27 January 2018 Issue 1 Year 80

Perdeby Official student newspaper of the University of Pretoria 27January2018

First-year’s edition 2018

Free education: a roundup Pg. 7

80

year80issue1

Who to contact when you need help

Pg. 6

Don’t do drugs kids

Pg. 11

A food lover’s guide to Pretoria

Pg. 15 The Perdeby guide to sports at UP

Pg. 23

Illustration: Sally Hartzenberg

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Go wild

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Editorial

erdeby is the oldest student newspaper in South Africa. This year will mark the 80th year of bringing news to students. Our paper is recognised in the right circles and we always strive to uphold this quality.

Follow us on our social media platforms to stay up to date with all our content and look forward to our weekly video content. We have worked hard over the holiday to make sure you will get entertaining and informative video content on a weekly basis, not to mention this first year’s edition which will hopefully help you transition into this new stage of life.

Welcome to university. You are going to learn so much in these first few weeks and you will probably have advice thrown at you from every direction. As I write this I am trying to limit the barrage of lessons I learned in my six years here.

I’ll try reducing my two cents to a couple of points…

I look back at old issues of the paper and it leaves me in awe that I can be part of something like this. It makes me realise that we should see ourselves as a brand, our names are what we present to people at the end of the day. We attend university to better that brand and get future employers to trust something behind your personal brand. I think that it’s very important to make sure you keep this in mind and always work towards protecting this brand. University is a place to have fun, to discover yourself, your strengths, and your weaknesses.

Don’t throw it all away by doing something stupid, sadly you wouldn’t be the first.

Learn to stand on your own feet. If the university feels like some sort of prison, it’s because in a way it is. Apart from the over-the-top security that leaves you wondering if you are being protected or if they are protecting themselves from you, most of the time no one cares about you and you need to be able to sort your own problems out. Learn to deal with these situations calmly and rationally. But look for those few who do care about you. Be friendly to the invigilator in your first test, you’ll probably see that same face at every test or exam for the rest of your university career – it helps if that face is friendly.

Go to your lecturer’s office during their consultation hours and chat, you might end up understanding your work better or asking a question that might help you in your semester tests or exams.

Don’t take life too seriously. You could spend years of your life at university. Don’t regret your time here because you were too scared to come out of your comfort zone every now and then. Wear a onsie to campus. Experiment with hats. Get a fringe. Go on a blind date. Prank a stranger. It could be fun, or it could turn out to be a funny story.

Series are the devil. I feel like every senior student has been sucked into the life of wantonly watching series because your mom isn’t breathing down your neck. Take some advice and try keep away from series from the beginning. Read a book instead, and if you get really bored, maybe do some work or study prep.

Question yourself. You arrive at university bringing only the cosy lifestyle you’ve been in your whole life. Not everyone is the same, what you know as normal is alien to others, so question yourself, your beliefs, your opinions and practices before questioning those of people you may meet.

Get passionate. Find something, let it consume you, get behind it and fight for it. Make people groan when they see you coming and find people that are just as passionate as you.

You have the time to make a mark or just learn something cool.

Read Perdeby. We are a wealth of entertainment and interesting information. Stay up to date with what’s happening on campus and in the student life around Pretoria. In my opinion this newspaper is the best, and I’ve given good advice, I think, so you should listen to me.

Go wild Shaun Sproule

Perdeby www.perdeby.co.za @perdebynews @PerdebySport @PerdebyE Tel: (012) 420 6600

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Tel: 012 420 6600 Cell: 083 318 9738 carel.willemse@up.ac.za

80

years of Perdeby A look back at South Africa’s oldest student newspaper

The need for a newspaper

than an actual newspaper.

Ironically enough, the T.U.C was eventually replaced by the yearbook Trek in 1931.

Although many attempts had been made at producing a more regular newspaper, it was only in 1939 that this vision had really begun. In 1939, five students calling themselves the “five liberals” started the works of what was to be the beginning of the largest student publication in South Africa – Perdeby. The first ever issue of Perdeby (then called Die Perdeby) was produced in Standing: M. F. van der Merwe, J. C. Combrink, J. Schutte, R. Fouche the Theology Building using Sitting: J. C. Pauw, P. G. du Plesis, F. S. Papenfus. The first Perdeby editorial, 1939 a borrowed typewriter. The Provided, UP Archives newspaper was an immediate hen the Transvaal University College, precursor to hit with students, and its popularity saw the Student Council the University of Pretoria, first established its Pretoria declaring Die Perdeby as the university’s official monthly campus in 1908, no student newspaper existed. student newspaper. The Student Council appointed the editorial Only several years after UP’s establishment, in 1912, the first board, with the first editor of Die Perdeby being George du student publication called T.U.C appeared. Coming out only Plessis. once a year, it resembled the print run more of a year book

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Letter Policy Perdeby appreciates that freedom of speech is an inalienable right enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic South Africa. We encourage our readers to engage in discussion and debate on issues that affect them through letters to the Editor, comments on our website, tweets, or posts on Facebook. We ask our readers to keep the following in mind: 1. Perdeby will not edit letters, comments, tweets, or Facebook posts in any way.

2. Perdeby will label letters, comments, tweets, or Facebook posts as opinion. These do not represent the views of Perdeby in any way.

3. The Perdeby editorial must approve letters, comments, tweets, or Facebook posts before they are published.

4. Perdeby will not publish letters, comments, tweets, or Facebook posts that are defamatory, or libelous, or that contain offensive content.

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by CamScanner 5. Perdeby reserves the right to practice discretion when publishing letters, comments, tweets, or Facebook posts.

6. Perdeby reserves the right to publish any content we receive unless the sender specifically requests otherwise.

7. Perdeby reserves the right to retract a letter, comment, tweet, or Facebook post after it has been published.

8. Perdeby will not accept responsibility for any consequences the author of a letter, comments, tweets, or Facebook posts may experience as a result of the letter being published.

9. Perdeby will only publish letters between 150 and 200 words.

10. Perdeby will not publish letters unless the writer confirms their full name, student number and contact number. Perdeby will not publish this information, we need it for our records.

University Editor (CC) • Affordable prices to suit your pocket.

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Editorial Editor-in-chief Carel Willemse Editor Shaun Sproule News Ditebogo Tshaka Features Sam Mukwamu Entertainment Claudine Noppe Sport Ntombi Mkandhla

Editorial | 27 January 2018

carel.willemse@up.ac.za @Ed_in_Chief perdeby@up.ac.za @ShaunSproule news@perdeby.co.za @Didi_Tshaka features@perdeby.co.za @sammy_southside entertainment@perdeby.co.za @claudine1997 sport@perdeby.co.za @ma_khabo

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Edit uedit.org

Online Content onlinecontent@perdeby.co.za Lorinda Marrian @LorindaDMarrian Web webeditor@perdeby.co.za Rebecca-Anne Perridge @rebeccaofanne Copy copy@perdeby.co.za Georgina Glass @georginaaliceglass Visuals visuals@perdeby.co.za Sally Hartzenberg Multimedia multimedia@perdeby.co.za Siwakhile Maseko @siwamaseko Production production@perdeby.co.za Carly Twaddle @CarlzTwaddle Development development@perdeby.co.za Savannah Plaskitt @SavChristie

Copyright Perdeby is printed by Paarlmedia. All rights reserved. Contributions are welcome. All due care will be taken with materials submitted, but Perdeby and printers cannot be held responsible for loss or damage. The editor reserves the right to edit, amend or alter in any way deemed necessary. Perdeby cannot be responsible for unsolicited material. The opinions expressed in Perdeby are not necessarily those of the editors and printers of Perdeby.

27 January 2018 | News

Hatfield’s four ‘crime wolves’

Make sure you keep your car safe. Do not leave valuables in3your Makecar sureand you keep your car car park your safe. Do not leave valuables in your car and park oncampus the on the sports to sports campus and take the bus tomake main campus. sure it is safe

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Illustration: Rhodeen Davies

Charisa Mujuru

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leave valuables in your car and park your car on the sports campus to make sure it is safe

he Brooklyn police would like new students at UP to be aware of various crimes that are committed around the area so that students are always alert of their surroundings.

As new students are unaccustomed to their environment and are still unaware of the threats they could fall victim to, criminals in Hatfield prey on them, especially at the ‘onset of the academic year’. The police would like students to be cognisant of the four main crimes that are increasingly reported around the Hatfield area at the beginning of the year.

Vehicle related crimes are one of the main crimes that students find themselves falling victim to. Students are urged not to leave their valuables such as cell phones and laptops in their cars unattended, as this can cause robbers to break into their vehicles and have their possessions stolen. Furthermore, the Brooklyn police would like to urge them not to park their cars on the pavements around campus because this can create an easy opportunity for motor-vehicle theft. Instead, “students are advised to make use of the park and ride facility” at the L.C de Villiers sports campus to ensure the safety of their vehicles.

According to Crime Stats SA, in 2017 748 thefts of motor vehicles and motorcycles were

reported at the Brooklyn Precinct and 1271 thefts out of or from motor vehicles.

Accommodation scams are another of the main crimes reported at the police station.

Victims of these scams usually look for private accommodation “online or [through] newspaper rental searches”, and pay a deposit for an accommodation place that does not exist, ending up not having a place to stay.

When looking for private accommodation students must use UP’s registered and officially accredited rental agents for a more trustworthy source. A list for these kinds of accommodation is available on the UP website.

Another commonly occurring crime is one that involves individuals who approach students in order to ‘pray’ for them ‘so that no harm will befall them’. These individuals, commonly known as ‘false prophets’, also ask to pray over their victims’ belongings.

The ‘prophets’ may ask the students to leave their belongings with them and go and buy water for a ‘purification process’. When the students return, their possessions along with the individuals are gone. These ‘prophets’ usually lure in students by falsely informing them that their family members’ lives are in danger or they may mention something with regards to ‘ancestral spirits’. The perpetrators may also approach their targets and offer them

you rented is yours andBeware is not aof prophets’. of ‘False Beware “false prophets They may ask to pray for promising prosperity scam you They may ask to pray for and in return will take your

you promising prosperity and in turn will take your belongings

belongings

a discount on clothes in certain clothing stores around the area and, while students are trying on clothes, the individuals disappear with their possessions.

Street robberies are part of the four main reported crimes. Criminals will approach pedestrians “walking to and from residences, campus, train stations and entertainment places”, and will use weapons such as firearms and/or knives to threaten their victims and rob them off of their possessions. These robberies can occur during the day or at night so students are asked to be vigilant at all times and move around in groups and keep their important belongings out of sight.

Beware of “false prophets” They may ask to pray for you promising prosperity and in turn will take your belongings

Be vigilant in all situatio Beware of “falseones prophets” (especially without n phoning Theyimmediately may ask tobypray for10 Beware of street robberies given to the police anonym you promising prosperity Beware of street robberies.

Robbers may attack anyone at anytime. Walk in groups and keep your valuables out of sight.

they may attack anyone at take your and in turn will anytime belongings Walk in groups and keep your valuables out ofBesight vigilant in all situation

Be vigilant in all (especially ones without n situations.

vigilant in all situations. Report any suspicious persons, vehicles by phoning 10 immediately Beware of “falseBeprophets” Beware of street robberies (especially ones without number plates) or circumstances togiven the police to the police anonym They may askimmediately to pray for they may attack anyone at by phoning 10111. Information with regards to crime can be anytime you promisinggiven prosperity to the police anonymously by phoning 08600 10111 or by sending an SMSWalk to 32211 in groups and keep your and in turn will take your The c los est off cam pu s st u d e n t a cco m m o d a t i o n to t h e U nive rsvaluables i t y o f P re toout r i a of sight belongings • • • •

Fully furnished studios Own bathroom and kitchenette TV lounge with DSTV Interactive study and games room

• Undercover parking on site for cars and bicycles • Access control, CCTV and 24/7 security • Wi-fi and laundry available • Kiosk offering meals, snacks, coffee, etc.

Be vigilant in all situations. Report any suspicious persons, vehicles (especially ones without number plates) or circumstances to the police For more info visit www.hatfieldstudios.co.za or email us info@hatfieldstudios.co.za 087 365 3123 | 1083 Prospect Street, Hatfield, Pretoria immediately by phoning 10111. Information with regards to crime can be given to the police anonymously by phoning 08600 10111 or by sending an SMS to 32211

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News | 27 January 2018

Don’t judge a Library by its cover

Illustration: Sally Hartzenberg

Henri Uys

U

P’s Library Services offer students a place to work and to do research for their projects or assignments.

The most prominent feature of the library is its study areas. Hundreds of tables and chairs are available for students to sit and study. Electrical sockets are also located close to these areas for students to charge laptops,

phones and other devices.

Students can use Wi-Fi hotspots in the library to access the internet. The library also provides over 100 computers for students to do research, print assignments and access ClickUP. Dozens of printers in the library allow students to print their work material. Students will first have to load money onto their student cards and register on TuksPrint’s website for

a password. To use the library’s printers, students use their student card and password to pay for and access the printing services.

Other services such as anti-plagiarism training and academic writing training are also provided.

The library also features discussion rooms ideal for students groups looking for a place to study together or to practice for a presentation.

UP’s multiple libraries hold thousands of books that are useful when students are looking for extra insight for their studies or to add more information to their assignments. Most books can be borrowed for a up to two weeks, but certain books can only be used for a few hours.

