The effects of Facebook

By Wazi Kunene

Schools around the world are complaining about the social network phenomenon that is Facebook. This came after a meeting with a number of education departments.  The topic of the meeting was ‘Learners today are not competent enough to handle pressure in high learning’.

SCAM hits 5FM

By Pierre Potgieter

After much anticipation and lots of excitement, Rhodes rapper SCAM (a.k.a. Matthew Callcott-Stevens) will hit 5FM with his hip-hop music, soon to be played on both Gareth Cliff and DJ Fresh’s shows.  Although he defines his style as hip-hop, there are strong elements of rap in it, with witty lyrics laid over the unique beats of DJ Abstrakt’s mixes.

Beauty has a skin colour

By Wazi Kunene

Definitions of statements and words change as time passes – just like the term beauty. How it was defined centuries ago is certainly not the same today. In the early years before South Africa became colonised by Europeans, black skinned women with light and dark complexions were seen as gorgeous and compared to all beauties of nature. Beauty was, as today, the body and the face and not much has changed today, but the wheel has taken a turn and now beauty has a ‘skin colour’.

A good time, in and around G’town

By Samkelisiwe Dlalisa

After the hectic Intervarsity weekend, it seems people are looking forward to upcoming, calmer weekends. As promised I will be giving you the best ways to have a “lekker jol” in and around Grahamstown in many different ways without having to get drunk.

Book Review: The Interpretation of Murder

By Maya Sapieka

Set in 1909, in the midst of the flourishing industrial revolution in New York, The Interpretation of Murder is a fast-pace thriller about a the hunt for a terrifying serial killer. The novel takes you through various plots and is gripping from the very beginning.

What Has the SRC Done For You Lately?

By David Shields and Ithuteng Mashabela

Rhodes University’s Student Representative Council is seen as an organisation which exists with the aim of representing the interest of all the University’s students. Its mission statement describes it as a “student approachable institution which fosters a conducive developmental environment in and out of the academic sphere.” However, it seems that after O-week this council of ours is hard to be seen. A common opinion among Rhodents is that it is really only during the weeks leading up to the elections that any visible effort takes place. “The SRC needs to be more in-your-face,” says concerned second year Law student Lebo Motsumi, “just like they are during the elections.”

SAMA 2009!

By Mpho Hlapolosa

The 15^th annual South African Music Awards show was staged on the 2^nd of May at its traditional home, the Sun City Super Bowl. From the celebs walking on the yellow carpet to fans screaming their lungs out in support of their favourite artists, this was an event not to be missed. The spectacular showing of South African talent and entertainment rocked the Super Bowl and has left many South Africans eagerly anticipating next year’s offering.

Keeping the audience entertained as the host for this year was comedian and television host Mr. “oh so handsome” Trevor Noah, who kept the crowds in stitches.

Pop-Splat – The Renaissance of Shakespeare

By Tafadzwa  Mlambo

Corruption, politics, revenge, murder and the all-important shock factor; Ian Martin’s new book Pop-splat has it all. A story set in South Africa and, better yet, Grahamstown specifically, injects new life into dreary Shakespearean literature in the form of the ‘disgusting life of Matt Dreyer, Hamlet of the 21^st century.’

The author explores a sick South African psyche and tells a story that is filled with cruelty, violence, perverted sex, mad revenge and bitter despair. But it is a story told in the form of an over-the-top, zany black comedy.

Men’s Inter-res netball adventure

By Matthew Theijssen

Netball is a game perceived as an art, where women show their grace around a court, whilst at the same time maintaining a high level of ferocity and determination to win. This is the view of most ordinary individuals, yet to the students of Rhodes University, 25 May brought a refreshed meaning to the game. Men from all corners of campus arrived to show off their skill and talent as they traded in their rugby and soccer boots for a pair of court ‘takkies’ to go head-to-head in an all out battle for victory.

