Diving with the sharks

By Timmy Hancox

Pic by Geoff Spilby

Dawn is one part of the day that I’m unfamiliar with, but a chance to see the great hunters of the sea up close had me bright-eyed and bushy-tailed before the sun even began to appear over False Bay.

From the left field

By Timmy Hancox

 

The Olympics are a bit like the appearance of Aslan in Narnia; everyone talks about it, it’s this massive show, and then it happens and it disappears. You hear nothing for another four years. Now all we are left with is to wonder what sports will come and go as the Olympic committee meet in a congregation of great minds and greater wallets.

Massa wins inaugural European Grand Prix

By Brad Jansen

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Massa taking the last corner:                   Pic Supplied

 

After having started on pole, Ferrari’s Felipe Massa has displayed some superb driving, claiming his fourth win in the formula1 season at the European Grand Prix last weekend.

Mr & Ms Sports Personality

By Lauren vd Vyver

Pic: Jane van Doorene

 

The Old Mutual Pavilion Lounge was once again hosted the annual Sports Personality Gala evening. Sportsmen and women were unusually tailored in formal wear for this event, which took place on Friday, August 29.

Health Suite’s areobic hall doing it for charities

By Gwen Matthews

Jen Thorpe, one of the 12 hour cylists riding for the Rape Survivors Support Group

  

Pic: Leigh Raymond

 

The Rhodes spinning club has found the perfect way to encourage people to exercise – a ‘cycl-a-thon’. The event began at 8am on Friday, August 22. The aerobics health suit was a hive of activity. Various DJs, DVDs and the rhythmic melody of the GADRA Blind Society marimbas, coupled with the whiff of boerewors rolls, created the perfect atmosphere for the enthusiastic team of cyclists.

The whores and cocks war

By Annetjie van Wynegaard

At the beginning of 2008, the Afrikaans Society held a party with the infamous theme: “Boere en Hoere”. This title was subsequently splashed all over campus during Rape Awareness week, just as girls across campus made the statement that their short skirts are not invitations to sexual discursions. Concerned students were quick to take the posters advertising the event to Dean of Students, Vivian de Klerk, who said, “The Afrikaans Society slogan was potentially offensive and sexist, and the implicit negative message about women that is conveyed was unacceptable.”

Filling gaps in the market – and along the pavement

By Babongile Zulu

Without even having to enter a store, Grahamstonians can buy bags, sunglasses, earrings, caps and much more. All this is available by simply strolling down High Street. Vendors sit under their umbrellas come rain or shine, selling their goodies for as little as R5. Grahamstown’s informal traders are filling a gap in the market for affordable goods, which any student can appreciate.

Liberal Propaganda

By Matthew Edwards

 

This column was going to be about why South Africa should decriminalise marijuana. It would have started with some kind of random quote which vaguely ties in with the subject. From there it would have moved on to all the positive aspects of cannabis production. Eventually I would have challenged you to consider the huge economic benefits that this continent would gain through the taxation of cannabis and cannabis products. The column would probably have ended with some kind of rhetorical question and then another quirky gobbit to tie everything back together.

Seventeen times a lady

By Ithuteng Mashabela

 

In 2002, the unimaginable happened to her: she accidently missed her third year Journalism and Media Studies exam. After what she calls the best sales pitch of her life, she convinced Guy Burger to let her write a make-up exam. Today, Khwezi Magwaza is the editor of South African teen publication, Seventeen Magazine, and an incredibly accomplished player in the media industry.

The politics of politics

By Jessica Edgson

Anytime a new issue arises in Africa, my cell phone is due to go off with text messages from a strange relative of mine. After I had suddenly realised that my phone hadn’t received a single message since EQ last had a party, I began to worry. Satisfied that there had been no recent deaths in my family, I started to think the impossible. Had the whole of our continent found peace and harmony at once? Had all genocide, crime and political unrest stopped at the same time leaving Africa without anything worthy of rant? Of course not! Africa is riddled with anything and everything that can go wrong but nothing new. Africa is stuck, ladies and gentlemen, running in the same circles and not getting any answer at all.  

