2019 Edition 10 by VARSITY

16 October 2019| Volume 78 | Edition 10

Out With the Old, in With the New

By Akhona Matshoba

Source: tripadvisor

Meeting the threshold with a 25.4% of votes in category A, the newly elected SRC for 019/2020 will commence official duties on 1 November 2019.

n 4 October the results for the 2019 Student Representative Council (SRC) election were finalised despite the Election Commission receiving objections to the results and campaign spending reports. The Economic Freedom Fighters Student Council (EFFSC) swooped in with a majority, securing ten seats in the SRC. Followed by the South African Students Congress (SASCO) securing four seats and independent elect Zinhle Geluk, who received the most votes (1933), also securing a seat. With the portfolio allocation meeting that took place on the 8 October Akha Tutu and Reatlegile Magano both from EFFSC were elected into the presidency with Tutu being the President and Magano the Vice President of the 2019/2020 SRC. This SRC election season we saw a significant drop in the voting figures in comparison to the 2018 election process with the overall proportion of votes received dropping by 6 percentage points. VARSITY spoke to a few of the newly elected SRC office-bearers to find out more about their plans for their upcoming term in office. SASCO’s Aviwe Vilani, the incoming Student Advocacy Coordinator, cites lack of awareness as the reason for the decrease, saying that students don’t know about the SRC. “What we need to do first is to make them [students] aware, in that way we can also improve the roles of accountability… people need to know of the SRC itself first before we can even start improving other issues,” said Vilani.

“rhetoric has never led to action” When incoming International Student Coordinator Zinhle Geluk was asked about her decision to run for the SRC as an independent, and not under a political organisation, she asserted her need to move away from the politics and focus on the needs of students. Geluk spoke to avoiding dilemmas which

often come about “when the party policy and values sometimes contradict with what the students really need”. This is a sentiment shared by Lance-Selae August, the incoming Undergraduate Academic Chair, who believes that at times rhetoric can be the enemy of progress. “Rhetoric has never led to action. Sitting in political spaces, I see and hear people push rhetoric, and as valid as they sound, the conversation tends to go around in circles” said August. August goes on to say that they prefer a more pragmatic approach to leadership which is about finding “active solutions to solve the problems”. When asked about the practicality of this approach, given that they are a member of the FFSC (a student political organisation) August responded saying, “The EFFSC has strong ideological foundations, but unlike other political organisations, they do not push rhetoric all the time.

Before the results were finalised, there were objections posed to the Election Commission. One of which was from Caleb Kay of the Democratic Alliance Students’ Organisation (DASO), and it was related to campaign spending reports. “When it comes to the Election Commission and how they handled complaints that were laid against the EFFSC, I must say I was extremely disappointed. In fact, I would go as far as to question the competency of some of them to sit in a meeting where complaints of the election are being discussed because their outcomes were horrendous,” Kay mentioned.

There is a rhetorical-pragmatic balance in the EFFSC.” Candidates during the campaign season ran on multiple issues including food insecurity at UCT, accommodation over-allocation, providing students with concessions i.e. free student wellness services etc. But given that the SRC serves a 10-month term, candidates were asked how achievable their goals are given the time frame. Geluk emphasised the importance of continuity and teamwork in governance as this, according to her, yields better results. “I believe in the importance of team essence, so if the team is coherent with each other then it’s easier to sort of execute whatever your vision is for the SRC and for the students.”

Dyer, a member of the EFFSC, pointed out that perhaps complainants may have found issue with the scheduling of one voting day being on a public holiday by saying, “we saw a sharp decrease in votes in terms of the daily average. There was a sharp decrease that day. Going forward I do think the Elections Commission should be more mindful of public holidays and just benchmark other institutions in terms of how they conduct elections.” Dyer did note, however, that this could not have affected candidates negatively as voters could still vote online.

Declan Dyer, the incoming Corporate and Fundraising Coordinator, notes the importance of resources in making the SRC visible and accessible. He states that this will be one of his objectives during his term in office. Acknowledging that his biggest priority now will be securing funds for the SRC bail-out fund. “The predominant objective is the bail-out fund for students who are financially excluded, that fund assists a large number of students every year” said Dyer.

Asemahle Ntumntum, incoming Secretary General and EFFSC member, nullified the objections saying, “It is just rumours from doomsayers who do not want to accept that UCT EFFSC is in charge again. All complaints that were submitted with “evidence” were [resolved]. We read the SRC Elections regulation and every procedure was followed, we did

“all complaints that were submitted with ‘evidence’ were [resolved]”

“we did not do anything we were not supposed to do”

not do anything we were not supposed to do.”

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NEWS

Gabriel Vieira news@varsitynewspaper.co.za

Another UCT ﬁrst year student dies By Mantwa Mehlape

n the Monday, 30 September, Cebo Mhleli Mbatha, a ﬁrst year Bachelor of Social Science student, lost his life following a violent incident on Clifton Third Beach.

A memorial service was held on Tuesday, October 1 at the Go Green Student Accommodation inRondebosch. A friend of Cebo, who was at the memorial service stated: Source: News24

The tragic death of Cebo, who was fondly known as Cheese to his friends and classmates, evoked sadness and fear once again for most UCT student on campus. Posters of the memorial service were put up on campus to notify UCT student where and when the memorial service would be held.

“The memorial service that was held on Tuesday was actually really swet. It felt more like a celebration of life than mourning”

“The memorial service that was held on Tuesday was actually really sweet. It felt more like a celebration of life than a mourning. Everyone who spoke, including his father had such amazing stories to tell about him and we played his favourite music.” Cebo Mbatha was known to be a person who had a good sense of humour, who was impactful to whoever he met and high-spirited. The amount of student that attended the memorial service illustrates the impact he had on the lives of those students. His funeral took place on Saturday, October 5 in Dundee KwaZulu-Natal.

Within the past two month the University of Cape Town has dealt with the loss of ﬁve students namely Uyinene Mrwetyana, Cebo Mbatha, Lufuno Nathan, Nicole Heynes and most recently Sonja Canto, who passed away due to a car accident in Namibia. UCT students mourn over the loss of their classmates and friends. Safety for UCT students also comes into questioning as they fear who might be next.

UCT students among Grad-Star greatest By Gabriel Vieira

n mid-September, the fourth annual GradStar awards were held which recognised the Top 100 University students who were sifted from thousands of entries.

“designed to uplift the student youth and provide a platform to assist them in achieving their potential”

Among their number were ten students from the University of Cape Town’s various faculties and one, Kaila Fourie, placing within the especially prestigious top ten. Set up by the BlackBark Productions, these awards use a unique method to ﬁnd and recognise the most promising future leaders within South Africa’s University system. This beneﬁted both previously unrecognised students as well as the companies they are connected with during the assessment process.

There was also the Absa workshop entitled ‘Identifying Top Talent’ where they were exposed to what Absa believes to be important capabilities in sustaining higher levels of employee engagement today and into the future. The Absa workshop also explored the power of inherent biases and methods of mitigating them within organisations.

