Yesterday, today and tommorow...

Journalism is defined as being a profession of writing and communicating, formally employed by publications and broadcasters for the benefit of a particular community of people. I personally see it as hard work and challenging the thought of an individual in order to equip them with knowledge thus giving countries a better chance of new developed media. That is why I have a passion for it so much; one gets to learn new skills but yet can use their personal creativity to set academic work right. Through my first year in Rhodes University, I have travelled an unforgettable journey which you are about to be informed on.

It was a sunny Monday morning and I had just arrived into my residence, the trees were swaying, birds chirping- the scenery was just too beautiful to be true. My breath was taken by the silence and the isolation of the place. But all changed when I started making friends and attending lectures. In term for we started a course on blogging. At first I had no clue what blogging was although Rod Amner had mentioned it once during his lecture but I did know that it collaborated with genre. As time passed slowly I started to adapt the structure of blogs and the reason why people have them. In my eyes I do believe that blogging is a form of journalism because individuals do research on the topic they want to write about, and then display it on the blog. The readers of the blogs interpret the message in any way they want to and if they feel the urge they can comment on what has been said. The information produced is useful depending on the type of person reading it.

The theme “surviving first year” limited the way I can think and show my writing skills. It is a killed topic because we basically got it every term and no one could actually expand there knowledge on this particular topic. The strength of this theme is the fact that pupils had to engage with other first years to get the feel of there survival and if there social skills were perfect they would make friends during profile piece interviews. For example, I got the chance to meet new people like Chris, one of my interviewees and engage with him on a personal level. The weakness about it was that other important topics like rape, robberies etc could not be approached because all students want to talk about is the hardcore partying that went on the previous night. I really wanted to tap into other topics but the blog produced that opportunity for me to speak about anything which was of importance to me and that I fancied. On a scale of 1 to 10, I would rate myself as an 8 because when I came here I knew nothing at all.

The journalism department extracted the hidden potential within me. I was once dull and had no formed focus within in me what so ever but as I took time to do my vacation work and attending lectures I learnt so much. I grew very streetwise and aware of reality for example I use to carry my credit card very confidently around everywhere with me until one of my friends tipped me about pocket pickers in Grahamstown. That is when I started carrying a small amount of cash with me. Professionally my vocabulary became sharper and I learnt how to have excellent time management.

This term was different because blogging was a new form of work that was introduced to me. Pre-planning had to be done before performing a task and working in groups was something difficult to do because personalities clashed. Working in a group did not go so well for us because we had bad time management and unfair distribution of work. I feel like I have/had put enough effort including blood and sweat into my work over the term. I lived up to the journalism department’s expectations. My motto was why choose the sky as a limit when one can go higher. I have too much pride, there is no space for failure. Yes, it was not easy dealing with assignments, tests and all that jazz but had to be completed, got completed. During tutorials I would not talk much when requested to but when it came to listening- I payed special attention with anticipation, especially when our tutor spoke about hyperlinks and backtracks. When our blog was created, I thought of majority of the things existing in it because I’m so fashion crazed. I got my ideas from magazines and television. During research, I learnt that research over the internet is not as useful as it may seem and that plagiarising is a risk one should not be willing to take. The Universities system is to High-Tec for crime.

My writing skills are more impressive then they were before and I actually take the time to unpack a topic before explaining it. Genre opened up new doors for my work and education. This course has prepared and geared me for more things to come. I’m more relaxed and confident now, looking forward to what my future holds.

I am fashion

Fashion is an amazing topic to sit down and talk to your mates about. We were thrilled to find that this blog has the same fascination as ours.. By Kganya Ramoshaba

Our dear Sarah Palin

Since being announced as John McCain’s running mate for Vice President of the United States, "fiscal conservative" Sarah Palin has racked up over $150,000 in receipts from high brow stores like Neiman Marcus, Barney’s, and Saks Fifth Avenue. (Makes Hillary Clinton's two $3,000 stylist sessions look like chump change, you think?). To view groovy make-over pictures of our leading lady visit this blog

"Life Isn't About Finding Yourself. Life is About Creating Yourself."

