The Ink
January 2014
Inside:
A Chat with
Kunle
Ogundele “It has been really, really, really good..In fact, it has exceeded my expectations...”
Photo Credit: Photography Club
SPOTLIGHT
The Ink January 2014 Edition
EDITORIAL Hello readers! I am thrilled that you are reading this right now because it only means one thing, we did it! We (my team and I) have managed to publish the very first issue of THE INK. My
inspiration
for
this
newsletter
turned magazine was pretty simple; there was no student-run media platform that showcased student’s dexterity in writing. Combine that with the great words of Barack Obama and COVER
that’s our inception story. It is my hope
Photography: Ashesi Photography Club Model: Akpene Hoggar
that students take advantage of this
THE EDITORS
talents (writing, photography etc…),
Joseph Nti (Editor-in-Chief), Carl Agbenyega (Asst. Editor-in-Chief), Ewruabena Hagan (Campus News), Joshua Adjeman (Sports), Akyere Graham (Interviews), Ahomka Mills Robertson (Arts), Akosua Anang (Business), Mawuli Adjei (Arts) Victor Eghan (Arts), Nii Abbey (Tech), Micaiah Wiafe (Photography), Michael Annor (Design)
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Eleanora Anku-Tsede, Adekunle Ogundele, Jesse Opoku Asiedu, Nana Efua Eshun, Anastasia Bulley, Photography Club, Jeanne-Barbara Debre, Asiedua Akoto, Richard Odame, Alfred Achiampong, Senanu Fiam-Coblavie, Akpene Diata Hoggar, M-Hanif Abdulai, ARM, Ashesi Business Club All rights reserved. Copyright © The Ink 2014
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platform to explore and improve their address pressing issues and have an awe-inspiring experience. I want to thank student journalists and all who sent in submissions to help make our first issue a success. In the great words of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, “if there is anything you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius power and magic in it. Begin it now.” Happy Reading!
Joseph Nti, Editor
The photography club has been having a lot of initiatives this semester aimed at promoting civic engagement and social responsibility. They’ve started with the ‘Get Down Low’ initiative geared at entirely eliminating littering in the lecture halls, lobby and on campus grounds! The QR code above is link to the Photoshoot held at the end of last semester. The Ink appreciates the work they’re doing! Page 03
Traveling- it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller" Ibn Battuta, The greatest African Muslim Traveler of the Fourteenth Century
"The flavour of life is love. The salt of life is also love." Mariama Bâ, So long a letter
"What a country it was that had exactly what a person needed, if only the person knew enough to ask." "Shelter," by Chinelo Okparanta
"God when will you create a woman who will be fulfilled in herself, a full human being, not anybody’s appendage?" The Joys of Motherhood [1979], by Buchi Emecheta
"Despair is the one sin that cannot be forgiven." Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’O, Kenyan writer
by Senanu Fiam-Coblavie
"Now he stares at the glittering, arrested by beauty, and knows what he knew all those winters ago: that when faced with a thing that is fragile and perfect in a world that is ugly and crushing and cruel the correct course of action is: Give it no name. Pretend that it doesn’t exist." Taiye Selasi, Ghana Must Go Page 04
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CLUBS
CAMPUS
A Little Bird Whispered...
by Efua Akyere Graham The start of a new semester comes with a commingled set of emotions—anticipation, hope, frustration, nervousness…Name it. This semester, more than probably any other, carried its fair share of frustration over conflicts in class schedules. Observing this, The Ink caught up with Eleanora Anku-Tsede, Ashesi’s Registrar to find out from her the issues that surround registration and how we can skirt around them in the coming semesters. This is what we gathered. Historical Background Though at Labone, Ashesi first had a manual registration process where students were allocated to groups for their core courses upon selecting their various majors, exceeding class sizes of 34 and moving to the triple digits required a change. It became necessary to automate the registration process although development of the schedule was kept manual. The Crux of The Matter The growing populations mean that more students are registered in the various majors. This in turn leads to an increase in the number of seats per class though the number of lecture halls remains the same. The division of classes results into multiple groups. This is the main reason why class schedules cannot be kept year after year although other factors like changing course entry requirements and Spio part-time lecturers play defining by Junior roles. When the above is coupled with the added challenge of first years being on a different timetable than the other year groups (partly because of the wait for the release of results), complications like those experienced this semester arise. What Do We Do, Then? Follow the system, not just your sleep schedules when picking courses [We know it’s hard!] Look for others willing to swap courses with you. Alternatively, you can ask your lecturers to state that they are willing to take more students in. The Registrar cannot do that without their consent Know that seniors get priority in picking courses because it’s their last chance to do so. If you don’t get it this time, relax. First degree mainly helps widen your scope and gain transferable skills. You will get the chance next year. If you are worried about the courses not being available, be proactive and check. You can petition the school.[1] [ A Supply Chain class set the precedent] Eleanora’s Last Words “Our doors are mostly open. If there are any doubts, come and ask; we hear some rumours making rounds and marvel [laughs]. Whatever we do is based on input from you but remember to empathise with others. Together, we can make it work. “
. . . .
