Mirror Miglactic

By Phetane Rapetswane

Trackback to for more the actual article: http://1styearspread.blogspot.com/2008/10/is-there-feeling-of-apathy-among-first.html

I actually do not think there is a lack of apathy towards HIV/AIDS at Rhodes. In fact I feel that the whole HIV situation at Rhodes has been extremely overplayed and is cultish in its behaviour to say the least. I also think that the reason why such few people go for tests is because they are relatively knowledgeable about the virus and how to avoid the virus, and most university students are also knowledgeable about the fact that going for a test is time consuming, and that the time spent on the tedious test could be spent doing something else regardless of how useless it may appear in someone else’s eyes. I think that all these funds that Sharc and the San utilise on privileged educated/intelligent people should rather be invested where the real apathy towards the virus lies which is in the township of Joza, where people just aren’t as knowledgeable as Rhodes students about the Epidemic, and that all the overly enthusiastic people can go make a difference at where all dubious stats like one in four people being HIV positive are actually true.

By Phetane Rapetswane

The winds of change have been sweeping across Rhodes University, and most of these winds of change have often been met with stiff resistance. Some of these changes include a new SRC body, with all the top three members of the leading student body all coming from the radical political group Sasco. Changes also include the name change of the Union to the Bantu Steven Biko, Cradock House in Nelson Mandela Hall to Adelaide Tambo House, as well as the university launching aggressive anti-drinking campaigns. Although most of these changes, like all the change in the world have been met with hostility and anger, some people have embraced the new changes and accepted, while others remain bitter and opposed to change, but this however is life- just take a look at the uproar that a change in the format of the new facebook brought, you’d swear the end of the world was approaching or something.
This long winded lead brings me to the Rhodes name change debate, which is a topic always sure to raise heated arguments and opinions. The mere thought of Rhodes changing its name has snapped even the most chilled or drunk Rhodent into taking action, and signing petitions or joining Facebook groups, where they can reminisce about how good the name is and how expensive a name change is, and how silly all other name change alternatives would be. These people of course are of course normally white people, although a couple of Rich Blacks have in my opinion ignorantly joined the white people in standing up for what is a clearly unjust name, as Cecil John Rhodes was after all a brutal tyrant who murdered and plundered African people’s resources, in pursuit of his own self interest. In my opinion he is no different to Hitler, but it is strange how the mere mention of Hitler makes people like Rhodents(Rich whites) in particular put themselves on a moral pedestal and call the guy a tyrant with whom they will not associate themselves with, however they are happy to associate themselves with Rhodes. Why people have this attitude is beyond me, and smacks of double standards, unless of course people think a Jewish life is more valuable than that of an African and that the murdering of Africans was perfectly fine as they were not ‘civilised’ enough.
When Mandela brought peace to South Africa in 1994, black South Africans were promised change and any change that has been done to ‘Africanise’ South Africa like affirmative action or name changes have been met with uproar and protest as some white people feel we are ruining their ‘country’. As Professor Pityana said it is important to challenge this image of Rhodes being a little bubble of Affluence and incorporate it into the rest of or Rhini and make sure that no one feels left out or excluded due to the socially constructed image of Rhodes only being for whites and rich black coconuts.
Change is never easy to accept, especially when you are not in control of that change, but ignorance is no excuse for standing in the way of change, and the sooner people get of their pedestal’s and realise that this is Africa and that no African in their right mind would accept anything to do with Cecil Rhodes as prestigious, just as no German would associate Hitler with prestige the sooner things in not only Rhodes but whole county will change.

Here is a trackback of some of the ignorant statements made in defence of this tyrant
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=37806285209

By: Asanda Maki

Gcobani
I want to comment on your piece about JMS 1 lectures being compulsory. Do I smell the dead rat of jealousy here? Are you trying to force these naturally gifted students to come to class just to be in their presence? Maybe some of their genius will drift towards your skull and penetrate your drowsy brain. I know in this new South Africa we are all born equal but unfortunately that does not necessarily apply when it comes with our enthusiasm to rise with birds. My fellow Gcobani all I can advise you is to stop your jealousy, because I enjoy lectures when there are few students rather than a full lecture room with students checking their sms’s, whispering to others and catching up with the latest gossip. I’m sure your parents didn’t send you here to check on others! So please don’t try to be our daddy!. Or maybe you are trying to catch the early bird with the sexy legs! I attend all of my lectures and I don’t think they should be compulsory to others.

check: http://www.combatguide2uni.blogspot.com/

ok, so i was wrong.
here is yet another journ assignment that must be done...

ok so i am always going on about pride and anti-homophobia, well i found a cool site. check out my comment at this link.

http://cyberling2205.livejournal.com/9544.html

Blogging- “a hybrid multiple of sources.” A reflective piece
By: Courteney-Jade Gillespie

Faced with the many questions that were presented in this final assignment, I sat down at my computer with more complaints that 1000 words could serve to explain. This is so pointless! What a waste of my time! Are they actually being serious! I AM SO OVER THIS! But then I stopped and looked back on this daunting first year to the rest of my life. I am not a journalist. This short to the point statement is completely different to the hypothesis that I made at the beginning of the year when Mr. Rod Amner gave us our very first journ assignment. I am not a journalist…but I am a writer.

