We took back the night alright.

This week GAP held a women in SA week from the 13th till the 17th of October. They focussed on gender issues (duh!), justice, our country's political leadership and our country as a 'democracy'. They put up posters of different statements made by ANC President Jacob Zuma which I found very interesting and some which were hilarious.



But my highlight of the week was friday night,a number of female rhodents all gathered by the Drostdy Lawn sand lit candles as we prepared t omarch the streets in our attempt to 'take back the night'. This was a very successful an dmeaningful march because the number of rape attacks that have occured recently have been so appalling that action had to be taken.



So anyway we marched down high street and stopped near Frontier Hotel where a woman was gang raped onher way back from the jac lab searly in th emorning. We sang, danced even toyi-toyi'd and were joined by curious and like-minded and supportive observers, that was very touching. I even saw a group of men walking the pavements, joining in and singing along with us.



As we got back on campus after making our way up new street, we had a very chilled picnic inside the clock tower building. We all sat on the floor, ate pizza, had fizzy drinks, sweets n chips, and people recited poetry and spoke about how they felt about what we had done that night. It was a beatiful night filled with beatiful, strong and intelligent women who know their worth and believe in equality.



We took back the night alryt

Do you really think I am a snob?

Does coming to Rhodes University really turn one into a snob? And why is that the assumption? Is it because Grahamstown is such an ‘English’ town and speaking this universal language is the only way we can all understand one another? Is it really such a bad thing? Well seeing as I have been called a snob way before coming to Rhodes, I would assume that my being here has added more points towards my qualification. If I had to receive a credit for all the times I have been referred to or labelled a snob I would probably have an honours degree in Snobbism.

I have asked myself this question many times ‘Why do people think that of me?’ and I still do not have a concrete answer. Is it because I come from a township in Soweto called Dobsonville, is it because in the last of five siblings? Or could it be because at home when I do my chores I scrub the floor on my knees with a ‘skrop-lapa’ (a piece of cloth used for wiping dirt) instead of a floorwiz pro and that even though I may not be the best cook, I am still expected to prepare dinner a few times a week? No, it is probably because I do not speak English with a Black South African accent and because I have attended ‘Model C’ schools for the past eight years of my life.

Since arriving at Rhodes I do not think I have changed much because I am still labelled a snob, but I guess I should feel better seeing that the labellers are my very own friends rather than some random strangers right? Why does coming to Rhodes turn one into a snob? Being a qualified snob I would say that being here does nothing for us snobs, Firstly: we have to walk EVERYWHERE and walking is so not what snobs do, Secondly: we have to eat crappy dining hall food like EVERYDAY, *sigh* Thirdly: this place like only has like two ‘clubs’ and a pub, talk about being spoilt for choice. And lastly town is only one street long, high street and all the high fashion stores seem to have been moved downtown because I have not seen any and I would not be caught dead shopping downtown.

Being labelled a snob has its perks though, because it means that other people recognise that I am not just another random girl. They see me as someone who has high standards and morals and also as someone who respects her space and does not mingle with just anyone, why else would I keep my distances from them? It is also good that I am here at Rhodes because it means that I will meet my future husband and he will respect my standards and morals and will live up to them because being attracted to girls like me requires such. Because it is assumed that Rhodes turns one into a snob, I will have a lot more friends who are just like me, we will all be one big group of snobs and share our rich knowledge and experiences because I would assume that they would just as qualified as I am in Snobbism.

If coming to Rhodes will turn one into a snob then I have made the right choice in choosing this institution as the place where I plan to spend the next four academic years of my life. When I graduate and leave Rhodes University not only will I walk away with a Bachelor of Journalism but with a PhD in Snobbism as well.

Cinderella at Rhodes - Click to view full size

First Years Demand Your Respect!

This piece is in response to a recent house meeting I attended, in which the only post graduate in the residence addressed the first years in the group. He called us”disgusting first years” and “dirty and inconsiderate” His seemingly harsh statements were aroused by his discovery that someone had stolen his cooler box from the fridge. This targeting of a group, a group of innocent first years is somewhat biased in a residence situation from my point of view. The situation is an example of how first years are targeted before others, and how first years are seen as to blame. Second, third and fourth years believe that they are the ones first years should respect, yet this comes from a deeply entrenched belief that we should “respect our elders”. It raises questions of respect and who everyone is expected to respect.

Grades 8’s are expected to respect their Matrics in school, which is where this cycle begins. I remember believing in this cause, even when I was in Matric. Yet when I came to University, especially Rhodes, which I heard did not believe in initiation, I believed that I would encounter an atmosphere of mutual respect in which age did not matter and where there were no bigoted “elders” thinking that their three more years of experience gives them the right to single out a younger group. I was right to a degree, O Week proved comfortable, yet when it was over and the “elders” returned I faced a turnaround of fortune. The older crews were somewhat cold, seeing the first years as a lesser group in the facets of Rhodes life. They demanded respect; saw themselves as bigger men, it felt like they were doing you a favour when they were being your friend.

The initiation which is still a prevalent aspect at Stellenbosch University is a far more horrifying experience of this culture of respect. Stories range from intense hazing of first years who never talk about their experiences to students even wishing to leave their residences. These things never occur at Rhodes University, yet there is bigotry still prevalent in the residence system. Older students are seen as superior and believe that they should pass on their “culture” to the young, “naïve” first years. In terms of maturity this is a touchy subject, as older students immediately deem themselves as mature men compared to the new blood in the residence. This is a major problem as maturity is largely subjective from my point of view, as a man is only deemed truly mature when he is much older, not when he is in his 20’s. I found that my own perception of maturity was shifted when I came to university; I left home for the first time and have learnt how to fend for myself. Older students need to respect that first years learn how to cope quickly, after O week you are almost settled into life. A student a few years older than you should not be seen as an all wise adult. They are as mature as you, if not less, as it all depends on your definition of true maturity.

From this it can be seen that first years need complete undivided respect. This is a large rock to swallow for older students, yet it is the only resolution to an entrenched culture which is based on false suppositions. Especially ones they call “Post Grads” who believe that they reign over all in terms of wisdom. This system is one I hoped to break out of when I left school, the system of continuous respect of others who do not deserve respect, but unfortunately it is still prevalent in every part of society.

This Christmas

This Christmas

The last time I cried when watching a movie was when I watched The Notebook, it crippled my spine with pain and filled me with joy at the same time, making my emotions rage and forming waterfalls of tears down my eyes. I am in love with movies, music and written pieces that move my soul, lifting it (my soul) high into a different place and bringing joy to my heart, but this means…they have to make me cry.

I watched This Christmas the other day which is another movie which bought tears to my eyes. It highlights the importance of family and emphasises the joy family brings to ones life. I lost an aunt(Mamani Selina) recently and have not felt so much pain since my Grandmother past on in April 2007. I felt as though my skin was been peeled off my body, my eyes had cried so many tears, my nose had been blown so many times, my brain scanned so many memories of her and I together, my soul collapsed, my head ached and… I… cried.

I cried because it never made sense, but lately this ‘world’ doesn’t make any sense. I was in denial and a part of me still is. But the friend I have in God made it okay, even when I felt it never will be. Through the storm He helped me smile, the sun has been painted above my head again because His the artist of my life and all the pieces of my soul are being restored. She meant the moon and the stars to me and so did I to her, but only we knew how we felt about each other. Sadly I will not be spending This Christmas with her, like we had planned to, only because she is nothing but a tearful memory. God is love.