2016: Edition 3

ENT NE W TUD SP LS A IA C

VOLUME 75 | EDITION 3

@varsitynews

@varsitynews

/varsitynewspaper

/ucTVarsity

Decolonising the University

E 1942 · THE O NC FF SI I

E · THE O FF INC IC RS I PE

NT NEWS UDE PA ST PE

R

AL

22 MARCH 2016

IN THIS ISSUE

Nico Nomyayi

Since the removal of the statue of Cecil John Rhodes on April 9th, 2015, decolonisation at the institution has been a widely discussed topic.

Student and staff organisations including the #RhodesMustFall Movement, the Trans Collective and the Black Academic Caucus have led the transformation dialogue.

According to #RhodesMustFall, the removal of the statue represented ‘the fall of white supremacy, patriarchy, and all systematic oppression based on any power relations of difference.’ The removal sparked a worldwide phenomenon which led to the plea for the removal of the Rhodes statue in Oxford.

Colonialism and Apartheid was a crime Decolonising bodies such as the Black Acadmic Caucus (BAC) have committed themselves to advocating for transformation and diversity within the student and staff body of the university. According to the the BAC facebook page, the collective is committed to ‘challenging the slow pace of transformation that continues to maintain hegemonies and reproduces colonial relations of power and advocating for an inclusive and diverse academic institution that also prioritizes Black staff and their knowledge.’

The decolonisation project is also an intersectional movement which aims to encompass a wide scope of marginalised and oppressed bodies.

According to the Trans Collective, a movement representing transgender and transexual individuals on campus, ‘the oppressions suffered under a white supremacist, imperialist, ableist, capitalist cisheteropatriarchy are systemic, they are inherently multi-faceted and no single aspect can be hierarchically prioritised above the rest.’

The idea of moving away from the Eurocentric culture VARSITY spoke to Alex Hotz, a postgraduate law student and member of the student organisation #RhodesMustFall, on what the way forward should be. Hotz shared her views on the process for decolonisation and the mechanisms to alter the university: ‘We must reject this liberal idea of transformation and decolonising the university as the modus operandi to change the institution.’ Hotz further

Image: Jessica Fish argued that the transformation discourse normalises and serves to sanitise oppressive practices, and that it simply perpetuates the same experiences people had before the dawn of democracy.

Another element which tends to be highlighted in transformation discourse is the decolonisation of the curriculum structure. A few faculties have started dialogue on social media and are gravitating towards decolonisation. VARSITY spoke to two faculty councils – Law and Humanities – to identify their plans concerning moving forward towards a decolonised university.

The Vice Chairperson [External Affairs] for the Humanities Student Council, Precious Bikitsha, stated that the council has made an African Scholars Database to ensure that knowledge is shared and everyone starts engaging in talks about the topic. ‘My belief in decolonisation is

deeply rooted in the understanding and acknowledgement that colonialism and apartheid was a crime and dispossessed many African people of their land, language/s, power and authority, culture, history and disregarded their family structures, values and replaced those with Eurocentric ones,’ she said.

Law Student’s Council

A binary that needs to be analysed holistically Transformation Officer, Clifford Ncube, also stated their plans on decolonising the law faculty: ‘In the law faculty, a series of seminars have been hosted and these talks serve to conscientise the students and the faculty as well about the different

lived experiences of students and people from different backgrounds.’

He further said that since the inception of #DecoloniseUCTLaw, the faculty has made changes to issues that were raised before.

Earlier in March, the ViceChancellor, Dr Max Price stated that in moving towards a more Afrocentric curriculum and decolonising the university, a curriculum review planning group has been established to coordinate and liaise with representatives from all faculties and to report to the teaching and learning committee.

The Vice-Chancellor has also made funding available to support the new curriculum initiative and he further stated that the initiative to establish an African studies major is already underway in the humanities faculty. The initiative’s inception will officially commence in 2017.

Survivors Unite

PAGE 3

Pretty Privilege

PAGE 7

Veg in Vegan

PAGE 12

Roomate 101

PAGE 13

Jaboolie

PAGE 14

Swimming Therapy PAGE 16

VARSITY, the official student newspaper since 1942, is committed to the principles of equality and democracy.

NEWS Parking Discs on Campus

22 March 2016 V75 E 3 Page 2

NEWS BITES Jess Worsley Rhodes Memorial Rape Suspect Appears in Court

The suspect arrested on Saturday appeared in Wynberg Magistrate’s Court on Monday facing charges for the rape that occurred on November 19 last year. Police are also investigating the possibility that the suspect might be responsible for other cases that have occurred in the area. The case was postponed to March 18 to allow time to secure a relative’s address and draw up a formal bail application, which the state intends to oppose.

EWN: Eyewitness News

Gordhan vs Hawks

Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan threatened to resign in early March after receiving questions from the Hawks, who were investigating a ‘rogue unit’ that they claimed was spying on politicians and taxpayers during Gordhan’s reign at SARS. Gordhan promised that he will respond in accordance with his lawyers’ advice, saying that he is ‘not above the law.’ His deadline from the Hawks ended on Monday 21 March.

NEWS24

South Africa Imposes Leopard Hunting Ban

For the first time in decades, hunters are no longer permitted to hunt leopards. The South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) called for a temporary ban because it did not have sufficient information on leopard numbers in the area.

Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa is an outspoken supporter of leopard hunting, citing that it brings in roughly 6.2 billion Rand annually.

Nicholas Martinez

F

inding a parking space for staff and students at UCT is stressful and luck of the draw. Even with the purchase of a parking disc, you are not always guaranteed a space in the many parking bays on campus.

This year for students, a parking disc for unmarked bays is R960 a year, for Smuts/Fuller it is R1524 a year, and for Obz Square it comes out to R1740 a year. According to the traffic department, the reason Obz Square is so expensive is because there is 24-hour surveillance on that parking structure and the extra fee helps pay for the increased surveillance.

The parking policy developed by the Properties and Services Department at UCT states that the

principle of pricing of parking disks is to make the cost of parking on campus and the related journey costs proportionate with the convenience and comfort of this mode of access when related to alternative modes of access. Students on campus have complained several times that they have had to miss a lecture or an important tutorial in order to find a parking space on campus.

Students miss lectures to find parking space In an interview with VARSITY, a student who wished to remain anonymous stated that she missed a quiz in her tutorial because she was

unable to find parking space. The lot was full and she ultimately had to follow someone to their car to finally get a parking space. She also demanded to know how the issue will be fixed and what the future entails for parking bays on campus.

Traffic manager, Keith Witbooi, sat down in an interview to explain the parking problem on campus and what the traffic department plans to do to alleviate this issue. In explaining why the traffic disc prices are so high, he stated that they have to ‘keep up with the inflation rates, and that the roads need maintenance and the only way they can pay for that is through student fees.’ Witbooi further clarified that in order to solve the problem, students can take the Jammie Shuttle. He stated that UCT cannot afford to create another

Image: Lisa Martin

parking structure and that UCT is a heritage site, meaning they would have to go through many avenues to be granted building permission.

The locality of UCT matters not only in the sense of space, but also in the environmental impact that is created from inhabiting the landscape.

The administration and the student body are at odds with each other in finding the best solution for the current parking situation.

Comments on social media have suggested that students believe more spaces should be made available because of the amount that they are paying for a parking disc. The administration asserts that students should take advantage of the Jammie system and use less of their cars in order to avoid disappoint in parking spaces on campus.

Rhodes Must Fall exhibition disruption

SABC

Fatal Attacks at Ivory Coast Beach Resort

At least twenty-one people died on March 13th after six gunmen stormed a beach resort at Grand-Bassam, a popular beach destination, and fired at guests in the L’Etoile du Sud Hotel and the surrounding areas. North African terrorist group AlQaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) has taken responsibility for the attacks.

Al Jazeera

ExoMars Mission Lift-Off

On Monday morning the Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) blasted into orbit from Kazakhstan to begin a seven-month journey to Mars, 500 million kilometres away. European and Russian space agencies joined up for the 20-billion-rand mission in an effort to investigate the existence of past or present life on the Red Planet. The lander, named Schiaparelli, is expected to land on October 19th this year.

The New York Times

Julius Stopforth

A

year after the inception of the Rhodes Must Fall (RMF) movement, an exhibition titled ‘Echoing Voices from Within’ was held at the Centre for African Studies (CAS) on Wednesday, March 9th. The exhibition was interrupted by the arrival of members from the UCT Trans Collective, some of whom were fully nude. In a statement by the Trans Collective on their Facebook page, the motivation for the disruption

noted that a large reason for the intervention of the exhibit was that ‘up until that day there had been no actualisation of the third pillar of the movement which is … black radical feminism.’ According to the Trans Collective the intervention of the exhibition was ‘an act of black love’ and not a ‘want to destroy the [RMF] movement.’

On the day of the event, members from the Trans Collective lay down inside the CAS gallery while Professor Lungisile Ntsebeza was addressing the audience. The

Trans Collective stated that the actions taken by their members were symbolic of ‘claiming space’ for feminism within the RMF movement.

Thereafter, photographs and other pieces of work in the exhibit were altered with red paint and pages bearing statements by the Trans Collective were put up. The Trans Collective members were also clad in red paint bearing statements similar to those written on the pieces.

The RMF movement made little mention of the disruption on social

Image: UCT Trans Collective via Facebook

media other than a video posted on Twitter. In an email from the university to its students on March 16th, the university briefly mentions the disruption of the exhibition and links to the statements made by both the CAS and the Trans Collective.

Due to the difficulties the Trans Collective has with the RMF movement, they state that they ‘are now going to leave the [RMF] movement’ due to a lot of emotional, … social, and psychological investment.’

NEWS

22 March 2016 V75 E 3 Page 3

Survivors Unite in Protest

Ashley Seymour

S

tudents gathered outside of Bremner building on Wednesday, March 16th to protest the multiple incidences of rape and sexual harrasement experienced by UCT students in the past few weeks. The event, titled #RapeAtUct, called on supporters to denounce the lack of proper support structures equipped to deal with sexual assault. This follows from campaigning against the Discrimination and Harassment Office (DISCHO) and sexual assault

by UCT survivors earlier last week.

The protest, which occurred at meridian, took place in the Bremner parking lot. Many, mostly women, attended and surrounded the stairs of the building while listening to accounts from sexual assault survivors and campaigners.

