Open column: Let’s talk about pride

By Lauren O’Brien

What’re we proud of, anyway? Sure, Pride Week’s an institution in every LBGTI community. The ‘queers’ come out and play. It’s a celebration of diversity. Streets are painted pink. Rainbow flags are toted. But what’s the point? And if it’s so important, how come there’s no “heterosexual pride”?

Pride Week attempts to provide a place for the LGBTI (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered and Intersex people, for those of you not in the know) community to recognise what it is to be ‘non-hetero’ in a heteronormative society and to recognise the struggle for self-determination that is faced by people around the world – and continues to be faced.

Fake it then feel it

By Paige Knight

The past few weeks have been a blur of essays, deadlines, fights with friends and cold miserable weather. You would think that under these conditions, no one would be up to the lengthy challenge of making love or even exerting oneself to go out to find a wild one night stand.

The price of a glorious inauguration

By Megan Ellis & Tatum Holloway

On Saturday, 9 May, South Africa witnessed the inauguration of our new democratically-elected president, Jacob Zuma. During the inauguration, South African Defence Force planes flew in formation, thousands of foreign dignitaries arrived, and free Nando’s meals were available for those attending. But the price tag which came along with the celebration raised both eyebrows and voices. R75 million, which came from the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Public Works, was the price tag on this inauguration, excluding security and police protection, making Zuma’s inauguration the most expensive of South Africa’s democratically-elected presidents thus far. The question posed now is: was this cost justified?

Open column

By Siyabonga-ka-Phindile Yonzi

This term was marked by the significant symbol of women closing their mouths with tape. This is very symbolic of sisters who do not report gender based violence but continue to be involved with the abusive partner. My question is that, why don’t we make a lot of noise for the whole day on behalf of those who are silenced?

The photo exhibition which showed women posing confidently in their birthday suits was one of the brave moves in raising awareness that women are owners of their bodies and don’t need anyone’s approval. Some students raised concern about the exhibition, because they thought it was just posing without any momentous impact on the thinking of the society. My question is that, why in a University that has such a high consumption of pornography, did campaigners chose to be nude as form of protest?

Tight grip on media laws

By Rugare Nyamhunga & Loyiso Qoboshiyana

Is the government justified in restricting media laws? Where should the government draw the line regarding censorship and commentary? South Africans are a gregarious bunch. This is a fact – from the dynamic Jonathan Shapiro, aka “Zapiro”, and his controversial cartoons, the arms deal saga, to the dropping of fraud and corruption charges against Jacob Zuma. The South African Constitution is the only constitution in the world that safeguards the independence of the broadcasting regulator against interference from the government. Let us revise a bit of history. After the 1994 democratic elections in South Africa, the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa Act 200 of 1993, which allows the freedom of speech, was carried over into the final Constitution in 1996 as the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa Act 108 of 1996. Come to think of it, “Are we free? Or are we dom?” Activate finds out if there is perhaps a fine line between freedom of speech and censorship.

Open Column

By Deva Lee

I smile as I spot a guy on campus wearing a t-shirt that says “feminist”. I am glad he acknowledges that the status of women in South Africa is not only a woman’s problem. I am also amused because I know that not everyone on campus is going to be impressed.

When I first arrived at Rhodes, someone asked me if I was a feminist. “Of course not,” I said, “I don’t think women are better than men”. I had thought all feminism was radical and was hesitant to associate myself with fundamentalist ideas. If feminism meant I was going to burn my bra and dismiss men as the enemy, I was not keen. This misconception is shared by many, even those of us who achieve degrees in a university that values the humanities so strongly.

Sex binds us and we all look funny naked

By Activate’s sexpert, Paige Knight

With the political buzz in the air and many people divided as to who to vote for, I thought we could all reconnect over the subject of sex and nudity. To paraphrase Fred Khumalo, a columnist at the Sunday Times, the one subject that cuts across all cultures is the all powerful, the racism-defying and unifying force of sex.