UP Library Services are also available through an app that can be downloaded from the App Store and Google Play Store. The app can be used to search the university catalogues, find new books and articles, renew books, check library times, and request materials that may be located at other libraries.

Library staff are always willing to help students find what they need, but it is advised that students attend one of the library orientation programs to learn to use this valuable resource.

The libraries open at 07:00 on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. On Tuesdays the libraries open at 08:30, at 9:30 on Saturdays and 11:00 on Sundays. Students are advised to consult the library’s service hours on the Library Services’ website, as some libraries’ service hours differ from others.

27 January 2018 | News

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The UP Student Portal Mbali Mkhithi

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Illustration: Sally Hartzenberg

Plagiarism at UP Mbali Mkhithi

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he University of Pretoria’s website defines plagiarism as, “A serious form of academic misconduct which involves both appropriating someone else’s written or creative work and passing it off as one’s own work.” Written or creative work refers to words, images, ideas, opinions, discoveries, artworks, music, recordings and computer-generated work among many. Plagiarism could be committed in assignments, where students take information from the internet, books or other sources and pass it off as their own work.

This act is forbidden and bears serious consequences. When a student is found guilty of plagiarising, they are informed in writing by the marker and given an opportunity to deny the allegation in person. If the student admits to plagiarising, the marker will then suggest a penalty in line with the Plagiarism Penalty Scale, and a note of the incident will be made on the student’s record. Such a penalty can be serious enough to affect their academic progress. In extreme cases, penalties could result in suspension, expulsion or denial to graduate.

In order to ensure that students do not plagiarise, they are required to submit their assignments through Turnitin, an internetbased plagiarism prevention service found on

ClickUP. Turnitin checks a student’s work and compares it with other articles and information found on the internet. It then produces a similarity percentage that reflects the exact words plagiarised and the sources they were taken from. The service can also pick up if someone changed the wording in an attempt to disguise the plagiarism. The percentage reflected determines whether or not a student can be charged with plagiarism. Each faculty has a percentage limit and if a student has passed that limit, their assignment will not be marked, or the student will face repercussions.

Even if a student does not submit an assignment through Turitin themselves, faculties can run a document through Turnitin if they suspect plagiarism.

Anti-plagiarism at UP does not mean students are not allowed to use information from the internet and other sources, but rather it means that students must reference the information they use through the different referencing styles used by each faculty or the students must rephrase the information, integrating it with their own knowledge, and then reference the source in their bibliography. The Merensky II Library holds free anti-plagiarism workshops every semester, which students are welcome to attend. More information on plagiarism will be given by each faculty’s study guide and is also available on the UP website.

he student portal is an online gateway where UP students can log into the university network to access important information regarding their courses and other facilities within the university.

The portal is a method of communication between the university and the students and provides all necessary information regarding academics and other factors surrounding academics.

In order to access the portal, students need to use either Google chrome or internet explorer to reach the UP portal login page.

On the page, easy access to the library, UP web and Tuks google account are available on the top left. The student will then have to fill in their username, which is ‘u’+ their 8-digit student number and their preferred password to login. The homepage of the portal is made up of portlet blocks that all give access to different services. The most used and important portlet is the ClickUP homepage, This is where information relating directly to student modules and student courses is posted. The page contains different module folders where

announcements regarding those particular modules, the faculty, and course are made. This is also where assignments are posted, marks are updated, lecture slides, worksheets, tutorials, consultation hours and venues for tests among many other things are found.

The student centre can also be found on the portal. Here students can access their academic information, finances, residence data for those who stay in a campus residence, personal and contact information. A special timetable portlet block provides personalised timetables for all students. Hatfield Campus lecture timetables and Examination, Supplementary and Test timetables are available here. There are also general announcements, a university news section and school calendars on the portal.

Also found on the portal are other useful portlets such as password self-service where students can change and update passwords, and the TuksPrint portlet where printing services are placed.

Information on how to use the Portal is available on the portal home tab and for any queries on the portal, students may contact IT Help at 012 420 3051 or email ithelp@up.ac.za.

Tuks technology and app support Mbali Mkhithi

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any of the services available on campus are found online or arrangements to utilise them are made online. Retrieving information and submitting also happens online, therefore ensuring that student’s online communication is active and effective is crucial.

There are a number of support centres that are available to assist students in the event that students have tech or computer literacy troubles. The University offers a compulsory module for all first year students called AIM (Academic information management), which equips students with computer literacy skills that will assist in guiding them on the correct format for assignments when using Microsoft Word, Excel and Powerpoint.

IT support, on the other hand, provides a variety of services that are related to either a student’s laptop, tablet, or smartphone, connecting to the university’s Wifi, and assistance with downloading university Apps.

Another important service worth mentioning is Microsoft Office 365, which is a subscription plan that includes access to applications such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook, Publisher, and Access. This subscription is usually

priced at R1 119.00, however, Office 365 is free at the IT Support centre for UP students.

The IT Support centre is located at the Student Centre, near the Piazza and students simply need to set up an appointment to get the help they need.

If students need assistance with logging into the Student portal, they may visit the IT support team or the library information desk for assistance. For printing services, the university uses TuksPrint. TuksPrint is a web and mobile-enabled system that allows you to submit and manage print jobs and manage your printing account from your smart mobile device or computer. Students load money onto their student cards to be able to use the printing machines on UP campuses. The TuksPrint office is available in the Merensky II Library and printing workshops will also be offered in the library.

For students who do not have Laptops or smartphones, there are computers available for use at this library and in the computer labs. These computers are well equipped with all the important services that students will need to complete tasks.

The library information desk, IT Support Centre, the AIM labs and the IT building offers all the assistance you may need for your devices.

The heart of the university: The student centre Masesi Tsotetsi

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Image: Sally Hartzenberg

he student centre is the one place on campus that offers all the things any student needs. Students can buy books, food, stationery and even seek assistance in terms of accommodation.

Most importantly, students can also use the facilities to socialise with other students.

One of the greatest things about the student centre is the weekly promotions from all sectors within and outside the university. During the first few weeks of the year, students are able to sign up for various societies. Throughout the year promoters from Labello, Redbull, Standard Bank and many more visit campus to inform and get students involved in external activities. Most of the time students receive freebies when such promotions happen. Students are also able to take part in activities that matter, like donating blood at the South African National Blood Services tent whenever it is made available.

TuksSport and TuksRAG also make use of the student centre to introduce various

events such as the different sports involved in Varsity Cup and RAG outreach initiatives.

For personal finances, students can also make use of the ATMs provided by Standard Bank, ABSA, Nedbank and FNB. Eduloan has also made their services available at the student centre for easier accessibility by students. For accommodation, OC Rental assists in finding suitable and affordable accommodation to suit various students’ needs.

Apart from administration, the student centre also offers a great variety of affordable and enjoyable food stations.

From sandwiches to doughnuts, places like Coffee Buzz, Spaghetti and Big Al’s are only some of the stations where students can purchase food. The student centre is also accommodating for students meeting to work on group projects without the noise restrictions of the library.

The student centre is the meeting spot for students to socialise with one another and recuperate in between classes. Any student can find whatever it is they need there and at any time of the day.

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News | 27 January 2018

Illustration: Rhodeen Davies

Vodacom provides free data for Vodacom-registered students

Henri Uys

Illustration: Rhodeen Davies

Who to contact when you need help Henri Uys

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here are a variety of services available for UP students should they ever need assistance. These services include medical, legal and security services. Here’s a look at some of UP’s support services, available throughout the year to all registered UP students.

Healthcare The Student Health Services offers healthcare services to all UP students. Healthcare services include the treatment of injuries; the examination, diagnosis and treatment of illnesses; family planning; dietary advice; free eye testing and advice regarding other medical issues.

There is also the Voluntary Counselling and Testing Clinic (VCT) that assists students with HIV/AIDS tests and provides counseling free of charge. Patients making use of the services are seen on a walk-in basis. Some services such as pregnancy counseling and eye testing do require an appointment. Consultations provided by the Student Health Services are free of charge. The Student Health Services can be found on all UP campuses. Students should check UP’s website for the doctor’s available times on each campus. UP’s Student Health Services are run by fully qualified and registered healthcare professionals.

Safety and security One of UP’s main priorities regarding its students is ensuring the safety of its students.

A variety of security services are available for students. UP has a 24-hour UP Crisis Service number (0800 00 64 28) available for students who fall victim to crime such as robbery, rape or assault. The UP Crisis Service is also available for students suffering from family or personal relationship issues, students in need of study guidance or having suicidal thoughts.

Students can also contact emergency numbers that can be found on the backside of every UP student card.

The Green Route Project is a project that helps students to travel safely between destinations in and around campus. Security officials accompany students and staff on foot to and from residences, vehicles or other nearby locations. The service runs between 18:00 and 06:00 daily. Security officials accompany students and staff from the following points: •On the Hatfield campus: in front of the Absa ATM next to the Merensky Library.

•On the Groenkloof campus: between the Administration Building and the Auditorium.

•On the Prinshof campus: in front of the HW Snyman Building.

•On the Kalafong campus: in front of the Klinikala Building.

•There are no specific points on the Onderstepoort and Mamelodi campuses.

Students should contact the 24-hour Operational Management Centre (012 420 2310/2760) or go to a security official at the gate to arrange for a security escort.

UP’s security services also deal with lost and found property. This is handled by the 24-hour Operational Management Centre. The Centre can be found in the Administration Building on the Hatfield campus.

Legal Advice UP’s Law Clinic offers free legal advice to students who cannot afford it. Students who qualify for free legal advice are determined by the “means test” (students earning less than R7 000 a month and whose asset value does not exceed R350 000). Students can obtain legal advice for matters such as divorces, maintenance issues and delictual claims (claims for damages because of harm/negligence caused).

The Law Clinic provides assistance with criminal cases at the Hatfield Community Court.

No fees are charged for professional services delivered to students. Students are, however, liable to pay for their disbursements such as sheriff’s fees.

The Student Disciplinary Advisory Panel (SDAP) provides assistance to students who are charged with any misconduct by the university.

The Panel does not provide legal advice, but assists students in the disciplinary processes against them. The SDAP can be found in the Roosmaryn Building on the Hatfield campus.

Student Counselling Division: The Student Counselling Division offers various kinds of support for all UP students, such as academic, emotional and therapeutic counselling.

The staff consists of counseling, educational and clinical psychologists, and social workers. They are able to offer advise and support students with issues about trauma, psychological difficulties, sexual abuse and violence, academic stress and exam anxiety among other things.

The Division uses a screening service as a process to book appointments. This triage service determines the urgency of a client’s contact. According to Hanlé Kirkcaldy of the UP Student Counselling Division, “...if you have a serious problem that you present with, you will be followed up even as soon as the next day. If the complaint is something that for some reason can wait, there might be a one or two week delay,” The student counselling division’s building is located next to the Student Centre and opposite Tukkiewerf entrance.

Their office hours are weekdays 07:30 - 15:30.

UP Careline: 0800 747 747 24-hour crisis service line: 0800 0064 28 or 012 420 2310

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n 27 September 2017, Vodacom announced that it will provide free data to students who are registered as Vodacom subscribers. 19 universities are participating in this project.

In a press release, Vodacom “acknowledges that more needs to be done to enable South Africans to enjoy [the] social benefits of connectivity and [its] associated costs. We remain committed to addressing data cost transformation and building on our Siyakha platform that offers zero-rated portals for school learners and job seekers”.

Staff and students who are Vodacom users will be able to access certain websites for free.

These websites include the university’s website, online library services, student portals and other learning platforms.

In the press release, Alberts Breed,

Vodacom Managing Executive for the Western Cape Region, said, “This intervention is a demonstration of Vodacom’s core belief that Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and mobile technology can be utilized to improve and advance learning, address skills development and help in finding employment.”

Breed further added, “Many learners in our country often cannot afford and don’t have access to learning material such as textbooks, which makes excelling at school more difficult.

As an investor in the country and an established partner in addressing social challenges, Vodacom’s goal is to contribute to ensuring that learners throughout the country have access to some of the educational tools to help enhance their learning experience.”

UP has also subscribed to the service. On 20 October 2017, former UP spokesperson Candice Jooste told Perdeby that a “meeting has been scheduled to finalise all the details”.

2018

21-24 MARCH 2018

WWW.MIELIEPOPFESTIVAL.CO.ZA

27 January 2018 | News

7

Free education: A roundup Ditebogo Tshaka

2015 January

UP students arrested as protests continue, October 2016

UPrising massmeeting, 21 October 2015

#TransformWits was launched in response to the University of the Witwatersrand’s (Wits) conversion of financial aid (that helped finance poor students’ studies) into loans.

19 September 2016

Lecturers support FMF, 22 October 2015

February

In January 2016, President Zuma established a Commission of Inquiry into Higher Education and Training (Heher Commission). The Commission was charged with looking into the feasibility of free higher education and was led by was led by Judge Jonathan Heher, assisted by advocate Gregory Ally and Leah Khumalo.

1Million 1Month campaign launched at Wits to raise funds for financially excluded students. These were Wits students who were unable to pay their registration fees and had historic debt with the university (unpaid tuition fees carried over from 2014), thus preventing them to continue with their studies.

Fees Must Fall Reloaded, as it was later coined, represented a second set of protests as students believed that the 2016 0% increase merely represented a freezing instead of a falling of fees. Many students believed that as fees had not fallen, several students were still at risk of being financially excluded and unable to return to their studies. As the beginning of the academic year commenced, fallists (Fees Must Fall activists) at Wits demanded that registration fees be scrapped.