‘Those that hold power at this institution have created an environment of tolerance and silence,’ said Dela Gwala, the founder of UCT Survivors. While many spoke about stories of mistreatment and a lack of responsiveness of university management to survivor's needs, management did not appear at the event.

The campaign had also erected clothing lines over Jameson Steps that Wednesday morning. Phrases

such as ‘you deserve to be loved’ were painted across hanging t-shirts, while excerpts from UCT survivors and the recently completed review for DISCHO were attached to the t-shirts and steps. UCT Survivors is an online campaign which documents the experiences of rape and sexual assault as told by the survivors themselves and has publicly criticised DISCHO for their inefficiencies in recent months. The review of DISCHO was released to UCT Survivors who claim that it confirms #RapeAtUCT's accusations that DISCHO is unable to properly treat sexual assault victims.

This all comes after the recent spate of assaults on women near Rhodes Memorial, with three women raped and two more assaulted within the past three months. Speakers at #RapeAtUCT accused UCT management of giving attention to high profile assault cases and not to those within campus grounds. Floretta Boonzaier, a spokesperson for the women of the black academics forum, said that the formation of UCT's sexual assault response team was, ‘a good start, but it is just a start. We, however, want to advocate for a more holistic survivor support approach.’

UCT's head media liaison, Elijah

Image: Nandi Ntombela Moholola, has stated that 'talks are under way' to address the manner in which sexual assault and rape is dealt with in the residences, a key concern for #RapeAtUCT activists. Other concerns involve the disciplinary process treating repeat-offenders as first-time offenders, the encouragement of

mediation services between assault survivors and alleged perpetrators and the examination of the victim's behaviour at the time when the assault took place during disciplinary procedures.

For now, supporters of #RapeAtUCT remain dissatisfied.

One protester at #RapeAtUCT

suggested that these events are part of a greater patriarchal framework stating, ‘I want to encourage UCT to use the platform that students have created as an opportunity for broader learning and to challenge the entire campus to confront not only sexual violence but also everyday misogyny.’

decisions regarding when and where private security is despatched are made by the Special Executive Task Team which is headed by Professor Francis Petersen. ‘The decision when to augment our CPS with private security as well as any decision around their deployment is under mandate from the Special Executive Task Team.’

adhering to this code, action will be taken against them as demonstrated in this incident.’

Both students and staff have expressed that private security has not made them feel safe but has rather been a source of harassment and antagonism. In a recent article published by VARSITY, Dr Shose Kessi from the Black Academic Caucus, stated that the presence of private security created a hostile environment and worsened rather than diffused incidences of violence.

Dr Kessi’s comment was mainly in reference to the violence which occurred during the #Shackville protests on February 16th this year.

According to an article published

by VARSITY on February 25th, the protest turned violent when security personnel who were called in to remove the shack structure which was erected on residence road, began manhandling and pepper-spraying protesting students. A student who had been seriously injured was allegedly arrested and denied medical assistance.

UCT claims that private security was not hired in order to

stifle protest-action, criminalise or intimidate staff and students engaged in protest. The university maintains that its primary responsibility is to protect the rights of staff and students on campus as well as protect the public investment in UCT’s premises and facilities.

Yonela Tsibolane, a third-year Humanities students, feels that UCT cares more about its property than its students. ‘UCT values the physical institution as opposed to the students.’

Concern has also been expressed over the lack of security personnel at Rhodes Memorial following the string of brutal rapes which have occurred in the area. ‘Private security was hired to protect the campus, but no private security was hired to [patrol] Rhodes Memorial,’ says Tsibolane.

According to the ‘Sexual Violence at UCT’ article published in VARSITY on March 8th, UCT did not opt to increase security at Rhodes Memorial, despite reports of sexual violence in the area, as Rhodes Memorial is not part of the university.

Private Security at UCT UCT cares more about its property

Yogi Shoba

I

n November last year, UCT despatched private security onto campus following an upsurge of protest action from both student and worker movements. Since then, concerns have been raised regarding the necessity of private security on campus as well as issues of safety regarding how private security officers interact with staff and students.

According to Vice-Chancellor Max Price, private security was employed to assist Campus Protection Services (CPS), due to concerns that November

Desiree N. Palacios

examinations would be disrupted.

UCT currently holds a contract with G4S which functions as the university’s primary security contingent.

The university is also spending R2 million a month in procurement of services from two private security companies, namely: Sonday Investments which provides additional campus protection officers and Vetus Schola Protection Services who are called in for instances where crowd control is needed.

Private security officers work under instruction from UCT. According to Pat Lucas (UCT’s Communication and Media Liaison),

Private security members are also required to adhere to UCT’s code of conduct. A recent incident in February resulted in the dismissal of a private security officer who was found guilty of swearing at a student and making offensive remarks. CPS and the private security company conducted an internal investigation after a complaint was lodged with the university.

According to Price, ‘should any member of [private security] not be

WE ACCEPT MEDICAL AIDS

GENERAL DENTISTRY www.dentistonmain.co.za info@dentistonmain.co.za

Address: Rondebosch___________ 1st Floor, Atlas Building 18 Main Road, RONDEBOSCH Tel: 021 685 5927 Cell:079 183 9336 Address: Observatory ___ 1st Floor, St Peters Square Main Road, OBSERVATORY Tel: 021 448 8449 Cell:082 629 0136 Address: Kromboom___________ 79 Kromboom Road RONDEBOSCH EAST Tel: 021 697 4611 Cell: 072 526 6234

EDITORIAL

22 March 2016 V75 E 3 Page 4

Editor-in-Chief

2016 Collective

Aisha Abdool Karim

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Aisha Abdool Karim editorial@varsitynewspaper.co.za DEPUTY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Sandisiwe (Yogi) Shoba editorial@varsitynewspaper.co.za MANAGING EDITOR Tsepo Ngwenyama managingeditor@ varsitynewspaper.co.za COPY EDITOR Michaela Findeis copyed@varsitynewspaper.co.za ONLINE EDITOR Julius Stopforth online@varsitynewspaper.co.za CONTRIBUTORS & SUB-EDITORS Katherine Harris, Rebecca Houliston & Thokozile Khosa NEWS Nico Nomyayi news@varsitynewspaper.co.za OPINIONS Adam Kleinschmidt and Tanya Magaisa opinions@varsitynewspaper. co.za FEATURES Ali Findlay and Nicole Arends features@varsitynewspaper.co.za SPORTS Catherine Fulton and Jessie Moore sports@varsitynewspaper.co.za IMAGES Megon Venter and Jian-Yi Song images@varsitynewspaper.co.za SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGERS Claire Millward and Robyn Starkey socialmedia@varsitynewspaper. co.za DESIGN Mari Mombers and Razeen Hansrod design@varsitynewspaper.co.za CENTRESPREAD EDITOR Ashley Seymour centrespread@varsitynewspaper. co.za WEB EDITOR Nikhil Gilbert and Saajidah Gafoor web@varsitynewspaper.co.za ONLINE CONTENT EDITOR Zanele Kabane online@varsitynewspaper.co.za ONLINE CHIEF SUBBER Daniela Savoia ONLINE NEWS CORRESPONDENT Robyn Ausmeier onlinenews@varsitynewspaper. co.za ONLINE OPINIONS CORRESPONDENT Claudia Harrison onlineopinions@ varsitynewspaper.co.za

I

have been involved with Varsity since my first year at UCT. I have gone from being a writer all the way to holding my current position of Editor-in-Chief. During this time I have seen how each Collective brings something new to the newspaper and the different styles with which we approach the tasks ahead of us.

Ready, Set, Write!

While I remain proud of my work and stand by everything I’ve done, articles within the newspaper have not always been well received.

I have received numerous messages criticising articles I wrote and the way in which I wrote them. So this week I decided to take the opportunity and use my column to thank everyone who has ever sent me a message regarding something I wrote or chose to publish.

I genuinely appreciate receiving your feedback; it makes me excited because you’ve chosen to take the time to read our newspaper. Whether you’ve read the entire newspaper, or just one article that caught your eye, you are the reason we do this. You are the reason that we work tirelessly in order to produce a newspaper every two weeks. You are why we continue to push boundaries and challenge ourselves to publish

relevant content in a new and interesting way.

When you engage with our content – either in person, via e-mail, or in a letter to the editor – it means all the late nights editing and hours spent in interviews were worth it, because we have managed to provide you with something to engage with. Your feedback, positive or negative, helps to point us in the right direction. It lets us know what content is working and where we need to improve.

We strive to expose you to new perspectives and show you different ways of thinking. We aim to have multiple sources all with their own points of view and we want our content to be as diverse as possible. Sometimes we manage to do so, but sometimes we are unsuccessful in our endeavours.

The people you see represented in our newspaper are the people who engage with us. The voices you

Sacrifices They Made P

arents aren’t perfect but they certainly try their best. For some parents, their best is the reason we’re privileged enough to be at UCT. I recently plunged myself into a moment of deep introspection after watching a surprisingly profound YouTube clip from the talk show The Real. One of the celebrity panelists, Jeannie Mai, shared that her biggest fear was ‘not being able to provide for her family.’

She recounted some of the sacrifices her father had made in order for her family to live a comfortable life. Each week her father would bring home fast food chicken. He wouldn’t eat any of it, claiming that he’d already eaten lunch and would allow his wife and children to eat as much as they wanted. One night, Jeannie saw her father digging through the garbage in the kitchen, searching for leftovers he could eat.

Sadly, Jeannie’s story is not a unique one. We live in a world

where millions of parents have to make profound sacrifices for the well-being of their children.

In fact, it’s not the most epic tale, but I’d love to share a bit about the sacrifices my parents have made for me.

When I was three years old, my mother began working as a nurse in Saudi Arabia. Nurses weren’t (and still aren’t) paid the best of salaries in the nineties and my mother wanted the best for my brother, sister and I. My father agreed with her decision and took on the role of both mother and father and raised my siblings and I while she was away. I won’t share much more about my father, he’s a private man.

My mom frequently wrote letters, called home and sent gifts, so it never felt like she was miles away.

My mother stopped working abroad in 2014, but during her employment there she came home once every 5 – 6 months.