Corruption
has been a
persistent issue in Ghana. Often times, we find that the
individuals – our government representatives – who are in the position to protect the country, are the very ones who commit realize is
this evil. However, what many people fail to
that the common man also contributes to the root cause of corrup-
tion. It is therefore important the common man play a key part in putting an end to corruption. More often than not, the common man waits for the government to take affirmative action against corruption. It is worth noting that the government cannot put an end to corruption
without the help of the commoner. With this in mind, the 7
Pillars Of Justice initiative was formed. It was birthed with the intention of creating
awareness about corruption and its harmful effects on society. We are all to blame for the state of corruption in Ghana, and we should stop pointing fingers at only the authorities. We must take responsibility for our inactions. Standing up against corruption will ultimately lead to a better Ghana; a
Ghana
we
can all be proud of.
[1] Just make sure that there is class interest. A class size of 17 is workable Page 06
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LOVE
Here’s To You by Nana Efua Eshun
I loved your eyes the first time they looked at me Couldn’t tell if you were interested or just amused Still I loved those eyes, the way they lingered uncertainly Between sleep and rousing, between staring and looking away The corners of your mouth twitching into that famous half smile Humor and sarcasm bubbling out effortlessly Yet unable to cloud the sheer genius in you I could stare back at you all day long Just take you in and keep writing About those eyes, and those lips, that genius in you … But my heart is too busy chasing the stars, My hands too busy tugging on dreams; pulling them into reality And your heart is taken by our sister Kill-joy!
The Snot
by Alfred Achiampong, Nii Apa Abbey, Joshua Adjeman
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The L Word
LOVE by Anastasia Bulley
Love – estimated to be used about 9 million times each day – is probably the most used word in a day. But how many of us really understand the true meaning of the word love? Conversations concerning the topic have grown cliché and little by little, the word has lost its value. That, in my opinion, is probably one of this world’s greatest tragedies. Love that is held above faith and hope; love that is able to cover a multitude of sins; love that is the greatest commandment given to us by God, that’s the love that mankind has belittled? To be honest, it’s quite simple to decipher why the word has been so downgraded; it’s simply human nature. We are prone to forgetting the things that matter the most. It’s natural for us to destroy them and strip them of any depth – totally ignoring their transformative power. It’s just who we are. And it’s principally because of what we believe ourselves to be that we have failed to strive to become more. But love is more than a mere give-and-take affair with the core motive of giving only how much you are receiving. Love is not just about making the other compromise for you with conditions like ‘if you really loved me, you’d come over tonight or you’d do this and that for me’. It’s definitely not about romantic dates and deep professions of love. Love, first and foremost, is about how much you are willing to give, how much of yourself you are willing to deny for another. Love has and will never be about ourselves. It’s always been about another. Just like I used to, I know many believe that the only reason they aren’t able to love as truly as they should is because they haven’t met that one person deserving of that kind of love--that one person that would make their life complete and bring them the happiness they have long desired. I am sorry to say, but that’s one of the world’s biggest fallacies. Love does not begin when you find the right person, love begins in the heart. Love is in the little things we do for another, regardless of who that person is in our lives. Love is not in just passing people by as you walk to class, but in smiling and saying a kind word. Love is helping when someone has a problem. Love is in giving not only when you have enough to spare, but also when you don’t. Love is in talking to people and connecting with them. Love is in always seeking how to give more, do more, and be more not just to the selected few, but to everyone. As we enter the month of love, let’s make it one of our goals to start loving the right way. An adage as old as time says, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step”. In our journey of attempting to change the world’s perception of love, I entreat us all to let our first step be making a difference in someone’s life by showing them the true meaning of love. Stay blessed everyone and may we all experience the true meaning of love this February. Page 09
CAMPUS
ASC NEWS
by Jesse Opoku-Asiedu
by Junior Spio