In mid-August, universities faced another round of potential shutdowns that started with University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) cancelling their lectures, and Wits and UP engaging in consultations.

March

Chumani Maxwele threw human excrement at a statue of Cecil John Rhodes at the University of Cape Town’s Rondebosch campus, sparking the #RhodesMustFall movement and the call for a decolonised UCT and higher education.

On 20 September, Nzimande announced that the fee increment for 2017 would be 8% but that households who earn below R600 000 per annum would be exempt from the increase.

He later decided to allow universities to decide on their own fee increase percentage individually according to how much they needed to “continue to operate effectively and at least maintain existing quality”. “Our recommendation is that fee adjustments should not go above 8%,” said Nzimande.

2016

19 September

Then Minister of Higher Education and Training, Blade Nzimande announced a proposed 8 percent increase in South African university tuition fees.

This announcement sparked Fees Must Fall – a student led protest movement across universities in response to the proposed fee increase.

14 October

Following the university’s announcement that it would raise its fees by 10.5% percent Wits held a sit in and lock down of the institution, demanding that management sign their memorandum of demands.

16 October

UPrising, “a collective cause and movement of the students [at UP]”, was founded.

UPrising’s Facebook page said that the group’s aim was to host “a peaceful protest to voice the frustrations of students concerning fee increments on all platforms”.

19 October

The University currently known as Rhodes (UCKAR) joined the protests by barricading the roads leading to the university. UCT students also joined the #RhodesMustFall.

Prof De la Rey addressing UPrising protesters, 21 October 2015

23 October

Students from several South African universities participated in a mass march to the Union Buildings. The approximately 15 000 students, some of whom were from the Tshwane University of Technology, the University of Johannesburg, Wits, and UP expected President Zuma to address them at midday. Although he did not do so, after 15:00 President Zuma announced from within the Union Buildings that there would be no increase in tuition fees in 2016.

21 October

Tshwane University of Technology, University of Limpopo and University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) joined the nationwide protests.

UPrising held a mass meeting and over 2000 students marched to UP’s Administration Building to hand over a memorandum of 13 demands to vice-chancellor and principal Cheryl de la Rey. UPrising spokesperson Karabo Sekhukhuni, in a gathering at the Student Centre, said that fees must not be increased at all for 2016.

20 October

Nzimande announced that vice-chancellors across the country agreed to reduce the 2016 proposed fee increase to 6%. This was rejected by students nationwide and protests continued for a 0% increase.

Stellenbosch University, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, University of Fort Hare and Nelson Mandela University joined the movement.

Infographic: Shaun Sproule Photos: Shen Scott, Fezekile Msimang, Carel Willemse

2017

President Jacob Zuma received the Fees Commission Report at the end of August.

On 13 November the Presidency released the Report. Therein it was stated that there “is insufficient financial capacity in the state to provide totally free higher education and training to all who are unable to finance their own education, let alone all students, whether in need or not”.

The report recommended that a cost-sharing model for funding university be implemented. If adopted, it would be in the form of an income contingent loan (ICL) scheme. It would be a deferred loan scheme for all students, and offer an opt-out provision. It was also recommended that ICLs should replace NSFAS in funding university students.

On 16 December, Pres. Zuma announced that the government would subsidise free tertiary education for the poor and working class students. His announcement, which coincided with the beginning of the ANC’s 54th elective conference, highlighted that students in their first year of study at public universities would be funded through government grants and not loans. This decision was viewed as an overruling of the Heher Commission’s recommendations as the Fees Commission report stated that there was a “dire economic need” in the country, which meant that “a large proportion of existing and future students will be unable to exercise [their] right to further education”.

2018

The practicalities of funding free education:

In order to fund free higher education government needs R12 billion. Currently South Africa faces a R50.8 billion revenue shortfall.

Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba announced that slow economic growth contributed to the shortfall. Tom Moyane, Commissioner at South African Revenue Service, supported this notion. “South Africa is lagging well behind with the latest outlook for the 2017/18 Financial year trailing at a GDP growth rate of 0.9%,” said Moyane to iol.

According to News24, in 2017, South African Airlines was given a R5.2 billion bailout as operating capital and to service its debt.

On 12 January 2018, the Mail&Guardian reported that Eskom was in dire financial distress and needed R20 billion to keep operating until March 2018. The publication reported that it is likely that the parastatal will have to look to government for the funds, as Eskom’s attempts to raise funds in the local and foreign capital markets, through investors, had proven difficult due to concerns of poor governance by the enterprise.

“Eskom is too important to the economy to be allowed to fail. If Eskom fails, the whole country fails, and government cannot allow that,” said energy analyst Chris Yelland.

Due to the abovementioned shortfalls and strains on South Africa’s budget, concerns have been raised as to whether or not Pres. Zuma’s promise will come to fruition. Pres.

Zuma has also not disclosed any details as to how his plan will work, and many await Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba’s 2018 Budget Speech for possible insight into this.

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Features | 27 January 2018

Escaping the prevalence of cyberbullying

Illustration: Sally Hartzenberg

Mosa Mgabhi

T

echnological advancement throughout the years has led to the rapid increase of cyberbullying. Even though the development of technology has allowed humans to make great strides in many fields, it has also allowed forms of transgression to become equally varied. The availability, anonymity and accessibility of electronic communication has enabled traditional face-to-face bullying to translate into the online world, resulting in cyberbullying. The South African Department of Justice and Constitutional Development defines cyberbullying as “acts involving bullying and harassment using electronic devices and technology” and is perpetrated through websites, blogs, chat rooms, social networking sites, and emails among many other methods. Affordablecollegesonline.org, with the help of Claire K. Hall, a higher education attorney, sought to help students understand cyberbullying in college and identified different forms of cyberbullying which include flaming, exclusion, cyberstalking, outing, and masquerading.

Lesego Legobane “Thick Leeyonce”, walked the runway for Woolworths’ Autumn Winter 2017 collection at the South African Fashion Week. The photographer and plus-size fashion blogger was grateful for those who celebrated her achievement but was discouraged and disheartened by the negative comments littered all over social media after the event. In response to the fat-shaming comments, she shared an Instagram post showing the screenshots of the negative tweets with the caption: “The

love is REAL! I feel it & I am ALWAYS grateful. Oh but the hatred? The cruelty? The malicious comments I have to deal with? EVERYDAY? […] It’s been 4 years, FOUR YEARS of online abuse and cyber bullying but yesterday? I got really sad. [sic]” This is just one of many domestic examples of an issue being dealt with worldwide. On 16 November, Prince William in collaboration with leading tech companies including YouTube, Google, Snapchat, Facebook, and Twitter, announced an online code of conduct called “Stop, Speak and Support”.

The campaign will start a trial programme to support victims of cyberbullying and implement safety guidelines for online users. “The technology company members of the [campaign] have agreed to adopt new guidelines to improve the process for reporting bullying online, and to create clearer consequences for those who behave unacceptably,” he said. An article published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health titled “Adversity in University: Cyberbullying and Its Impacts on Students, Faculty and Administrators”, expresses that recent studies on cyberbullying among university students report mental and physical health impacts such as anger, sadness, embarrassment, hostility, loneliness, lowered self-confidence and self-esteem, social withdrawal, anxiety, loss of friendships, depression, a drop in school attendance and performance, strained family relationships, self-blame and suicidal thoughts. The article further goes on to articulate that victims often feel a sense of powerlessness to stop the bullying

and a reluctance to report the behaviour.

Hall, is also the principal of Universal Education Compliance and Training (UECAT), says that “most colleges and universities have access to counselling services and other resources that can help a student understand and deal with cyberbullying. Also, if colleges and universities know that there is cyberbullying on campus, they can take measures to prevent it, which includes educational programmes at orientation, or in the residence halls”. The South African Police Services advices those affected by cyberbullying to not respond to the taunts of the culprits, not retaliate to avoid a cycle of aggression, save the evidence, however minor it is as cyberbullying can escalate, use privacy tools to block the person or people and report the abusive comments to the social media website administrators and reach out for help from a trusted friend or adult.

In terms of the Protection from Harassment Act 17 of 2011, someone who has been bullied can ask the courts for an interim protection order that can be granted if the court is satisfied that the respondent has harassed, or is harassing, the applicant and that harm has or may be caused. The Act stipulates that electronic service providers can be required to hand in the name, surname, identity number and address of the person to whom the IP address, e-mail or cell phone number belongs.

However, regulatory advisor of the Internet Services Provider’s Association, Dominic Cull raised practical issues around implementing the law, such as how gather enough information to be incriminating, which internet service provider to approach and what would happen if someone were to be harassed on Facebook, which is outside of South Africa’s jurisdiction.

“There is no way a SA court can force Facebook to release details’ he said.

The Centre for Justice and Crime Prevention (CJCP) indicates that South Africa does not have specific legislation that deals with cyberbullying, therefore, victims have to rely on remedies offered by criminal law and/or civil law however, the fragmented response to cases of online violence is not a South African problem as there is little case law that provides any precedent internationally, and states tend to carefully feel their way forward. According to CJCP, the perpetrator of cyberbullying may be charged with assault, criminal defamation, extortion, crimen injuria or harassment and these consequences and remedies are applicable to perpetrators and available to victims regardless of the ages of the perpetrator or the victim.

According to News24, the abuse of the autonomy of social media also gained attention from State Security Agency minister, David Mahlobo. In a parliamentary reply earlier this year, he expressed that his department could potentially regulate social media to isolate the “real threats” posed by cybercrime. He maintained that information-sharing via the electronic web resulted in amongst others, cybercrime activities, human trafficking, defamation, child pornography and the like.

However, advocacy groups such as Right2Know maintain the view that social networks such as twitter already have regulatory measures to empower people to act against online harassment.

The low-down on the Climate change debate

Illustration: Sally Hartzenberg

Courtney Paulse

D

uring 2017 a number of weather phenomena occurred in unusual places, and at unusual times of the year. The world’s most destructive flood took place in Peru, and in South Africa we saw massive storm floods hit Durban, as well as snow in the Free State in November. These unusual occurrences

awakened a debate that has been going on for decades, which is, whether or not climate change really exists.

According to NASA climate change is real and there is significant evidence to prove it. There has been a rise in global temperatures and since 2001 we have had 16 of the 17 warmest years on record. These high temperatures are believed to have been caused by the increase in greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide as well as other humanmade emissions, that have been released into the atmosphere. Oceans have continued to grow warmer and ice sheets have continued to shrink.

Evidence has also shown that glaciers have been melting. Using satellites, observations have shown that snow cover has decreased over recent years and that snow is melting much earlier than usual. Studies have also shown that the acidity of the oceans has increased and the thickness of the Artic sea ice has reduced significantly over the past few years.

In a 2016 survey conducted by the Pew Research Centre titled

“The Politics of Climate.”, it was found that 20% of Americans believe that there has not been any solid evidence provided by scientists that global warming exists. 48% of Americans said that climate change is caused by human activity and only a mere 36% of Americans were found to be concerned about climate change. The survey also found that beliefs about global warming and climate change have mainly been shaped by politics.

While many people do believe global warming is real there are a number of people who simply do not believe that the Earth is undergoing a global warming trend. In an article published by HowStuffWorks titled “Are Climate Skeptics Right?”, reasons for why people do not believe in global warming included the belief that the models used to predict what Earth’s future will be like under global warming are unreliable. The placement of some weather stations may be producing inaccurate results and produce data that may be corrupted by urban heat islands .

They believe that while the glaciers, sun, gases and the ocean are largely responsible for the weather, there are a number of other factors that also play a pivotal role that we currently are unable to understand. Sceptics have also pointed out that global warming might not be so global after all, since the temperatures of the Northern Hemisphere have increased while the Southern Hemisphere has actually cooled down. Global warming sceptics have also used the Medieval Warm Period as a counterargument, as it was a period where temperatures across the globe increased, which was followed by a period where global temperatures cooled. They believe that we are currently experiencing something similar.

Although significant strides in global warming and climate change research have been made and whether or not 2018 brings more unpredictable and out of the ordinary weather phenomena, there is no doubt that the debate on climate change will continue for many more years.

27 January 2018 | Features

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Photo: Sally Hartzenberg

Let’s talk about (safe) sex Katherine Atkinson

F

irst-year is about growth, transition and exploration. For many students, university marks the time when they become sexually active. On the other hand, some may already be sexually active and others may choose to remain celibate.

Nevertheless, at most universities there is a presence of hook-up culture which is fuelled by alcohol and parties. No matter how long you have been sexually active for, it is important to engage in safe sex to avoid sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unwanted pregnancies.

An STI is an infection that can be spread by sexual contact.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) says that over 1 million new cases of STIs are transmitted worldwide every single day.

WHO says that there are eight pathogens which are responsible for the most number of STIs. These include syphilis, gonorrhoea, chlamydia, trichomoniasis, hepatitis B, herpes simplex virus (HSV or herpes), HIV, and human papillomavirus (HPV). While the first four are curable but becoming increasingly drug resistant, the last four are incurable. WHO also notes that some STIs may not be explicitly notable, as is sometimes the case with chlamydia.

WHO says that correct use of condoms is the most effective way to protect against STIs as condoms act as a physical barrier which prevents the exchange of semen and vaginal fluid. Both male and female condoms can significantly reduce the risk of getting most STIs. However, Better Health have noted that some STIs, such as genital warts, scabies and pubic lice, are spread by skin-on-skin contact of intimate areas. This means that condoms will not necessarily protect against this. Furthermore, a condom may break, especially if an oil-based lubricant is used with the condom, or if the condom has passed its use-by date.

