A visitor to Grahamstown, Shane Heckler was involved in a struggle with two street boys that attempted to pick pocket him on the 21^st of July.

On the way back to the guest house he was staying in, he was approached by a boy that looked around 14 years old, asking for money.

Shane ignored him and opened the gate to the guest house, the boy then attempted to enter the premises with him; luckily Shane was able to stop him.

“They were very pushy and in a way threatening as how they asked for money.”

Working in teams

Later that day, Shane noticed the same boy from earlier on jogging across New Street towards him, at the same time another boy came and asked for money. This is when Shane noticed the hand going into his back pocket.

After the scuffle Shane noticed that there was a complete absence of attention from the Grahamstown public.  He said no one stopped to look or help.

A common occurrence

He later learnt that this was not the first time this had been attempted that day, earlier a girls’ purse had also been stolen in the same street.

The Police believed that this has been happening for a while. However, police are unable to do much about the situation because it is illegal to hold someone under the age of 15, which most of these children are.

Adults are using these boys to steal and break into houses because there are no long term consequences.

Words by Cara Attewell

The Oppidan Press (inspired by the Mail & Guardian’s top 300 young people in SA) would like to recognise the 2010 Rhodes University Top 100 Students. Our aim is to recognise and build young leaders at Rhodes University. The Oppidan Press understands that the hardest part about being a leader is that no one ever pays you a compliment for a job well done, and we would like to change that!

Categories Available:

1) Academic Excellence

This category requires no applications; awards will be given to the top achieving 2^nd, 3^rd, and 4^th year students in each of the faculties (i.e. Commerce, Education, Humanities, Law, Pharmacy, Science). Top post-graduate achievers may be recommended for nomination by Deans in the respective faculties. By selecting the top achievers in each faculty, we award the crème de la crème of Rhodes future academics.

2) Arts, Culture and Media

This category is aimed at those students involved in the art spotlight; from performing arts to visual arts to journalism. We aim to award those who display excellence and talent, and leadership roles in their field. These are the students who paint the future for South African entertainment and media.

3) Dean of Students Leadership Awards

The DoS Award recognises leadership  as well as extraordinary extramural contributions or achievements by students, who have enriched the quality of life on the campus in more than one way,  through their leadership in their residence,  in the community, cultural activities, sport or the SRC . Always at the forefront of student concerns, organisations, and initiatives, these students are innovative, reliable, committed to their cause, and make the Rhodes motto, “Where leaders learn”, proud.

4) Community Engagement

Awarded to those students who go above and beyond their academic duties in order to improve the lives of those around them. These students are actively involved in the upliftment of the Grahamstown community, and are leaders in active involvement and positive change.

5) Sport

This category aims to award those students who not only excel on the Rhodes sports scene, but who also show leadership qualities in their chosen sport, or in the sports community as a whole. These students may be known for their sportsmanship or their skill, but all stand out as exceptional.

6) General

Specifically for those students who have not one, but many talents. These students manage to juggle several aspects of student life, excelling in each.

The Selection Process:

Students may nominate themselves or be nominated by others.

To nominate another student: one needs to write a paragraph motivating why they think that particular student needs to be recognized as part of The Rhodes University Top 100 Students. The Oppidan Press will inform the student of their nomination and if they accept it, they will have to submit their 2-page CV, motivation letter, a clear colour face photo as well as a paragraph-long profile of themselves.

OR

A student may simply nominate themselves and submit their 2-page CV, a 1-page motivation letter, a clear colour face photograph as well as a paragraph-long profile of themselves. The Oppidan Press realises that often students to not want to seem to be forward regarding their achievements and nominate themselves, but we urge you to push these concerns aside and be proud of your achievements!

Important Dates

Applications open on:

Monday, 26^th July 2010.

Applications for nominating another student closes on:

Wednesday, 18^th of August 2010 at 5pm.

Applications for self-nominations close on:

Friday, 27^th of August 2010 at 5pm.

NB: Only COMPLETED applications will be considered!