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I’ve been observing a particular cycle for weeks now (who am I kidding, since my freshman year). It has to do with the security personnel posted at the entrance of our beautiful campus and the obscured signage which reads “Taxi’s not allowed”. (Someone please hang the sign on a pole already!). Now back to the matter at hand, I think the way the security men (pardon my apparent misogynistic diction but there are no females in the force) handle the issue of which taxi and its occupants is fit to enter the school premises is very wrong. Without any load or baggage, a student or a visitor is required to alight at the entrance and endures the uncomfortable downhill descent on foot. The security men rely on their discretion to assess how heavy a load is before allowing a student or visitor to enter campus with a taxi. On many occasions taxis are refused entrance even if the occupant is carrying a lot of luggage. I’ve had several sour experiences to that regard. Just a few days ago I witnessed one such incident which inspired this piece. A student was returning to school after the weekend and was stopped at the checkpoint. The lady requested to go into the school premises with the taxi since she was carrying load. After inspecting the load, the guard deemed it light weight and asked the student to walk. I watched on as the lady struggled juggling a loaded backpack, a small box and several plastic bags. (Before you go ahead and judge me I did not help her because I was caught up in something else). The most interesting incident happened about 15minutes after the first one. When the student arrived at the entrance in a taxi, the guard was asleep, she asked the taxi driver to honk his horn. The guard woke up and stormed out of his cubicle asking what the taxi driver wanted. When the student requested for a pass, he refused stating that she was not carrying enough load. There was a lot of harsh exchange of words between the guard and the student after which the student had to get down and walk with her luggage. Those of us who do not own cars have in one way or the other experienced similar plights in the hands of the guards. This issue must be addressed soon. Page 11
ENTERTAINMENT
Blackout! short, Blackout was “ In the best party to hit Ashesi yet, and those of you who weren’t there missed out big time.
”
by Jeanne-Barbara Debre
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The wildest party on Ashesi’s campus was held on the 23rd of January as a back-to-school jam. Starting at 10:30 pm, Live FM and Campus Base TV were present to cover the event. The DJs on rotation were DJ Master J and our very own DJ Kev, DJ Carl and DJ Franklin with Live FM presenter, Antoine 360 emceeing the party. Ashesi students flooded the ASC Cafeteria (renamed Club Blackout for the night), decked out in their best and were ready to jam the night away. It was set up to give us the club experience. There were dazzling lights complete with couches that put students in the right mood. The food and drinks were amazing; there were some really bangin’ cocktails, from the screaming banana to the coco batida - alcohol free, of course - and Red Bull, which kept our energy levels high! The DJs kept us on our feet the whole night, playing hit after hit. Don’t even get me started on the ‘turn up’ when the DJ hit us with Tonga! Live FM presenter, Antoine 360 could not be outdone, and got us pumped up every time, he said something on the mic. People were totally hyped during the party; lots of pictures were taken, and showcased were some of the craziest dance moves I had ever seen. In short, Blackout was the best party to hit Ashesi yet, and those of you who weren’t there missed out big time. I’m sure a lot of people walked into their 8am classes on Friday all blurry-eyed like I did.
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ASC NEWS
ASC PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS
The 2014 ASC administration promises to promote a vibrant campus life alongside creating the platform for students to appreciate the core pillars of leadership, scholarship and citizenship. On behalf of the ASC executives, we are grateful for your support and enormous constructive feedback for the betterment of everyone. Although, it has been approximately a month since we were voted into power, mind-blowing initiatives have been spearheaded to make Ashesi a home for all. Communication is a powerful tool that we believe is the life blood to create awareness of everything on campus. In doing so, our PR committee made good use of available resources – notice boards, emails, the blackboard at the amphitheatre and computers to accomplish this. The ASC has also Page 14
signed a contract with ‘i.am.adinkra’ to help publicize programs and initiatives using the digital display screen. We believe that posters and emails are not enough. The digital display screen will supplement and hasten the awareness of student initiatives on campus. In our quest to project the Ashesi student life and restrain the notion of Ashesi students being “geeks”, the student life page will be actively running as soon as the new website design and layout is launched. To curtail littering in classrooms, the Welfare Committee is championing a Sanitation campaign dubbed “Don’t Forget That”. Currently, weekly emails are sent to remind us of this campaign. The ASC has also collaborated with the photography club to make the “Get Down Low” clean campus initiative a success. Moreover, our administration has taken strong measures to support the pillar of scholarship for. There are plans in the pipeline to open the library on Sundays. We have also started the faculty advising system to help encourage students to freely contact faculty for mentorship or support in enhancing their personal development.