The assessment process itself was split into two phases with a total of four stages. All of the top one hundred were given four employer workshops including; the Fasken workshop designed to showcase and develop their leadership and innovation skills, the Epiroc workshop designed to give the candidates a better understanding of their personal brand and “legacy” and the DHL workshop entitled ‘The Big Yellow Machine’ which covered methods of carrying both sensitive shipments and shipments of a time sensitive or fragile nature.

Among the UCT students to be among the top 100 were; Altay Turan, Arnold Kinabo, Cleopatra Mokone, Daniel Martin, Mihlali Kulati, Nyaradzo Tapa, Paul Pettit, Tristan van Der Heever, Erwin Beguens Tshimpaka, and Bradley Zebert in addition to Fourie. The Gradstar judging criteria included such attributes as Grit/ Resilience, Self-Awareness, Adaptability, Initiative, Time and Task Management and Intellectual: Vision, Vigilance, and Insight.

“be even more brave, more passionate and more ready” The Top 100 were all recognised at a Gala Dinner at the Indaba Hotel which featured esteemed speakers such as Absa’s Group Head of Leadership, Learning and Talent, Dr. ThokozileLewanike Mpununi and a video call from the programme’s patron Dr. David Molapo wherein he asserted that the awards were ‘designed to uplift the student youth and provide a platform to assist them in achieving their potential.’ Dr. Mpununi encouraged the attendees to ‘be even more Brave, more Passionate and more Ready!

Source: Tamsyn Brown

@VarsityNews | 16 October 2019 | V78 E10 | Page 3

UCT Sanitary Drive Success By Tiyani Rikhotso

hile government has taken action in making sanitary products tax free, many young girls and women still struggle to access these sanitary products and face dire setbacks in their schooling careers while simultaneously grappling with stigma around menstruation. In response to this crisis and stirred by growing conversations around menstrual inequality coming out of women’s month, the Transformation Committee (TC) of UCT’s Communication and Marketing Department (CMD) ran a sanitary product drive in collaboration with Zwaanswyk High School. Working under the TC’s events’ subcommittee, the partnership with Zwaanswyk was spearheaded by Oscar Gordon-Smit, Jolene Steenkamp and Evan Zerf. Alongside about forty CMD employees, the High School learners rallied their eﬀorts together and played their part in making menstrual products accessible to those in need. Chair of the Transformation Committee, Aamirah Sonday shared that they were able to collect 632 packs and in total with Zwaanswyk’s contribution, 1054 packs of pads. The partnership with the High School was a powerful way of mobilising the learners to make a diﬀerence in the community. It also ensured that the initiative had a wider reach and thus bigger social impact.

‘The partnership with the High School was a powerful way of mobilising the learners to make a difference in the community.” The pads were donated and delivered to the Saartjie Baartman Centre for Women and Children , which provides a safe space for survivors of rape and physical abuse , and Ons Plek - which empowers young girls who have found themselves on the streets through life skills training. The donations were received with much gratitude as they equipped both centres with the resources to provide menstrual products to young women and girls who may not ordinarily have had access to them. The drive also had a big impact on committee members, specifically male employees, as they had to confront the costs that women are faced with every month when they have to buy menstrual products. In addition, it opened up conversations between CMD employees around menstruation and education for young girls and solidified the importance of access to sanitary care products for those who cannot afford them.

Source: Evan Zerf

With plans to visit the Saartjie Baartman Centre for Women and Children as well as Ons Plek, the Transformation Committee wants to continue its dedication to social development by answering the needs of these centres with the skills and resources they have. “We want to actually have an impact on the lives of others because we have the ability to reach out, get a group together and actually make a diﬀerence” shared Sonday.

“We want to actually have an impact on the lives of others because we have the ability to reach out.” While juggling their own work, the team hopes to have similar initiatives in the future as outreach has become a big part of their portfolio. After employee participation in the sanitary drive, it is clear that the passion to contribute to change rests in the hearts of individuals too.

@VarsityNews | 16 October 2019 | V78 E10 | Page 4

The Collective

EDITORIAL

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Tiyani Rikhotso editorial@varsitynewspaper.co.za

In with the new

MANAGING EDITOR Tatenda Chibisa managingeditor@varsitynewspaper.co.za

DEPUTY EDITOR Gabriel Vieira editorial@varsitynewspaper.co.za

COPY EDITOR Brad Brinkley copyed@varsitynewspaper. co.za ONLINE EDITOR Kelsey Maggott online@varsitynewspaper.co.za CREATIVE DIRECTOR Micayla Manthe creativedirector@ varsitynewspaper.co.za CONTRIBUTORS Ammar Canani, Mary-Anne Desai, Nicole Stuurman and Anna van Renen PRINT NEWS Gabriel Vieira news@varsitynewspaper.co.za

Gabriel Vieira

Deputy Editor-in-Chief

Tiyani Rikhotso

s incoming Editor-inChief, I have the privilege of bidding farewell to an outstanding Senior Editorial team. They worked tirelessly to ensure that Varsity shared the best content and constantly positioned itself as the voice of students. Highlights from their term in oﬃce include the annual media conference, as well as the Trailblazing Womxn wrap edition that uplifted the voices, lives, and actions of womxn making big moves in their industries. This year, the Media Conference engaged with the Mail & Guardian, the Daily Maverick as well as industry professionals that oﬀered support, shared their career journeys and gave us a glimpse into the world of media beyond UCT’s walls.

“Varsity used its pages to create a platform of mourning, healing and remembrance” In the wake of violence that forced the country to confront the reality of Gender-Based crimes, Varsity used its pages to create a platform of mourning, healing and remembrance for the lives lost at the hands of men. In facilitating debate and discussion, the paper took a stand against GBV and illuminated that in difficult times, words must be used to hold structures and people accountable, while informing and paving the way to healing. As the incoming SE, we want to continue to ensure that Varsity engages with issues that our country is faced with and is a space of reflection that helps students navigate these difficulties.

In addition, as the incoming Senior Editorial we have goals to boost student engagement with the paper.

PRINT OPINIONS Kelsey Maggott & Zahirah Benjamin opinions@varsitynewspaper.co.za PRINT FEATURES Sebastian Moronell & Amber Williams features@varsitynewspaper. co.za PRINT LIFESTYLE & FITNESS sports@varsitynewspaper.co.za NEWS REPORTERS Mantwa Mehlape, Sinothando Siyolo & Phophi Tshikovi

“We will continue to grow the online side of Varsity” to ensure that our social media and website content stays relevant” We want to ensure that they are not only represented through content but are able to interact with the paper to help them navigate the university space. As the media industry rapidly shifts its content to digital platforms, we will continue to grow the online side of Varsity to ensure that our social media and website content stays relevant and is utilised by students. Finally, recognising that we have a duty to the broader community, Varsity wants to embark on outreach projects and build sustainable relationships where we can oﬀer our resources and skills to those in need and facilitate social development. Though many of us are still grappling with what it means to show up and be productive in the wake of our traumas and trials, exams are fast approaching, and the semester is coming to an end. As the incoming team, we wish you strength and encourage you to reach out to your support structures, be it at the university or in your social circles. We wish you the best of luck for the last stretch of the academic term and that the holidays will provide you with much needed rest after a long semester.