Sex binds us as we are all a product of it. So if you are shy, curious, or just want a laugh, read on. Talking about sex should be open, honest and gentle. I wish this column to be a safe haven where sexual issues can be discussed in a funny but educational manner.Sex, as natural as it is, is tricky to perform and it would follow then that it is tricky to write about – a demonstration would probably be better. I’ll start this week’s column with the topic of nudity.

The Messham Definition

By Sean William Messham

Ok, admittedly I have been listening to too much of the new Snow Patrol album A Hundred Million Suns and, as a result, I have been thinking in unusual and unchartered territory. That is, for me, the future and what my life may turn out to be. This got me thinking about a question. A question that we all ask ourselves, but rarely answer until we are experiencing the moment or have realised that it has passed and that life may never be as great as we all planned. The question I asked was: what is my worst fear?

Open Column

By Luzuko Buku

The past week has been filled with action, enthusiasm and vibrancy of young people joining societies and sports clubs that they think might represent, satisfy and advance their interests.  It came as a great shock to me when we (as the Young Communist League) tried to recruit someone for our organisation. The young lady said she was scared of communists – oh!

Cartoon

By: Abongile Faxi

Letter from the Rhodes Young Communist League

The Young Communist League welcomes and commends the decision taken by the Sports Council to allow students that are on financial aid the benefit of joining up to two sports clubs for free. We are of the view that this is indeed a revolutionary step which has been long overdue.

As representatives of the working class youth, we believe that no student should be denied the right to participate in a sporting activity by the mere fact that he or she is unable to pay. We believe that our future Brian Habanas and Makhaya Ntinis are in this University, but we will never get to see them if they are not given the chance to prove themselves.

We live in a capitalist society, but Rhodes seems to practise the advanced form of this capitalism. Everything has to be paid for in this institution to the extent that it is hard to believe that the coffee in the Oppidan Common room is free, but when you look further into the issue you will realise that the Oppidan Committee debits money from your account so to pay for that coffee.

The Meikle Definition

By Lloyd Meikle

Ihave been doing something very bad recently and I may just do it again after writing this column, if I get bored. I have been engaging in this activity frequently over the past month or so – in the privacy of my own home of course – but occasionally with a close friend or two by my side. It’s so very bad that I’m embarrassed to even talk about it here, but I may as well come clean. Okay, here we go then. I have been watching a lot of South African television of late. There, I said it. A DSTV subscription is a bit out of my price range at the moment, so what I am stuck with while eating my cornflakes is the dreaded four: SABC 1, 2, 3 and eTV. I am sure many of you have not engaged in the sordid activity of watching these channels for some time, so let me give you a brief progress report. It’s still horrendous. The quality of the “comedies”, news, soaps, talk shows and almost every other piece of programming that we produce within our own borders for terrestrial television is enough to give a relatively grown man, such as myself, fully fledged nightmares – Zuma shower scenes included.

Student Opinion: University Policy regarding Rape

As a teenager at Rhodes, one wonders how safe we really are, shattered by the response there is to rape and shocked by people’s ignorance and the lies we’ve been fed for the past year or so. When I came to this University, I heard that Rhodes would support any rape survivor until the end. I had been told in House Committee training that we should encourage survivors to report such things and tell them that the University will support them. I had faith in the system until it happened to a first year – I don’t know the girl’s background. All I know is that she was 18 at the time and, as a fellow 18-year-old, I know she would want and need the support. In your first year at a well known university like this, you would expect them to stand in solidarity with a rape survivor. Well, that was the story which was told to us until it happened. God knows I’m not trying to take sides in this matter and I’m no lawyer just yet, but what I know is I saw the victim after the rape and Lord help if I would lie about such a thing. I am damn sure that she could not have done that to herself, someone somewhere did it and I wonder how safe I really am.