Conversely, we intend to lay a foundation, creating a culture of diverse social activities not only on campus but within the minds of the entire student body. Our plan for January was to launch the semester with “The Blackout”. Overall, the event was successful and we are reliving the memories with the video of the event, which was recorded and edited by Viasat 1's Campus Base TV. A week after our first event, we hosted one of Ghana’s leading life coaches, CJ Buckman, and Mavis Ewa on our campus as part of the 2014 Leading Change campus tour. We ushered in the month of February with our Masquerade off-campus party, which was aimed at creating new friendships and reinforcing old ones. There was food, live band music and performances from some Ashesi students. A major challenge we face is the lack of student participation in campus events. Out of a student population of over 600, it is estimated that not more than 150 people attended our first event. An even smaller estimate of about 30 people attended the 2014 Leading Change talk, which was held in the amphitheater. Putting into consideration the time, effort, and funding that went into
these events, the amount of students who attended each was very demoralizing for the members of the various committees. As a team, we are now stuck in a difficult position. Based on the trend in student attendance of campus events, we are currently contemplating, the worth of putting the same
“A major challenge we face is the lack of student participation in campus events. amount of time and money into subsequent events. We are very open to suggestions, comments and ideas from the entire student body as to how to encourage more students to attend events. We would also like to encourage students to pitch event ideas that they would like to see happen on campus to the ASC. ALONE WE CAN DO SO LITTLE, TOGETHER WE CAN DO SO MUCH!
by Richard Odame
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INTERVIEW Describe yourself in three words: Cool. Calm. Helpful. Where do you come from? I’m from Nigeria, specifically Ogun state, but I presently reside in Lagos state Can you talk a bit about your family? I am from a family of eight; six children - four boys and two girls - and my parents. I’m the fifth child. My dad is a civil engineer and my mum is a business woman. I am the only one who is presently in Ghana.
all
you should know about
KUNLE OGUNDELE by Asiedua Akoto
For January’s Student Personality of the Month, our team caught up with the extroverted introvert and President of the International Students’ Association, Adekunle Tobi Ogundele. We felt that it was time for everyone to know this really cool personality, so yeah... Read away!
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Why did you decide to come to Ashesi? I wanted to study Mechanical Engineering. After my A-levels in 2011, I wanted to study in London but that did not happen. I found myself searching the internet for prospective schools and found out about a ‘Ghanaian institution that acts like an American one’, bringing up future leaders-- but that wasn’t what intrigued me. I found something unique about the owner of the school, I read about him and found out that he worked at Microsoft and that urged me to give it a try
What has your Ashesi experience been so far? It has been really, really, really good..In fact, it has exceeded my expectations
will continue. We have been going on trips and this year, there are more trips to come. We will make sure Ghanaian students are included in this as well
What are the challenges you face running the club? Team work. It has been really hard trying to get people to work together as a unit
What do you like to do during your leisure time? I like to hang out with friends, laugh and chat
How do you combine your leadership role with your academics? There is a saying that you do not allow one thing to interfere with the other so I make schedules. At every point in time, I know what I am supposed to be doing. For me, it has been about scheduling my time properly What are some of the roles you have to perform as president of the club? I am in charge of organizing meetings, I have to make sure the student body is engaged in all our activities and also gather the international students so we share our experiences What plans do you have for the club now that you are President? Our predecessors started the International Day last year. It is a day of diversification, Ghanaians are also inclusive. This day, set aside for celebrating diversification,
What is the one thing you miss about your country? THE FOOD! [giggles] …and my friends How would your closest friends describe you? They’d probably say ‘reserved’ What is the one value you would never compromise? Helping people no matter the prevailing situation Which of the football clubs do you support? Manchester United and in the school, Field Marshalls Do you have a girlfriend? [long pause...giggles] No What genre of music are you into? Hip-hop Who is your favorite artiste? Lil Wayne Page 17
INTERVIEW Are you a good dancer? *giggles* I dance but I am not a professional dancer What has been your favorite course so far in Ashesi? My favorite course so far has been Finance for Non-Finance What are you passionate about? I would say I am passionate about software Design and Engineering
(The next section is called the hot seat, basically I am going to ask you a few more questions and your answers are supposed to be spontaneous and fast. Go with whatever pops into your mind)
The Hot Seat
Don‘t Leave me Behind. Throw me away.