As a scholar, the prospect of attending university was one filled with great excitement and enthusiasm. After spending almost twelve years in a rigorous school system, which allowed little room for creativity or individuality (the colour of our underwear was regulated), I longed to attend university, a world which numerous brochures and pamphlets from institutions across the country described as the period of my life that would be filled with possibility. I was eager to steer my future down the right path, to leave home and to assert my independence but most of all, I yearned to find myself.
After almost a year on “my own”, I like many other first year and sometimes even masters’ students at university, feel that this endeavour has been somewhat futile - I still do not know who I am. At times I think that it is unfair of me demand an answer to such a simple yet complex question, whereas at other times I’m perplexed as to how I still have not managed crack this question. To put it simply, I am more confused now than ever before. I no longer know what I would like to do with my life and as such regularly consider switching majors, dropping and picking up subjects and sometimes even dropping out of university as a whole.
Academics aside, I am well aware that blinded by the desire to fit, I haven’t always been true to myself. While I realise that throughout our lives, we are all influenced by others, I can’t help but wonder whether the way in which I carry myself, my diction of choice or taste in music mirrors that of my friends or whether it reflects who I really am.
My friend Charmaine, regrets that she allowed herself to be swayed by the desires of her friends to the point where she could no longer recognise herself: “I wish I had taken time to explore my talents. I wish I hadn’t gone along with all group activities; I partied a lot in the first semester and went along with what everyone else did instead of doing what I enjoyed. I focused too much on new things and in the process forgot who I was and what I enjoyed,” she says when speaking of her regrets as a first year student.
I am certain that like Charmaine and I there are billions of students who go through their first or even final years at a tertiary institution hoping that their quest for knowledge will also lead them down the path of self-discovery. Oftentimes, this simply isn’t the case. While students may find themselves doing the unexpected are they really finding themselves or are they just realising the stereotypes associated with students?
It is only natural for us to lose ourselves during transitive periods in our lives and university signifies that all important transition from childhood to adulthood. Perhaps it would be wiser if instead of promising hordes that they will embark on a journey of self discovery and ultimately find themselves, university’s should rather say that among other things, they provide students with the platform to create themselves, which, in time will see them leaving their mark on the world.

The morning after the night before

She asked for it...

We live in an age where our character is determined by who we associate with, where we choose to spend our time and more importantly, what we choose to wear. The importance of clothing and the impressions that it creates has been sidelined for far too long. In our own microcosm here at Rhodes University, it’s no secret that students judge each other according to what they wear.

For instance, you have the “hippie trend”. These are students who religiously sport the Che Guevara/Steve Biko t-shirts, leave the shoes at home and adorn themselves with as many beads and strings as possible. Even though these ‘individualists’ may not have picked up a joint in their life, there is a misconception that these students all meet at the old gaol to engage in their habitual ‘stoning ritual’. While these stereotypes may just cause the occasional snigger, there are those stereotypes that have been created by clothing which prove to be dangerous.

When a girl walks into room, club or dining hall wearing a short skirt or shorts, there are at least three people who have judged her as being one of those eager girls (the most politically correct term I could think of). These people can either be male or female, and feel that they have the right to sentence this girl to a life of promiscuity, stupidity and failure. This may seem over exaggerated but it’s true that the sexual availability of these girls seems to be determined in one glance. Perhaps there are some girls who feel confident with flaunting their legs to get attention from guys and have other characteristics that create negative impressions of them, but then there are also girls who have no agendas when they wear short skirts...unless wanting to be comfortable or cool on a hot day is an agenda?