Although you cannot get pregnant from either oral or anal sex, you can still get an STI. It is therefore imperative that you still use protection when engaging in these practices. A dental dam, which is a latex sheet that is placed over female genitals , can be used when engaging in oral sex with a woman. When engaging in oral or anal sex with a man, one can use a male condom to prevent the spread of STIs. While the above-mentioned forms of protection may prevent pregnancy and STIs, there are also types of contraceptives that offer little to zero protection against STIs. These include hormonal contraceptives or ‘the pill’ which offers no protection against STIs, and a diaphragm (a cap worn high in the vagina to cover the cervix) which offers little protection against STIs. Better Health say that safe sexual practices include kissing if neither person has a cut on the mouth, cuddling, mutual masturbation and using barrier contraceptives. Contrary to this, unsafe or high-risk sexual practices include having sex without a female or male condom, withdrawing the penis before ejaculation, reusing a condom or using a condom incorrectly, and getting bodily fluids such as menstrual blood, semen or vaginal fluids inside another person’s mouth, vagina or anus.

There are many factors that increase the risk of unsafe sex, factors such as being drunk, using drugs, believing that you can ‘see’ if someone has an STI, and feeling pressured to have sex.

The latter brings the concept of consent into question. The Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center define consent as “when someone says ‘yes’ to a sexual activity with someone else”.

Consent also means being able to say ‘no’ at any point during the sexual activity. Sexual consent should never be assumed, not even when you are in a relationship. Additionally, a person’s silence or inability to say ‘no’ should never be considered a ‘yes’.

Better Health say that the safest sex that you can engage in is monogamous sex, with a barrier contraceptive, when both parties are clear of STIs. If you are engaging in sex regularly, especially with different people, it is important to get tested for STIs on a regular basis. This is to ensure that you reduce the chance of spreading STIs, and to minimise health risks. At the University of Pretoria, the Centre for Sexualities Aids and Gender (CSA&G) give out free condoms and offer free testing and counselling for Aids. The Student Health Services and Clinic at the University of Pretoria also offer treatment, care and support services which include HIV counselling and testing for students.

F

irst year is daunting for pretty much any first year student. University is the start of a new chapter in your life, in a completely different environment from high school, and if you’re not properly prepared you may find it to be quite a struggle.

Luckily, there are those that have gone through it before you and are willing to give some friendly advice. Perdeby asked a few senior students what they wished they had known when they were in first year:

Subhan Shah: Computer Engineering

The thing I wish I knew in first year was that there’s no time to catch up. You always have to be up to date with your work.

Always attend lectures and keep [up] with what the lecturer says in class. And don’t be easily influenced by people who are studying with you. Be your own person, make your own decisions.

Karabo Langa: BCom Investment management

I wish they had mentioned how much time you have to put into it, because I feel like it’s not really about how smart you are, it’s more about how much effort you put in. So, I feel like they should have mentioned that you have to put in a consistent amount of time every day. I think that it is mentioned, but maybe it just needs to be [...] emphasised.

Petrus Alberts: Industrial Engineering

Everyone told me that you only [aim for] 50% in university and if you get more than 50% you’re really smart, but I think that whole idea is wrong. If you’re in grade four, people told me grade five is really difficult. It’s exactly the same as in university. There’s a difference between matric and first year, but it’s exactly the same difference as grade four and grade five. If you’re going to get fifties in first year and think you’re smart and then wonder why second year is difficult, then you realise it’s because you only understand 50% of the first year work, so you’re obviously going to have to work three times harder. So, no, it’s not so difficult to get an eighty and if you got eighties in school you should get eighties in uni.

Andy Masenga: Industrial Engineering

What I wish I had known from first year is the support systems that the university has in terms of study skills and all those things. When I attended those things recently I realised that it’s actually very helpful. If I had known such things existed then, it would have been very helpful. Even the support, not only for academics, but the counselling that the university offers, I think that was very helpful for me.

Masego Maraba: BA Law

I wish someone had told me that [...] I’m in this alone, no one is there to hold my hand anymore, this is not matric. I wish someone had told me not to do it. Just don’t do varsity.

If you’re not really prepared don’t do it at all. The amount of work is a lot. It’s like triple what we had in matric. And I wish people had told me who to hang out with and who not to hang out with.

Matsatsi Rasekgololo: BCom Accounting Sciences

Sitting on the grass and enjoying yourself is a lie. Your life should be the library. If you enter those doors your life will be nice. [...] Whether you’re passing or failing, mental health is important. Take a break and breathe. It’s not your fault if you’re failing. You tried and if you failed, you tried and it didn’t work out. Try again next time.

Edwina Mathobela: BCom Accounting Science

What I wish I knew is that life on campus is not always like what they projected on the prospectus. You don’t always get to sit on the grass and chill with your friends all the time. You have a choice of not going to class and going out every night, but that’s definitely to your detriment. I wish I knew that. I wish I knew how to balance my life. In my first year I had a hard time doing that.

Annie Langa: BCom Marketing

I wish I had known about the second floor at the library, where there’re couches and coffee. I would have studied a lot harder had I known that.

Karla Boja: BCom Marketing

Firstly, I wish someone had told me that you must appreciate your family in first year, because I feel like in first year you’re like “No dad, leave me alone”, and then comes the work, you don’t see your family, except for like once a year. So, I think you should not underestimate or ignore your family and really good friends. So, don’t forget about your family. Secondly, although you should pay attention to your marks, don’t think that marks are everything. You’re not in matric anymore, it’s more about being practical and thinking outside the box than memorising books. If you’re an international student just have fun and don’t get overwhelmed by all the languages, it’s super cool. First years, please stop wearing booty shorts. This is not a beach, it’s not a holiday, it’s first year university. Thank you.

Amelia van Schalkwyk: BCom Marketing

I wish I knew that a 50 was okay. You don’t have to get eighties and nineties. A 50 is fine. A 51 and you studied one percent too hard.

Navisha Naidoo: BCom Marketing

I wish somebody told me not to party too hard. I think if you fail a subject in first year it actually impacts your second and third year. So, definitely think about that in first year. I think when you’re in first year you may feel overwhelmed, but don’t ever underestimate yourself. I promise you, you can push yourself to do the best. Don’t get overwhelmed with the 20 subjects you do in first semester.

Motheo Petje: BCom Finance

I think there’s a beauty in not knowing anything at first, because it’s a learning process, you learn as you go and that just makes it more authentic at the end of the day. That’s just my opinion.

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Features | 27 January 2018

Alcohol Use Disorder: Acceptable now, addiction later

Photo: Sally Hartzenberg

Katherine Atkinson

T

hough first year students come from different backgrounds, the one thing that they have in common is that they look forward to university parties. First year is filled with many opportunities to explore new places, meet new people and have lots of fun. However, more often than not, nights out are centred on alcohol which means that excessive alcohol consumption has become somewhat normalised. In fact, Addiction Resources say that about “20%

of college students meet the medical criteria for having an Alcohol Use Disorder, which includes alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence.” This high statistic is not only attributed to the party culture embedded within universities, but also the transition from high school to university. This is because when students are presented with the pressures of meeting new people, adapting to a new environment and increased levels of work, alcohol presents itself as an easy stress reliever.

Alcohol Use Disorder includes a level known as alcoholism, which is total dependence on alcohol. Alcohol Use Disorder usually begins with binge drinking, a practice that many university students engage in. Binge drinking is defined by Addiction Resources as consuming four or more drinks (for women) and five or more drinks (for men) within two hours.

Furthermore, Addiction Resources says that students who engage in binge drinking “on more than three occasions within a two week period are statistically 19 times more likely to develop alcoholism than non-binge drinkers.” Moreover, 12% of university students binge drink on five or more occasions per month, which increases the chance of alcoholism. This means that out of the approximate 60 000 students at the University of Pretoria, 7 200 are at a significantly higher risk of developing alcoholism than the average person.

Dr Linda Blokland from the Department of Psychology at the University of Pretoria says that there are many reasons that students binge drink. One of these reasons is naivete, especially “in first year students who have not been introduced to responsible drinking habits before leaving school and sometimes home,” says Dr Blokland. She further notes that other reasons for binge drinking include peer pressure from a friendship group, “experimenting with perceived ‘adult’ behaviour”, attempts to manage stress and “family factors, and learned behaviours from home, which in some cases may be carried into campus life”.

Even if binge drinking does not lead to alcoholism, it can still affect university students negatively in a number of ways.

The National Institution on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) say that 25% of university students have reported that their academics have suffered due to binge drinking. This includes failing a test, falling behind in class, skipping lectures and not completing an assignment due to a hangover, or because of plans to drink. However, the NIAAA say that when one engages in binge drinking, it poses even more serious risks

such as “car crashes, drunk-driving arrests, sexual assaults, and injuries”. In the long-term, binge drinking can damage the liver and other organs.

Binge drinking can also have an impact on one’s emotions.

Dr Blokland says that binge drinking may “impact on close personal relationships” since “emotional intimacy is difficult to cultivate and maintain with someone who drinks heavily”.

This is because drinkers often become more loyal to “drinking buddies than [their] relationship partner”. Furthermore, a drinker’s behaviour can be perceived as “self-centred by those who want to be close to them,” says Dr Blokland.

There are many ways to tell if you or a loved one has developed Alcohol Use Disorder or alcoholism. According to Addiction Resources, some tell-tale signs of alcohol abuse include being unable to control the amount of drinks you have, compromising finances, academics or work for the sake of alcohol, and a shift in sleep patterns. Signs of alcoholism, which, is more than mere alcohol abuse, include: an increased alcohol tolerance, increased amount of time spent drinking, more severe and frequent hangovers, a withdrawal from family and friends, complete neglect of responsibilities, changes in mood such as feeling depressed or irritable, unsuccessful attempts to cut-back or quit drinking, and having troubles maintaining meaningful relationships.

If you wish to avoid binge drinking, one of the most effective ways is to keep track of how many drinks you have had in order to ensure you do not exceed 4 or 5 drinks every two hours. According to the NIAAA, one drink is equivalent to about 350ml of beer with a 5% alcohol content, 150ml of wine with a 12% alcohol content or 44ml (one shot) of distilled spirits with a 40% alcohol content. Other ways you can avoid over-consuming is by skipping the drinking games, but if this is not for you, then try alternating alcoholic beverages with non-alcoholic beverages.

Dr Blokland says that if you wish to ‘cut-back’ or quit drinking altogether then it is “important to avoid the drinking buddies. Cultivate non-drinking friends.” Dr Blokland also suggests that one should find “alternative activities to keep oneself occupied and stimulated” and “analyse what the triggers are that prompt drinking and avoid these.” If this does not help, Dr Blokland says that it “may be necessary to seek counselling or help to stay committed to a decision to stop drinking alcohol”.

27 January 2018 | Features

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Don’t do drugs kids A guide to why you should listen to mom Ricardo Teixeira

W

ith the independence that comes with your first year at university comes lifestyle choices that could make or break your university career and even life after studying. Your parents are no longer around to tell you to not do drugs, so Perdeby is here to stand in and give you some reasons not to do drugs.

Cannabis: (Dagga, weed, grass, boom, kush, marijuana) The general perception on cannabis has become somewhat more positive in recent years, as it has no addictive properties and can be used as a treatment for various illnesses. Although some believe that cannabis is safe and harmless, the compounds in it do have some negative effects, both short and long term. Negative short term effects include impaired memory and difficulty with thinking and problem solving. In the long term, cannabis can inhibit brain development in teenagers and young adults. According to a study conducted by Duke University, those who begin smoking cannabis heavily during teen years, followed by persistent cannabis usage through adulthood lost eight IQ points between the ages of 13 & 38. However those who only began smoking during adulthood showed no significant IQ loss.

Mushrooms: (Shrooms) Psilocybin (Sil-oh-sy-ben) is the chemical compound found inside “magic mushrooms”. It contains no addictive properties, but tolerance can be built up. The compound produces euphoria, as well as hallucinations. They sound harmless but can cause users to behave erratically and irrationally, while some may experience outbursts and panic attacks. Toxicity is a potential danger when Psilocybin containing mushrooms are consumed. According to hallucinogens.com, “while the lethal dose is relatively high, about 1.5 times higher than that of caffeine, psilocybin can be deadly if enough mushrooms containing the drug are consumed”. A person weighing approximately 72 kg would need to ingest 16.7kg for a lethal dosage.

MDMA: (Molly, E, ecstasy) 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine, or MDMA, is chemically similar to both stimulants and hallucinogens. MDMA is commonly associated with raves and dance parties, and according to the National Institute for Drug Abuse (NIDA), it increases the brain chemical levels of Dopamine (causes a surge in euphoria and increased energy/activity), Serotonin (affects mood, appetite, sleep, and also triggers hormones that affect sexual arousal and trust), and Norepinephrine (increases heart rate and blood pressure, which are particularly risky for people with heart and blood vessel problems). Negative effects experienced by users include: nausea, muscle cramping, blurred vision, involuntary teeth clenching, sweats and chills. The effects of MDMA last three to six hours, and there are prolonged negative effects experienced over the course of the following week. These include aggression, irritability, depression, problems with sleep, anxiety and memory problems.

Alcohol: If you are surprised to see alcohol on this list, you might want to pay attention. Alcohol is possibly the most dangerous of all drugs.