No party for Zim government

By Tessa Trafford

Everyday, no matter how much we plead ignorance when it comes to news, we hear something, somewhere about Zimbabwe. We hear stories of personal struggles, gross human rights violations and, of course, the madness surrounding the infamous Robert ‘Bob’ Mugabe. So, what’s really going on in this country once known as ‘the jewel of Africa’? Honestly, there are so many different reports and articles about what is happening that it’s hard to give you an accurate picture. Then again, since when have you ever been able to get an accurate report regarding a dictatorial state? Well, what we do know is that Thabo Mbeki has recently been in Zimbabwe for talks between the MDC and Zanu-PF.

The other Union that affects you

By Jessica Edgson

Militia in Dafur 2008: Pic Supplied

Why is the United Nations the first thing that pops into people’s minds when thinking of peace-keeping during times of war? Why is it that when the African Union is mentioned, people seem to draw a blank? Are they doing enough within Africa for the general public to pay them any attention? Or do most people just not care enough about what is happening in Africa? So this is the short and bite-sized history of the African Union and what they are actually doing.

The dreaded matter – the aftermath of DPs

By Jane Rosen

The term DP and Rhodes exist in symbiosis. In fact, those students who are a part of Rhodes University would agree that the one would probably not be able to exist without the other. From the day we arrived at Rhodes and were told about our lectures and tutorials, we also quickly became familiar with the term “DP refusal”. What is it about the dreaded DP that makes us shiver at the sound of the word and come near to cardiac arrest when we see anything resembling a brown envelope arrive in the mail?

SA expo failure

By Sarah Botha

The R11 million South African expo centre in Beijing, aimed at promoting South Africa as the 2010 Soccer World Cup host, has “failed” according to The Times.

World watch: Assissination attempt fails

By Kyle Robinson

The United States secret service has foiled an attempted assassination of Democratic presidential candidate, Barack Obama. Raymond Hunter Geisel, who was found in the possession of weapons and military gear, has been charged with threatening to assassinate the Senator.

From the Editor

By Kate Douglas

You know that you are at university when one of your lecturers has been exiled from a country, you are always broke and there seems to be a protest almost every single day. Yes, it is great being a student and even better being a Rhodes student. I remember the first day I saw Rhodes University. My parents were dropping me off in O-week of my first year, their faces full of pride as they watched their daughter skip innocently along as we checked out the beautiful residences, departments and the library. Little did they know that Rhodes University would be the place where their pride and joy would learn the art of procrastination, experience absinthe and have naps with a cheese griller (no, not those kind of naps). However, it was also at Rhodes University that I learnt how to think for myself, developed self-confidence and made friends from different backgrounds and cultures. We are one of the top universities in the country. But we could be the best.

Education minister visits Rhodes

By Kelebogile Mpshe & Kyle Robinson

 Pic by Desiree Schirlinger

Education Minister, Naledi Pandor recently visited Rhodes University on August 21, to give a talk on the importance of African languages in the education system. Vice-Chancellor, Dr Saleem Badat said Rhodes was proud to host the Minister, who has “so deeply grasped the challenge of education”.

Fundraiser victory for SHARC

By Sebastian Sandenbergh

The Student HIV/Aids Resistance Campaign (SHARC) recently hosted their largest and most successful fundraising event of the year, helping to raise roughly R120 000 for local HIV/Aids charities.

Amnesty activists get their credit

By Megan McCarthy

Students and staff who have had notable impacts on society were recently honoured at the Amnesty International Awards for Social Change evening, held on August 20. 

Canine Parvovirus hits Grahamstown

By staff reporter

Pic by Simone Armer

There has recently been an outbreak of a serious animal disease, called Canine Parvovirus (CPV), in Grahamstown. The virus appears to have spread from greater Grahamstown to the SPCA. Recently, the SPCA noticed that puppies were showing symptoms of the disease and several of the dogs have had to be euthanised.