In a democracy, women should have the freedom to express themselves through their attire as freedom of expression is a constitutional right . Yet, so often women are forced to give up the choice to wear certain clothes simply because some men can’t keep it in their pants. There is the argument that women entice men and tempt them by wearing such clothing. In courts today, this is becoming a common (warped) justification of rape and abuse. It seems ridiculous to think that a simple item of clothing can cause a person to have all dignity, safety and power taken away from them. “She was wearing a short skirt, and so she asked for it” is no longer acceptable. Matters are then made worse when this kind of twisted reasoning disseminates from the mouth of influential politicians when they are accused of rape . This in turn, creates the misconception that rape is somewhat acceptable when the victim was wearing certain items of clothing.

Discrimination and abuse can never be justified by fashion. This idea is simply ridiculous and it all leads back to the acceptance of certain stereotypes which may appear harmless but can end up undermining the dignity and rights of the person. People shouldn’t have the right to undermine anybody else’s rights. Next time you are about to judge a woman for wearing a short skirt (or heaven forbid showing some skin), step down from your high horse and realise that she owns her own body and may clothe it with whatever she wants. As Eve Ensler says in her poem, My Short Skirt, “...mainly my short skirt and everything underneath it is Mine. Mine. Mine.”

My dress or yours

The English oxford dictionary defines unique “as of which there is only one, unequalled is; having no like, equal or parallel”. This is a serious struggle a Rhodes student encounters once or more in there first year unless one is lucky and hits the popular scale just by luck. It is the turbulent movement of leaving a secure environment called home and moving into the cruel selfish world referred to as hell. Obviously one does not leave without putting up a shield and sword for protection.
We live in a global village, whereby everybody is a replica of the next person and Rhodes is no exception. People buy the same clothes, cell phones and many stay in similar residence rooms. This takes away individualism and makes us, the one reason for institutions to be one uniform. In my experience peer pressure is still evident in the young adults on campus. Many teenagers express “their freedom” in various ways; some come here to build their careers in contrast to others who have come here as a form of rebellion to their parents; they have a fear of missing out and always r.s.v.p for parties and are commonly referred to as “social butterflies”. Others have come to explore other sexual preferences and they are able to this because they can not be negatively sanctioned by their parents i.e. I had this friend who has always claimed to be boy crazy, but she went through a phase of going out with other girls and ended discovering she has always been attracted to girls but society had brain washed to her like boys.
Being unique in Rhodes is a statement that always leaves a trail of thought in my mind, who are we and what we do that makes us think we are different from others. Is it what we wear, the way we walk or the people we socialise with? One must admit we do dwell in an isolated area, its hard for us as students to be different. We must have some sort of similarities. Some form clusters to create individualism just like the following sub-genres which I have chosen because in my eyes they tend to stick out. For example hippies-they are a majority group that demand a lot of attention by walking bare feet around campus with dreads and side bags. In between lectures they will sit on the grass under the arch and speak in philosophised terms. Besides them we then get the stoners otherwise called marijuana smokers, they are an “underground” group who distribute deviant behaviour. They symbolise there group via wearing beanies with a huge ganja leaf on it. They carry themselves with aloofness.
Then we get the hip-hop group that thinks music and any rhythm one can move to was created just for them. Hoodies and baggy clothes tickles there pop and lock. Now with these categories one tends to want to fit in so any form of initiation act which has to be done, one will feel pressurised to do. Forgetting that we all have a choice in life, no one is holding a gun against your head. Some people are just not bothered about having a status or reputation to keep up with. They would rather be themselves then a clone of someone else. We try so much to have an individual style and to make an identity for ourselves that even the fact that we came into this world alone never fazes us.
I believe that people weren’t given a spirit of fear but of love and a sound mind, so moulding ones personality is not up to the world but to there mind set. Yes, people do blow identity creation out of propotion, but honestly speaking who doesn’t want to feel special…

"Just do as you please"