Image: Sally Hartzenberg

Readily available at countless liquor stores and supermarkets, but more dangerous than you might realise. Short term effects include slurred speech, drowsiness, sleep disruption and emotional changes. Excessive consumption results in nausea, vomiting, memory loss, lack of bladder and bowel control, loss of consciousness and even death. A hangover and dehydration are also consequences of excessive alcohol consumption. Long term side effects of alcohol overconsumption include depression, liver damage, increased risk of cancer, and reduced sexual performance. Long term overconsumption can also cause users to experience death of brain cells, leading to decreased mental and physical functioning, liver damage and disease, increased tolerance and addiction. Those experiencing alcohol addiction can have difficulty with daily functioning, and addiction can result in permanent brain damage.

Cat (bag, powder) Methcathinone, known by its common street name “Cat”, is a highly addictive stimulant. Many confuse it with a cheaper synthetic version of cocaine, but it is in fact closer to the methamphetamine group. Risk of overdose is high and users experience increased alertness, rapid breathing, a sense of pleasure and euphoria, similar to cocaine. It also leads to decrease in cognitive ability, focus and productivity. Persistent usage can also lead to hypertension, mental confusion and paranoia.

Tik (Crack, meth, rocks, klip, crystal, glass) Methamphetamine. You don’t have to watch Breaking Bad to know how dangerous this stimulant is. Short term effects such as nausea, loss of appetite, paranoia, increased temperature, blood pressure and heart rate are common. Users also experience psychosis, coupled with irritability and hyperexcitability. Permanent damage to blood vessels in the heart and brain, leading to heart attacks and strokes is a long term risk of methamphetamine use.

Depression, respiratory issues, tooth decay, infectious diseases, abscesses, malnutrition and many other effects are common among long term users.

Heroin (smack, H) Heroin is the most addictive substance you could find, as seconds after injecting it, it will bind with opioid receptors in the body and can permanently alter brain chemistry. Short term effects, other than the most common effect of instant pain relief, include a

severe euphoric rush, drowsiness, sedation, and apathy. Side effects of heroin usage are no fun either. They include nausea, vomiting, confusion, grogginess, dry mouth, light sensitivity, and decreased heart rate and respiratory function. Long term effects includes severe constipation, which is is very common. Users also feel weak and sedated, while experiencing decreased dental health, excoriated skin due to scratching, sleeping problems, malnutrition and decreased sexual performance.

Student societies: Something for everyone

Gemma Gatticchi

U

P offers its students over 100 societies ranging from academic to social groups, and everything in between.

Joining a society is a great way to immerse yourself in the university and meet new people. Below is a list of a few of the societies that Tuks has to offer: Take a girl child to varsity: This organisation strives to help girls become independent members of society. It aims to give career guidance and support to the girls who need it most. Some of its activities include making sure that information concerning different universities, qualifications and financing through university gets to the young girls out there, even in rural areas.

The society also focuses on giving career guidance to girls and mentoring them through university, until they get their degrees.

Psyche: This society was officially launched in 2011 and is targeted at psychology students. Along with providing practical experience to those interested in the field, the society also carries out various charity drives. In 2017, they assisted the SPCA with donations of food, blankets and home-made toys.

Tuks Mind Sports Club: According to their Facebook page,

this society creates a healthy competitive gaming scene involving consoles, PC and board games. It is an environment that gives players the opportunity to further their gaming careers or skills, by providing an exclusive experience limited to club members.

Pledge a Pad: This is a student led registered society at the University of Pretoria. In addition to that, they also work as a registered non-profit organisation. Pledge a Pad aims to assist young women and girls living in disadvantaged areas by providing them with sanitary towels every month, along with appropriate sexual and reproductive health education.

Tuks UP & Out: This is the official LGBTQI+ Tuks society which provides a platform that encourages students to express themselves in a safe and judgement free environment.

The Inklings: This is the university’s literature, drama and arts society, named after the famous group at Oxford which included the likes of Tolkien and CS Lewis. Their aim is to promote the appreciation of all things language. According to the UP website, they hold creative writing and art competitions. They also publish an anthology once a year, called Inclinations, which includes poetry, short stories and art produced by the members.

Dumelang

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Advertorial | 27 January 2018

Student Development manages all the student life offerings and coordinates these structures in order to produce well rounded graduates. The core of Student Development is to develop leadership skills.

Student Development welcome

BECOME AN INVOLVED

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Student Development manages all the student life offerings and coordinates these structures in order to produce well rounded graduates. The core of Student Development is to develop leadership skills.

Every student that enters the university is automatically part of the Faculty House within which their degree falls.

These houses offer various development opportunities for students to take part in.

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Rag of Hope Day

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Important events not to miss at t

27 January 2018 | Advertorial

13

es all our first year students to campus

STUDENT

at the University of Pretoria and choose to partake in one of a variety of different student bodies and organisations. This will help you grow as a person and develop new skills as well as allowing you to leave your mark on campus.

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Remember, you decide where you’d like to be involved and you can choose to take part in more than one structure’s activities. The whole point is to experience new things and to become part of the UP student community.

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the start of the semester

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Entertainment | 27 January 2018

Illustration: Rhodeen Davies

Wardrobe guide for university Naomie-Lisa Kobbie

N

ow that first years are not bound to the monotony of school uniforms, Perdeby has elected to suggest recommended wardrobe essentials for the new comers.

Before you invest in these essentials keep this in mind: do not blow your money on excessive amounts of clothes. You need not wear a different outfit every day, no one will remember what you wore yesterday anyway.

Invest in a good bag.

Bags should be practical. They will be used daily so the bag should be comfortable and durable. Neutral coloured bags (brown, black, or grey) are often more versatile and easier to pair with all items in your wardrobe.

A great pair of jeans are a necessity.

Our bodies are all shaped differently and lucky enough, so are jeans. Some jean styles like a relaxed or regular pair suit most male and female body types. Invest in a really comfortable pair of jeans and you will never be pantless in your time at UP. Go for something in a dark colour so that you can avoid doing laundry as much as possible.

An excellent pair of shoes will give you happy feet.

Never underestimate the amount of walking you will need to do on campus. Whether you are a dress shoe kind of guy or an easy sneaker kind of girl, your shoes should be comfortable and kind to your feet. Sniff out flip flop specials and stock up on them, no matter your gender, flip flops will become your best friend.

Elegant formal wear for those formal events.

Faculty and residence events sometimes require more formality.

For these events, keep your favourite dress or suit on hand. Try investing in items you can dress down for daytime and accessorize to take into the night.

Be bold.

Your time at university is where you will discover yourself. Try different outfits, part your hair the other way, arrive on campus ready for onsie-Wednesday. It’s all about discovering your individuality.

A plain white T You can dress it up and you can dress it down, it is comfortable enough to sleep in and most importantly, you can wear it multiple days in a row without anyone noticing. Get a shirt that is comfortable and durable. It goes great under a spagetti strap dress or tucked into high waisted jeans for the ladies. Guys can just throw it on with chino’s or a good pair of jeans for a sophisticated yet casual look.

Stylish gym clothes Some runnings shorts and a tank top paired with your sport shoes will make you look healthy and class ready. It also gives you a great excuse if someone invites you to a social engagement. If people see you in gym clothes often they will believe you if you say you are going to the gym and won’t be able to make their commune rager. Already wearing gym clothes will also motivate you to actually go for a run or to attend that pilates class. This will help with the dreaded first year spread.

Illustration: Rhodeen Davies

Welcome to the jungle: A guide Dinah Ramonyai

S

o, you survived high school and you are starting a new incredible, life changing and scary journey at the University of Pretoria. Campus life can be very overwhelming, it is buzzing, big and you are always surrounded by crowds of people.

Do not stress precious new comers for Perdeby has compiled a Survival 101 guide for our concrete jungle.

Orientation week should cover most of the major lecture halls such as the Thuto building, Centenary building and the Engineering buildings. There are some lecture halls and venues that are so hidden you will need all the help you can get.

The Large Chemistry hall has an entrance right behind the Student health services and the Thuto building. Rautenbach hall is hidden away below the AULA (the big fancy building on the engineering side of campus), between Tribecca and Steers. The most hidden of all the venues, the AE du Toit Auditorium, can be found next to the Mining engineering building, on the side of the Natural Sciences 2 building. The Chancellors building contains the Roos, Te Water, Louw and Muller lecture halls.

Hopefully you will be spending most of your time on campus and as such you will want to know where the Wi-Fi spots with great signal strength are. (NB: Once you discover these places you will want to keep your phone and laptop chargers close all the time.)

The army jet right in front of Sci-Enza conveniently located near benches and trees for shade, has one of the strongest Wi-Fi connections on campus.

The Piazza is always filled with students for one reason only: Wi-Fi. Spacing out during lectures has never been easier with the

awesome Wi-Fi strength in most lecture halls. The student services centre (SSC), has great connection, you probably will not be hanging around in that building so the patches of grass in front of it are a great way to catch the signal and meet new friends.

Campus tends to get tiring and draining so you will need to chill and catch a few bites in the following places: Oom Gerts – the chips are a student staple and you can unwind with a drink, or two. (Not three because you still have more classes to attend). The food court in the Piazza has cheap specials and a wide variety of stalls to satisfy a myriad of tastes and cravings.

For the res students the Kloostersaal is the place to go. Day students may also load money onto their student cards and eat there. Students can load money at the SSC. For coffee and cake, head to Tribecca or Haloa. If all else fails you can eat your friends’ food. It is a great way to save money.

As a student, you will probably need to get some textbooks.

Bookmark on campus can print out a quotation for you when you present your registration letter. Of course, students can buy books there, but they are slightly pricy for those with budget constraints. Do not discard second hand books, they come at low prices and serve the same purpose as brand new books. Just make sure the second hand book is the correct edition. You can get second hand books at Wizebooks: outside campus across from the main entrance on Lunnon road. Look for the dodgy looking container. Or you can buy second hand books from Protea books: In front of Sta-travels on Burnett street.

Campus posts: as you walk into the Piazza you’ll notice the notice board with posters of students selling second handbooks at really great prices, take advantage of these bargains.

27 January 2018 | Entertainment

15

A food lover’s guide to Pretoria

Cheap take-aways, quirky café’s and budget blowers – everything you need to know about eating in Pretoria.

Illustration: Rhodeen Davies

Claudine Noppe

T

he Jacaranda City is a melting pot of different cuisines, hipster hot spots and hidden gems. Perdeby decided to summarize the essentials for everyone from food novices to those with a pallet that would make even the best chef’s jealous. Here is your three part guide on thoroughly enjoying all that Pretoria has to offer.

Part One: Cheap take-aways It is no secret that students live on a tight budget and need to visit those places that offer the most bang for their buck.

Kung Fu Kitchen, located on Hilda Street, is the first place that comes to mind. From sushi platters to a classic favourite Pad Thai (fried noodles), Kung Fu Kitchen offers it all at reasonable prices and large portions. For the perfect, budget friendly movie-night food, Roman’s Pizza in Hatfield is conveniently located on Burnett Street. To stay informed about their amazing specials (like R189.90 for two large pizzas, a two litre Coke and six Ola Ice Creams) frequently check their website and plan your binge-watching accordingly. Uncle Faouzi’s will always be there for those all-nighters that students have to pull way too often. This fast food

restaurant is open 24 hours, and it is within walking distance from the University. Take a much-needed study break and try their amazing burger and fries. All the food at Uncle Faouzi’s is Halaal.

Part Two: Quirky cafés If, like most 20 something year olds, you crave coffee and free wifi, + 27 Café is for you. Their fun architecture and beautiful landscaping tends to calm the soul. The café is quite hidden in the far corner of South and Duncan. Do not let the small shop front fool you, they have more than enough space in the back. Insider’s tip: visit them after 16:00 for half priced cake. Chocolate et Café seems to be Pretoria’s best kept secret, nuzzled in between Culture Club and Alfie’s on 16th Street, Hazelwood. The tree covered seating area and the shabby chique style creates a European atmosphere. Chocolate et Café is a bit pricy, but still affordable. Their coffee in a cone is bucket list worthy and an added bonus, the concoction is very Instagram-able. The medical students need not fret as Perdeby found Pure Café located near the Prinshof Campus. Situated in Colbyn Court on Thompson Street, this café serves up delicious coffee and a wide range of fragrant, loose-leaf teas. Grab a spot in the shade and enjoy a coffee and maybe even a freshly baked muffin.

Part three: Budget blowing restaurants for foodies Kream in Brooklyn is a fine dining establishment with rave reviews. Patrons of this restaurant compliment the well-educated staff and the elegant atmosphere. Their current menu has an incredible variety of dishes including gourmet sushi.

If you are in the mood to let your taste buds experience something new, the dim sum at Koi in Menlyn Maine should be on your list of places to go. All the food at Koi is to die for, but you will go back for the dim sum. With flavours such as prawn and shiitake mushroom, the little pillows of goodness will have you singing their praise. For the very adventurous, try their lemongrass brulee with palm sugar crust. Life Grand Café will satisfy all your brunch cravings with their selection of egg dishes, breakfast bowls and sweet treats. Avocado lovers everywhere will rejoice with Life Grand Café’s avocado bowl featuring a trio of tomatoes and healthy rye bread crisps.