Only recently has she been honest enough to tell me how lonely and unhappy she was. She would always

Newsgathering Computer Science 2.22

VOLUME 75 | EDITION 1

Sandisiwe (Yogi) Shoba Deputy Editor-in-Chief

share stories about how difficult it was to live in a strict nation like Saudi Arabia and she would often tell us about some of her female colleagues who were detained or put to death for offences they had committed (often unwittingly).

The fear of losing her was always present. It grew intensely post 9/11 and the onset of the war on terror. In my mind, the Middle East was one giant country and my mother lived in it, so if a bomb exploded in Iraq, my mother was a potential victim even if she lived in Riyadh (excuse my logic, I was only seven).

My parents aren’t perfect, but they certainly did their best, and their best was good enough. We never lacked anything. We went to good schools, we always had someone to take care of us and through it all their marriage has survived. I’m eternally grateful for their sacrifices and oftentimes I wonder how I’ll ever be able to pay them back.

For some of us, the term parent is awarded to an aunt, uncle, grandmother, cousin or even a

Erratas

Allen Petersen’s name was spelt incorrectly in the article ‘Discussing differently abled bodies.’

ONLINE FEATURES CORRESPONDENT Anthea van den Bergh onlinefeatures@ varsitynewspaper.co.za

brother or sister. My definition is that it’s any person who raises you and invests in your well-being. For them to have stepped up to care for you, when others couldn’t, is a sacrifice on its own.

If you’ve never taken a minute to think about the sacrifices your parents have made for you, now’s the time. Better yet, how about saying a big THANK YOU to them, they’ll certainly appreciate it.

Upcoming Events:

VOLUME 75 | EDITION 2

Muya Koloko’s name was spelt incorrectly in their ‘Letter to the Editor’ and Quincy Cele’s name was spelt incorrectly in the article ‘What’s going on at South Africa’s universities?’

Annual UCT Tennis Party Thursday, 7th April 7pm @UCT Tennis Club

POSITIONS AVAILABLE

FINANCE MANAGER Lauren van Haght finance@varsitynewspaper.co.za HR MANAGER Marizanne Schade and Thando Ndita hr@varsitynewspaper.co.za

To become a part of the 2016 Collective, email HR at: hr@varsitynewspaper.co.za

MARKETING MANAGER Shenghua Carrie Jiang marketing@varsitynewspaper. co.za

Interested in being one of the following? We need:

ADVERTISING MANAGER Guy Rudolph ads@varsitynewspaper.co.za

TELEPHONE: 021-650 3543 Level 5, Steve Biko Students’ Union

see within the articles we publish are included because they are what is available to us. We all have our own opinions, whether you’re vocal about yours or not. One of the biggest challenges in producing a newspaper is ensuring that everyone’s voice can be heard; it’s ensuring that our content is representative of the entire student body.

However, it is not enough for us to want content that represents you as students. If you read our newspaper and find that your voice and your point of view are not represented, then write for us. We cannot expect someone else to speak on our behalf, it is up to us to represent ourselves.

Varsity has an editorial team of 31 people, but there are over 26 000 students enrolled at UCT. You cannot expect us to represent you. You need to represent yourself. Otherwise, the content and dominant voices in the media will never change.

Michaela Findeis

Copy Editor

Tsepo Ngwenyama Managing Editor

Julius Stopforth

Online Editor

Online Sports Correspondent Deputy News Editor Videographers Deputy Images Editor

OPINIONS

22 March 2016 V75 E 3 Page 5

The Silenced Have Power Now An Adamant View Opinions Editor

Adam Kleinschmidt

Hello Darkness, My Old Friend

B

Image: Jian Yi Song

Tanya Magaisa

A

ccording to Michel Foucault, power is deployed through accepted forms of knowledge, scientific understandings, and ‘truths.’

Here underlies the foundation of Foucault’s Power/ Knowledge analysis of the radiating effects of power in society.

Power is rooted in ‘truth,’ which in itself is a constructed knowledge or ‘regime of truth’ if you will, one which is generated through the kind of discourse accepted by a society.

You may wonder why you’re reading an article that simply elucidates Foucauldian philosophy, but what of power/knowledge theory? To many, the idea of power and those who hold it is often a negative concept muddled with violence, coercion and oppression.

Constructed knowledge shapes our society To the majority, whatever the society, power is a subjugating force, and though this is certainly true, there is a kind of necessity to power. Power can be a positive and productive force the moment it is overtaken and the subjugated begin to construct their own ‘regimes of truths;’ for example, when marginalised members of society

begin to aggressively and proactively force their voices out of the shadows.

Dismantle repressive forms of knowledge

When the silenced begin to control the narrative, to direct the discourse and to cease from the old pervasive power of ‘knowledge construction,’ then we may begin to arrive at a kind of societal equilibrium that allows those who are silenced (and have been silenced) a voice.

Foucault argued that ‘regimes of truths’ created through discourse are a fundamental contribution to societal norms, social discipline and conformity. With this being said it is important to note that there is no single regime of truth, and individual societies construct their own forms of knowledge.

If we look to Edward Said’s notions of colonial discourse and Orientalism, we begin to understand rather vividly how constructed knowledge shapes our society, and how it dictates the way individuals in these societies begin to shape their identities while conforming to these forms of power.

Foucault’s concept of regimes of truth is more complicated than what I will lay out here, but to dangerously over-simplify a complicated concept,

DISCLAIMER

The VARSITY Opinions section is a vehicle for expression on any topic by members of the university community or other interested parties. The opinions within this section are not necessarily those of the VARSITY Collective or its advertisers.

Letters to the Editor need to be kept to a maximum of 300 words and can be sent to: opinions@varsitynewspaper.co.za

think of regimes of truths as sexism, racism, and heteronormativism – these forms of constructed knowledge are regimes of truth under which our society and the individuals living in this society have conformed, and these ‘regimes of truth’ are what society has begun to interrogate and dismantle.

Knowledge for centuries has to some degree been a top-down project. The respected construct the knowledge, and it is dispensed into society. The tools used in the construction of knowledge and the production of regimes of truths have always been held jealously by those heralded as authority.

Today, through nifty technological advancement, the tools used to construct knowledge have been opened, not to everyone, but to the privileged members of society able to gain access to social media, and at the fore of these new tools – Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to name a few, or actually to name the only ones I know of.

To deconstruct that which oppresses mentally It is this new way of dispensing knowledge into society that allows us to take control of our own narratives, to begin to deconstruct that which oppresses mentally, that which has stripped us of our identity and culture, that which continues to do so.

Epistemological construction is a form of power that radiates outwards; it is not a hierarchical mechanism coming from the top, and the silenced have a duty to themselves and to society to take control of the narrative.

efore I begin, I feel obliged to include a disclaimer: what I write about here is purely based off the experiences I’ve endured in the last twenty-and-a-half years of my life, and while I won’t presume to speak for other people at all, I do believe there is some universality to what I’ve experienced.

It’s hard to argue in a society as intense and challenging as ours that everyone is having a good time. By this, I’m not referring to every day being a great ‘jol’ of some description or another. Rather, I’m referring to certain people – like myself – who barely get by on some days, and sometimes, for a protracted period of time, find functioning rather difficult.

It’s not just the ongoing pressures of day-to-day life, but also the constant pressure people receive at the hands of our social constructs.

We’ve all learnt those cardinal Sunday school lessons again and again about ‘loving thy neighbour’ and ‘doing unto others as you want done unto you,’ and all that kind of thing: it’s simplistic, dense, and reflective of how our parents and teachers are trying to mould us into supposedly model citizens.

It’s very contradictory, then, to say that from an early age – let’s say the start of primary school – that we are already enduring some kind of emotional onslaught and internal violence. Now, the astute reader will turn around and say, ‘hmm, aren’t you referring to bullying?’

Yes, I am, but at the same time, I’m also trying to engage with a lot of what is ignored in the face of bigger incidents – like raw violence and group-on-individual vindication.

The schooling system is like that: too many students, supposedly much bigger issues around resources and teaching capabilities, and arguments around the responsibility of parents. All of these arguments are relevant and plausible, but it’s also a serious mockery to say that ‘bullying builds character,’ or that it ‘forces people to harden up.’ ‘Kids grow up and need to learn about the tough side of life.’ By the same token, you’re also justifying systematic and institutional oppression, so good luck with that one.

The problem I’m having – and others are having, based off my conversations with a variety of people – is that the issue of bullying and abuse doesn’t end when you matriculate. On the contrary, it manifests itself into a maelstrom of

psychological hangovers. While I haven’t sought help from a trained professional, and I haven’t got a psychology degree, I’d say it is fair to say that my mind and sanity have been to very dark places since I started at UCT, with definite periods of prolonged depression.

And I’m not alone: we all know about the ongoing spikes in student depression and depression-related incidents at residences, and we know about how people have folded out of university for a variety of reasons. The realities behind this is that, despite the personal strength required of them to get up in the morning and try to function, they are put on trial by people who assume some kind of superiority over them.

I won’t presume to speak for other people It’s the sort of people whose preaching involves a lot of hypocrisy and false accusations, with attacks on a variety of fronts: on social media, via other people, or through submerged commentary in conversations.

Sometimes, it’s very subtle and slowly breaks down a person’s perceptions of themselves.

Other times, it’s a full-on assault without mercy.

Anecdotal evidence is clear in the way people speak, for example, about a social night out or specific friendship circles. It’s easy to point the finger at someone and make a snide remark, sometimes in jest, sometimes very clearly not. Perhaps a personal trait will be targeted, or a certain unfortunate indiscretion, and the next thing you know you’re the butt of a malicious joke that you’re hopelessly out of.

I’m not here to harp on about my problems; rather, I’d like to speak directly to those who’ve attacked others in the fashion I’ve suggested. I’m sure you have your own justifications and motivations for your actions, and I’m sure in many cases you have also received the brunt of other people’s aggression. However, this is not a justification for poor behaviour and ignorant conduct. The words and actions you choose either carefully or carelessly affect those around you, in more ways than you can expect.

OPINIONS

22 March 2016 V75 E 3 Page 6

Intersectional Feminism

Yogi Shoba

I

’m sure most of us either witnessed or heard about the titanic clash between Patriarchy and Feminism which occurred in the CAS Gallery on Wednesday, March 9th.