Leaving home at the age of seventeen and coming to Rhodes Universitywas a terrifying and scary experience for me at first, just like many other first years who came to Grahmstown from a sheltered urban home environment. I got handed freedom, independence and a platinum credit card on a silver platter. There were no parents around to watch my every move, and no one to monitor how many lectures I attended and what time I return home at nights. So staying out late and partying up a storm became a habit for me in the first semester. Wednesday nights consisted of pre drinks in the sly in our res rooms, followed by one blast of a part at the Rhodes Union Club. After the four to five hours of pure partying, dancing and one too many shots, my friends and I would make that all too long walk into town to have post drinks and further partying at Friars tuck.Thursdays consisted of waking up with a banging hangover or even a bit drunk still, stumbling to dawnie lectures and tutorials were a mission and a half. Fridays and Saturdays were a complete repeat of Wednesday’s agenda. The entertainment in this quiet by day, yet thriving at night town is pretty limited. The partying plans became a routine and slowly we became tired of the same old places and what it had to offer. Alcohol is so cheap and easily accessible to underage students like myself, the thrill of being able to buy unimaginable amount of alcohol and entering a club without being bounced got to me. I felt so cool, and the more I felt like this, the more I wanted to keep on doing it.Yes Grahmstown is the ideal student town but seeing the same faces day in and day out can get all too frustrating at times. Being in such an isolated environment with nothing else to entertain us other than alcohol and local pubs, the temptation of going to Port Elizabeth and East London just to meet new people and try out new things was too much of a temptation. The academic standards set out by this institution a high standard from their students. In the Bcom facility alone, the stats show that those students consume the most amount of alcohol on campus... With their hectic lecture timetable and double economics tut by the time Wednesday arrives its time to party and let loose, it can be said that the Rhodes students know how to do that best. So yes one can ultimately say that us Rhodent students are left to “do as we please”. So ultimately all Rhodes students do leave Grahmstown with a bachelor of Alcohol degree. Some even with their masters and PhD’s.

By: Sivani Pillay

Fresh P...

The average Rhodes student will leave home with anticipation to come to Grahamstown- a small isolated area with only clubs to entertain the youth and libraries to expand one’s knowledge. But for Phiwokazi Qoza, it was a different situation. Born in Umtata, 05-01-1991, this young girl attended Victoria girls high- a well known multi-racial school. Home for her is only 15 minutes away, so there is no major transformation for her. She is only 17years old but still surviving in her first year. As her eyes slowly rolled back, she explains how confused she was during her childhood, brought up by a single mother without access to money. According to her mindset, what she had was enough. Her lack that intrinsic mother/daughter bond put her through a lot emotionally but as time went by the love grew back. This intriguing lady is all about focusing on what she doesn’t have so that she can work on it and get it. One was particularly struck by the way her eyes glowed and her hands swayed when she spoke about fashion. “I love fashion”, she screamed; but not when people try too much. She believes that you have to be comfortable in the material you wear. Anything that fits as perfectly as a silhouette dress tickles her fancy. Bright colours tend to catch her eye and bring a smile to her face. Making friends in Rhodes was partially easy for her but her fear of messing up the friendships she worked hard on was a huge weight on her shoulders. One should view this girl as super hero Phiwo who stands firm on her ground as older students invade her Grahamstown territory. She gives them the death stare as they attempt to strip her of her innocence and youth. … She starts to smirk mildly as she talks about how she has her workload handled and that she sees herself with her B.A degree in 3 years time. In her flow of talking she adds on that her mother Nomonde is her role model because she is a survivor and a hustler. Silently she sighs and says that her alcohol consumption and smoke intake have increased since she moved to University. “But that is what University is about right, to get dressed, look good and go out with your friends” she says. The only thing that puts her mind at ease is listening to music after a long day of lectures and tutorials. The fact that she is close to home makes life way easier because home is less than a mile away. She has grown to be stronger than she was before and her passion for talking has formed a lot of connections amongst people. Her presence overwhelms people because she is such a happy soul roaming around vultures. Point remains that she is R.U fresh meat and we all know that it keeps people on there tipsy toes. Even though she is just another Rhodes student, her character as an individual makes a difference. By: Kganya Ramoshaba