16

Entertainment Bites

Entertainment | 27 January 2018

Residence activities to look out for:

For a student life that is more than just academics

Lost&Found releases new album The two piece alternative rock band from South Africa consists of Black Cat Bones drummer Jason Oosthuizen and The Parlatones pianist Glenn Hodgson. Their self titled debut album dropped in 2016 and earned the duo a South African Music Award nomination. Snakes & Ladders was released on 19 January after an eleven month writing process. In the official press release for the album Jason Oosthuizen says that they really enjoy making music together and describes the album as more “dirty rock ‘n roll” as apposed to their more acoustic first album.

Music video for ‘Dog Day’ released Dan Patlansky released a music video, that was shot in Pretoria, for the first single of his soon to be released album Perfection Kills. The video was directed by Dizzy Khaki. “The video features a performance element combined with a story line of a guy having a bad day in a first world, which isn’t so bad. His car won’t start, he runs through town to get home, only to learn his house keys are still in his car,” Patlansky said about the music video. He also praised Khaki for his ability to convert the song and it’s meaning into a visual format.

24th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards The prestigious SAG Awards took place on 21 January to honour the work that female and male actors have done in that past year. The show was hosted by Kirstin Bell and featured predominantly female presenters. The executive producer of the ceremony Kathy Connell said, “There are some movements in town that say women should be 50-50 by 2020. And I said, ‘Well maybe for one night, the women will be more than 50-50 for two hours.’” The presenters included Halle Berry, Niecy Nash and Olivia Munn who recently spoke out about being sexually harassed.

After the amazing show of support for the #TimesUp and #MeToo movements at the Golden Globes, actors kept the ball rolling for change and support of these movements at the SAG awards. Actor Sam Rockwell, who won an award for his supporting role in the film Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri said in his acceptance speech that he “stands shoulder to shoulder with you (his co-star Frances McDormand) and all the incredible woman in this room, who are trying to make things better. It is long overdue.”

Other winners include Alison Janney for her role in I,Tonya, Alexander Skarsgård and Nicole Kidman for Big Little Lies and Golden Globe winner Sterling K Brown for his lead role in the television series This is Us. Morgan Freeman was given the lifetime achievement award. Freeman concluded his acceptance speech with a quip about how the SAG trophy is too gender specific. The trophy is a sculpture of a naked male holding a trophy.

Dancing with the stars comes to South Africa In late December of 2017 Mnet announced that the famous reality dance competition is coming to a television near you. Dancing with the stars has a cult following in countries like America and the UK. The premise of the show is that local celebrities pair up with professional dancers and compete for a trophy. South African celebrities who have joined the cast includes former Miss South Africa Liesl Laurie, actress Zola Nombona and Bafana Bafana legend Delron Buckley. The much anticipated show premiers on Sunday 4 February.

Compiled by Claudine Noppe

Image: Sally Hartzenberg

Carina Kloppers

B

eing a student is about so much more than simply getting a degree. It is about developing yourself, meeting people form every walk of life and about learning to adapt beyond societal norms. Residence activities, although a lot of fun, advocate this growth and development. So, if this comprehensive list sparks an interest and you are not in a residence, go join a day house to avoid any #FOMO. RAG Tuks RAG (Reach out and give) is a student-driven, nonprofitable fundraising and community service organisation. Marinus van Sandwyk, Dregeana RAG Committee Head for 2018, noted on the importance of RAG as it “provides students with the opportunity to give back to society and make new friends along the way”. Each residence has a RAG HC member with a subcommittee dedicated to facilitate outreaches and community engagement activities for the residence to participate in. This is especially amplified throughout RAG week in February. Different male and female residences are also partnered together each year, not only to combine forces, but also to stimulate inter-res relationships with fun socials.

Serrie Serrie is the biggest cultural event on UP’s calender. It is a competition between the residences that involves singing and synchronised dancing. Anyone can take part in Serrie, regardless of singing ability or rhythm. In fact, large numbers are encouraged as it creates a stronger presence on stage. Ruzaan Beneke, the Katjiepiering External Culture HC for 2018, had the following to say about the event, “Serrie highlights diversity and multiculturalism in our residences as we learn more songs and moves from various cultures. Furthermore, it creates an environment in which we can grow and make memories together as a residence family.”

Insync Insync is the baby brother of Serrie. Just like Serrie, it is a singing a dancing competition between residences, but it is exclusively for the first years and takes places in February right before the commencement of the academic year. Sonica van Zyl, a 2017 Klaradyn Welpie, described her experience as truly memorable, “because we suffered together as a group in preparation for the night. It was all blood, sweat and smiles”.

UP A Capella UP A Capella is an annual singing competition between the different residences of UP. Every residence selects their 20 best singers in the hopes that they will survive the prelims and semi-finals, and then will be crowned victorious at the finals. They have to decide upon a theme, choose appropriate songs to tell a story and dress accordingly. Johan Potgieter, the Olympus Serenade HC for 2018, highlights the value of UP A Capella by stating that it creates a platform where students from various cultures can unite by learning about the different styles of music of these cultures.

Nothing but Vernac Express Yourself in Nothing but Vernac is a cultural showcase where students can show their pride by performing, whether it a monologue, short play or a song, in the indigenous languages of South Africa. Residences also set up stalls to display original visual art works and literature pieces.

Debate In April all UP Student Houses (Residences, Faculty Houses and Societies) have the opportunity to participate and debate a variety of motions in the TUKS Debate Tournament.

House Week Every residence hosts a House Week somewhere early in the second semester. The week includes socials, games and other fun events to promote residence pride. It often concludes with the residence’s Dine, a formal dress event each residence hosts as a celebration of the triumphs and successes of the year.

“we suffered together as a group in preparation for the night. It was all blood, sweat and smiles.”

Tuks FM: UP’s radio station Unoshamisa Chiradza

T

he University of Pretoria’s official radio station, Tuks FM, was established in 1981, but do we really know what the station is all about? Perdeby decided to give you more information about the station and the various shows on offer.

Tuks FM, originally called Radio Tuks, is one of South Africa’s most respected community broadcasters. It is broadcasted from the University of Pretoria’s Hatfield campus and is more than just a campus-based community radio station as it now reaches most areas of Johannesburg North as well.

Tuks FM was named South Africa’s Best Campus Radio Station of the year for four consecutive years between 2012 and 2015 at the MTN Radio awards. The awards show did not take place in 2016 and was renamed The Liberty Radio Awards in 2017, where Tuks FM walked away with Best Breakfast Presenter, Duane Van Wyk, and “Alt La Femme” won Best Night-time Show.

Tuks FM transformed itself into a community radio station of excellence that has been the breeding house of top talent for commercial radio. Some of this talent includes Anele Mdoda, who during an interview with ZAlebs said that she attributed

her strong work ethic to her time at Tuks FM because she was surrounded by like-minded people who were consistent hard workers and that the environment carried on when she made her move to Highveld FM. Other talents include Gareth Cliff, Ayanda Mdululi and Poppy Ntshongwana.

Tuks FM also has a variety of shows on offer. “Alt La Femme” is a female-based show that talks about all the pressing matters everybody thinks about but no one wants to talk about. It takes place every Wednesday from 15:00 to 16:00. Another show that is available is “The Man Cave”, a show that is entertaining for guys and educational for girls.

From this show you can expect game reviews, movie reviews and other masculine things. It airs every Thursday from 19:00 to 20:00. A show designed mainly for interaction with its audience is “All Request Friday”, that allows you to send them five of your favourite tunes on WhatsApp and they will be played uninterrupted. The show is on Fridays between 11:00 and 14:00.

Tuks FM does not only just focus on radio but also has community initiatives, such as the 2017 Tuks FM Woolly Winter campaign. This campaign aims to ensure that specific needs of the students during the winter months are met. The campaign is done in collaboration with the SRC.

27 January 2018 | Entertainment

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2018 music events worth saving for Claudine Noppe

P

Illustration: Rhodeen Davies

retoria and its surrounding areas annually host a wide variety of music festivals that are worth putting on your calendar. Perdeby breaks down which events are a must and how much students will have to dish out to attend.

Ultra South Africa If you are a fan of EDM, laser lights and getting grinded on by guys with backwards caps and wifeies, head to the Johannesburg Expo Centre, Nasrec on 10 February for the world’s premiere electronic music festival. Headliners for this year include AfroJack, Dubfire and Hardwell supported by South African DJ legend Black Coffee and countless more. Be ready to pay anything from R800 to R950 for a ticket to Ultra.

The Republic of Mieliepop This boutique four-day festival near Lothair in Mpumalanga is dubbed the most beautiful festival in South Africa. The venue is surrounded by magnificent views, rolling hills and sparkling lakes. More than 90 acts will be performing on six different stages. 2018’s line-up includes viral youth band African Rhythm and Pretoria’s favourite, Hellcats. Online tickets go for R750 while buying tickets at the gate will be R850. Remember to save enough money for transport and food. The festival will be held

from 21 to 24 March.

Park Acoustics Although not an actual music festival, park acoustics is an outdoor live concert that happens monthly at the Voortrekker Monument. If your pocket does not allow for a full weekend away at a first-rate music festival, consider heading to a Park Acoustics concert and enjoying a fun day with friends, good food and even better live entertainment. Keep your eyes peeled for the monthly line-ups. Most big time local acts, such as Shortstraw, Aking and Francois van Coke have performed at these gatherings. Tickets vary in price from month to month but will not set students back more than R200.

OppiKoppi No festival bucket list would be complete without mentioning the dustbowl that is the amazing festival of OppiKoppi. Be ready to ditch make-up, clean clothes and general hygiene while camping under the blaring sun on a farm near Northam, Limpopo. Tickets will set you back anything from R700 to R800 for a full weekend pass. Although the dates for OppiKoppi 2018 are not yet confirmed, the festival usually takes place early in October. Previous international acts that have graced the stage include The Naked and the Famous, August Burns Red and the extraordinary rapper Joey Badass.

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Fun and games | 27 January 2018

Poetry corner

The Top 10

Chaotic refuge -

Lost sheep -

Step through the gates That metal clanking sound Allowing entry To hallowed ground

Late nights, Even earlier mornings

Brick halls, Paths where leaves fall Where students walk And together talk About our future Our tomorrow

Hiding behind sunglasses And campus communities

A purgatory of pleasure and pressure The happiest place, We’ll ever go

Yet what we learn best of all, Isn’t taught in a lecture hall

Ricardo Teixeira

Ricardo Teixeira

Important assignments, Missed opportunities

Grabbing a drink after 12 Into books, We often delve.

It’s between class, As we sit on the grass.

Perdeby often gets asked if we have a space for poetry in the paper. Now we do. If you think your poetry should appear in this space, send an email to perdeby@up.ac.za. Submissions may not be more than 100 words and may not have any unusual layout features. See the Perdeby letter policy at perdeby.co.za for other guidelines.

Top ten things to add on your UP bucket list 1.Getting stuck in a turnstile and having people snicker behind you.

2.Getting stuck in an HSB elevator and realising that having a fear of small spaces is completely rational.

3.Having multiple summer dress malfunctions as your straps break or as your dress rides up your back exposing more than you ever wanted to show.

4.Getting lost trying to find the maths building, Roosmaryn or really anything and being forced to ask for directions.

5.Freezing your butt off in the Chancellors building in summer.

6.Going to campus hungover for the first time and using Oom Gerts breakfast as a cure.

7.Meeting that special someone at the botanical gardens for some alone time and then finding other couples there for the same reason.

Awkward.

8.Finding out the difference between the AE Annex and the AE Audit five minutes before your semester test.

9.Having to do the walk of shame when accidently sitting down in the wrong lecture.

10.Leaving campus after an all-nighter and finding out how beautiful campus is at 6:00.

The Perdeby poll First Impressions of UP • It’s a prison • Meh. I got this (no you don’t) • How did I get here?

Cartoon: Rhodeen Davies

Vote now on perdeby.co.za

Pssst...

Pssst... is very excited to see all the first years moving into their little rat caves, more commonly known as res. Because Pssst... is kind and warm hearted, Pssst... decided to give the res first years a little advice.

To the peppies: Do not break your backs trying to protect the knolle’s jottirs. They are made from polystyrene and no knol is worth the risk (does anyone care these days?). Plus, peppies have to save their energy for protecting the oh-so important mielies. Otherwise there will be no Oesfees for you to listen to bad music and sokkie rhythmlessly to.

Pssst... would like to apologise to the first years joining Katjiepiering. It seems you will share a room with three other irritating Katte while your HC enjoys the luxuries of a

studio apartment. It might serve you well to get over your personal space issues before moving in.

Pssst...really hopes that the Welpies know that they will be wearing a sickly yellow get-up all year long. If your complexion does not go with the Klaradyn yellow (which no one’s does) Pssst... suggests that you let go of all hope of finding love this year.

Jarre entering Olienhout need not fear their seniors since most of the older Houte and HC are so deathly afraid of Tuks Res Management that they will probably pamper the jarre into submission.

Pssst... is really hoping that the wifi at Madelief will finally start working so that the poor knolle will not have to use up all of their data complaining to their parents about how hopeless Madelief is at every activity ever.

Pssst... feels really sorry for the kloekies who will be spending time with Curlitzia’s Rag partners, Maroela. Any time spent with the Maroela jarre is too much. On the other hand, who wants to spend time with future doctors who obviously know everything.

If you think the kloekies are bad when it comes to thinking they

are better than everyone else you obviously haven’t met their male equivalents, Olympus. Poor Lilium won’t know what hit them.