Members of The Trans Collective stripped bare and covered in red war-paint disrupted the RMF exhibition, which was erected in commemoration of the one-year anniversary of the movement’s initial protest when Chumani Maxwele poured human faeces on the statue of Cecil John Rhodes.

RMF claims to stand for transformation and intersectionality, a sentiment the Trans Collective feels, in the words of HeJin Kim, ‘is bull****.’ Members of the Trans Collective have stated that they feel marginalised in the transformation dialogue and their freedom to identify as transgender or transsexual is stifled.

On another level, women have felt silenced in the transformation dialogue due to the brute force of male patriarchy. On yet another level, black students feel oppressed by the colonial whiteness of the university. And yes, we can add one more level where disabled students feel uncatered to at UCT.

This, friends, is a simplified example of intersectionality.

Intersectionality is a concept made popular by American civil rights activist Kimberlé Crenshaw. It highlights that all structures of oppression intersect and overlap with one another, and therefore cannot be examined or tackled independently.

Our discussion is rooted in intersectional feminism, the view that women experience oppression in various ways, and with varying intensity. The Trans Collective, for example, represents a facet of feminism called transfeminism, which challenges the notion of feminism being exclusively available to cis-gender females.

white cis-gender females were dominating spaces

Trans individuals suffer a unique set of struggles, which includes exclusion from feminist debate as they’ve been classified as not being ‘real’ women. They are also vulnerable to sexual assault, mainly in the form of corrective rape.

In essence, intersectional feminism is highlighting that traditional feminism is overtly

white, middle-class, cis-gendered and able-bodied. This is only one facet of the melting pot that is the female struggle, especially at UCT.

women experience oppression in various ways On many occasions, different women’s (womxn’s) experiences of oppression have clashed. Certain women may feel that their struggles are more compounded than another individuals. For example, a black able-bodied and cis-gender woman may feel a double blow of gender and racial discrimination as opposed to a white cis-gendered, able-bodied woman who may only face gender discrimination.

During #PMF meetings and discussions, some women complained that white cis-gender females were dominating spaces and discussions and thus a platform for solidarity from time to time, became an arena for conflict. The same is true of the clash between RMF and the Trans Collective. The latter had also been instrumental in the fight for transformation, but they were not acknowledged for it; only black cis-gender women were acknowledged.

Yet, how does intersectional

feminism aim to find harmony amidst so many clashing ideals?

Traditional feminism encompasses a vast set of issues on its own. These include abortion, sexual assault and rape, the wage gap, domestic violence and education, amongst others. We then add ideals such as Religious feminism, for example - Christian feminism and Muslim feminism - whose ideals often clash with mainstream issues such as the right to abortion or transfeminism.

There’s also Womanism (similar to black feminism) which some white women, in the past, have considered divisive.

those who are oppressed must speak out My opinion, in light of the protest conducted by the Trans Collective, is that each facet of intersectional feminism must keep the other accountable. Although all facets may not always agree with another individual’s struggles, they must acknowledge them and respect them. More than anything, those who are oppressed must speak out.

Marginalisation and oppression will not end unless every voice resonates and every voice is heard.

Into Your Roots Sumona Bose

H

ave you ever wondered whether the distinct quality you have that makes you different from the world may be from your ethnicity? Maybe the way you dress, what you eat, what you wear and how you speak might be a reflection of where you hail from.

There is nothing to be ashamed of in embracing your roots. In fact, the very distinction of being yourself comes from representing where you are from. Nevertheless, don’t let something that was constructed

Image: Flickr GovernmentZA

from the past forbid your humanspirit and talent to imbibe a novelty and freshness in your life.

It is hard to maintain a level of differentness in a world that runs more on trends than individuality.

However, every ethnicity has a wealth of originality. We have so much to embody and learn; to live and love, and to press our individuality hard into the cement of uniformity. Although our culture may be considered to be a guideline in our lives, we live in a generation of conflict that sees our struggle as young individuals come to terms with the general abidance of traditions that objects to their own will of life.

Although some traditions are fading away due to their obscurity in relative society, there is no harm in mirroring your affections towards your heritage, whether it is to other people, or even to yourself. Surely your own culture may bring in the diversity in a world treading towards trends, but uniqueness is evoked from within.

Many young people demonstrate their identities that may differ from their backgrounds completely, and it is time to realise that it is fine to be dissimilar from our tradition. We are not born to be representations of societal images of culture. Don’t forget where you come from but never let that hold you back from where you want to go.

We like to think that we are looking for our self-identity and we spend all of our lives finding

ourselves. Some may find that their culture does not connect with any of their individual ideologies, and some find solace in adhering to their respective cultures. Self-identity is not only limited to relying on something culturally or aesthetically constructive. In society, individuals strive to create their own path that later culminates into a heritage that influences other identities. Some people even find disagreement within their tradition and find a route of self-discovery outside it.

To impersonate and live your preferred ethnicity, abide by it daily. Radiate and celebrate your everyday lives around your tradition.

Enlighten yourself about what it means to personify your roots. You see, the real challenge is to fit your culture right in where it needs to be.

But don’t let that book dictate what ought to happen in your life right now. Respect it but don’t force it on yourself to impose an ‘identity’ to be comfortable with. Our roots may tell a tale, but they don’t dictate us.

A culture is supposed to enrich our souls, not confine our spirit.

Don’t be scared of wearing a shade that resembles your hometown, or a piece of fabric that comes from your native land. You are wearing and doing what you are; something that you can never change. But don’t let that fabric take over who you are.

Never delay a moment to transfuse your heritage to others, because you don’t always need a reason to celebrate what you as an individual are worth in this world.

OPINIONS

22 March 2016 V75 E 3 Page 7

Pretty Privilege

Megon Venter

F

or most people, childhood holds one of two types of memories. The first consists of happy memories, of spending time with friends, confidently walking through the schoolyard, doing well academically, and most prominently, some sort of popularity. For others, school and childhood in general conjures up anxieties over socially awkward encounters, average grades and being bullied.

What is the defining factor that alters the destiny of these children?

In my experience, those who thrived in this social environment were not those who were the nicest or the most talented but rather those who were the ‘prettiest.’ The question is: do the pretty privilege politics end here? I would argue not.

Personal perception ... defines what an individual finds appealing Firstly, I would like to clarify that often times we cannot discuss ‘pretty’

as a general thing agreed upon by all. There is a great deal of social conditioning and personal perception that defines what an individual finds appealing. This is also not to say that all ‘pretty’ is physical, but can be any aspect of a person that is rewarded socially by any gender.

The argument is not what pretty is or whether or not people should judge by this standard, but whether in fact they do. In our constructed society, it may be easier to argue from the viewpoint that those who conform to this normative framework are considered more

Image: Lizzie McEwan favourably by the rest of the public than those who don’t want to or do not have the privilege to do so.

Students getting preferential treatment Here is where ‘prettiness’ parallels with this system. As society has seen in many a shameful history, there are certain races, genders, and sexualities that have been favoured

to the point where this privilege is normalised and praised until of course, it is questioned.

Psychological studies have proven that we judge others subconsciously based on their appearance. If we assume that certain normative characteristics are deemed attractive, we can now take a look at some statistics. According to economist Daniel Hamermesh, more attractive people earn 3-4% more, get promoted quicker, are more likely to get loans approved, and are more approachable.

In the context of UCT, this could add up to students getting preferential treatment in terms of slightly higher grades, a louder voice in campus interactions, more respect, and postuniversity opportunities.

However, just as you cannot help being perceived as less attractive, you can also not help being attractive. In fact, in the society of rape culture, beauty can make you a target for predatory behaviour.

The other point to make is that even when others may perceive beauty in someone, that person may not perceive it themselves. A study by Dr Chris Solomon and his team of researchers has found that between 61% and 82% of adults feel anxiety about their appearance.

So, while ‘prettiness’ is not always a privilege, or even something that can be defined, it certainly can play a role in how one is perceived and whether or not one thrives in a heteronormative society. It is also crucial to look at why there is such a social emphasis on beauty and how we can counter these unreachable ideals.

Teacher Teacher

Jemima Lewin

D

uring the 2016 orientation, tutors were warned about the clothing they wear to tutorials.

‘Suggestive clothing’ could lead to not only social, but academic problems as well, for both student and tutor. At this, several female tutors have come forward and admitted that they have felt objectified, and quite frankly, leered at.

Here is a controversial statement: sexual violence is more complicated than an item of clothing and a perverted individual. It is the culmination of various factors playing itself out into sexual violence. Sexual violence is not constrained to just one gender or sexuality, it crosses all these borders.

the mindset that these students have

With rape culture being as prevalent as it is in society and

the strides people have taken in educating people about sexual violence, the approach that the university has taken is archaic.

In essence, taking the ‘it was the victim's fault, she dressed too sexily’ reasoning. The patriarchal structure of UCT that enables this discourse and ‘plan of action’ is stifling, and needs to be challenged and deconstructed.

Telling people to cover up solves nothing, but in fact perpetuates this idea that rape will cease to exist after everyone just covers up their bits sufficiently. This sounds foolish, but is unfortunately the essence of this way of thinking. We are telling the younger generation not to get raped instead of deconstructing a society that teaches perpetrators that it is okay to, not only harass someone, but also physically assault someone and get away with it. Consent, for many, is a foreign word as a result.

By telling these tutors to dress modestly, it is placing the responsibility solely on them and blaming them for the ogling they have to endure. Victims constantly bear the brunt when it comes to any form of abuse: ‘it’s their fault, they provoked the perpetrator,’

Image: Jian Yi Song ‘What were they wearing?’ These are the questions that arise too often.

Take the shame of rape and sexual harassment off the victims and place it rightfully on the perpetrators.

Telling people to cover up solves nothing All these things have been said before repeatedly, yet our culture and society remain entrenched in obsolescent methods of tackling

these subjects and incidents. While the issue of students ogling tutors does not sound serious, it is. No person wants to feel objectified, and certainly not in their working environment. What makes the situation worse is the manner in which the issue was dealt with.

The issue is not what the tutors are wearing, but rather the mindset these students have. That it is okay to make a person feel uncomfortable with your gaze because their body is essentially there for you to look at and ‘appreciate,’ and that said person

should feel flattered. But does it really just end there? Or can this behaviour lead to even more serious acts of sexual harassment and violence so prevalent in our society?