Lady Luck

As I walked into the lavender smelling room, I was warmly greeted by a poised welcoming face. Thando Mafu was dressed impeccably; she sat very lady like, with her legs neatly crossed and her hands were placed gracefully on her lap. Rhodes University is known to transform even the most conservative of students. Coming from a well knitted home environment, to a whole new culture where students strive to be independent and stand out, was an awkward feeling. But Miss Mafu also known as “Lady Luck” is determined to show this small town that she is not just another pretty face.
Growing up as a child with a single mother was difficult but Thando’s mother made sure that her only daughter was always dressed well in pretty pinks and reds. Being the only girl in the house Mrs. Mafu made sure Thando always wore very girly things incase she turned out like a Tom boy. Thando’s mom had a very influential role in the clothes her little girl bought. Thando said her mom and herself bonded over shopping trips, but her mom insisted on coming along to so that Thando would not buy boyish clothing. One of Thando’s favorite memories of clothing is her Mickey Mouse tops and matching tights.
Just like many kids who come here after growing up in a bit city Thando felt it hard to adapt from big city life to a small student town environment. The biggest challenge of any first year is adapting into the life of a university student, but Thando had one more challenge to deal with the news of her step father’s death came as a shock. Her defense strategy was to put on a brave face for the sake of her family and friends. Going through pain usually makes a person stronger, In Thando’s case she remained herself to a certain degree, and this incident just showed her that one should cherish the people you have in life while they are alive. Thando said “as a person you grow and some habits you decide to leave and carry after, but some remain the same but when you venture into other grounds you discover yourself even more”.
Since coming to Rhodes Thando’s fashion sense has broadened because of the different people she has met and had come across. On an average day her dress code would be a standard jeans and t-shirts. With widened eyes and flowing hand movements she expressed her love for wearing pretty things once in a while. She has a fetish for long hanging ear rings and her thumb ring which is a family heirloom. Her character can be compared to a princess due to the fact that her timeless class, charming smiles her delicate poise and graceful walk.
Her choices of clothes always look sleek and trendy, when shopping our Lady Luck is also a smart and economical shopper. To take this piece to another level Thando and I went on our own little shopping spree, and with wide glowing eyes sparkling bright when she came across the perfect mini skirt which made me waft back to the image of a little child enjoying an ice cream. As I exited the room after a very productive I saw that timeless million dollar smile, which just made my day.

A true survivor

Meal times in Oriel Dining Hall are filled with chaos and a cacophony of clanking cutlery and crockery. Yet, among all this confusion, one can’t help but acknowledge the presence of Charmaine Zwane, pensive by nature; she is often lost in thought at the head of the table.

Today, I’m greeted by a rather bright and breezy Charmaine, one less introspective and more easy-going. “Friend,” she jovially exclaimed upon our meeting, her smile creeping slowly from cheek to cheek and in doing so, exposing two striking dimples, one on each cheek.

Her wide smile turned into a shameful grin as she spoke of her decision to attend Rhodes University: “Rhodes seemed like a big high school, I was looking for an institution that could give me a personal experience and I also thought that it was the farthest place from home,” she said.

Even though she chose to get away from home, leaving the nest wasn’t quite as blissful as she expected it to be. She admits that first year has made her realise just how much she takes her family for granted and so, misses them a lot. Unlike others, who confide in friends or counsellors, Charmaine, chooses to deal with homesickness in quite an innovative manner: “I have discovered DC++, now I share all my troubles with Dr. House...just looking at all those dying people on the show, makes me realise that my life could be much worse,” she answered with a wistful glance.

Homesickness aside, she feels that some of her best experiences at University are from the first term, such as Orientation Week and everything that comes with it: meeting new and interesting people, making lots of friends, serenades as well as getting lost on campus. She does however admit to being overwhelmed by some of the not so kosher things she was exposed to here: “The first time I heard people swear and saw them smoke during O-week, I remember looking at our House Committee and thinking to myself, why aren’t these prefects saying anything,” she revealed with a chuckle.