I came to Rhodes with a dream of becoming a journalist. I fought long and hard to get here and now at the end of my first year, I behold a different dream, a dream that is unbeknown to myself at present but I know that journalism is not in my future. I have not applied to second year journalism, not for the fear of an unmanageable work load and rumors of a dwindled social life due to my choice of wanting to major in drama, but due to the fact that I do not like to follow rules when it comes to putting pen to paper, thoughts to words. Thus my choice to rebel in this final assignment rather that complain…

Pen to paper. Thoughts to words.
Come on Courtenèy, this couldn’t be worse.
You took this course, now where to begin?
Two hours later- scrunched paper in the bin.

In the world of journ, this piece is a sin.

So first term came and went my dear, well what you know, it’s the end of the year.
And here I sit writing a blog, with rules and constraints, deadlines, and marks.

First term was easy! Now my heads in a mess!
Stress levels souring! Must do my best!
Think faster! Write it again!
Its 11pm, I must dig in.
Write something good, people read this you know!
Oh my word, my fingers are typing so slow!

Click. Click.
Post on blog. RUconnected.
Who would have thought that being productive would be so hectic?!
YES! I’m on time! WHAT?! So many mistakes?
Could I plead dyslexic?
Do what ever it takes!

A week passes, and what do you know? Another assignment and ten hours to go.
Close my eyes, let my imagination run wild.
Reminding myself of a spoiled-brat child.
So once again I pick up my pen and with ease and a shimmer I let my story begin.
This comes naturally.
Don’t get carried away!
Click. Click.
Post.
No need to boast.

Monday, 4pm, my tut.
Leila looks pretty as usual.
AH YOU GUY!!! I’ll punch you in the gut!!!!
Complain!!!
Complain!!!
That’s all we ever do!
Ai pretty Leila, I feel sorry for you.
Problems sorted.
Students snorted.
Muttered words of contradictions.
Expectations- moving forward!

Grumpily huffing through the AMM- asked to evaluate my ‘personal growth’ on a scale of one to ten.
Let me think?
Is one or ten the best?
Damn these badly explained questions!
I guess here’s the answer that answer they wanted to know…
“Yes, this course allowed Courtenèy-Jadè to grow, meeting deadlines, actually working, doing her best to pass all these ‘tests’.
Posting a blog to prevent a flogging from her group that’s also blogging.
So here is your number, I think it’s a five, thanks to that zero, I should have lied.

I Googled myself, and what came up?
Mirrormiglactic!
My blogs!
Oh what luck!
At least now I can say I have been published in sorts.


A reporter indeed!Journalists take heed!Blogging my friends, is in fact a form of journalism!
YES! TAKE THAT!

I breathe, and pause to regain my thoughts.

I have never really felt at all confined in this course.
I have always written well between the lines.
My marks are great, NO, no filth or lies.
I guess it was ignorance that covered my eyes.

I survived my first year, and there is no going back.
Sadly neither forwards, my bags leaving journ are packed.

I have learned how to research with careful precision, making sure not to plagiarize, that would be a bad decision.
Working with sources- meeting new people.
Telling their stories.
Writing- free.
Letting their words be an expression of journ.
Letting their stories speak to all those who will listen.
Respecting their ethics, the worlds and my own, preventing disaster buy sticking close to home.

And they ask me “did I learn to express my self better in a genre mould?” “ did I experiment?”
Is this writing not bold enough?
Did I refrain on doing what I was told?
This is a game of poker, where I will not fold.


Click. Click.
Post.

Lets hope I pass.
But even if I fail…
I have learned from the JMS1, class of 2008 that not only in chess can you claim,
“CHECK MATE”

Pen to paper. Thoughts to words.
I am not a journalist. But I am a writer.

By: Courteney-Jade Gillespie

Comment on Opinion blog: http://bungeemylife.blogspot.com/2008/10/fatfatter-and-first-year-spread.html

Well now where to start…firstly, I do have to apologize but wow, your spelling and grammar in this post! Honest mistakes I am sure, but it completely threw me off and I lost interest and respect when reading it! Back to the main topic at hand. I found this blog mediocre and bland, this topic has been widely spoken about, and scrutinized to utter precision, so you should have this topic to the extreme, found a slant that no other student has made before. What crash diets are people trying? Why would they have modified our food? Is it all a conspiracy? You made this post to personal, which I think is your first mistake; why not interview your friend? You used Propps technique, that came across, first year spread being the villain, exercise the hero etc, I congratulate you on that, I just believe that your piece lacked a finesse that could have been created with a little more effort.

by: Courteney-Jade Gillespie
comment on a comic
http://www.pointingpurple.blogspot.com/

I enjoyed reading this comic, being a drama kid I can relate to it. You used Propps character functions and dramatis personae really well and made it work to your advantage. You also used Todorov’s principles of equilibrium, disruption, equilibrium, which created a better structured climax. It was interesting how you used the audience from another production in the piece. This was a very original and topical comic. I liked how you used an issue that everyone is talking about and exploited it to you benefit. You took this comic to another level and put more than the expected effort into it. Well done guys!!!!!!