Please email applications to: top100@theoppidanpress.com

And lastly…

The Selection Committee:

Shall be made up of two representatives from The Oppidan Press. Dr de Klerk from the Deans of Student office, a representative from the SRC and staff members from various departments on campus.

Awards

The selected Rhodes University Top 100 Students will be published in a special edition of The Oppidan Press on the 7^th of October 2010. These students will be listed under the category that they are leaders in, along with a face picture and a mini profile.

The Rhodes University Top 100 Students will be invited to an award ceremony that will take place on the 14^th of October 2010, where they shall receive certificates of recognition for their achievements.

Rhodes being the well-known liberal campus that it is, had an amazing line-up organized for the week.

From our first day back, the town was already ‘painted pink’ with an array of ribbons flooding every corner of our campus moulding the week to come.

Cooperation and consideration

OutRhodes worked with Sharc to create a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere at Café Blanca, where people could share anything on their minds. A discussion was held at Barratt for more serious issues such as ‘naming’ and ‘intolerance’ led by Sally Hunt.

On the lighter side of the week, a ‘Pink Pigeon’ film festival featuring ‘Hedwig and the angry inch’, ‘Itty Bitty Titty Comity’ and ‘I can’t think straight’ was held at the recently closed Old Gaol.

Aside from the events there was also an experience to be gained for everyone. LGBT week brought our attention to what our rainbow nation believes in: acceptance and equality in our lives.

Words by Jehan Ara Khonat

Semenya’s coach, Michael Seme admitted after the race that she had not been training one hundred percent throughout the testing by the International Association of Athletics Federations. He also disclosed that she was not entirely fit, resulting in a time of almost 10 seconds short of her national record in Berlin 2009.

This victory for Semenya is the beginning of a new and fair chapter in her athletic career.

“I am thrilled to enter the global athletics arena once again and look forward to competing with all the disputes behind me,” she said in a statement released by her lawyers.

Speculation

The University of Pretoria student was first considered over her gender during August 2009 just before the World Championships 800m final due to the teenager’s rapid improvements over the distance.

Semenya was allowed to keep her gold medal but the IAAF withdrew her participation in competitions until the results were clear. Yet the announcement was continuously delayed until only a few weeks ago.

The ANC and Winnie Mandela amongst other authority figures encouraged fellow South Africans to back their girl all the way through the saga.

Sticks and stones

But that did not stop the speculation from arousing throughout the world during the 11 months of tests.

An Australian newspaper even accused Semenya of being a hermaphrodite which created anger filled uproar in South Africa. Yet, even though the world conjured up their own explanations for the TUKS student’s unbeatable streak, the IAAF did not disclose the results which remain confidential.

Since, Caster Semenya has won her second 800m race in four days following her return to the track. She is reported to return to South Africa to continue her training for future races taking place in August this year in Europe.

Words by Lauren Flynn

The change, which is a direct result of the ongoing renovations to the Kimberly dining hall, was a talking point towards the end of the second term. Some of the students from the hall up ‘the hill’ have been directed to dine at the Oppidan dining hall.

A number of Oppidans have not been troubled by the changes.

“It takes some getting used to, but it’s not too bad having extra people,” said Oppidan Niel van Niekerk.

“It does feel different, though”.

The added time It takes to get to meals is the one major talking point among some students from Kimberly Hall.

“The [Oppidan] dining hall itself is fine, it’s just the walks down the hill that get to you,” said Xabiso Vili.

Steps toward relief

The University has also opened channels of communication for students to voice their comments and concerns.

Dr Iain L’Ange, the director of the Residential Operations Division remarked that feedback has been positive after holding meetings with student leaders from the affected residences. The significance of such meetings is not undermined and continues to be beneficial.

“We don’t want to lose the human touch,” said Dr L’Ange.

Words by Zintle Ngubeni

Just a day after Human Right’s Day, Sureshnie Rider was hosting the morning show on 5fm when during the ‘reasons to feel good’ segment she received a suicide call.

Just after 9:30 that morning a man called in and said that his ‘reason to feel good’ was that it was his “last day”.