Mandela sides with ANC

By Tessa Trafford & Jessica Edgson

Former President Nelson Mandela recently stepped out of political retirement and, for the first time, appeared at an ANC campaign event before the election, set for 22 April. The political conference, held in the Eastern Cape region witnessed Mandela campaign beside the highly controversial and enigmatic Jacob Zuma. The former president was quoted saying, “Despite the rain, you have all come here in numbers to show your commitment to the ANC. Long live the ANC!”

O-Week Elsewhere

By Nyeleti Machovani

The curtain has closed on 2008 and it is certainly back to school and back to the academic rasp for many. Starting off the university calendars is the most anticipated event for the new additions to campus rush hour: first year Orientation Week, termed “O-Week”. You see, this period allows our emancipated fellow students to execute their freedom in utter abandon. Each institution has its own traditions as to how they introduce first years to new and unfamiliar territories. It is agreed upon that the average student will always remember their first year orientation. These memories, however, differ for each individual. Some classify their O-Week in warm, nostalgic tones while others try and shake off the bitter taste of a time they would rather forget. Activate goes on a limb to find out what students from different universities got up to during their orientation and the roles it played in introducing them to a place that will be home for a couple of years to come.

Open Column

By Fleur Rollason

So, you’ve arrived in the G-spot for the start of your university career and Grahamstown may not be quite what you were expecting. I can assure you that the years I have spent here have been some of the best. You may be thinking this place is a little too small for your liking. The one thing I can tell you is that it is definitely a unique place. Yes, Grahamstown does have little more than one traffic light and you may see slightly strange sights such as cattle grazing along well-known streets. And yes, a sometimes sleepy little dorp like Grahamstown does have traffic problems! I should know. I just got stuck in the Gtown ‘rush hour’! I was so close to going to UCT instead of Rhodes, but I thank my lucky stars I didn’t because I know I would not have had the awesome experiences I have had here. I love this town, and yes I know what you’re thinking, but seriously it is awesome. Soon you should discover that there is more to the party scene than New Street. Do yourself a favour, head to the Monument for sundowners or Settler’s Dam, on the road towards PE, for a picnic on a Sunday.

Letter to Editor

Dear Editor
(From Siyabonga-ka-Phindile Yonzi) 

I’m disheartened by the vandalism of the pictures of Bantu Biko in the Biko Building. It must be said that it was not an act of drunkenness but a venting out of racism that is deep seated in our institution. We are aware of the ideologies of those who frequently drink in that particular shebeen that is housed in Biko building. I personal witnessed them complaining about the name and further saying South Africa must be renamed Republic of Mandela because everything is named after him.

Letter to Editor

Dear Editor

(from Diphapang Mofokeng)

I have realised that there is more to the name change debate than it meets the eye. It appears to me that those arguing for the name to remain do so uninformed. They think that proponents of name change do so out of sheer excitement.

Open Column: Locked up in the ivory tower

By Deva Lee

With tuition fees that reach up to R30 000 a year, Rhodes students have got to have the capital. For those who don’t, limited options are available. The R100-R200 a week that most part-time jobs in Grahamstown have to offer just doesn’t touch sides. Tutoring will help you out with about R5000 a year, but those opportunities only open up at third year level. This leaves the average middle-class student with a fat student loan that gains about 10% interest each month. Scholarships seem to only be available to students who are achieving multiple distinctions and come from highly disadvantaged backgrounds. Not many make the mark.

Second semester blues: Depression at Rhodes

 By Azabeluncedo Zwezwe The beginning of the fourth and final term has, in previous years, seen a marked rise in attempted and successful suicides and the number of students visiting the counselling centre. In a recent survey conducted by the Mental Health Foundation, statistics have shown that 50% of university students have exhibited signs of clinical anxiety and more than one in ten have suffered from clinical depression. As the year nears completion, workloads increase, the pressure mounts and the expectations of success begin to stress many students. Activate engaged in a sensitive but necessary conversation with students dealing with depression.