When probed about her regrets this year, she swings her legs back and forth, places her hand on her hips and takes some time to think this through before arriving at her final answer. “I wish I had taken time to explore my talents. I wish I hadn’t gone along with all group activities; I partied a lot in the first semester and went along with what everyone else did instead of doing what I enjoyed. I focused too much on new things and in the process forgot who I was and what I enjoyed,” she declared as her eyes leapt with the shadows of her past. She proudly speaks of her new take on life, whereby she now does only what she wants to do and when she wants to do it.

After having spent almost an entire year in Grahamstown, Charmaine remains confused about one issue: “I don’t understand how anyone can walk around barefooted. The excuse I’ve heard is that in the jungle we didn’t wear shoes, but I just can’t accept that! We all live in the concrete jungle and so should dress accordingly – there are all kinds of disease like tapeworm or bilharzia, just waiting to creep up bare feet,” she says in disgust.

Charmaine Zwane’s story of her first year at Rhodes University, is one of a true survivor. Though she may have lost her way at the beginning of the year, she quickly found herself and did not let her newfound freedom or any other of the new things that she was exposed to, change who really is. Such a feat is really admirable, especially in light of people’s quests for popularity, to break free from the shackles of order and discipline at home and the desire to fit in, in the exciting world of University.

Big Ben versus The Clock Tower...

The day is drawing to a close - lazy legs amble to dinner, voices grow softer and heavy sighs of relief mark the end of yet another day. The fatigue seems contagious in the Oriel house, until my interviewee bounces into the once dull picture. The 1.55 cm tall Oriel House resident is a ball of energy, eager to share her experience as a first year student after taking two gap years.Jena Scheepers had the unfortunate pleasure of re-entering a learning institution after having spent two years on a working holiday visa in London in what she describes as, “the best years of my life”. Her cosmopolitan lifestyle painted a picture of shopping, sight-seeing and an amazing nightlife – enough to persuade anybody to hop onto the next flight to Heathrow.

This BA student truly valued her independence and convenient lifestyle that she led when abroad and reluctantly returned home in December 2007, to prepare for yet another lifestyle – life as a Rhodent! The 20-year-old chuckles in disbelief when she describes her transition from living the high life in London to small town life at Rhodes. “When you’ve been in the city for so long, the novelty of a small town ends very fast. I found myself wanting to go home very quickly!”, she said.

In first year, students have to adapt to many academic and emotional situations like separation anxiety, subject choices, financial issues and most importantly, facing the mystery meat on their plate each night! In addition to this, Jena had to re-establish her thirst for knowledge and adapt to being in an academic environment after having last picked up a textbook in 2005. She says that, “After two years, you forget how to write. It was all very different.” She closes her eyes as she describes how she had to convince herself that university was the next best logical step for her. This lively first-year was determined to make it work, she had to remind herself that moping was not an option and had to snap back to reality fast. Her ability to not focus on the past, allowed her to focus on her other anxieties in first year like ...finding friends! The ability to create a good impression and the concern about meeting new people formed a major speed-bump in Jena’s journey as a first year at Rhodes. It would seem that she flew right over this speed bump because, she managed to make life-long bonds with a group of fellow first-years that she fondly calls “her sisters”. Luckily, Jena shares a room with one of her “sisters” but had to learn how to share her private space without loosing her sanity. However, she explains that this is not the worse thing about living in res, instead she hates having to pack up her room during breaks.

Eight months and 179 days later, Jena has made it through her first year successfully (with most of her sanity intact).When she thinks about her time, she bursts into a roar of contagious laughter as she recalls stories of her and her friends. Stories involving the “dining hall, naartjies and twitching eyes”...times that will forever remain etched in her memory. When asked about what she would have done differently, she says, “I would have more of an open mind about things and try to make as many friends as possible.”

Life at Rhodes will never compare to her life in London. It was an experience that she will never forget, but so is her first year as a Rhodes student. Jena learnt to adapt to her new lifestyle very fast and lives by the motto that “You will never be happier than you expect, to change your happiness, change your expectations.” She hopes to make the most of her next three years, and until she gets another opportunity to stand beside the Big Ben again, the clock tower will have to do!