IMAGES Tao Varty & Lebo Notoane images@varsitynewspaper.co.za ONLINE NEWS Jasmine Jacobs onlinenews@varsitynewspaper.co.za

Brad Brinkley

ONLINE LIFESTYLE & FITNESS Tiyani Rikhotso onlinesports@varsitynewspaper.co.za

Copy Editor

ONLINE CONTENT EDITOR Nolitha Ngamlana

STAFF WRITERS Julia Rowley, Chandré Cupido, Stephanie Wild, Brad Brinkley, Anouschka Tollig, Bathandwa Magqaza

ONLINE OPINIONS Ruhi Ghaza & Salma Noor Mahomed onlineopinions@varsitynewspaper.co.za WEB EDITOR Mukhetwa Ravele web@varsitynewspaper.co.za

MARKETING & BRANDING Tshepiso Mokabu marketing@varsitynewspaperco.za

FINANCE MANAGER Aidan Croy ﬁnance@varsitynewspaper. co.za

HR & OPERATIONS MANAGER hr@varsitynewspaper.co.za

Kelsey Maggott Online Editor

ACTING ADS MANAGER Teboho George ads@varsitynewspaper.co.za

VIDEOGRAPHY Siyambonga Jubeju videographers@ varsitynewspaper.co.za

ONLINE FEATURES Refentse Malatji & Anna Cocks onlinefeatures@varsitynewspaper.co.za

Tatenda Chibisa Managing Editor

SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER Malusi Ngidi socialmedia@varsitynewspaper.co.za

Micayla Manthe Creative Director

Applications are open for 2020! Please email hr@varsitynewspaper.co.za if you are interested!

VARSITY NEWSPAPER 2019 YEARBOOK The Creative Team of 2019

Tasneem Jacobs So much working, reading, thinking, living to do! A lifetime is not long enough.

Tao Varty Art is the lie that makes us realize the truth - Picasso

Tshepiso Mokabudi

Taizya Sokoni

Athenkosi Nzala Should the slaves be asked of my impact in the world, I would desire them to say of me: After setting himself free, he did all to be meaningfully useful in helping us do the same for ourselves - A.N. Godlovesu

Siyambonga Jubeju Love the life you live. Live the life you love - Robert Nesta Marley

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Features

Sebastian Monorell Amber Williams Features@varsitynewspaper.co.za

“Campus is My Home”: Homelessness at UCT

e’re all aware of the fact that homelessness exists in our own backyard. We see it everyday on main road in Rondebosch. But are we are of the fact that it’s right under our noses? Has UCT created a veil to the reality that homelessness is an issue right here on campus? Homelessness amongst university students is a common and growing crisis globally. 1 in 10 students are homeless in the US and SA. Aside from keeping up with the academic workload of pursuing full-time studies and working part-time (to pay oﬀ the hefty higher education fees,) these students are also struggling to ﬁnd a suitable place to sleep. Why is this?

“While students complain about how they hate living in their residences, I can only reminisce what sleeping on an actual bed feels like.”

There is a shortage of student accommodation at UCT and students simply cannot keep up with rising costs of private accommodation. Tuis* is a ﬁfth-year student and explains that NSFAS only covers living costs for 10 months of the year. “For the last two years or so I had to crash on a friend’s couch during the holidays because I simply did not have the money to cover my living expenses for the

By Alfredo Guilllermo

remainder of the year. This has definitely affected my mental health.” Ikayha* is a third-year student, and shares that, “While students complain about how they hate living in their residences, I can only reminisce what sleeping on an actual bed feels like.” Students are often caught between choosing housing and paying off student fees to avoid financial exclusion. Ikhaya* was denied NSFAS and explains that she did not have the documents to prove that she is parentless or that she cannot afford to pay for university. “I ended up working to pay for it myself, but soon could not keep up with my academics. I was academically excluded and am now at UNISA. I still work, but earn so little I can only afford my toiletries and food.” There is a multitude of invisible faces on campus who share the same circumstances as Ikhaya. Ikayha* has had to adapt and establish a routine on campus to gain some kind of normality in order to complete her degree. “Campus is my home.” Ikayha* explains that even if statistics was gathered on student homeless, it would be an underestimation. “Many homeless students try to keep their situation a secret. With the word ‘homeless’, the automatic thought would be ‘living on the streets looking messy/dirty’, but the truth is that there is a hidden homelessness crisis at UCT [and] it’s hard to know exactly how many university students are homeless.”

“For most students it’s not knowing what you want to do after graduation, but for the homeless student it’s not knowing where your next meal will come from, or where you’ll sleep”

A picture of a multi-cultural group of students sharing a laugh on university recruitment brochures is an illusion that has been sold to many. Ikayha explains that “For most students it’s not knowing what you want to do after graduation, but for the homeless student it’s not knowing where your next meal will come from, or where you’ll sleep”. A typical university experience; networking, partying, social eventsImagining a typical ‘university experience’ of “networking, social events, and partying, [she] will not remember her university experience in that way. There is no doubt that student homelessness is a real issue that often goes unnoticed. What does the UCT management have to say about student homelessness? Where has UCT been lacking and/or succeeding in assisting these students? Have they ever? UCT management is yet to respond to these questions.

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The Cult of the Celeb

By Amber Williams

ost of South Africa was left in a state of wonder following Meghan and Harry’s recent visit to Cape Town at the end of September. The wonder couple danced with locals in Nyanga, had baby Archie honored by Desmond Tutu himself, ate samoosa’s at the District Six Museum and Meghan herself made a private pilgrimage to Uyinene’s memorial in Claremont. They seem to be the antithesis of everything the royal family has stood for the longest time: they’re interracial, in love, the epitome of modern and the world can’t seem to get enough of them just yet.

and we are all too eager to follow in its wake. Our own lives are based on routine and our interest in these personalities proves we’ll do anything to break our own ongoing repetition. We seek escapism and the stories and lives of these personalities provide just that.

“We seek escapism and the stories and lives of these personalities provide just that.”

The largely unhappy life led by Princess Diana serves as a noteworthy example of this phenomenon. She simply wanted to be free from the constraints of her own upbringing, life and the society she found herself in. She was bored by it all because she saw through the thinly veiled lies and deceits of her own family and the politicians that acted on behalf of them. Harry alone seems to be the one continuing her legacy. His controversial marriage to Meghan- a biracial divorcee- proving just that.

But this begs the question: why are we so fascinated with the inner going-ons of their lives? Aristocracy is somehow based upon the absurd notion that the royal bloodline is godly; individuals chosen by God to be better than common folk. They walk as gods on the earth and everywhere they go people readily applaud and bow. This is the cult of the celeb

“Harry alone seems to be the one continuing her legacy.”

