Resignations and reshuffling

By Matt Edwards, Ashleigh Swaile and Bianca Silva

Former SRC president Bryony Green has resigned from her position after more than a year’s service.  This has resulted in a rapid reshuffling of positions within the SRC body as well as a high level of speculation regarding the decision. In interviews with Activate this week, both Green and the SRC revealed the reasons behind the sudden change, which has  led to the scheduling of SRC by-elections held this week. 

Oppie dining

By Michelle Solomon

The long awaited oppidan dining hall is said to be opening at the start of the second term this year.

Pimp my Rhodes – building developments on the rise

by Michelle Solomon

The problem of student accommodation at Rhodes has finally been realised, and with the construction and opening of Celeste House, an effort has been made to house more students on campus.

Do something meaningful

By Bianca Silva

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Centre for Social Development (CSD). Dani Marais, student volunteer co-ordinator, explained the role of the CSD and goals the upcoming project for 2007.

Lost MIPs leave students resless

By Luke Reid

The Rhodes University Registrar’s division was forced to extend the deadline for the 2007 Minimum Initial Payment (MIP) of fees by a week because a large number of returning students had not paid in time for the initial deadline of February 12. In spite of this move, a significant number of returning students were not given the places in residence that they had been provisionally granted.

Living next door to Alice

Finding accommodation for both first-years and returning students has become a grave problem. Samantha Scott, Danielle Brock and Ilana Koegelenberg investigate one of the solutions: Celeste House, a mixed-sex residence.

To the point with Fatema Morbi, SRC president

Fatema Morbi became Rhodes’ new SRC president after Bryony Green resigned in January. Filipa de Oliveira and Kim van Beeck spoke to her about the big SRC reshuffle and her plans for the year.

The constitution of cleaning

By Lauren Howell

Thandeka needs at least R 1000 a month to survive. She is her family’s sole breadwinner with two young children and her sister and nephew who are financially dependent on her. Thandeka has no skills or formal training and does the only job she can – she works twice a week as a domestic worker.

Ciro on dodgy politicians

By Ciro De Siena

I’ve been closely following the story behind the story of the month. In case you’ve missed it, and you probably have because you’ve all been drunk, your SRC president has resigned/been asked to resign – we don’t know really know which.

CD review: Brand New – The Devil and God are raging inside me

By James Speirs

I was once a Brand New fan. This album didn’t put me off the band but it certainly didn’t revive any Grade 9 emo memories.

Here come the men

By Filipa de Oliviera, Sam Scott and Deva Lee

The Parlotones are one of South Africa’s most successful live acts and have rocked into success with their 2005 release of Radiocontrolledrobot. Comprising of lead vocalist and guitarist, Kahn Morbee, drummer Neil Pauw, lead guitarist Paul Hodgson and keyboardist and bassist Glenn Hodgson, this quartet have a melodic rock feel which has won over large crowds during their well reputed gigs.

Meet the cousin

By Deva Lee

Recognised as one of the faces of South African comedy, Barry Hilton still fills any room with his presence despite having been on the scene for 23 years. His hair might be greying but his career is definitely at its peak. His success lies in his love for South African people and their idiosyncrasies.

Spot of the week: the boerewors cure

By Bronwyn Seaborne 

Pam Thandani, commonly known as The Boerewors Lady to many students, has become synonymous with Grahamstown’s nightlife. Situated outside the Rat and Parrot, Mama Pam draws clubbers to her by enticing them with the smell of cooking boerewors and onions.

One T-shirt, one revolution

By Setumo-Thebe Mohlomi

The lousy shirt has been deemed the must have item by the fashion powers that be. It may even be replacing other forms of print as a means of transmitting one’s message. It is increasingly apparent that in the minds of the fashion conscious, print is in.

Popularity: it will make you bleed

By Thapelo Tselapedi

“Ethical blindness or a lynch mob?” was the question posed by the Mail & Guardian. Former African National Congress chief whip Tony Yengeni is in the spotlight yet again.   Yengeni, who faced the might of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), now encounters the rebuff of the SPCA, just weeks after his release from prison early this year.

Politics of politics

By Azwihangwisi Mufamadi

You wake up one morning and as your day gets older and better, a giant medical company from Toronto asks you to take part in microbicide (anti-HIV gel) clinical trials. For some reason, which seems like a death wish or a suicide mission to me, you agree to do it although it’s like going out on a date with the devil himself.

New worlds under water

By Tim Hancox

For adventurous students, the Rhodes Underwater Club is the answer for something completely different. In the club’s recently held splash day at the Rhodes’ pool, underwater hockey was promoted, as the club looks to create awareness about this unusual sport. There was also the opportunity for students to try their hands at scuba diving.

Overnight pool party

By Duncan Collins

The Rhodes Pool Club has started the year by hosting a 24-hour pool challenge. In the name of charity, students Ryan Brits and Dean “6-footer” Rawlins played pool continuously from 10am on Friday, February 16 to the same time the next day. The proceeds of the event will go to Hospice in Grahamstown.

From the stands

By Adam Wakefield

A big part of sport, as with most things in this crazy world of ours, is the way we treat ourselves and the opposition. Honour, respect and all that giddy stuff that we learn to admire in kung-fu movies and TV shows like Heroes, for example, are impressed upon our fragile little minds in the hope that we become ‘better’ than the previous version of ourselves.

Kicking up a storm on campus

By Melissa Nefdt

It’s a new year and a new start for the Rhodes University taekwon-do club and their affiliated community training in Grahamstown. After a very successful year in 2006, the club has big plans for 2007.