Listening to the rain, while listening to the soul

By Jamaine Chiwaye

“People get to see themselves on stage. They relate to each and every character on one level or another. They laugh, cry, sigh and breathe because of such a bond that could only have been created by Minghella.” So said Christine Balt, who acts in one of the scenes of Listening to the Rain: A Tribute to Anthony Minghella which recemtly ran at the Rhodes Theatre.

Letter to the Editor

By Chelsie Ouellette

Nelson Mandela once said, “Ask yourselves what you can do as global citizens in the fight against HIV and AIDS.” A team of students in Grahamstown, South Africa, have answered Mandela’s call to action. In just three short weeks, students studying with the Global PACT program at Rhodes University have created a radio show, airing on Radio Grahamstown, that will focus on social change. Masincedane Radio seeks to address the stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS by providing a safe environment for community members to come together and support each other.

Ravishing Performance from Rhodes Hockey Teams

By staff reporter

The Hockey club, which received the “Most Improved Club of the Year Award” in 2008 Rhodes sports annual awards, are showing more and more improvement this year. The expectations were high as the Rhodes Men’s and ladies 1^st sides departed for the annual USSA 2009 hockey tournament. The tournament took place from 28 June to 3 July in Bloemfontein, which is not the warmest place in the country especially during this time of the year. Both the sides started the tour off with double headers. The men pulled off two good victories with a 7-1 win over University of Limpopo and 3-1 victory over Cape Peninsula University of Technology. On the other side, the ladies had a good win over Central University of Technology by 4-0, and narrowly losing 3-2 to the hosts, University of Free State (Kovsies).

Internal League basketball dribbles to success

By Lauren vd Vyver

Pic by: Sean William Messham

High-flying players and out-of-range three-pointers were features at the internal-league basketball. Alec Mullins was host to the first round of internal basketball games on Friday, 15 May, 2009.

Rhodes’ Club of the Year for 2008 celebrates centenary

By Tshilidzi Mutavhatsindi

Pic by: Desiree Schirlinger

The Rhodes Athletics Club is one of the most successful clubs at Rhodes University. Last year, they won the Club of the Year award at the Rhodes annual sports awards ceremony, which took place at the Monument.

Off the mark

By Ollie Field

The end of May has the potential to be heartbreaking for sports fans all over the world, as many of the sporting extravaganzas which have captured our imagination will come to end.

Let’s start with the Super 14. The Chiefs take on the Bulls this Saturday which will wrap up one of the most fascinating Super 14’s ever. Never before has the tournament had so many ups and downs for each of the teams, with even the Cheetahs providing an upset or two.

Make Your Point

Do you think South African soccer is dominated by black players?

I think this is very true. One major reason I suggest this is due to the absence of soccer at both the formerly white government schools as well as private schools. So white boys (and girls) are not exposed to the sport and certainly not given an opportunity to play the game seriously, that is, in a competitive manner. This obviously translates into a lack of players from the white community at the higher levels of the game. Another reason is the strong resistance on the part of school authorities to making the sport available because of the perceived threat that rugby will be displaced by soccer.

Tony Fluxman (BA Political & International Studies)

Bulls secure home final

By Fleur Rollason

Pic by: Desiree Schirlinger

The Vodacom Blue Bulls kept South Africa’s hopes of a Super 14 final alive on Saturday, 23 May by beating the Crusaders 36-23. The Bulls will play the Chiefs at Loftus Versveld in the final on Saturday, 30 May. It was a thrilling game with the Crusaders putting points on the board first, leaving the scores level just before half time – before the Bulls literally ran away with the game.

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.

Digging the digs life

By Gabi Falanga & Jonathan Jones

When it comes to moving into digs, Rhodes students need to be on their toes. Juggling estate agents, landlords, bitchy digs-mates, commission and shopping can be quite tricky, never mind those first time mishaps which always seem to creep up on you at some point. However, moving into digs can be one of the most fun and rewarding times of your life. There is no shortage of Rhodents who have interesting digs tales of some kind.