Hottest girl in the school? Whitney
Stay at home woman or career wife? Career wife
Idea of a romantic date? A stroll on the beach wouldn’t be bad
Favorite feature? Lips
Light or dark-skinned girls? Light skinned girls Page 18
Powered By Welfare Committee Page 19
STORY
GOO
On the docks of a nearby harbor... People do not turn green. At least that's what I thought. Until now. I mean, if it were not an uncommon happening, there'd really be nothing special about the extra-huge, uncomfortably hunky monster Stan Lee thought up. And 'green with envy' wouldn't be so much of a sapid idiomatic expression. And yet this young lad half-standing, half-slouching before me, stared right back, green as ever. And I'm not talking about a light green tint. This was green as spring leaves; green as the plasma blade of the lightsaber Luke Skywalker occasionally wielded. I studied him cautiously for some time, not knowing what to do as he peered back, through his half-open eyes and with a horribly swollen upper lip. And then with an unannounced jolt, he lurched forward, lips suddenly drawn apart as if to swallow the whole environment he soiled with his presence. His larynx seemed uncomfortable in its habitat as it pushed against the walls of his throat and stretched it to inconceivable size. And out of his mouth gushed a much greener substance. Rather viscous too, as it turned out because for bloody Santa's sake, I could not jump out of the way. Right after hurriedly wiping most of the stuff off my face - and in the Page 20
Photography by: Photography Club Latifah Lamptey ’17
by Joshua Adom Adjeman
process, picking out a half-digested fish bone - I went down on my knees and nudged the seemingly lifeless body lying face down on the ground with my left palm. "Sir, are you alright? Sir? Sir?" And quite unlike those moments you see in movies when the protagonist has someone die in his arms as he calmly watches on, morose and experiencing many doleful emotions; quicker than I could think of saying "Crap, it’s a zombie", the weary young man turned around and grabbed my arm with such force, I thought it would snap. His eyes were sunken now and he stared even harder as he breathed in loud rasps. The effect was frightening, eerie even. And then, with one loud gasp for air, he fell back to the ground. Dead. I stared at the limp body - which was still grabbing my arm by the way – very much shaken and confused. His body was cold, strange for the newly dead. The stinging cold of the ocean nearby didn't help the situation. And the sticky stuff on my face smelled of seaweed and dead rodents. Ugh. -Somewhere in Antarctica… Pelt took every step carefully. Clutching the gas mask tightly to his face with his right hand, and securing his notepad with the other, he avoided every single shard of green-colored glass he could see on the ground. When he finally reached the door, he mustered all the energy he possessed
in his 62-year old body and yanked it open, letting go of the gas mask in the process as he rushed through the door and closed it firmly and quickly behind him. He had stepped into a hallway, spotlessly white on every side and painfully cold. He leaned against the door and took two deep breaths. In the process, he loosened his grip on the notepad and it fell to the floor. He bent down to get the book and the many loose papers that floated around. Engulfed in his activities, he didn’t notice the clickity-clackity sound of heels against the marble floor slowly closing in on him. “Well…?” He looked up towards the source of inquiry. She had her auburn hair up in a bun, was about six feet tall, with stern eyes still visible through her round-rimmed glasses and so skinny, the creased lab coat enveloped her middle-aged body. Underneath the faintly wrinkled skin and graying hair, there was evidence of beauty in her youth. “Dr. Gibbs, I’m so sorry,” he clamored as he hurriedly gathered the few papers left. “It’s fine Dr. Nashton. Quieter would be better though,” she replied, motioning to him to keep his voice down. “So… What does it look like? How bad is it?” [to be continued...]