Source: Hello Magazine

Why, as the world sees a decline in the number of monarchs, does our love affair with the British royals continue to flourish? England has historically been an imperialist, class-based society. These displays of care and devotion can seem like little more than crowd pleasing acts- symbols for conquest, class and dominance. And in many ways, they still are. Life is hard, and becoming a success is difficult. We look at these people: their inherited wealth, social influence, style, and fame, and how they live their lives in fairy tale castles — all the stuff that we grow up on. And we wish we had that too. But our eyes need to be opened: in England the real power belongs to unprepossessing men in bowler hats; the creature who rides in a gilded coach behind soldiers in steel breastplates are really nothing more than waxwork. It’s akin to keeping a marriage happy via occasional visits to a stash of Playboys. Someone who’s better at waving, pretending to laugh and otherwise keeping their mouth shut. But Meghan and Harry seem to be changing the game- there’s hope just yet for the British monarchy it seems.

VENUS: A review By Alfredo Guilllermo

rom the 2nd – 5th October, the 4th year Drama students staged VENUS, a play by American playwright Susana Lori-Parks, at the Arena Theatre at Hiddingh campus. The play is based on the life of the so-called ‘Hottentot Venus’ - Sarah ‘Saartjie’ Baartman - and was directed by the South African actress Warona Seane. Before entering the theatre, one is ushered into the adjacent courtyard. Here there are a group of ‘freaks’ – complete with a two-headed man, a cyclops-lady and a gentleman with what looked like a dildo growing from his head. They heckled the crowd as they looked down from the first floor balcony. All the while, one sees Baartman (Zizo Solontsi) standing on a podium, ready for consumption. The crowd is beckoned to indulge Baartman by the Mother Showman (Katlego Mhlongo). So I view, and so do the others around me. I think I catch Sarah’s eye, or perhaps she catches mine. After our private viewing experience, in a panic we are repeatedly told that ‘The Hottentot Venus is dead.’ The freaks begin a screamin’ as other ringing voices call out that fateful alert. This sets the scene for the rest of the play – everything that followed was eulogy, an ode to a life lived and a death suffered.

“ The play is based on the life of the so-called ‘Hottentot Venus’ - Sarah ‘Saartjie’ Baartman Source: Centre for Theatre, Dance & Performance Studies - and was directed by the South African actress Warona Seane. After our caveat in the courtyard, we are ushered into the theatre (awkwardly so – when the fourth wall is broken, it is diﬃcult to know how to act afterwards). In the theatre we are met with two primary settings in which the play takes place. The ﬁrst is London, the second Paris. In London she is taken in by Madame Showman and exhibited alongside the aforementioned conspicuous freaks. She exhibits her body for the curious folk of early 19th century London. Here we meet a weary Baartman, who constantly dances in front of us; and so we act as double spectators: as spectators of the play and of the relived fateful dance. After a couple of years dancing in London, Baartman appears in court to discern her legal status: is she a slave, or simply an indecent lower-form human? It is at this point when she is taken by the Baron Docteur (Lungile Lallie) – representing the famous French naturalist George Cuvier – to France. There is no historical record which points to an intimate relationship developing between Baartman and Cuvier, however the

play fantasises such an interaction. Here we are shown how the desirous body of Baartman becomes the object of a contest over the two pulls of the good Docteur as man – between his deep passion for Baartman and his urge to be great and distinguish himself by making her a medical corpse. It is his urge for greatness, that common fall of all men, which he chooses.

“ After a couple of years dancing in London, Baartman appears in court to discern her legal status: is she a slave, or simply an indecent lowerform human? ” Whilst the play draws on events in Baartman’s life, I think it is important to question why the initial part of her life – before slavery, or before her body was looked at as consumption – is overlooked. Are we here simply recreating the image (literally) of Sarah as a body, completely removed from a personal history that occurs outside of Europe? There is still much to be discussed.

VARSITY NEWSPAPER 2019 YEARBOOK

Soligah Solomons For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Zahirah Benjamin

We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty - Maya Angelou

Teboho George Love Wisdom, and she will make you great. Embrace her, and she will bring you honour. She will be your crowning glory. - Proverbs 4:8-9

Akhona Matshoba Everything you are going through is preparing you for what you asked for.

Kelsey Maggott I’ll tell you what freedom is to me. No fear - Nina Simone

Sebastian Moronell How could one not subscribe? Everyone subscribed. - Fyodor Dostoyevsky

Bathandwa Writing, to me, is simply thinking through my fingers - Issac Asimov

Ntombi Khulu If it is to be, it is up to me.

Ruhi Ghazi Everything is within your power, and your power is within you - Janice Trachtman

Mantwa Mehlape Reality is wrong. Dreams are for real - Tupac

Aidan Croy Ease is a greater threat to progress than hardship - Denzel Washington

Salma Noor Mahomed The world is changed by your example and not by your opinion - Paulo Coelho

Julia Rowley A well-read women is a dangerous creature - Lisa Kleypas

Tiyani Rikhotso Raise your words, not voice. It is rain that grows flowers, not thunder - Rumi

Chandré Cupido There is no elevator to success - you have to take the stairs.

Arin Barry To all the stars who listen - and the dreams that are answered - Sarah J. Maas

Fentse Malatji It be’s that way sometimes - Nina Simone

Brad Brinkley Words are weapons wielded by writers.

Tasneem Jacobs So much working, reading, thinking, living to do! A lifetime is not long enough.

Anna Cocks Live without fear; but with love, joy, and perseverence.

Rachel Reynolds Anything worth doing is worth doing poorly - J.K Chesterton

Gabriel Vieira Believe those who are seeking the truth. Doubt those who find it - Andre Gide

Anouschka Tollig You only have today.

@VarsityNews |16 October 2019 | V78 E10 | Page 10

Column What the Pigeon Heard Surviving your roommate struggles By The Anonymous Pigeon columnist@varsitynewspaper.co.za

ith the current academic year ending, most students’ lease agreements are also coming to an end. Before choosing who to live with for the coming year, or coming back to deal with a roommate with whom you really wish you didn’t have to, I feel it is my duty to advise where I can on how to deal with somewhat less than palatable living situations. This concern stems from the sheer number of roommate complaints on campus all year round. I have overheard humans speaking about the most atrocious and abominable transgressions against them committed by the person with whom they’re housed. So what follows is some unconventional advice from a pigeon who sees logic beyond all this human emotion: Rather the devil you know than the devil you don’t It is a rather contentious issue whether to choose to live with who you know or just strangers. Living with friends may end really good friendships but housing with a stranger comes with a whole host of other issues. There is a concept in Game Theory, an Economics course offered at UCT, that talks about how one’s reputation and the likelihood of repeated interaction with another person or ‘player’ will prevent that player from behaving immorally or defaulting on promises because there will likely be future consequences.