Pssst... sincerely hopes that the Yster’s 1nSync performance is as bad as last year’s. Pssst... thoroughly enjoys laughing at boys who have to greet a sub-par replica of the Eiffel tower. Pssst… hopes that Magrietjie doesn’t annoy Olienhoudt to death with their incessant hippeling across their atrociously painted blad.

Pssst... would like to remind first years hoping to join Vividus Ladies or Drageayaniajklyr (or whatever their new name is. Can someone please come explain how we say that word), that a day house IS NOT A RES. Who would willingly join a sub par imitation of res life? Maybe go to Nerina, they have about as much res spirit as a day student.

Pssst... has no advice for the Vremies. If you are moving into Kollege, there is no help for you. Pssst... looks forward to seeing you in five years, still trying to pass first year and drunkenly passed out on a bench near Jolly’s, and then still feeling proud about it.

Pssst… can’t wait to see what juicy gossip this batch of fresh meat will bring in this year. Good luck with 1nSync, don’t break a leg because Pssst… might feel bad laughing.

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Entertainement | 27 January 2018

Secret me away: campus quiet spots Ditebogo Tshaka

C

ampus life is a rush. You might start off enjoying being a part of the bustle, but once syllabus week is over and the workload kicks in you may want to find a few moments away from the hum of people introducing themselves, having communal breakdowns over their first semester tests and complaining about their roommates at the tops of their lungs. Whether you want to get away from the friends that still want to explore campus or need a quiet place to revise for that first test, here is the rundown of the places to practice being a recluse.

The 24-hour section in Merensky II Library accommodates the changeable hours of varsity students and can be found by turning left and taking the stairs when entering the library.

If the dark walls, vandalised wooden desks and aged carpets prove too unstimulating for you, the glass walls and sleek designs in the Law Library should get you seeing the picture in no time. However, if you become easily

distracted by the moving figures, you may want to avoid it.

Empty lecture halls should be an easy go-to as their structures are designed to keep any interference at bay. Where might you find empty lecture halls during the day?

The Humanities Building will usually easily deliver, especially the first floor, which offers amusing titbits on no longer used notice boards and strong Wi-Fi connection despite being in the basement.

For those of you who want to be around natural structures, there are plenty of lofty trees that provide abundant shade for many lawns across campus.

Firstly, in spite of being a few paces away from the ever vibrant Piazza, the area behind

the EMS Admin buildings offers surprising solitude and quiet with its subtle grassy slope.

It also receives optimal sunlight making it perfect to help fight the winter chill. The botanical gardens nestled behind the AE du Toit Auditorium and Annexe may be hard to find but can prove to be a little haven on campus. Complete with a Japanese oriental bridge and a koi pond, its tranquil and isolating powers may know no end.

If you find that you’ve had your fill of isolation, you can keep your misanthropic soul company with a rich filter coffee in the shadowed corners of Coffee Buzz CafÊ in the Student Centre.

Explore these places on your own terms and make your way to peak loner capacity.

Illustration: Sally Hartzenberg

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27 January 2018 | Sport

21

Work out from home:

A guide to fitness applications, blogs, vlogs and social media personalities

Some apps such as the 30 Day Fitness Challenge which was voted as one of the best apps for 2016 on the Play Store, are available for free, and for use offline. Khanyisile Sikhosana, a third year BCom Financial Sciences student, uses the app and considers it to be a “great alternative when [she] can’t make it to the gym.” Sikhosana added that she does a 30 minute work-out with guided exercise videos and pictures for the moves that she has not yet mastered. Furthermore, she said that she does not have to struggle with “gymtidation” when she uses equipment incorrectly.

The Johnson & Johnson Official 7 Minute Workout App is another handy app that helps people squeeze some exercise into their days at an intensity level that is personally suitable for them. All that is needed is a chair and seven minutes – or about 11 minutes if warm-ups

and cool downs are added. This high intensity circuit training workout combines aerobic and resistance exercises using only body weight.

Fitness “vlogs” are also a fun and interactive approach to fitness. These vlogs can be accessed on YouTube. One YouTube channel, the Fitness Marshall, offers fun, sassy and sweaty dance workouts to top 40 music hits.

Yoga with Adriene is another channel that has vlogs that provide insight on all things health. Adriene’s channel includes a 30 day programme for beginners as well as seasoned yogi, weight loss videos, and ailment focused practices that elevate anxiety and migraines.

She provides a gamut mind-body improvement channel based on her motto “Find what feels good’. Other honourable mentions include HASfit, Tone it Up and Popsugar Fitness.

Social media personalities offer a day to day account of their fitness journeys, as well as daily updates and motivation. Enrico Plaatjies, a Cape Town based personal trainer, posts daily videos of sessions with detailed descriptions included, on Instagram, making it easy to recreate these exercises yourself. His clients range from cricket players to senior citizens, making it easy to find a workout suited for a specific fitness level. Third year Civil Engineering student Izaria Hassim said, “The work outs are fun and easy to follow without needing exercise equipment. I love that he shares meal plans and trains local celebrities”. Another social media personality is Kayla Itsines. She built a fitness empire using her Bikini Body Guide (BBG) books and tasty eating plans. This created a cult following on social media with women of all ages documenting their journeys.

Kayla’s Instagram page provides daily motivation, updates on other BBG community transformations, and new workouts on her Sweat with Kayla app.

Fitness blogs focus on the journey to achieving desired fitness and health goals, making them a valuable source of information and inspiration. Fit Bottomed Girls is a blog run on the belief that lives can only be truly reinvented by building confidence and positive habits. Honourable mentions include Lift Like A Girl, Breaking Muscle and Tabata Times.

Centre. Seniors practice every Wednesday and Thursday of the season at the Assupol Tuks Oval in preparation for matches to be played every weekend.

There are various squads dependent on player capability and talent: Elite Squad (Tuks 1 and 2), Emerging Squad (Tuks 3 and 4), and the Intermediate Squad (Tuks 5 and 6). Notable former players include prolific South African player AB de Villiers and national rising star Lungi Ngidi.

Assupol TuksCricket’s Junior Club The membership fee for junior cricket players (u9-u15) is R1650 for the whole season. Practice takes place every Friday of the season at Assupol TuksCricket’s Groenkloof Oval nets at UP’s Groenkloof campus. Assupol TuksCricket’s Junior Club webpage says the aim of the club is to “develop the potential and abilities of all players enrolled in the programme with the focus being on providing game time experience”.

Acceleration Programme This programme is designed to suit the needs of the cricket player. Assupol TuksCricket’s website adds that this enables the player to “take their cricket to the next level with the help of an intensive cricket programme”.

The player has the liberty to create their own package around their own person schedule.

TuksWomensCricket This women’s cricket club has enjoyed considerable success on the field. TuksWomen’s

Cricket says that since the 1996/1997 season, the team has snatched the Northerns women’s premier league ten times. The club has had seven international cricket players which includes current Proteas Women’s cricket players Mignon du Preez and Sune Luus.

Participation UP’s cricket club plays both locally and internationally. In 2017, the club represented South Africa at the Universities World Cup in Sri Lanka for a third year in a row. The team finished at the top of their log in the group stages but lost in the semi-final to Sri Lanka.

Assupol TuksCricket are strong contenders at the annual Varsity Cricket competition.

In 2017’s competition, the team lost to North-West University in the final. UP’s cricket team will start their first match in the 2018 competition on the opening day of 29 January, against CUT at Senwes Park in Potchesfstroom.

Assupol TuksCricket also sends teams to participate in the Northern Cricket Union (NCU) leagues. This includes the Premier League and Reserve League. In 2017, the club and the NCU made history when Assupol Tuks 2 finished second in the Premier League – after Assupol Tuks 1 who were crowned champions for the seventh year running.

In the University Sport South Africa (USSA) games, Assupol TuksCricket are also strong contenders, and won the 2017 tournament.

Image

Image: Sally Hartzenberg

Ntokozo Zondo

T

ime management and long-term commitment to time management is something many students struggle with, particularly if it is not related academics. Students sacrifice many things in their lives for the pursuit of education, with an active lifestyle being one of them.

However, technology has enabled people to work-out from the comfort of their homes with the use of the internet. Gone are the days of missing the gym, exercise routines and money on membership subscriptions that are not utilized. Now people can get fit and healthy in the comfort of their homes at any time of the day, depending on their needs, and at no cost.

This is due to the development of fitness applications (apps). Fitness apps are an absolute must-have for a home work-out.

Perdeby cricket guide

Illustration: Sally Hartzenberg

Ntombi Mkandhla

C

ricket is one of the most played sports both locally and internationally. The LC de Villiers Sports Campus boasts world-class cricket facilities. Those excellent amenities, coupled with the expertise of dedicated coaches and staff, have honed the skills of some of the best cricketers the world has ever seen. Below, Perdeby has compiled some basic information of how the game is played and how students can get involved in any of the teams Assupol TuksCricket has to offer.

Assupol TuksCricket’s Senior Club According to Assupol TuksCricket’s website, anyone is free to join the senior and junior clubs at any time of the year. To join the senior club, a payment fee of R770 is required and is payable at the reception of the Sports

Image: Sally Hartzenberg

How TuksSport select players Ashley Magwindiri

U

P’s sports department, TuksSport, offers students the opportunity to showcase their talent and take part in national and international events. TuksSport offers three groups of clubs namely, priority clubs, recreational clubs, and specialized clubs.

Specialized clubs and recreational clubs are open to everyone, and they do not have a selection criterion for their members. One can simply join by filling out a membership form and paying their membership fee at UP’s LC de Villiers Sports Campus reception.

However, there are a few open clubs that fall under priority clubs, the likes of TuksGolf, TuksSquash, TuksCricket, and TuksTennis. With these open clubs, anyone is free to join by filling out a membership form and paying a membership fee.

There are other clubs that have a specific selection criterion. TuksHockey’s Head of Programme, Inky Zondi, emphasized that new members have to go through the six weeks trial phase in February every year “before they become official TuksHockey players”.

With TuksNetball, the administrator Lifalethu Khumalo said, “TuksNetball has information tables set up at Welcoming Day for all the first year students that will be joining the University of Pretoria.” Khumalo added that first year students “can also sign up to be notified of all the TuksNetball specific information.” TuksNetball also has a Welcome and Information Evening at the beginning of February where club specific information is relayed to all prospective players. They also host an annual trial procedure that takes place in February and March.

According to the TuksRugby club manager Gert van Coller, registration is for one year and all the necessary forms must be completed at the TuksRugby offices. “Any student can join the club after matric, and non-students are welcome to join too,” he added. TuksRugby also host trials in February, dependending on the request of the coaches. There are also student players that play for hostel franchise teams, and these events are attended by all the coaches, and they also serve as trials.

While each club has its own membership fee which must be paid at the beginning of the year, clubs such as TuksHockey offer payment plans to people who are unable to pay the full amount.

22

Sport | 27 January 2018

Photo: Prince Kekana

Get fit with Patience Masara Ashley Magwindiri

P

erdeby had the pleasure of speaking to Patience Masara, a third year Social Work student, about her fitness journey and how it has motivated other people.

Why did you decide to become a fitness trainer?

I made the decision to start training because I would always get people who would ask a lot about how I train, what I eat, and how I remain consistent. That’s when I realized that I could actually help people [on] their fitness journeys.

What inspired you?

I can’t specifically pinpoint one thing or person that inspired me. I am inspired by a lot of people every day, I even find that, sometimes, I inspire myself too.

How do you keep your fitness training knowledge up to date?

Nowadays there is information readily available everywhere, and anywhere. I usually do some light reading. I also like to follow some very informative pages, and accounts on social media. I have friends who have been into fitness longer than I have been, so I also [enquire] from them.

Why is it important for students to stay fit?

The importance of fitness for students or anyone in general cannot be underestimated. I

find going to the gym or doing some form of exercise very therapeutic. With the amount of stress, and pressure we get from school, you actually get to realize that in as much as fitness is about the physical, it can also actually positively impact the mental state.

How do you keep the students you train motivated?

There is no formula to keeping anyone motivated, especially in fitness. Not to say that I don’t push them for an extra set, or encourage them to not give up. However, I always like to teach students the importance of self-motivation. The essence of it all lies in you, and how [much] you want to achieve the goals you have set for yourself.

Where do you host your fitness sessions?

I alternate the venues between LCde Villiers Sports Centre, and Duncan Yard. In a month, I offer eight training sessions.

What are the three essential exercises you would suggest for students?

Well it all just depends on whether you are trying to achieve a body goal, or you are just doing it to stay active. Regardless, I do think there are many exercises that all students can partake in. It’s all about preference and what makes you feel good afterwards. In the end being fit or adopting a healthy lifestyle is not about having a rigorous gym routine.

Five minutes with TuksNetball’s Tshina Mdau

Photo: Stefan Stander

Chad Johnston

T

shina Mdau was one of Tuks Netball’s 2017 team star players. Perdeby had the opportunity to get some insight from Mdau on last season’s success, as well as her take on the role that is played by sport in a student’s life.

The team in general has had a wonderful and successful season. What do you think are some of the factors that have contributed to the team’s success?

We just didn’t dwell on the past, and we were not willing to let the past define us. So, we were [fortified] mentally. We had a few new girls [on] who brought different dynamics [to] the team.

Furthermore, we all had the same goal as a team, and there was no time for personal ideals.

We were all very team-oriented.

What are some of your personal highlights from this past season?