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RANT
by Nii Apa Abbey
.... it’s better than yours! People always seem to start speeches with some renowned quote so here goes mine; opinions are like noses, everyone picks them... I think. I have never written a piece for an audience this wide --crickets chirp in background--, so please go easy on me, or not. I honestly do not care. "Are you my coequal?" On this lovely day --how do I know it's lovely when I wrote this days before publishing? I don't!--, I would like to talk about something very close to my heart; series. Unlike human beings, series don't stab you in the back, or nag, or cry, or do other annoying human things... or do they? I recall the prime times of "Vampire Diaries". A show almost perfectly released to feed the growing hunger for vampire fantasy brought about by the "Twilight" saga craze, much like "Wizards of Waverly Place" to "Harry Potter". I never really cared much for it, but after a bit of coaxing and my inability to avoid it at every turn, I gave in. And all I can say is, "It was superb".
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WAS. Nowadays I can't stand it. It seemed like after every challenge was thwarted, a new one arose out of the blue. I mean, really? By season three, I felt like a sad guy being strung along by a girl. Thus, I severed the rope, and you should too. Let it go. What nkwaaa can happen? When the main characters, who seem to stare in the face of death more times than death does a mirror die, let me know. Until then, no thank you. With this said, I ironically begin my next paragraph. Ironic because I am here to tell you to tie yourselves to "The Originals". For those unaware, "The Originals" is a spin-off show from "The Vampire Diaries" which focuses on the lives of to tie yourselves to "The Originals". For those unaware, "The Originals" is a spin-off show from "The Vampire Diaries" which focuses on the lives of the original, first, top shatta, vampire family. Why tie yourself to this? Because I said so. Duh. But in all seriousness, the show carries along nicely and smoothly. Perhaps because it is in its first season, nothing feels rushed and forced. You know the feeling when you watch a show and something random, like a new enemy, just comes up and you feel like the writers were running out of juice? This is the opposite. I believe a piece should speak for itself anyway, so do yourself a favour and dive in. "Winter is coming". If by now you do not know what that phrase means, (insert clichéd phrase here). "Game of Thrones", a series based on a book
saga known as "A Song of Fire and Ice" is an amazing, brutal, saddening, cheerful, worthwhile experience. When you have hateful love for a show, you know it is definitely doing something to you. If you have to watch any show at all, let it be this. Please. I nearly forgot about "2 Broke Girls"; a show I could've written myself. Most likely not, but I like to believe I could. The reason I say this is because I've done, and still do jokes containing sexual innuendo. They come too easily. See? And like most jokes, they get old fast. So has "2 Broke Girls". When you begin watching a sitcom, time and time again, with a straight face, it's time to let go. Finally made it to the end of my piece. I don't get paid enough for this. Actually, I don't get paid at all. Herh. Look below for notable mentions on awesome series to try out! And if you see me around or anything, don't talk to me. I don't care about you and your opinions at all. At all!! Take your ideas and skelewu out of my life.