Source: iStock

angry self. So my advice is to live with people you know—whilst their actions may disappoint you, they won’t behave nearly as savagely as those who have no reason to respect you.

thrive. You may find res a bit much with sharing a room. If this is the case, hang in there. Second year will allow you access to one of the prized single rooms and your life will likely become a lot less tumultuous.

The dishes aren’t going to do themselves! There are 1000 approaches to solve the If res is behind you, then you’re onto the issue of a roommate leaving their dishes. I apartment phase with one other person. You suggest doing the following in this order to may have discovered either (1) that you love ensure maximum probability of survival: having people over (to the irritation of your roommate) or, (2) that you enjoy peace and quiet (your roommate having their friends over all the a) Ask them to do their dishes time irritates you). If it’s the former, perhaps a b) Ask them to keep their dirty dishes digs situation –where a group of 5 or 6 people in their room until they can wash share a house—is more conducive to socializing. them If it’s the latter, living by yourself is likely the best c) Put their dishes aside in a very option for you. Unfortunately living by yourself is obvious pile unaffordable for most students. A happy medium d) Put the dishes on their food shelf/in is 3-4 people, which isn’t as social as a large digs their pantry drawer but allows for more diffusion of tension than living e) Offer to do your roommates dishes with just one other person in a small space. for a small per month fee (payment upfront) Good luck, and remember, life is a balancing f) Sell your crockery and tell your act! I imagine it’s more difficult if you can’t fly roommate you are eating off paper when you fall, but you all seem to manage. plates g) Move all the crockery to your clothes cupboard and lock your DISCLAIMER door so the only crockery available for your roommate to use is the dirty set h) Buy a dishwasher This section of the VARSITY is a vehicle for expression on any topic by the i) Accept defeat and just do your columnist. The opinions within this section roommates dishes. Make it fun and are not necessarily those of the VARSITY put some music on collective or its advertisers. Letters to the Editor can be sent to: editorial@varsitynewspaper.co.za Different strokes for different folks

If you stay with a friend, they are less likely to behave disgustingly because they know that their reputation could be damaged by what you say to mutual friends or classmates. With someone whom you have no ties with, it is much easier for them to break your things, eat your food, or have people over even when Depending on what human you are –I you’ve told them you’re writing exams— simply because there are no extended consequences have discovered there are quite a wide variety other than perhaps a temper tantrum by your of you—different living situations will help you

@VarsityNews | 16 October 2019 | V78 E10| Page 11

KINDNESS

By Salesian Life Choices

“I remember the first years of my life as being the best. My parents were married - my mom was my dad’s second wife - and... we lived in Kinshasa, the capital city. My mom worked in the market by selling food and my dad used to work in a bank. I felt at home, safe, accepted and protected.” Rhema’s parents decided to send their son to South Africa to have access to more opportunities. “One day my parents brought me to the airport and gave me to the protection of a close family friend. She was young and they said goodbye… I never saw my family again.” Rhema was sent to stay with his uncle and his family. “I arrived in South Africa to live with my uncle and five chiIdren with the family friend who brought me here. They were strangers to me. My uncle was a painter and my aunt was the main breadwinner. We stayed in Mandalay until I was six.

“I got a few friends who were the outcasts at school. We kept together and away from all the politics around.”

TRAILBLAZER Each time someone confronted me I would hit them. I became the black sheep at school but for the first time, I had some boys become closer to me. They wanted me to protect them. In Grade 6, the school got sick of me and they expelled me.” At home, Rhema’s family was also facing challenges.

“Rhema managed to successfully finish primary school but was now faced with another challenge. “The only high school that accepted me was in Factreton – gangster’s paradise.” “We kept moving. My uncle used to tell us to hide so that the landlords and neighbours didn’t notice us.” After being expelled, Rhema’s uncle found another school for him. “In Grade 7, I moved to a school in Retreat. I developed the belief that to avoid being hurt, I needed to hurt first.

We spoke mainly Lingala and French at home. I know my uncle and aunt tried their best. It was clear to me that my cousin… was their favourite… I felt like an outsider.

Rhema managed to successfully finish primary school but was now faced with another challenge. “The only high school that accepted me was in Factreton – gangster’s paradise.

Even though I was unable to understand why my parents made such a decision, in African culture, children don’t question adults.

It became very clear to me that under no circumstances could I lose my mind. I knew that if I did not manage my anger issues I would die.

When I was six, we settled down in Salt River. I remained in the same school and used to travel long distances by train to get to school. In Grade 4 my uncle found a school in Salt River. My English was still not too good and I was the darkest one” The move to the new school proved to be another dramatic episode in Rhema’s life. “For the first few weeks, things seemed alright but afterwards the kids began to bully me. It started with verbal abuse. Everyone ignored me. I used to stay behind in the class alone. The few times anyone talked to me they would hold their noses. I felt like a ghost. I was extremely quiet and I felt out of place. I did not tell anyone what was happening, I kept silent.” At the age of 11, Rhema transformed unexpectedly. “In Grade 5, they became physical with me. So one day, I exploded. I hit them badly. I was suspended for a few days and I stopped caring.

I tried to become a shadow and just observe. Almost every day, there were fights. A lot of fights broke out between different gangs. In my second year, I lost it with a student. He called me ‘the K word’* and I punched him so badly that he landed on the floor. I was lucky that older kids interfered. I kept running until I reached the station. Rhema survived the next few years by avoiding any confrontations. But inside, his anger was killing him.

“She lived with her mom, and her mom was wonderful. She taught me to stop hating myself. They accepted me and I began to accept myself.” “I got a few friends who were the outcasts at school. We kept together and away from all the politics around. But inside I was not coping well. In Grade 11, when I was waiting at the station for the next train, a group of kids were smoking weed and offered it to me. With the first puffs, my

anger disappeared, my doubts about myself, all my worries. The feeling was amazing and I began smoking often. In Grade 12, I was smoking every day. One day my aunt organised a family meeting to discuss what was going on. They blamed me for my choices and told me I should stop. For the first time in my school career.. my marks were terrible. As the end of the year approached, I stopped smoking on and off for a few weeks in order to write the finals. I managed to pass Matric but not with a good pass.” It was also in his Matric year that Rhema met someone who would assist him on the road to recovery. “The school selected me to represent them in an inclusivity summit. I met this girl. She felt positive, light. We found out that we lived close. She had found poetry and she assisted me to express my emotions in that manner. I visited her home and they would invite me to stay for dinner. She lived with her mom, and her mom was wonderful. She taught me to stop hating myself. They accepted me and I began to accept myself.

