The "Genius"

Richard Rogers has a message for Rhodes students: “For the guys who just want to party, rock on.” Richard has a stereotypical student room, with old bottles of crackling and whisky adorning the top of his bookcase and the usual mush of paper found in very unusual places. Yet Richard is called the “genius” by his res-mates because of his ability to be the often aspired to “balanced student”. Richard achieves academically at Rhodes, he received five firsts in June, as well as having a good time, which is a strange combination for most in his residence. Marcele Trerise, a friend of Richard’s, says he is “always chilled, but does work hard when he has to.” Richard has a stern expression and short regimental black hair; belying his partying nature which he says often involves “intrepid drunkenness.” He is also an aspirant accountant. He wears casual shirts and jeans, which lend to his chilled out perspective on life.

His idea of a balanced student is one who takes part in the three activities available to a student at Rhodes: Academics, Social and Sport. “Ensure that you are involved in all three, but never let one take too much time,” he says while lying lazily on his bed. He uses timetables to organise his life, so there are no last minute surprises. He always allows there to be more time for work than anything else and he works consistently which he means it is possible for him to party and pass. Residence lends to his “balanced” personality by giving him opportunities to have what he calls “big nights” and “the nights I can’t really remember, which do no count.” He believes residence is a big part of enjoying yourself on a Friday night, as you can down pre-drinks with friends and then walk down into the pit of debauchery i.e. town, without having to worry about safety. “The only door I have to lock when I go out is my room” he says with a broad grin.
Residence lends greatly to Richard’s sporting fascination, as he plays for his residence’s football team which made it to the plate semi-finals this season. He also sees residence as a great place to work, due to having so many other guys doing his same course, as well as having second and third years to help when he is stuck in a ditch of numbers. Richard believes that residence is “the place to be” if you want to be a balanced student. The only problems he has had an experience with is being the “man down” at a residence corridor party and finding that residence carpets do not clean easily. “One tip I would give you is to not use Omo to clean your carpets and to try and throw up on tiles or in a basin,” he says while pointing at encrusted white stuff on his floor, “it doesn’t work.”

Richard is from Cape Town so home is far away, which he says never really bothers him. “I’m always busy, I never get time to think about my mummy,” he laughs and then yawns triumphantly. “In truth I’m actually a lazy bugger,” he says and then laughs again. Partying in Grahamstown is a big part of Richards’s life. He is out every Friday, but tries not to over do it. “I think it would become repetitive if I went out all the time. The guys who over do it, don’t pass and that’s a fact of life.” He believes that attending lectures is important, except the ones which are “undeniably pointless and boring”.

Richard has been able to attain the status of being a “balanced” student through his ability to plan his life well and knowing when enough is enough. He also believes that aspiring students who want to come to Rhodes should make sure they’re in residence and should always “party hard but work harder”.