For this season, winning three major titles in one year, one after the other...and I can retire [after] helping lead the team to victory. That’s how proud I am of the girls.

Are you happy with your personal performances this season?

I am content with my performance. I know I still have much more to offer, and still have a lot to learn in this sport.

What are some of the challenges you and the rest of the ladies faced this year?

We compromised a lot this year (family time, personal time and occasionally our studies), and we all had to manage our time wisely. We hardly had personal time (let’s not forget all the extra training sessions that were added).

What are some of the pressures facing young athletes today?

Pressures include time management [and] the possibility of sports taking over your life.

Peer pressure is still a big deal because you are popular, and in some instances, [when we] earn extra cash we tend to splurge on the wrong things. Discipline also creeps in when we [try] to impress the people around us.

Why do you think that it’s important for students to remain active throughout their student careers?

It’s a great stress reliever because studies can become overwhelming.

You represented South Africa in the Netball Fast5 competition last year. How does it feel representing your country?

It was an experience of a life time. It’s such an honour to represent one’s country. Getting the opportunity to play overseas just makes you a better player in the long run.

How do you balance your studies with your other activities such as Netball etc.?

Time management is key. It’s a lot being a student athlete who also wants to have a social life. I can count how many times I have gone out this year on my hands. It’s all about time management and sticking to the schedule.

Do you have any advice for first year students who want to get involved in sport at UP? This is by far the best institution to get involved in sport with because we are the best. UP allows one to have the ability to [both study and compete], and flourish. Any sports, even in a social manner, will make a great difference on your health, mentally and physically. So please 1st years, get involved in sports.

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27 January 2018 | Sport

23

The Perdeby guide to sports at UP

students with the chance to learn about and participate in one of the world’s most famous and ancient forms of martial arts. TuksKarate also boasts some of the country’s finest male and female competitors from various weight categories who have represented South Africa at international events such as the African Championships and World Student Games.

Ultimate Frisbee Having just recently been recognized as an Olympic sport, Ultimate Frisbee is one of the fastest growing sporting codes in the world.

Teams are made up of males and females with seven players on each side. The game is played on a field the size of an average football field with the goal being quite simple, to successfully pass the Frisbee into the opponents end-zone. For those looking to use sport to create friendships, Ultimate Frisbee creates a

strong social bond as all games are refereed by the players themselves, encouraging good sportsmanship and fair play.

TuksExploratio This club is for the student who is an explorer at heart or an avid climber. Besides offering social as well as competitive climbing, TuksExploratio is UP’s premier hiking and slack lining society. Members can look forward to enjoying multiple climbing and hiking trips to various destinations in South Africa such as the Drakensberg.

TuksMindSport To provide you with an understanding of how popular mind E-sport has become in recent times, Google search the word “lol”. What most people would expect to see the search engine produce first, are the words “laugh out loud”. What comes up, however, are the words “League of Legends”, one of the largest online games in the world. For students looking to exercise not just their body, but their mind as well, E-sports or mind sports at UP are the way to go. TuksMindSport is UP’s platform for gamers, regularly hosting events for PC, console and board games. Titles such as StarCraft, Dota and League of Legends are just a few in a wide range of casual and competitive mind sports on offer.

Triathlon One of the more challenging yet physically rewarding sports offered at UP is Triathlon.

Combining three disciplines into one (swimming, cycling and running), triathlon offers members a chance to train with and be coached by top competitors and trainers to obtain a high level of fitness. UP Triathletes also have access to a variety of TuksSport’s world class facilities such as a heated outdoor pool as well as a grass running track and multiple fields.

These and other sports such as badminton, water polo, gymnastics, dance and judo are all available for students of all skill levels and provide great opportunities for fun, fitness and friendship outside of the lecture hall. For more information on how to become a part of a sporting code, visit any of their pages on the TuksSport website.

After any type of leg injury occurs on the sports ground, the first thing to do is RICE. RICE stands for Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation. This will help to start healing the injury immediately. Resting the leg will help to prevent any further damage to the injury and applying ice every 20 minutes in each hour for at least a day will

aid in minimizing pain and bringing down swelling. Compression and elevation of the leg are both also to help reduce the swelling of the injury.

For the first couple of days after any serious sports injury, the athlete needs rest.

Thereafter, the injured person should start with physiotherapy. Physiotherapy has many benefits such as reducing pain faster, aiding in strengthening of the injured area through exercises, helping to reduce the formation of scar tissue and to help improve athletic performance when the athlete returns to the sports field. Physiotherapy will also assist an injured athlete to return to playing sport earlier than they would have without physiotherapy. Should an injured player not go through this rehabilitation process, they may suffer long-term consequences, such as having a recurring injury, or the injury not healing and the athlete suffering continuous pain.

During the healing process, the injured athlete should look at common causes of sports injuries and try to avoid these. A few causes of sports injuries are structural defects in the body, weak ligaments, tendons and muscles, and an athlete training in unsafe environments.

Structural defects of the body cannot be prevented, but can be strengthened through physiotherapy. The most common cause of injury is poor exercising and training methods. These poor training methods can easily be improved to reduce injury. After a workout, muscles need at least two days to fully recover. Pain should never be ignored as it can be a warning of a potential injury.

Illustration: Rhodeen Davies

Emmanuel Olusegun

R

ugby, football, athletics, netball and cricket – these are just a few mainstream sports a first year student would most likely have been exposed to in high school. However, with over 40 different sporting codes offered by TuksSport, UP students have the unique opportunity to become involved in anything from Ultimate Frisbee, underwater hockey and canoeing to archery and softball. For those looking to try something new, Perdeby has compiled a list of some unconventional sporting codes offered by TuksSport.

Karate For students looking to channel their inner Bruce Lee, this is the sport to consider. Besides offering a full-body workout, Karate provides

The road to recovery after a sports injury

Illustration: Sally Hartzenberg

Caitlyn Walsh

S

ports injuries can sometimes be final for an athlete, however, they can be treated and an athlete can even make a full recovery. If injured out on the field, an athlete should take immediate steps to ensure full recovery from the injury.

Tuks fitness guide: Avoid first year spread

Image: Sally Hartzenberg

Ntokozo Zondo

M

any first year students are away from home for the first time when university begins and the change of environment often results in anxiety and stress. They get their first taste of freedom and this leads to erratic and sometimes irresponsible behaviour in the following areas: drinking, eating, sleeping and budgeting. Lack of planning results in many students missing breakfast to rush to early morning classes which forces them grab a quick unhealthy snack on campus which can lead to the dreaded “first year spread”.

Instead of falling prey to becoming what you eat, get ahead of the spread and participate in the fitness avenues UP has on offer.

Going to the gym offers social interaction and a variety of activities that are suitable to various fitness levels. The Tuks Student Gym (TSG) offers competitive rates that include monthly, quarterly and seasonal packages that do not break your student budget. TSG is located on the Groenkloof campus and LC de Villiers Sports Campus. Equipment on offer includes free weights, cardio equipment and resistant machinery. Registered gym members also have access to a variety of early morning and evening classes namely cardio, spinning, pilates, aerobics and boot camp.

Virgin Active Hatfield is the more expensive option, however, if you have substantial medical aid cover or register while there is a special, this is a great membership to have. The gym boasts world class facilities, personal trainers and classes such as Zumba, G.R.I.D and Shape.

Another option is participating in a sporting code offered by TuksSport. TuksSport offers over 30 sporting codes divided into 3 categories. The priority category includes football, rugby and netball. The specialised category includes archery, cheerleading and trampoline, and the recreational category includes dance, basketball and gaming.

A comprehensive list of all the codes is available on TuksSport’s website.

On the Hatfield campus, there are three running trails. The 3.8 km track is marked by red antelope foot prints. Yellow marks a steenbok foot print of 2.1 km while Blue is marked by lion foot prints and it extends the yellow trail by 2.3 km. Running on the trails offers a beautiful view of university architecture and artistic displays and a chance to learn how to navigate campus like a pro.

Join a campus boot camp and fitness group hosted by students − these are advertised on the bulletin boards in the student centre.

Maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle is paramount to your wellbeing as a student.

The Centre for Disease Control recommends that adults engage in 150 minutes of physical activity weekly. The benefits of exercise not only include maintaining a healthy weight and reducing susceptibility to disease, but also assists in keeping a good mental health state which is crucial to being a successful student. Exercise also reduces stress and anxiety, boosts moods and energy, increases sleep quality and promotes social interaction − all great benefits for first year students.

Sport Perdeby

FNB Varsity Cup cuts ties with Steinhoff International Reasons to consider

Illustration: Sally Hartzenberg

Ntombi Mkandhla & Caitlyn Walsh

O

nly a short while after announcing their decision to withdraw as sponsors from South Africa’s national rugby 7’s team, the Blitzboks, Steinhoff International cut ties with FNB Varsity Cup. This was confirmed in a statement released

by FNB Varsity Cup on 10 January. Steinoff International was a second tier sponsor for the FNB Varsity Cup annual inter-varsity rugby tournament.

The ending of the partnership between Steinhoff International and FNB Varsity Cup was a result of the financial crash of the stock price in the retail company.

Times Live reports that in December 2017, Steinhoff International reported “accounting irregularities”, resulting in its market

value falling by approximately 85% or the equivalent of R187 billion. SA Rugby Mag adds that the revelation of the company’s financial woes resulted in their stock price rapidly descending by 61%.

CEO of Steinhoff International, Markus Jooste, was forced to step down from his position towards the end of 2017 due to possible fraud and monetary irregularities.

In their statement, FNB Varsity Cup management has confirmed this withdrawal and assured fans that they are already searching for different sponsors. They also declared that attention is still focused on the talent growth and development of the players, regardless of sponsorship uncertainty. The statement adds that a process of “exploring alternative sponsorship to sustain the spotlight on talent development”

has taken place. First National Bank still remains the main sponsor of the FNB Varsity Cup with Steers being the largest additional sponsor.

The tournament will still continue with all four competitions; these being the FNB Varsity Cup, the Young Guns, the Varsity Shield and the Koshuis Rugby despite the withdrawal of Steinhoff International. For 2018, the UP Young Guns will face off against the Wits Young Guns at the NMU Stadium in Port Elizabeth on 2 February. In the Koshuis Rugby championship’s first round, Maroela will battle it out with Maties’ Huis Marais at the Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch.

Kick off for the 11th FNB Varsity Cup inter-varsity rugby tournament is anticipated to start 29 January at the Tuks Stadium with defending champions FNB UP Tuks facing FNB Shimlas. Quoted by Times Live, the CEO of FNB Varsity Cup, Duitser Bosman, promises the public that preparations for the inter-varsity rugby competition are “at an advanced stage”. In addition, Bosman confirmed that management is working hard to make certain that 2018’s competition will be a hit for all concerned.

Since its inception in 2008, the FNB Varsity Cup tournament still features South Africa’s top 16 university rugby teams in contest to be number one on the rugby field. The FNB Varsity Cup rugby which holds nine university rugby teams has mainly been dominated by Stellenbosch University’s FNB Maties, the University of Cape Town’s FNB Ikey Tigers, the University of Free State’s FNB Shimlas and the University of Pretoria’s FNB UP Tuks.

FNB UP Tuks and FNB Maties have won most of the tournament’s titles.

The media launch of the FNB Varsity Cup’s 2018 tournament was held on 23 January at the FNB Conference Centre in Sandton.

According to SA Rugby Mag, SA Rugby CEO Jurie Roux told the publication that SA Rugby is also in the process of finding a new sponsor. Roux also said that the national sevens team will have #LoveRugby on their jerseys until a new sponsor is secured.

429 l ectu res 23 text books 18 al l -n i ghters 9 n ew fr i en ds 36 unique experiences 2 cau s es 10 0 1 fres h i deas

TuksDance Caitlyn Walsh

D

ancing teaches many valuable skills such as self-control, posture and grace, coordination and patience.

TuksDance offers all of this to students through diverse styles of dance such as ballet, hip-hop, contemporary, Latin and ballroom dancing. Ballroom and Latin dancing are offered on three levels, namely beginner, intermediate and advanced levels. Each of these levels are completed over a period of six months with each practice session being approximately an hour long. Ballet and contemporary practices occur twice a week whereas ballroom and Latin practices are once a week. Students may go onto a medal programme should they wish to continue with dancing after they complete the advanced course. TuksDance practice sessions for various dance styles differ from one another.

Ballet and contemporary dance sessions work through a routine and perfect the technique of the dance. Ballroom and Latin dance sessions usually consist of the dancers going over several types of dances that belong to each style. Ballroom for beginners consists of learning the Rhythm Foxtrot and the Slow Waltz whereas Latin for beginners focuses on the Jive and Cha-Cha. The dance instructors come prepared to each session with what they specifically have in mind to teach after reviewing steps from previous practices.

TuksDance does not only promote and teach fundamental skills but also helps dancers with health and fitness. According to TuksDance chairperson, Corli Laas, dancing can be considered a “good cardio workout [that] exercises various muscles in the body such as core and leg muscles [and] muscles in the back and shoulders.” Laas added that dancing is also beneficial when it comes to mental health as it can be considered very relaxing and a great stress reliever.

Laas believes that TuksDance is a place of acceptance and freedom. “A TuksDance student may be whoever they wish to be”, she added. Furthermore, Laas claims that a dancer can have a wonderful time practicing and relaxing during dance sessions as they get to practice their passion and there is no worry about meeting any criteria. “For most of the dancers, practice sessions are the highlight of their week,” she said.

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