“Never underestimate what an act of kindness can do. It can change a life.” With time, negative emotions disappeared regardless of where I was. Finishing high school also lifted a weight from my shoulders. I was able to stop smoking weed.” When asked about his final remarks, Rhema says, “When my family sent me to South Africa, I buried the happy and peaceful four-year-old child I was...I became someone different…” Never underestimate what an act of kindness can do. It can change a life.” Rhema is a Life Choices Academy participant. Salesian Life Choices or better known as Life Choices, is a South African based youth development organisation. We invest in youth because they are 37% of the South African population…but 100% of its future. We work with youth from the Cape Flats communities to make choices that can change the world. We provide this foundation through our services in five key areas: Family Stability, Health, Education, Leadership and Employment. To learn more and support the work of Salesian Life Choices visit: http://www.lifechoices. co.za/

@VarsityNews | 16 October 2019 | V78 E10| Page 12

General Education Certificate could uplift the lives of many Source: the Independent

Spanking: A Backhanded Approach to Parenting

By Brad Brinkley

By Refentse Malatjie

arents are meant to raise their children in a safe and healthy environment. A child needs to feel protected and loved. It is also their job to teach their children that there are consequences for their actions. But does using the back of a hand achieve this?

their child’s behavior. A child may not truly understand why they are being punished and may not be able to differentiate between spanking as an act of enforcing discipline or as anger and aggression. Parents can opt for teaching their children emotional intelligence. This will then result in reformed behavior.

“It [spanking] is in fact a parent’s emotional reponse to situations they feel they can’t control”

“Children are prople too, and they need to be treated as such”

There are other ways to discipline your children. Spanking, I believe, is an act of violence on the part of the adult. Parents cite the reason for hitting their children to be ‘teaching them a lesson’ or ‘teaching them responsibility.’ However, it is in fact a parent’s emotional response to situations they feel they can’t control. The only lesson they learn through this is that violence is a means of resolving conflict.

What happens in a moment can stay with a growing child for a lifetime. Spanking can be a traumatic experience. This can, in turn, lead to problems when they are older. It can result in anxiety, fear of failure, making mistakes and aggressive or violent behaviour towards their loved ones. Children are people too, and they need to be treated as such. They are more intelligent than we give them credit for. Parents need to discipline their children using a more logical approach instead of a physical one. I hope that when the time comes for disciplining our children, we’ll opt for the former instead of the latter.

Spanking your child is not treating the root cause, but instead a symptom. A survey conducted in 2004 stated that within 10 minutes of a child being hit, 73% of them reverted to the behaviour for which they had been punished. Parents need to consider the underlying reasons for

October

he Department of Basic Education has put forward its plans to introduce a Grade Nine General Education Certificate by 2020. This, in conjunction with the introduction of more standardised testing, is aimed at reducing failure, dropout and repetition rates. It also comes with the addition of new choice subjects such as applied maths and science, which will prepare those learners to enrol in training colleges where they will learn the necessary skills for technical occupations. While it will allow learners to end their schooling careers after grade nine, it is not intended as a school leaving certificate, but a pathway to further education or training.

“ I think the Grade Nine GED is valuable as it makes allowances for learners who may not wholly benefit from a full secondary school education.“ Roughly 60% of Grade 1 learners will not reach Grade 12 in South Africa. In light of our outstandingly high dropout rates, I recognise the importance of this attempt to improve our learner retention. I think the Grade Nine GED is valuable as

it makes allowances for learners who may not wholly benefit from a full secondary school education. Firstly, it will stimulate the economy by providing more artisans, which South Africa is sorely lacking. Secondly, it will ensure employment for learners sooner, thus ensuring a better life for themselves and their families. Finally, it will cater to the students who are currently overlooked by the education system due to their lack of academic inclination.

“Many people oppose the introduction of a Grade Nine certificate on the grounds that it will allow learners to drop out of school” Educators from private and model C schools maintain that this new system may not drastically change the circumstances for those learners, however it has the potential to positively impact on the lives of the majority of South African learners who attend government institutions. Many people oppose the introduction of a Grade Nine certificate on the grounds that it will allow learners to drop out of school before Grade 12, however, this is already possible with the current education system, so what do we have to lose?

Two Weeks Tonight 7 30

Beauty Squad SA Expo 2019 For all the beauty lovers! This event promises you all things beauty with a day filled with beauty, learning and experiences. With professional Makeup Artist Raine Tauber hosting a Masterclass.

Explore the ships For all the ocean and earth lovers – Greenpeace is giving Venue: Radisson Blu Hotel & Residence a FREE guided tour of their Tickets: From R80-R250 ship for people to understand Time:10:00 – 15:00 what life is like for their activists. Meet them in the V&A Waterfront Marina and learn more about their work in an interactive and fun way. All ages are welcome!

November

October

Prime: Halloween Edition This one is for those who have their Halloween outfits ready to go! The Waiting Room on Long Street is hosting a spooky party with a variety of DJs and genres of music in store. Tickets go at R80 if you dress up and R100 if you don’t.

First Thursdays Upper Bree Street Market Are you keen for a fun night out on the town for FREE? Then this one is for you! The Station on Bree will be cornered off for you to enjoy live music while sipping on a drink of your choice and shopping at local vendors.

@VarsityNews | 16 October 2019 | V78 E10| Page 13

Analytics vs Creativity: the false dichotomy of the intellectual hierarchy

Source: VideoHive

By Bronwyn White

o anyone intelligent enough to be accepted into UCT, the difference between a BA graduate and an extra-large pizza is obvious. As we all know, the pizza can feed a family of four. Yes, the Humanities faculty is frequently the butt of jokes. The hierarchy of academic subjects is deeply entrenched at every level of formal education. First, there is mathematics. Then engineering and the sciences – themselves ranked based on whether their subject matter is mathematical, mechanical/ chemical, or biological. At last we come to the liberal arts: languages, literature and history are obviously superior to visual and musical arts, which can at least claim to be better than drama. Finally, if you’re such a pathetic excuse for a human being that you actually enjoy using your body, there’s the dance hall and the sports field. “The ideal human cog grasps new ideas quickly, but has a limited capacity to generate them”

Education guru Sir Ken Robinson suggests a compelling reason for the existing educational hierarchy. In his 2006 TED talk (“How schools kill creativity”) he points out that public education systems barely existed prior to the nineteenth century. These systems were established in order to drive the process of industrialisation. As such, it was necessary for them to promote

a narrow version of human intelligence, to produce a highly trainable yet docile workforce. The ideal human cog grasps new ideas quickly, but has a limited capacity to generate them, since ideas generated by underlings might be difficult to control. Such a system aggressively promotes analytical subjects and suppresses creative ones. Its notion of human worth is directly linked to the ability to create material wealth.

“The most ironic thing about such a system is that it limits not only the jocks but the geniuses as well.”

The most ironic thing about such a system is that it limits not only the jocks but the geniuses as well. The system’s insistence that our capacity for “difficult” subjects can be accurately measured by our ability to parrot back facts in school, means that fewer people take any meaningful interest in the subjects which the system supposedly prioritises.

“Our acceptance of the intellectual hierarchy tacitly supports a system that discourages people from critically examining the phenomenon of their existence.”