N O S Q T R Almost Human, The Tomorrow People, Sherlock, Da Vinci’s Demons, The Walking Dead, Once Upon a Time, Homeland
ADVERT Page 23
CLUBS
ASHESI BUSINESS CLUB
*that annoying 2D mobile app game, about a bird passing through gaps in green pipes, that everyone is playing low key and only make noise about it when they hit a new high score*
ABC refers to the initials for Ashesi Business Club. As executives of the club we chose to internalize these initials in order to make it easier for members to identify with. ABC therefore also stands for Ambition, Boldness and Creativity, which represent the core values the club seeks to uphold. ABC existed in the time of Kwadwo Owusu-Adjei and was run by him. It however collapsed and was revived by our Patron, Dr. Esi Ansah early 2013, where new executives were recruited. The club was started because it was recognized that a business foundation is essential for all with desires of entering and surviving in the corporate world in the near future. ABC hopes to have a positive and long-lasting impact on the Ashesi community. It hopes to bridge the gap between academia and industries out there and build sustainable relationships which can be explored for the benefit of all. ABC hopes to equip its members with tips, etiquette and the practical experience necessary to help interested participants to succeed in the working world. Currently ABC has about 50 members, according to registration done through the use of Google membership forms. These members must however be committed to the cause of the club and consistent in their efforts to help the club to succeed. Contrary to the belief that the club is a preserve of Business students alone as the name may suggest, it is open to all. Learning about business etiquette for instance is not something that only BA students require but something that is beneficial to everybody, regardless of your major. One can join by following the link given in the sent email to register to be a member. The club offers an array of opportunities to its members. These range from networking opportunities with members of the corporate world to educational seminars meant to enlighten our audience. Such opportunities to work occurred last year at our Breakfast meeting where various owners of corporate entities were present to share their experiences and provide useful advice for us to tap into. Certificates will also be handed out for some of the upcoming seminars to show proof of participation. This can go a long way to help one gain that edge over one’s competitor. Internship opportunities are also available for grabs from some of the institutions ABC is partnering with. You do not want to miss out on these exciting prospects, join ABC now!!! Page 24
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SPORTS
APL: WHAT TO EXPECT
by Joshua Adom Adjeman
It’s a new year; we’re in February, and arguably one of the biggest highlights of every semester is about to hit us again. The Ashesi Premier League has managed to garner loyal fans over the years and the drama never ceases to flourish season by season. This year brings a new look to the league on the back of victories to previously trophy-less Walabele FC and LOL FC in the FA Cup and APL respectively. These sudden changes in the order of things in Ashesi football have made way for potentially more exciting football and slightly different title odds. In this issue of The Ink, we will discuss these odds as they pertain to each team in the league. We’ll also be sure to include our opinion of players to watch out for. Enjoy! LOL FC Current holders of the Ashesi Premier League, the League of Legends have a reputation to protect and seem to have the players to back it. They had a fairly impressive campaign in the FA Cup and were only knocked out by way of the unpopular penalty shootout in the semifinal. Characterized by a solid, creative midfield and a potent strikeforce, they are definitely a force to reckon with in the upcoming season. The Ink’s Man to Watch: Lawrence The Ink’s Possible League Finish: 2nd Red Army For a long time, this team had been used to dominating Ashesi football time and time again. With the graduation of the Class of 2013 however, manager Kweku Arhin has been left with the unenviable task of rebuilding the team from bottom up, with a handful of experienced players to his disposal. He hasn’t done too badly so far, it seems, as “The Ants” finished second in the just ended FA Cup. Perhaps his tactical knowhow can cause problems at the top of the pile this season. The Ink’s Man to Watch: Kofi “Dra” Tamakloe The Ink’s Possible League Finish: 3rd Page 26
Berekuso Babies It seems this team has begun to live up to less than appropriate name as “babies” of the league. Under the management of Ekow Spio, Berekuso Babies experienced a torrid time in the FA Cup, finishing with a goal difference of -14. But the sun only rises after a period of darkness, and the tides may just turn for our league minnows. A morbidly herculean task though. The Ink’s Man to Watch: Nsiah The Ink’s Possible League Finish: 6th Arab Money It still baffles many how such an experienced side has failed to perform above expectations with every season that comes our way. After years and years of purchases, training sessions and just pure effort, the oil-rich side has failed to gel on the pitch, and this has been characterized by their inability to score goals. You could probably count their goal tally for the past season on one hand. But it’s a new season; newer mentality perhaps? The Ink’s Man to Watch: Delali The Ink’s Possible League Finish: 5th Walabele FC They had threatened then recurrent league champions, Red Army, season after season. It is quite a shock that their first piece of silverware was acquired in the just ended FA Cup. But finally, they can call themselves the best in the league and not get a stare down. Equipped with the best strike pairing in Ashesi football history, it would be quite the ordeal for anybody to stop them this season. Grab your umbrellas people, it’s about to rain goals. The Ink’s Man to Watch: Nana Yaw Akonnor The Ink’s Possible League Finish: 1st Field Marshalls Credit must be given to the management of this team for how quickly they turned their fortunes around in the league. Previously known as Azumah Blow, they were generally considered league whipping boys. The influx of 2016’s brightest and best have introduced a whole new ball game (pun very much intended) for the club. Let’s see what they have to offer this season. The Ink’s Man to Watch: Albert Eyison The Ink’s Possible League Finish: 4th Page 27
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