We are so used to being in spaces that cause fear; we have learnt to accept it. A tutor should not feel threatened in an academic space such as a tutorial session. If that person is visibly uncomfortable, please back off. Unintentional or not, if attention from you is not wanted and consent not given, accept this and move on.

Faces of UCT

T...

Images: Jian-Yi Song, Razeen Hansrod Compiled by:Ashley Jane Seymour

22 March 2016 V75 E 3 Page 10

FEATURES

I am the Last Respondent Nicole Arends

A guide to interdicts

W

hile casually strolling along Jammie Plaza, something catches my eye. A student stands – straight-faced, without even the hint of a smile breaking through.

A single cardboard poster is placed in his hands reading, ‘I am the last respondent.’ This came as a result of UCT’s decision to get an interdict against 16 students following campus protests surrounding ‘Shackville’ and the student housing problem at UCT. But what exactly is an interdict? And what should you do if one is taken out against you?

What is an interdict?

An interdict is a court order that is sought to enforce a right. There are two main forms of interdicts – a mandatory and a prohibitory interdict. A mandatory interdict requires the respondent (the person whom the interdict is taken out against) to do something, while the prohibitory interdict prevents the respondent from doing something.

Upon application the interim interdict comes into play, and when the applicant proves his rights beyond reasonable doubt, the final interdict will come into effect.

be fully aware of your rights Image: John Marino Requirements to obtain an interdict: In order to obtain an interdict against someone, there are certain requirements that have to be met.

Firstly, an actual right must exist in order to obtain an interdict. This right could be arising from a contract that was breached, or an illegal act that occurred under the common law or any existing statutes. The second requirement is that without an interdict, there may be irreparable

harm caused to the applicant.

Thirdly, there must be no alternative satisfactory solution available such as suing for damages caused.

In most circumstances the respondent will be informed and made aware of the application for the interdict being placed.

The exception to this is when an interdict is needed on an urgent basis. In these cases the court can grant the applicant an interdict without notice to the respondent

(ex parte) and the respondent will be ordered to come before the court on a particular date, to show cause as to why the interim interdict should not be made a final interdict.

What if an interdict is taken out against you?

If you find yourself in the position where an interdict has been taken out against you, either individually or as a member of a student group or movement, it’s important to keep the following in mind:

Morning Rush:

Firstly, you need to ensure that you adhere to the interim (first or temporary) interdict while in the process of having the final interdict processed.

Contravening this interdict constitutes as contempt of court and could lead to arrest (if the power of arrest is covered in the court order) or you may be detained and the applicant can apply for ‘breach of interdict’ against you. If the interdict is an ‘urgent interdict’ a date will be provided for you to appear in court

to prove why this interdict should not be taken out against you (if you feel it is unsubstantiated). You also have the right to, after 24 hours, apply for an amendment or setting aside of the interdict.

Amidst student protests and movements, you need to be fully aware of your rights and the legalities to follow if needed. Don’t fall behind in these tumultuous times. Stay informed, stay conscious and stay woke.

How to ace your morning routine

Kudzi Manase

P

eople spend their mornings doing a variety of things. Some stand bleary-eyed by their printers, gently coercing them to present assignments due in ten minutes.

Others sprint to the nearest Jammie Stop while choking unattractively on breakfast that was shoved violently into their mouths only moments before. These habits may appear to work, but they clearly aren’t the

best way of doing things. Morning routines can have a huge impact on how the rest of your day is spent, which is why attempting to perfect them is definitely worthwhile.

Start the night before – It’s probably the last thing anyone wants to do after a long and painful night spent working on assignments, but getting things ready for the morning makes a big difference. Before collapsing onto your bed, pack your bag, lay your clothes out and make your breakfast or lunch. You’ll be glad you did it in the morning.

Wake up earlier – One of the

main reasons morning routines are stressful and poorly executed is because not enough time is set aside for them. The solution is, and always has been, to get up earlier! Not only will your mornings be less hectic, you’ll see the benefits throughout the day too. According to Forbes, morning people are more proactive and productive. Anna Wintour, editor-in-chief of American Vogue and artistic director for Condé Nast, wakes up at 5:45am for an hour-long tennis session; while Indra Nooyi, CEO of Pepsi, is up as early as 4:00 am

Be excited – If you wake up on a Monday morning with a particularly unbearable lecture on your mind, you’re more likely to get ready at a glacial pace. The opposite is true.

Anticipation can get you out the door slightly faster. Think of someone you’ve been looking forward to to seeing all weekend or, if at all possible, think of that one exciting lecture. If you’re really struggling to come up with anything, the thought of your comfortable bed waiting for you at the end of the day works wonders. The sooner the day starts, the sooner you’ll be back at home.

Image: Carolyn Gearig Keep it short – Find ways to make the lengthy short and sweet. Make breakfast portable by turning it into a smoothie or sandwich. Choose high intensity interval training over long gym classes. Keep the essentials (student card, wallet, phone, bag) in the same place at all times, preferably by the door.

It may seem as though morning routines are naturally disorderly and inalterable, but that doesn’t have to be the case. With a little effort and time, anyone’s morning routine can become smooth and seamless.

FEATURES

22 March 2016 V75 E 3 Page 11

Secrets of Self-Sufficiency

How to gain financial independence at a young age

I got tested for Sexually Transmitted Infections so that you don’t have to!

Ronel Koekemoer

I

n high school, the main thing I learned about sex is that it leads to diseases. I also learned that you can get pregnant and die (thanks, Mean Girls). Sex then was not only the path to hellfire and brimstone but also was a one way ticket to the dreaded (and regretfully googled) ‘Blue Waffle.’ However, when I started batting for the other team I abandoned these fears because, in high school, I learned that only a penis could cause such damage and that my best line of defence was the male condom. How wrong I was.

A study published in the UK last year estimated that unprotected oral sex ran similar risks to smoking for the development of oral cancer.

Another survey showed that people who believed that elevator railings and shaking hands was a gross germy nightmare didn’t seem to have a problem with grimy fingers during intercourse. Dirty might be fun in the bedroom, but not when dirty leads to herpes. Finger condoms are your friends. They look a little strange and they are not particularly accessible but it’s either that or fingers that 91% of the population admit to picking their nose with. Yum. There are so many things you could do with your fingers – including getting tested for HIV. A prick on the finger is

all it takes to get a rapid test and find out your HIV status.

I got an HIV test for the first time on my 19th birthday.

I was terrified. But now I’m a regular tester because the experience is far less daunting than you may think. There’s very little blood involved, it’s informative and you can get freebies. It isn’t a nightmare.

In fact, it’s more like a fairy tale: imagine Angelina Jolie booming, ‘Before the sun sets on her 19th birthday she shall prick her finger at an HIV clinic and know her status.’

But jokes aside, your L.O teacher probably wasn’t far off in striking the fear of God into you about contracting an STI. What they usually do get wrong, is how the risk is not limited to heterosexual sex. No matter who you are and no matter how you like to get off, plastic is your friend.

Although sometimes difficult to come by and awkward to talk about, using protection needs to become a part of our pillow talk, dirty talk or, if you like being gagged, incorporated into that too.

STIs are real and dangerous and not a fun time. They will stilt your sex life, harm your overall health and you very well could get pregnant and die (thanks again, Mean Girls).

It is time we normalise protection in all its many forms for all expressions of sexuality.

If the idea of experimenting with protection doesn’t entice you, remember: the safest sex is with yourself.

Simphiwe Sigaba

I

Image: Jonathan Harris

t is possible to become financially independent, but you’ll need to put in a fair amount of time and effort. Here are some useful tips for those of us trying to stand on our own.  Pay yourself first: Robert Kiyosaki’s book Rich Dad, Poor Dad highlights the importance of paying yourself first in a world where most people pay revenue services before even receiving their incomes.  You are your biggest asset: Realise that your ability to earn an income is determined by your future career. Don’t operate in a vacuum when it comes to your career and understand that more education is better than too little.  Plan and Save: There’s no point in saving if you don’t have time-oriented goals. Be sure to identify what you’re saving for and how much you require to meet those goals.  Short-term goals are equally important: Above setting long-term goals, also set short-

Image: flickr/Oksana Happy term goals for yourself. This could include things like paying off your credit card, putting in more effort at work in order to advance your career or paying off student loans.

Don’t focus on having the biggest house or driving the nicest car, because these goals will impair your ability to live comfortably in future.  Retirement is more important than you think: You may think that this is something to think about when you’re much older, but you’re mistaken. Retirement savings should be something you think about from day one of employment.

These days, people are living longer and the average retirement payouts are not enough to live off of. So save for your retirement early and ensure that you’re earning a good REAL return on those savings.  Financial literacy is key: Educate yourself on business and finance related matters, no matter what you may be studying. The world of investments is quite complex but put in that extra effort to read the Business Day or Financial Times.

Don’t just depend on a financial

adviser or a portfolio manager to make financial decisions that you may not understand clearly.  Understand the power of compounding: Albert Einstein said, ‘Compound interest is the 8th wonder of the world. He [or she] who understands it, earns it. He [or she] who doesn’t, pays it.’ When looking for investments, look for ones that have the ability to earn exponential returns and not linear returns (simple interest).  Know your investmentrelated expenses: Depending on what assets you invest in, you will be paying certain fees and taxes on your returns. Interest income is taxed differently to dividend income, which is taxed differently to the income earned on the sale of fixed property. This is a very important element of investing which people often overlook. Read up on the basic tax legislation relating to investment income and capital gains.

The above tips however don’t substitute your own research and your own efforts. Go out there and chase your financial independence!

22 March 2016 V75 E 3 Page 12

FEATURES

The ‘Veg’ in Vegan Megon Venter

A

s the world makes discoveries about physics and psychology, inevitably there is also progress being made in the science of nutrition. With ‘Banting’ as the craze of 2014 (lingering for as long as Tim Noakes battles on) there is another supposed trend emerging: veganism. This is certainly not a new concept, as our essential diets used to include mostly fresh vegetables, roots and fruits, however mainstream society has opted for a more meat-based diet.

Veganism as a new age trend Because of this, many myths surround veganism. While some may be worried about protein deficiency, calcium deficiency and lack of iron, it has been scientifically proven that the only substance that vegans are not able to consume enough of is vitamin B12 (and even this issue is solved with a simple supplement). In fact, plant matter contains more essential nutrients than any animal product. But even if you are simply intrigued by veganism as a new age trend, you will need to get your facts straight about which veg is for what vegan.