According to Rider, she received “an anonymous call from a listener who threatened suicide live on air” and when he made it clear what is intentions were she immediately reacted and asked him to hold the line and went on to speak to him off-air.

Rider says that this is not the first time that she has had to deal with such calls.

She says “as a journalist I have been trained under a code of ethics that prescribe that we hear all sides of a story” but adds that

“As much as you have been educated on various levels in reacting and treating a situation, nothing prepares you for the moment someone is ready to take their life.”

Rider spoke to the man for 10 minutes before he hung up the phone and says that “I realise I have left him with ten minutes of my hope, my prayer, my words, and my belief that he will choose life”.

Suicide according to Rider

Rider says that the despite it coming off as cruel, she find suicide selfish as she has been through two close family incidents involving suicide.

She says “I know that it takes a brave person to stand on a ledge and jump, that it takes guts to hold a gun to your head, but really for many, it is looked like a cowardly act.”

She adds that there is not adequate education on the subject of suicide in school and tertiary institutions and that at exam times she hopes that departments take extra time out to educate and inform children about these incidents.

Her concern is evident when she stated that “there needs to be a dedicated team at every
school who are prepared for the challenges children today are facing!”

Suicide Rates in SA

According to the South African Depression & Anxiety Group (SADAG) website it is estimated that “9.5% of all teen deaths are due to suicide” and that “suicide is the second leading cause of death in 15 – 24 year-olds.”

The recent awareness campaign, Teen Suicide Prevention week that took place in February 2010, was aimed at letting people know that the SADAG was committing to prevent letting teen stress and depression become a “crisis”.

To get help please call The South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) on 011 262 6396 or 0800 20 50 26

logo supplied

The SAMWU strike raised feelings of heartbreak and even hatred for some, as a beautiful town was turned into an open rubbish bin for the last two weeks.

For some citizens it didn’t end well as they were either violently attacked or threatened.

On 13 April 2010, the second day of the strike, rubbish bins continued to be turned over and thrown all over the town.  One of the citizens, Phillip McDougal was extremely disturbed by the dumping that had been taking place on High Street particularly outside his restaurant, Mad Hatter’s. As a result of being sick and tired of the mess he threw a bucket of water at the strikers.  This proved to be a mistake as he was then violently attacked but fortunately walked away with no serious injuries.

Even though there was only bruising, one can’t help but wonder where the police were during this attack. According to some witnesses there were police present but when McDougal was asked about it he replied, “I didn’t see any. The only time I was contacted by the police was the next day after lunch. They wanted to know if I wanted to make a statement.”

Unfortunately McDougal is not the only person that has experienced the violent side of the strike. One of his customers had been driving past the fire station and had rubbish thrown deliberately at their car. When the driver got out of the car to check for any damage he was then violently threatened by one of the strikers. Another incident that McDougal remembers is a friend of his that was driving into town, when the strikers saw that he had refuse bags in the back they began to chase after the car. Luckily for the driver he was able to get away in time.

When McDougal was asked about his opinion on the strike he replied, “I don’t have a problem with protesting but I do have a problem with the way it’s going about. The trashing and the violence, it’s not fair.”

The town is now back to its usual state now that the strike was declared over on the 21^st of April 2010.  However there is still trash, glass and other rubbish that is yet to be cleaned up around town.

Approximately 220 men are reported to have taken part in this year’s 1-in-9 Campaign silent protest at Rhodes on Friday 23 April.

Men in solidarity

The protest had over 1000 registered participants this year, most of which were women. Men wore t-shirts affirming their solidarity with rape survivors silenced by sexual violence.  “As men we must take action to end sexual violence because only we can end rape,” read the t-shirt.

Although the men did not have to tape their mouths shut as the women did, their participation in the event was appreciated.

The men were urged not to speak for the silenced women, but to use the opportunity to speak out against sexual violence with other men.

For some, the amount of men in solidarity present at the meeting was too little.  “I am surprised that there are so few men here,” says Steven Carse, a first year Bcom student, “we should all be here”.