Meanwhile, figures like Einstein or Curie or Tesla are held up as paragons of the intellectual hierarchy, even though the hierarchy did everything in its power to grind them under throughout much of their intellectual careers. This is because the system doesn’t really value wild and creative brains that are curious about the universe. Socrates said that “the unexamined life is not worth living”. Our acceptance of the intellectual hierarchy tacitly supports a system that discourages people from critically examining the phenomenon of their existence.

@VarsityNews | 16 October 2019 | V78 E10 | Page 14

Criminal Records: To Rehabilitate or to Punish? By Zahirah Benjamin

eing sentenced to jail, whether it be for petty theft or a more serious crime, means having a criminal record on your name. This can create barriers to reentering into society when an individual gets released from prison. In South Africa, the crime rate is extremely high, largely due to the huge levels of unemployment and poverty in the county. Many South Africans who live below the poverty line do desperate things to provide for themselves and their families. However, in these desperate moments, the consequences of doing something illegal like petty theft is, I believe, the last thought on their mind. Unfortunately, their actions do catch up with them when they are arrested for their crimes.

“The Boksburg correctional centre in the Gauteng province has established various programmes to ensure that the centre does not breed a community of criminals that will offend again upon being released.”

Source: GoThinkBig

There are certain crimes, such as petty theft, that can be overlooked. However, living in one of the most dangerous countries in the world, it’s hard to determine whether someone who has committed a serious crime such as sexual assault, armed robbery or fraud deserves to be rehabilitated or to serve a life sentence. The lines become blurred when it comes to these types of crimes.

“When looking at the solutions to poverty and unemployment, it is vital that individuals who have a criminal record have the opportunity for a real second chance.” Before South Africa declared itself a democratic country, the imprisonment of citizens was harsh and unjust due to the racist ideology that underpinned the system of governance as a whole. Prisoners were treated badly and not seen as human beings. However, twenty years later, our correctional system has developed and created policies that ensure prisoners are placed in humane settings and established rehabilitation is ensured for some so that they have the chance to reenter into society again.

The Boksburg correctional centre in the Gauteng province has established various programmes to ensure that the centre does not breed a community of criminals that will offend again upon being released but rather cultivates a group of ex-offenders and parolees that are ready to contribute to society in a healthy and safe way. Deciding who gets a second chance is not the only issue that needs to be debated. It is important to ensure that our justice system promotes both accountability and redemption, which necessitates second chances for individuals with a criminal record. Today many ex-offenders face significant societal and legal barriers when trying to re-enter society and become ‘good’ citizens. When looking at the solutions to poverty and unemployment, it is vital that individuals who have a criminal record have the opportunity for a real second chance. Also important to remember is that it’s not just about the community but the individual as well. Many ex-offenders face mental health problems in and out of jail. By giving them the opportunity to achieve something, even though they have a criminal record to their name, you can reinforce hope instead of feelings of failure and unworthiness.

The Complicated Legacy of Robert Mugabe - hero, villain or both? by Bathandwa Magqaza

obert Gabriel Mugabe, a resolute and an intellectually inclined politician, was the founding father of modern Zimbabwe but he leaves behind a contested legacy and a country at crossroads. Mugabe was a Zimbabwean revolutionary and politician who served as Prime Minister of Zimbabwe from 1980 to 1987 and then as President from 1987 to 2017. On Friday, 6 September 2019, at the Gleneagles Hospital, the ever-firm Zimbabwean revolutionary passed away. The world was startled by his passing and lamented his death. However, it does not end there, as his passing entailed the questioning of his legacy: whether he should be glorified or vilified; considered a legend or a tyrant.

“His failings are well known, including the mass murders of more than 30,000 civilians in Matabeleland during the 1980s Gukurahundi campaigns, and the killings and torture of opposition activists in the 2000s and 2010s.” He died at age 95, after nearly 60 years at the helm of Zimbabwe’s liberation and post-independence politics. As he moves into national legend, contestations over his legacy demonstrate that, in death as in life, the man known as Gushungo (from his family lineage) still continues to polarise opinion. His failings are well known, including the

mass murders of more than 30,000 civilians in Matabeleland during the 1980s Gukurahundi campaigns, and the killings and torture of opposition activists in the 2000s and 2010s. The land reform process, although necessary, was handled in a haphazard way, contributing to the economic crash and 2008’s ‘year zero’, when Zimbabwe was plagued with a worthless currency, no food in the shops, unsafe drinking water and the spread of cholera and typhoid.

“It was his assertion of black and African identity and pride which connected Mugabe to millions.” Nevertheless, president Mugabe is genuinely mourned by millions in Zimbabwe. Partly this for what he achieved in building Zimbabwe’s education, health and economy, and for giving land - however haphazardly- to millions of Zimbabweans. It was his assertion of black and African identity and pride which connected Mugabe to millions. To the generation that existed during the times of Ian Smith’s Rhodesia - where being a black African was by law a cardinal sin and at times a capital offence - Mugabe helped to make being black not just acceptable but also a cause for celebration. Modern texts and resources at our disposal have a tendency to portray Robert Mugabe as a villain because he stuck firm to his protectionist state approach and refused to conform to the norms of the international system. However,

Source: News 24

in the eyes of pan-Africanists and those who honour him, he is perceived and remembered as a man who was assertive and refused to lose himself (identity and being) despite pressures from the Western European world. In my own humble opinion, Robert Mugabe should be remembered as a hero because he promoted African pride and black beauty to the souls of the mentally oppressed Zimbabweans, at a time when being black was a cardinal sin. I also refuse to be oblivious about Zimbabwe’s education system during his tenure because it equipped millions of Zimbabweans with adequate knowledge to compete on the International stage. As Nelson Mandela once famously said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”.

DISCLAIMER This section of the VARSITY is a vehicle for expression, on any topic by members of the UCT community. The opinions within this section are not necessarily those of the VARSITY collective or its advertisers. Letters to the Editor need to be kept at a maximum of 300 words and can be sent to: editorial@varsitynewspaper.co.za