Here is a list of the most popular strains of veganism:

Image: Megon Venter

Fruitarian A fruitarian is as it says in the name and mainly or only eats fruit. Some fruitarians also believe that this fruit cannot be harvested through mass production and must have fallen naturally from the plant before being consumed.

Vegetarian

Raw Vegan

A vegetarian does not eat meat (yes, fish is meat) but still consumes dairy products. This tends to include cheeses, butter and milk. It is also generally accepted that eggs within things like cakes and pastries are allowed.

A raw vegan does not consume any animal products or any cooked foods. There are certain things like dried fruits which are acceptable if naturally dried. Otherwise amazing creations (raw cupcakes!) can be

made through the use of a food processor, some fruits, some veg, some nuts and some seeds.

Raw ‘til 4 Raw ‘til 4 is a loophole to raw veganism and was made popular

by Freelee the Banana Girl on Youtube. This excludes all animal products and consists of fruit for breakfast, a mono-meal of fruit or vegetables for lunch and a cooked meal for dinner. It encourages consuming a lot of high-carb foods to fuel the body and to avoid high fat foods (sorry Noakes).

Junk Food Vegan A junk food vegan still avoids all animal products but indulges in the decadent side of vegan eating which includes a lot of processed foods (think vegan muffins, donuts, meat supplements and fizzy drinks).

Whole foods Vegan A whole foods vegan avoids animal products but still eats cooked food. However, they will not eat anything that is not recognisable in it its harvested form. For example they would eat

unrefined grains, vegetables, fruits, legumes and nuts.

As you catch this wave of veganism, it’s important to delve deeper into why people are vegan. What may start as a trend may blossom into a cruelty-free, health-conscious lifestyle. Although you may not fall into just one category of plant-based eating, all that matters to the vegan community is that you speak up for the planet and its inhabitants, helping others to continue to grow their understanding of veganism.

Fight the Flab and be a Feminist?

Ronel Koekemoer

I

n the fight between compulsive dieting and resisting body policing, is there a way to reconcile body-positivity goals with body improvement?

We’re well into March and most people’s New Year’s resolutions are as forgotten as that dream of going to 8am lectures. Delusions of abstaining from drunk texting and waking up for meditation at 5am have been abandoned. What does seem to stick are aspirations towards weight loss.

Using information from various sites, I built an algorithm that created a spreadsheet to examine the dieting industry. This showed that the industry generates some of the world’s highest profits despite having a nearly 94% failure rate. Of course, when I say ‘I,’ I mean the

researchers at Women’s Health; and when I say ‘spreadsheet,’ I mean a list of numbers that may or may not be a spreadsheet; and when I say ‘algorithm,’ I don’t really know what I mean. But the point is: money is being poured into an industry that seems to benefit very few.

Health remains an important issue. I believe in nourishing the body, firing up the muscles and the mythical ‘moderation,’ but I no longer believe in the thigh gap or BMI. Advocating for health also means looking after yourself by being kinder to yourself and being proud of your body—the one that provides you with oxygen and blood all day. The ‘health’ industry doesn’t seem to advocate this message. I will never look like ‘healthy’ women are apparently supposed to look because my body doesn’t bat for that team.

The major problem with the health industry is that it feeds into the patriarchal idea that a woman is only as good as her body and that that body needs to meet certain criteria. That guilty feeling that you digest every time you consume a carb sounds very similar to the voice that declared ‘female’ when you screamed into the world. This same voice has given your gender substance your whole life through a running commentary of appropriate behaviours, your personal value and your supposed limitations. The commoditisation of health is patriarchal. So while it may be possible to love your body and also want to improve it, believing that your body needs to be thin to be good is a problem. It’s right up there with saying white bodies are the only good bodies or that cisgender bodies are the only good bodies. There is no wrong way to have a body, and we

Image: Rustbenburg Girl's H… via Facebook

should move from self-improvement to self-empowerment when we wish to change.

The way to go about this is to be a critical consumer not only of calories and diet advice, but also of what you’re saying to yourself when

you look in the mirror with the idea that your body needs to change. We need to find the root of that thought and, knowing that, whether or not that’s an empowering voice, or the one that tells you your worth is dictated by your dress size.

FEATURES

22 March 2016 V75 E 3 Page 13

TheA quick Accidental Pancake and easy pancake recipe Catherine Fulton

A

s a student, it is not easy making your own food when you have so little time (and money) to make decent meals. Often the recipes that you flip through in the odd magazine or cookbook are too complicated and aren’t quick either.

What you really want is a quick and cheap meal that is guaranteed to satisfy your stomach’s rumblings.

Often, when we try to use a recipe for the first time, it doesn’t quite turn out like the picture in the book.

But, good food doesn’t always have to look perfect. If anyone asks, it was meant to look that way. Which brings me to my recipe for the accidental pancake.

Once upon a time, I ventured to make a simple pasta sauce for my sister and me. We had a tight schedule and I had never actually

made a white sauce before. My father scribbled a basic white sauce recipe on a crumpled piece of paper and dumped it on the table saying, ‘Make sure you don’t make it lumpy!’ as he rushed out the door. It didn’t turn out lumpy, but it didn’t exactly turn out to be a white sauce either…

I was stirring the ingredients, when suddenly I heard the telephone ring. I quickly ran out of the kitchen, yelling to my sister to take over the white sauce while I answered the call. After a few minutes I came back into the kitchen and, to my dismay, the sauce had been left unattended.

I rushed over to discover that my sister hadn’t been stirring it at all. What was originally a watery white sauce, had now cooked into a doughy disc. I had unintentionally made a pancake. I thought, ‘Well this is a flop, literally,’ and flipped it over and cooked it some more.

I was pretty amused, and decided that I shouldn’t waste it; and so the

Image: Michael Stern

accidental pancake was born.

The recipe: it’s simple, relatively healthy, and super easy!

Ingredients: (makes roughly 1 to 2 pancakes)

- 225ml (8 fl oz) milk - 4 tablespoons olive oil - 2 tablespoons plain flour

place a little olive oil to make extra sure that your pancake won’t stick.

2. Over medium heat, heat milk until warm. Do not boil.

3. In a separate bowl, mix the flour and oil together, then add a small spoonful of the warmed milk at a time, whisking until the mixture is runny and smooth.

4. Pour the entire mixture into a saucepan and heat over medium heat, taking care not to whisk

constantly. Wait until the edges of the pancake begin to dry – you should see little bubbles rising and popping. This is your cue to flip the pancake. When waiting for the other side to cook take care to check frequently, because it won’t bubble as it will be dry. I would lift one side just a bit to see how well it is cooking before flipping the whole piece. The pancake does not brown well, so be careful not to wait too long for it to turn golden, as you may end up burning it.

5. Add cinnamon, sugar and lemon juice to taste. Possible other fillings include caramel, Nutella, peanut butter and strawberry jam, applesauce, apple pieces and cinnamon, honey and banana, or even just plain syrup.

Tip: don’t stress too much about the way you mix your ingredients; as long as you don’t continuously whisk it, it should end up as something other than a white sauce.

ROOMMATE101 Method: 1. In a small, non-stick saucepan,

Daniela Savoia

important to set some ground rules in order to keep the peace and avoid fights over who didn’t do the dishes again. Remember that living with people that aren’t family is probably a new experience for all of you, and it can be difficult to adjust at first.

I

unlock the front door and as it creaks open, the stench of rotting food and alcohol hits me. Couch cushions cover the lounge floor, our coffee table is on its side, there’s a broken gin bottle on the windowsill and biscuit crumbs everywhere. I went home for a week — what has my flatmate done to our apartment?

I walk past her door and get a horrible whiff of gin, hairspray and cigarettes. As I approach the kitchen the stench gets worse. Not only are there beer cans littering the floor, but my bathroom towel is lying there – covered in something brown and nasty looking. The oven is open and there’s a dirty tray hanging out of it.

Set some ground rules in order to keep the peace

What has my flatmate done to our apartment?

There’s tomato sauce, mayonnaise and some other unidentifiable sauce splattered across our kitchen table. Underneath this concoction, a bottle of sweet chilli sauce is open and oozing all over the floor next to a pizza crust and a few cigarette butts. There’s a half made cup of tea (with spilled milk) and the open milk carton next to it – one of the contributors to the delightful odour lingering in the air.

The cupboards are left open and empty, as all the crockery is piled up at the sink. There’s something greenish that looks like it could have been macaroni at one stage.

Image: Albert Herring There’s rubbish over-flowing out of the bin and all over the floor in the corner. On one counter there’s a vegetable steamer that hasn’t been cleaned in months, but this time there’s something moving in it. A fly struggling to escape, before falling to its death next to many other victims lying amongst grey shapes that resemble shrivelled up peas.

This was just one of the terrible

occurrences that I had to endure while living with the flatmate from hell for the majority of a year.

Moving out of home and living with other people for the first time can be quite an experience. There’s so much freedom – no parents to tell you what to do, what to eat, or when to come home. But the novelty wears off as you realise that you need to learn how to cook healthy food

(because cornflakes and cheap rosé is not a sufficient daily dinner) and clean up after yourself (because there aren’t any magical elves to clean your dishes or wash your clothes). You’ll also realise that your flatmates aren’t going to do any of it for you either.

You’re on your own now, kid.

Living with friends can be such an exciting experience and one of the best times of your life. But it’s really

You need to clarify your expectations from the beginning.

Talk to each other and discuss how you would like things to work in your living arrangements. Discuss things like paying bills, how you plan on sharing (or not sharing) food, cleaning arrangements and general house rules. It is vital to be able to communicate with each other and be able to discuss an issue without it turning into a messy argument.

As you live with someone, you may pick up on annoying habits that drive you crazy – you need to be able to communicate before it turns into an issue. Keep communal places neat and hygienic; especially bathrooms. Don’t be excessively noisy or disruptive when someone is trying to work and respect the privacy of others.

I think one of the most important things is to stay mindful of the other people that you’re living with.

Think about how you would want them to treat you and your space and make sure that you reciprocate that towards them. Remember, this is your new home, as well as your flatmate’s new home. You want it to be a happy place.