This comes after a poorly attended Gender Action Project (GAP) men’s pledge to end sexual violence that took place on Tuesday 20 April.

At the meeting, the group of men, mostly Rhodes students, pledged to dismantle patriarchal structures and cultivate a positive view of masculinity.

“We need to be fully cognisant of the urgent need to re-evaluate the values that inform manhood,” reads the pledge.

Gap is a Rhodes University society which acts against sex- and gender-related issues, encouraging debate and dialogue among its members and the greater Grahamstown community.

According to a report on critical incidences released by the communications department, there were three reports of rape at Rhodes in the first term.

For the second time in four years the question of whether or not Rhodes should participate in the Eastern Cape’s Sporting Intervarsity has been debated. This time, Barratt Lecture Theatre filled with students donning purple in all shapes and uniting them as ‘Rhodents’.

The debate, held on 15 April, allowed the university, local police, sports council, municipality, and students to raise their concerns and views on the weekend of Intervarsity.

Drunkenness, disorderly behaviour, sexual abuse, racism, high amounts of litter and noise pollution are common incidents associated with the event, bringing shame to the Rhodes name. However the university is not merely concerned with their reputation, but what that could mean for the worth of our degrees in the working world, as well as the individual safety of the students.

In response the students felt that it was not only Rhodes students that created this conduct and that those who did are only a minority of our student population. The point was made that the same unruliness is true to any large crowd, including what will be our 2010 World Cup. Importance was laid upon the sporting events that teach leadership and promote our pride. As Rhodes is already isolated, concern was raised of whether withdrawing us from the Eastern Cape events would make the university seem elitist.

The students were encouraged to think about the effect created amongst the community and know their limits when it came to the event. Dr Vivian de Klerk highlighted that it was also in sobriety that people wrote offensive slogans on their overalls which shock outsiders. The entire theatre sought to determine a solution collaboratively using the same Rhodes energy and spirit unique to the university.

Suggestions were made that there should be an increase in security presence and bins. That the students should proudly clean up their mess with respect to the town. It was also suggested that higher amounts of disciplinary action may be taken and most importantly that the students should prove that they are adults and take responsibility for their behaviour.

If this issue is not resolved it may lead to more dire actions such as diluting intervarsity by splitting it over a number of weeks or only allowing the participating sports players to attend.

SRC President, Eric Ofei, closed the debate by bringing to our attention that “if we have the time to complain, we should have the time to act and to be honest with ourselves”.

Saving Intervarsity Debate

It’s not too late to have your voice heard; you can still send your opinions and suggestions to saveintervarsity@gmail.com or join the Facebook event here.

Concerned students at the forum

Good turn out to save Tri-Var!

It’s a good feeling to know that if you tune into 89.7fm at any time of the day, anywhere in Grahamstown that your ears will be graced with a good DJ and a rocking playlist of songs. Unfortunately this is not the case for the next few weeks.

Rhodes Music Radio regrets to inform its community members and listeners that as of Tuesday 16 March 2010, 89.7fm will be temporarily unavailable.

RMR has had issues with its receiver in recent times and it has been confirmed that it has a damaged signal output.

Station manager Gugulethu Mhlungu explains that “It has become necessary that we send the unit to the manufacturer in Cape Town for repairs. At this stage we are unable to confirm what the turnaround time on the repairs will be as the unit is yet to be assessed by the manufacturer.”

It travelled to Cape Town on Monday and arrived there on Tuesday. It is confirmed that the station will be down until the end of term (26 March 2010) and will be down over the holidays (26^th March – 12^th April).

The team promises that the audio streaming should be up and running soon though for all the people that can’t wait for the signal to return on the radio.

“We understand there is no specific date of return just yet, however we are working as fast as we can to get RMR back on all radios as soon as possible and apologise for the absence until then.” – Station Manager

Should anyone have any queries these can be addressed to the Station Manager:

Ms G. Mhlungu.

E-mail: station.rhodesmusicradio.co.za

Fax:      086 653 3170

By Stefano De Siena.