@VarsityNews | 16 October 2019 | V78 E10 |Page 15

LIFESTYLE & FITNESS

sports@varsitynewspaper.co.za

Banting for Beginners: Tips on Starting Your Banting Journey

By Cayla Clement

ew diet trends are constantly disappearing and re-appearing, with banting being one of the most popular ones. Restaurants and even some fast food places are offering more and more banting options. So, what’s the deal with banting? Is it worth it? Here we’ll explore some of the benefits of this low-carb, high-fat diet, and look at some tips on how you can change your diet to incorporate banting into your lifestyle. Banting, also known as the Keto diet, requires one to eat very low amounts of carbs and very high amounts of fats to optimize weight loss, energy levels, and lower levels of stress. Scientifically, this diet works because your body uses fat for fuel rather than carbs, which turn to sugar in the blood. High levels of fat give you more energy, reduces your appetite and benefits your workouts. Your body goes into a state of fat-burning or “ketosis” when you consume a limited amount of carbs. Depending on your own body, the grams of carbs and fat you consume each day vary, and can be worked out and tracked on various online banting calculators and apps. One of these is ‘Myfitnesspal’, which takes into account how seriously you want to bant, your weight, height, age and activity levels. There are books and websites that give you tips and a list of safe foods to avoid whilst banting. It sounds difficult, and as a result, banting is seen as a lifestyle change and not a diet. However, the overwhelming amount of recipes, banting options at

restaurants and even banting-friendly items at the shop can help one on their banting journey. Here are some small changes you can make when deciding to bant: 1. Make banting coffee: put a teaspoon or two of butter into your coffee every morning. This gives you energy and adds to the high-fat needed for the day 2. Cut out alcohol in the beginning. Alcohol and any sweets are sugar, and thus carbs. When starting out banting, rather than tracking and trying to incorporate certain alcoholic drinks into your ‘carb budget’, try to cut it out altogether, while learning which alcohols are lowest in carbs. 3. Replace bread with lettuce, large mushrooms, or banting-friendly breads. 4. Order the banting options at restaurants, such as a pizza with a banting base, or replacing rice with cauliflower rice. 5. Make sure you get enough healthy fats in during the day. Nuts, coconut oil, peanut butter, olive oil, butter (not margarine), eggs, and even bacon are popular choices for fat whilst banting. 6. Eat lots of protein, but not too much. Most protein or animal products contain healthy fats and help you feel satisfied and full of energy. Bacon, eggs, fish, steak, and chicken are good options. Keep in mind, the more fat the protein has, the easier it is to get your daily amount of

required fats in. 7. Track the amount of grams of carbs and fats you have with an app. Even vegetables have carbs, so consuming too many high-carb veggies can throw you off your daily allowances. 8. Be prepared to spend more time cooking and purchasing foods. Banting is a more expensive lifestyle, but the benefits are definitely worth it!

Source: The South African

Final Academic Season is Upon us By Patricia Mapipi

s exam time stealthily creeps up on us, stress levels are soaring high and energy levels are dipping low. Given this undeniable reality, here are a few tips on how to manage your time and stress: One: diarise everything! Use the calendar on your phone to your advantage and schedule all your events - including classes, due dates for assignments and extra-curricular activities. It helps you to keep track of what’s going on and not miss out on important things when you’ve got a lot to get through on one particular day. Two: always be sure to schedule your appointments at least half an hour in advance. This helps to alleviate stress because it gives you enough time to get to where you need to be. As a result you ‘save face’ instead of being embarrassed by your lack of punctuality, and are much calmer – double whammy! Three: keep hydrated. The human body’s composition is 75% water, which means that we are basically just cucumbers with anxiety. On a serious note, one can never over-emphasize the importance of water for optimal brain function. Make sure to consume your two litres per day! Four: sleep. Get your 8-10 hours in regularly. Numerous studies have shown

sleep deprivation can lead to anxiety, depression, hallucinations and a host of other mental health issues. Five: exercise. Physical activity fuels various brain chemicals that may leave you feeling happier, calmer and not so wound up. There are various activities that are on offer here at UCT, just take your pick! In busy times, even a brief stroll around the neighbourhood park or a quick workout video at home can be squeezed in! Six: don’t forget to eat right. As superfluous as such a reminder might seem, while most students have their heads wrapped around the prospect of successfully completing the year, they tend to neglect their basic nutritional needs. Stay away from

Image by CFMS@UCT

junk foods which are loaded with carbs, sugars and fats. Opt for balanced, healthier and home-made meals instead. In other words: steam those green veggies instead of frying them; do not be afraid to mix a range of food groups together alongside a hearty consumption of fruit (it is spring, after all). Lastly, both your physical and mental health are inextricably linked and are of the utmost importance to your success, so do make use of the counselling sessions that have been made available to all students on campus. Best of luck!

THE BACK PAGE

@VarsityNews |16 October 2019 | V78 E10 | Page 16

In this Issue

The Night of the Underdog Bathandwa Magqaza

UCT sanitary drive success

Another UCT first year student dies image: Evening Standard

The cult of the celeb

“This was a short-lived celebration because within 2 minutes, Bayern’s Kimmich equalised with a long-range stunner.”

VARSITY Yearbook

8-9 Surviving your roommate struggles

13 Analytics vs creativity: the false dichotomy of the intellectual hierarchy

laying or watching the UEFA Champions League live is every soccer fanatics dream - it is hands down the most glamorous parade of football clubs on planet earth. Not only that, but it is also the richest sporting event in the world. According to Forbes list 2019 statistics, the Champions league tops the list with a whopping $2.29 billion (R27 billion) spent on the event. This prestigious tournament brings together 32 of the best European football clubs in a nine-month-long competition.

14 Criminal records: to rehabilitate or to punish?

During Group B’s second match of the day between Bayern Munich and Tottenham Hotspurs on the 1st of October, the most anticipated players to shine were Tottenham’s lethal striker Harry Kane and one of the best centre forwards in the game: Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski. Surprisingly, both failed to snatch the spotlight. It was the diamond in the dirt, the underdog - Arsenal’s trash and Bayern Munich’s treasure - winger Serge David Gnabry that rose to the occasion and took the spotlight instead. The game of football is like a war, it is won when the 90th minute whistle blows because that’s when all the hurdles and battles of the match have come to an end. The underdog got his first shot in the first minute of the game but it was saved by Tottenham’s Hugo Lloris. Tottenham opened the score-line of the match in the 12th minute, with a bottom right corner diagonal shot by Son Heung-min. This was a short-lived celebration because within 2 minutes, Bayern’s Kimmich equalised with a long-range stunner. The first half’s curtains were closed by Robert Lewandowski when he introduced himself to the score sheet, with a ‘something out of nothing’ bottom left corner strike in the 44th minute.

“Tottenham are yet to secure their ﬁrst victory in the Champions League this season, and are laying 4th on their group.”

Within ten minutes of the second-half, man of the moment Gnabry found the back of the net in a magniﬁcent fashion. Two minutes later, he scored again with his left foot this time, and the score-line was 4-1. Six minutes later Spurs’ talisman, Harry Kane, rose to the occasion by scoring a well-taken penalty that left Neuer with no chance - despite diving the right way. It was in the last ten minutes of the game that Spurs’ defence went from bad to worse. Gnabry capitalized on this slack and clinched his hat-trick in the 83rd minute, after receiving a world-class pass from Thiago Alacantra. Within two minutes, Lewandowski banged the net again and claimed his brace. Within the very next minute, Gnabry showed his hunger for success when he secured his fourth goal of the night. When asked about how he felt after the game, Gnabry responded: “The last time I scored 4 goals was when I was a child. I am very happy with my performance of course, and also glad I could help the team to secure this big win”. Tottenham are yet to secure their ﬁrst victory in the Champions League this season, and are laying 4th on their group. Bayern are the leaders in the group with six points. The question now is, can the underdog consistently perform like he did or was he just a one-hit wonder?