22 March 2016 V75 E 3 Page 14

GREETINGS

from the bench Catherine Fulton There is something special about this edition, and I am not talking about our paper’s fabulous new design. I bet you’re all thinking: ‘water you talking about?’

Okay, that was a bad pun, but I am quite shore we can all agree that it’s time for swimmers to get some recognition. What better way to celebrate summer than with an ‘ice selection of waterthemed content?

This edition has got some interesting things for you to sea. Keep up to date on the latest happenings with UCT’s Swimming Club, from Olympic Trial competitors to the club’s goal of transformation. For the ‘freshers,’ if you have never heard of Jaboolie, now is your chance to familiarise yourself with the wacky watersport before it comes to a close.

I know I am not the only one who has never taken to the waves, so if you’re like me (who wants to surf but has no idea how) check out our insider’s perspective on UCT’s Surf Club, and see what it is like to surf for the very first time. We have a lot on swimming in this edition. My deputy has provided us with some interesting thoughts on swimming as a kind of personal therapy, which I believe can apply to everyone here as we each have our own form of escapism.

I know that a lot of you will be swamped with tests and assignments as we head towards the Easter holidays (I know I am!), so make sure you’re all getting enough sleep, and remember to stay hydrated. Perhaps now is the time to take a rest from the stress, and relax with a copy of VARSITY Newspaper.

Remember, this year we have a whole lot of new and exciting stuff online, from The Cape Town Cycle Tour to Climbing at Montagu. Why not pop onto varsitynewspaper.co.za and have a look; there is always something for everyone. Good luck to those writing their tests, and happy reading!

Catching My First Wave Erica Mare

W

hen you move from the North-West Province to Cape Town for university, surfing is definitely on your list of things to do.

Who doesn’t want to be that surfer girl, right? UCT Surf Club gave us dreamers the opportunity to tick that off our list.

The UCT Surf Club’s first ‘fun day’ at Muizenburg was something that I was looking forward to all week. You get to wear a wetsuit and walk around with a surfboard, feeling pretty cool, all while meeting awesome people. Then you get to go into the water and make a complete fool of yourself. Well, some of us.

When we arrived, the personnel from the Surf Emporium were just as excited as we were. They quickly organised wetsuits for us and sent us off into the changing rooms. This was when we ran into the problem of

trying to get a wetsuit on. But, it was also where the fun started, as I was not the only one struggling. After having to pull each other’s arms through the sleeves and figuring out how the zip and Velcro worked, we proudly walked out of the changing rooms. Outside, each of us received a rash vest and then were sent off to the beach.

we were ready to hit the water On the beach there were surfboards laid out, with Roxy Davis waiting for us. Yes, Roxy like the brand, which we were all wearing. They divided us into groups according to the colour of our rash vests, and then each group was

assigned to a coach. We were then taught the basics (how to paddle, how to push yourself off the board and where to place your feet). After having done a few ‘stand up’ practice runs (which felt a lot like burpees), we were ready to hit the water.

Thanks to the wetsuits, we had forgotten how cold the water was.

Our coach helped us pick the right waves, and when it was time, he would instruct us to get on our boards and start paddling. Then came the tricky part: trying to stand up.

Some were naturals and got it almost instantly, but others had to try a bit harder. It was quite embarrassing to sit on your board when you were exhausted from just trying to stand up, while an 11-year-old boy cruised past you on his surfboard. At least we were cheered on, even if we only got up half way. The first time I got up, I was so excited that I tried to signal my friend to look at me, but my ride

only lasted about four seconds and ended with a majestic fall. She only saw the last part, of course.

After two hours of ‘surfing,’ it was time to head back to the beach.

I confidently walked out of the water pretending as if I didn’t just fall off most of the time. Despite all the falls, everyone was happy and friendly attitudes made it all worth it. It was then that I realised that I had to get out of the wetsuit. This time it was a bit more challenging as it was soaking wet. Trying to get your wetsuit off while balancing on a slippery floor is not as easy as it seems. Just like when surfing, we had to keep paddling!

We ended this eventful day with delicious pizza and (after swallowing so much saltwater) washed it down with drinks. The actual ‘surfing’ was only a part of the experience; the whole event from start to finish was memorable.

JABOOLIE

Lizzy Carter

Y

ou may have heard whispers about it across campus – whispers of a legend. It is said to have been named after a fearsome Zimbabwean warrior. We can’t be sure of these legends, but what we do know is that (over 20 years ago) a group of UCT students founded what is now the most infamous water polo league at the university. I am, of course, referring to Jaboolie.

Jaboolie is a social water polo league that takes place at the UCT underwater club on lower campus, and runs over the course of four or five Wednesday evenings. Sixteen teams battle it out for the winning title. The event is open to all players, regardless

Image: pixabay.com

SPORT

Image: Lizzy Carter of experience or skill. This allows the competitors, who range from South African representatives to those just able to keep themselves afloat, to play against one another.

This is an event that truly encompasses the spirit of water polo beyond actual gameplay. It’s an opportunity for people from all walks of life to come together as a team and try their hand at one of the greatest sports in existence, as well as build up camaraderie with their fellow students. Jaboolie is renowned particularly among the water polo community for reminding the players that winning is only half the fun, and that the other half resides in the game itself.

Jaboolie is completely studentrun and is overseen by a keen group of members from the UCT Water Polo Club. Due to a large number of participants being inexperienced water polo players, emphasis is placed on safety, while also having fun. Security guards as well as paramedics are on standby to ensure the safety of all those who are involved. The aim of Jaboolie is primarily to facilitate a space where a good standard of water polo can be played by those who might not necessarily have experience playing the sport, as well as to develop the sport at UCT by attracting more players.

Unfortunately, sport at UCT tends to be underfunded and this event does not merely exist for the sake of

it. Jaboolie is the UCT Water Polo Club’s primary source of funding.

A lot of effort goes into organizing and running the event that helps enable the UCT Water Polo Club to give the best competitive water polo experience to its members.

Even though Jaboolie 2016 is coming to a close, spectators are welcome to join us on our final Jaboolie of 2016 in the week of March 21st. The actual date has not been confirmed yet, but you can keep yourself posted by visiting the Jaboolie Facebook page. Entrance is R50 and a student ID must be produced at the door, as the event is exclusive to UCT students. See you there, and don’t forget to bring the ‘gees.’

SPORT

UCT Swimming Miron Sarembock

SWIMMING

BITES

Catherine Fulton

Michael Phelps victorious in 100m Butterfly

Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps leaped ahead at the Orlando Pro Swim meet on Thursday, with a victory in the 100m butterfly in a time of 52.28s Phelps swam the first 50m in 24.62s, and kept ahead of fellow competitor Tom Shields, gaining the victory in the end. This allowed him to qualify for the Rio Olympic Games in August, hoping to add to his already impressive tally of 18 Olympic gold medals.

T

he UCT Swimming Club has much to look forward to in the coming year, from inter-varsity galas to exciting social events.

So far this year we have hosted an internal Swimming social, which allowed our members to meet each other and get to know the committee and coach personally. This social saw the infamous free pizzas make an appearance – which has become a custom for the team. The night served its purpose and friendships were created. These friendships are much appreciated, as swimming becomes all the more fun during the training sessions, as well as at

22 March 2016 V75 E 3 Page 15

Image: UCT Swimming Club the USSA National Tour, which normally takes place sometime in December.

The 2015 USSA Nationals was hosted by Wits at the Ellis Park swimming pool, and UCT managed to place 6th out of 9 teams in the combined team swimming scores.

A smaller UCT team attended the event this year, as there was uncertainty regarding whether the event was happening or not in the weeks leading up to it. We are glad to report that the event ran smoothly, and everyone had fun.

The UCT Swimming team is also very proud of our swimmers who competed at the Western Province Championships which was held at UWC in December. This event

allows all competitive swimmers in the Western Cape to compete against each other, and to qualify for other National events. Special mentions go to Matthew Bowers, Michael Bowers and Joshua Mills for their performances at this event. We wish Matthew and Michael luck for the Senior National Championships and Olympic Trials taking place from the 11th until the 16th of April.

We are currently planning an internal gala for the swimming team in order for the swimmers to test their fitness levels, as well as have some fun competing with friends.

We are also hosting an inter-res gala, which will allow the awareness of the sport to grow and show the fun that comes with swimming.

This year will also see a shift from the goal of outreach into the goal of sustainable transformation.

Unfortunately, the swimming team does not coach Learn to Swim sessions in its own capacity, however we have managed to find discounted Learn to Swim sessions, which have been made available to all UCT students.

I believe that our swimmers have much to look forward to in this coming year, and the committee and I look forward to increasing our competitiveness while retaining the social atmosphere the club is known to have. Our club accommodates fitness swimmers, social swimmers and the more competitive swimmers, so come along and enjoy the fun!

professional coach, as well as members from the higher teams who are passionate about getting you to your peak performance level, and encourage you all the way to that 3000th kilometre. Merely looking at a member from a higher team is encouragement to keep working, as they’re all perfect images of fitness.

The most magical part of the week is early on a Sunday morning, when we head out to Zeekooivlei for some real water action. Eight girls (somewhat inelegantly) carry the boat out of the garage and into the water, which is already a team effort. Then we climb in, practise a few strokes and head out into the glistening dam, filling our lungs with fresh air and seeing heartstopping views of the mountains

bathed in the morning sun. Once out on the water, rowing becomes a sort of meditation where your body and mind work to synchronise with your ‘crew.’ After a while, the boat is gliding across the water and you’re not thinking about deadlines or essays but rather enjoying the surrounding nature.

Then we get to the juicy part: races! The society has indoor and external races against other universities, which makes rowing so much more exciting for the more competitive person. It helps you to set goals on improving your times and fitness. There really isn’t a better feeling than pulling that off. You get opportunities to be recruited for races and join teams, or to just be noticed by the rowing community.

The rowing society also hosts many braais and camps, where we get a chance to meet the rest of the teams, who are all encouraging and friendly people. Their socials are a great way to get to know everyone when they aren’t all staggering off after a hard workout.

