensure discounts on their ticket
price if they donated clothes to the
organisation. The more clothes donated, the bigger the discount. The
Kenton beach party ensured that
Loose Change Events collected over
2 000 items of clothing, all of which
were donated to the St Marys Day
Care Centre.
Since there are a number of
charities in the Grahamstown area
alone that could benefit from the
Apps with
personality
Sports
Locals protest
Boswell Circus
10
The Rhodes Aquatic Team is unable to practise on campus like other sporting societies due to inadequate facilities.
Photo: KELLAN BOTHA