Rowing is a great sport to join if you’re looking for a full (and I mean full!) body workout and enjoy being out on the water. There is also an option to exercise indoors on ergo machines if the weather is bad, or if your petrol is too low to get to a dam. It’s also a great way to work out a long day’s stress. Since joining during O-Week, I have already grown so much stronger and am noticing a positive change in my body. It also makes walking to upper campus a total breeze.

‘Row, row, row your boat’

Christian Sprenger retired

Australia's Olympic silver medalist and world champion, Christian Sprenger, has officially retired from competitive swimming due a lingering shoulder injury. Sprenger said that it was a difficult decision to retire ahead of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, but his reasons were clear: ‘…in this sport, if the mind and body are not perfectly in sync and focused beyond capacity, the performance will not come.’

Le Clos obtained gold in Swimming Grand Prix

South Africa's best was at the Port Elizabeth leg of the South African Swimming Grand Prix, which was held at the Newton Park Swimming Pool on Saturday, 20 February.

Chad le Clos was on top of the medal podium in both the 50m butterfly and the 100m freestyle, clocking a good 24.51s and 50.04s respectively.

Sebastian Szczepanski caught doping

European bronze medalist Sebastian Szczepanski recently failed a drug test by Poland's anti-doping commission. The commission’s Michal Rynkowski told TVN24 that they had ‘discovered anabolic steroids, androgens and hormone modulators,’ but for the moment are remaining cautious about judging this case just yet. If found guilty the swimmer faces a ban of four to eight years.

Image: UCT Rowing Club

Katya Minster

T

he UCT Rowing club is a great place to get fit, spend time in nature, and make friends with UCT students from many different faculties. I joined this year as an option to get fit quickly but since attending training I realised it’s so much more than sitting on an ergo machine and sweating all the residence food away.

As a novice you are immediately placed in a team and will spend two training sessions a week working on improving technique and strength, as well as working together and practicing synchronising your strokes. The society has a

SPORT Swimming as Therapy

22 March 2016 V75 E 3 Page 16

Jess Moore

S

ome might consider frantic kicking, pulling, splashing and crashing of limbs through water to be anything but therapeutic, but hear me out. I swam competitively for years, and often trained for up to four hours daily. Of course, this provided great perks, such as being able to eat with the A-team without worrying about stacking on the kilos.

It was wonderful. It also challenged my mind and muscles I didn’t

swimming yields ... physical and mental benefits know I had, in ways that I didn’t know existed. There is no doubt that swimming yields unparalleled physical and mental benefits, but what made me fall in love with the sport as a little girl was what it offered me emotionally.

Regardless of how I’m feeling when I dive into the pool, swimming knows exactly how to improve my mood.

The repetitive stroke movements force me to focus on my technique, on my breathing and how my figure is moving through the water. During longer swims, I often listen to music through an underwater MP3 player.

Although upbeat tracks are the ultimate mood booster, a feeling of contentment washes over me even when I swim without music. All I can hear is my breathing and the soothing sounds of the water moving in harmony with my body. I have no doubt that you will feel relaxed if you allow the surface of the water to rest in line with the top of your goggles or eyebrows, concentrating on the movement of your arms’ entry into the water. Focus on and stay in line with the black stripe that is usually on the pool floor. These recurrent sensations of feeling, sound, sight, and the strong smell and (hopefully not too frequent) taste of chlorine are instant mood boosters.

Swimming is challenging, as we build up fitness and focus on

improving our stroke and form.

However, when these techniques become entrenched in our muscle memory, swimming starts to secure a new significance in our day and becomes unbelievably enjoyable, and something we don’t want to miss. This aquatic reflection space allows us to zone out temporarily, and escape the day’s work and stresses, leaving us feeling refreshed and restored. Try not to judge, but as I swim I often

Read Online: Montagu Hike and

Cape Town Cycle Tour

allows us to zone out temporarily ‘sing’ some of my favourite songs over and over in my head, pray, make lists of what I’m going to do when I get out the pool and assemble grand schemes and solutions to problems. I feel like I can take on the world by the end of the set! This time-out helps me to be more productive and stronger to cope with life outside the pool.

Whether you swim alone to escape or make it a social affair, the

Image: Skeeze

endorphins bathing our minds during a tough (or not so tough) swimming workout enhance these feel-good effects. Why not do something that encourages you to focus on some of the good things life has to offer instead of the negatives? If you’re keen, check out the UCT swimming club’s article to find out how you can get involved.

You definitely don’t have to have it all

figured out to call yourself ‘a swimmer’ and these benefits function at many different levels and develop over time.

Don’t be afraid to start somewhere.

Whether it’s asking someone you trust to teach you how to swim, whether it’s splashing around recreationally with mates, or whether you’re down for the challenge of training towards a goal, just dive in. I dare you.

Benefits of Drinking Water Catherine Fulton

Y

es, we all know it’s a necessity, but why is it so important?

Besides keeping your metabolism going and your digestive system functioning; did you know that water can even help prevent kidney stones?

Water is the body's principal chemical component, and makes up about 60% of your body weight. It flushes toxins out of vital organs, carries nutrients to your cells, and even provides a moist environment for the ear, nose and throat membranes. Water also has a large heat capacity, which helps limit changes in body temperature in a warm or cold environment as it allows the body to release heat (through sweating) when ambient temperature is higher than body temperature.

These are just a few of the various reasons as to why water is so vital to our wellbeing. As you know, the standard amount of daily water intake is at least eight cups or two liters a day. If you’re not drinking enough water, here are a few reasons as to why should be drinking more: Better Mood Research has shown that dehydration can make you grumpy,

tired and confused. Water can help you to think more clearly and boost your mood by keeping you fresh and hydrated.

Optimal Performance Proper hydration contributes to increased athletic performance. Did you know that water composes 75% of our muscle tissue? Dehydration can lead to weakness, fatigue, dizziness, and electrolyte imbalance.

Weight Loss Sometimes our bodies can confuse us; we think we are hungry, when we’re actually just thirsty.

Staying hydrated can serve as an appetite suppressant and help with weight loss. Drinking a glass of water before each meal will help you stay full, and therefore eat less.

Less Joint Pain Drinking water can reduce pain in your joints by keeping the cartilage lubricated. This is how the amino acid glucosamine helps reduce joint pain, as it assists in your cartilage’s absorption of water.

Headache Prevention Often dehydration is the number one cause for headaches. Therefore, drinking water can prevent or alleviate head pain.

Make Your Skin Glow Your skin is the largest organ

in your body. Regular water consumption can improve the colour and texture of your skin, as water helps rejuvenate the cells.

Drinking water also helps the skin regulate the body's temperature through sweating.

Productivity Boost A glass of water can help with concentration, keeping you refreshed and alert. Move over coffee, because water can help those tired eyes too. One of the most common symptoms of dehydration is fatigue. So next time, when you’re feeling a bit sleepy, try a glass of water instead of a nap as you can save a lot of time this way.

Sickness Fighter Water may help with decongestion and dehydration, helping the body bounce back when feeling under the weather. As you already know, water helps flush out toxins in the body and helps with your health in general.

Just beware—drinking fluids hasn’t been scientifically proven to beat colds in one swoop, so don’t swap this for a trip to the doctor or other cold remedies.

So there you have it, and that was only a portion of the benefits that water can bring. Time to turn those taps and get hydrated!

Fixtures

Friday 5:30-6:00- Fishing : Inside Angling Ep 71 - Kruger's Gold (SuperSport 8, channel 208) 12:30-13:00- Swimming : SuperSwimmer Ep 10 (SuperSport 8, channel 208) 17:00 - 18:00- Canoe Marathon : The Dusi Canoe Marathon H\L Event (SuperSport select SA) Saturday 10:00 - 10:30- Rowing: SASCOC Sport Special Rowing - VLC National Sprints (SuperSport 8, channel 208) 10:30 - 11:00 - Snowboard: WOF - World of Freesports Ep 11 Skiers Cup (SuperSport 8, channel 208) 07:30 - 08:30- Swimming : SA GP H\L (SuperSport Select SA) Sunday 16:10 - 17:00 - Rowing: The Boat Races - Oxford v Cambridge 2nd Edition Women's Race (super sport 5) 17:00 - 18:00- Rowing: The Boat Races - Oxford v Cambridge 162nd Edition Men's Race (super sport 5)

Knee-Boarding for Dummies Anne Fulton Image: Olichel

H

ave you ever knee-boarded majestically across the waves?

Do you want to learn and impress your friends and family with this awesome, unique sport? Well look no further, ‘Knee-Boarding for Dummies’ is just the guide for you!

Knee-Boarding is an aquatic sport where the participant is towed behind a motorboat on a ‘flambuoyant’ board while sitting in an upright position on their knees.

There are different types of knee boards: Recreational Knee-Boards are perfect for novices as they have a tow hook. A tow hook is a device that holds the tow rope and pulls the knee-board so that the participant does not have to have to hold the grip while pulling themselves up into position at the same time. They are also padded, relatively thick and more buoyant which allows the participant to turn smoothly and have a stable ride.

Competitive Knee Boards are for the more advanced knee-boarders.

These compressed boards are thinner and lighter, with sharper edges that allow sharper and turns and tricks. There are two board styles: Trick boards have rounded bottom and edges while Slalom boards have sharper edges to, you know, slalom!

It is advised that as a novice, you use a multi-purpose, low stretch rope as it allows some stretch but

it is also firm enough to pull you along the water. It is also better to keep the rope a shorter length (about 13 meters) when learning as the wakes become smaller and easier to glide over. Keep the boat speed between 20 and 30kmph, depending on the participants experience and preference. Remember that the more choppy the water, the harder it will be to knee-board!

How to Get up and Go: Lie halfway up the board on your stomach. Your knees should be just off the bottom of the board. Grip the sides of the board (near the top) with your hands, as you lie in the water.

Put the grip on the tow hook and make sure that it is centred so that it will not slide off the hook when you are being towed.

As the boat starts to tow you, when you feel stable and ready, pull yourself up with your arms onto your knees. You will need a bit of speed to keep yourself balanced so do not pull yourself up immediately but wait until you feel ready while the boat is towing you.

Once you are up, start shifting your way forward while keeping the front of the board up and out of the water, as if you put too much weight on the front, it will start to dip and you will tumble! Put your knees into the knee moulds and put the strap over your thighs. Take the grip from the tow hook and you’re good to go! Be sure to lean back all the time so that you don’t tip forward and tumble.