Varsity2016edition1

THE OFFICIAL STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN

23 February 2016

VOLUME 75: EDITION1

varsitynewspaper.co.za

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Student housing crisis

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IN THIS ISSUE

Image: Raz Hansrod

No Excuse

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Politics & Promises

Aisha Abdool Karim and Nico Nomyayi n Tuesday, February 16th, a shack erected by members of the Rhodes Must Fall movement on Residence Road on Upper Campus the previous day was forcibly removed by police officers/private security. The structure was placed in order to draw attention to the ongoing issue of a lack of student accommodation provided by UCT. This followed an occupation of Azania House, formerly known as Avenue House, by the movement highlighting the same issue.

Over the past few years, the university has been over-allocating residences, wherein the number of students offered a place exceeds the capacity of a residence. In an interview with Varsity last year, Grant Willis, Director of Student Housing and Residence Life, said that the policy is based on the premise that students will accept their housing offer, but not arrive during Orientation Week. Willis also noted that the policy is “an inevitable part of assigning spaces in residence,” as it allows the greatest utilisation of the beds available with the smallest financial loss.

While over-allocation is not a new occurrence at UCT, the problem has escalated this year.

According to Patriarchy Must Fall (PMF), residences were overallocated by 40% this year, which is an increase from last year. UCT

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issued a statement on February 16th attributing the lack of available accommodation to the increased number of first year students coming in to the university. In addition, a number of students are returning, due to the clearance of historic debt.

Another contributing factor mentioned in the statement - to the issues with student housing were the number of students who returned in early January to write deferred exams and needed accommodation during that period. Furthermore, students writing deferred exams also stayed in residences while waiting to hear back about their academic standing, relating to exclusion or readmission, as well as provision of financial aid.

residences were overallocated by 40%

The policy of over-allocation mainly disadvantages lower income black students, who, if denied financial aid, as well as a place in residence, cannot afford to stay in offcampus accommodation. Moreover, places in residence are often given to students whose parents once stayed in the residence. Parents of lower income black students are unlikely to have stayed in a residence at UCT previously, therefore this further limits their chances of being placed in a residence.

At present, there is no information readily available regarding the system and policy followed relating to allocating students in residence and how over-allocation is dealt with. This means that it is unclear how UCT determines which students, who have been offered a place in residence, receive accommodation and which students are placed in transit accommodation.

Some students receive “an unspecified residence offer,” as indicated in the 2016 General Housing Information Handbook.

This is a formal offer for a place in residence, however it does not specify which residence you are allocated to.

According to the UCT website, transit accommodation is provided for approximately 5-10% of new students. Students in transit accommodation stay “in temporary, dormitory type accommodation in a residence, for a transitional period of 2-3 weeks.” Students receive a letter before they arrive at UCT stating that they will be receiving transit accommodation.

This year, as a result of a protest held by Rhodes Must Fall members and their occupation of Azania House, UCT management provided temporary accommodation, which was organised by the SRC, for displaced students at the Riverside Lodge in Observatory.

In addition to their involvement in organising temporary accommodation, the SRC issued

a statement on February 17th outlining their demands to UCT management regarding issues around student housing. These demands include a review of the Student Housing policy, that students be included on the Special Executive Task Team, as well as demands relating to financial aid, academic exclusion and the actions of private security and police on campus.

over-allocation mainly disadvantages lower income black students The SRC has stated that if UCT management fails to address the issues facing students regarding these issues, they “will cease all SRC operations on University structures” and “will render committees ungovernable.”

UCT management was not contacted before the time of going to print, given that their comments are readily available through statements released via the UCT website or e-mail.

To read more about what happened on the evening of Tuesday, February 16th, when the shack was removed from Upper Campus, go to the VARSITY website For previous articles regarding the issue of over-allocation of residences in the past, go to the VARSITY website.

Bucket List

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Netflix or Nah?

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Societies 101

Park Run

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

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News

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Discussing differently abled bodies Following an event on January 26th, Varsity decided to look into the issues faced by students with disabilities at UCT.

NEWS BITES

Tasneem Kalla and Robyn Ausmeier Museveni re-elected as Ugandan President

Uganda – On Saturday, February 20th, Yoweri Museveni was reelected for his fifth term as president.

The election was surrounded by controversy, with rigging allegations and arrests of opposition leaders.

Museveni received 60 percent of the vote, while opposition leader Kizza Besigye gained 35 percent. Besigye has been arrested multiple times since the start of elections and is presently under house arrest.

– Al Jazeera

Yellow fever outbreak in Angola

Luanda – Since December last year, 51 people in Angola have died from an outbreak of yellow fever, with a reported 241 cases of infection.

The first incidence of infection occurred in Viana in late December.

Following the outbreak, over 450 000 people have been vaccinated in the capital city, Luanda. According to health experts, the recent incidents were caused by the inefficiency of sanitation services and failed rubbish collections.

– Reuters

Conflict continues in Syria

Syria – On Monday, February 15th, there were a series of air strikes on schools and hospitals in the Idlib and Aleppo provinces, resulting in the deaths of nearly 50 people.

France and Turkey declared that these attacks constitute war crimes.

Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the UN, stated that the airstrikes were in violation of international law and would cause a further setback in efforts to end the five-year civil war. It is yet to be confirmed who is responsible for the attacks.

– BBC

Follow-up on SONA Debate

South Africa – On Thursday, 18th February, President Jacob Zuma appeared in Parliament to deliver a response to the SONA debate.

Zuma’s reply was focused largely on the economy and plans to improve the current economic situation. The president also criticised opposition MPs for the disruptions in Parliament. EFF members were not present for Zuma’s reply, and Julius Malema stated that they would not be involved in a discussion of the “illegitimate” president’s SONA. – News24

Discovery of new flower species

USA – Lena Struwe, an associate professor of botany, identified a new species of plant which was fossilized in amber for an estimated 15 million years. The flower was found by Professor George Poinar on a field trip in the Dominican Republic. The species belongs to the genus whose tropical shrubs, trees and vines are known for producing the deadly toxin strychnine. The fossilized plant was almost perfectly preserved and a report of the discovery is found in the journal Nature Plants.

– BBC

Jessica Bothma, Tanya Magaisa and Michaela Findeis anyisa Ntombini, a third year student in the Engineering and the Built Environment (EBE) department, organised a sit-in at the Bremner building on January 26th to bring attention to the Disability Unit’s failure to provide her with the support she needed.

Ntombini says the Bremner sit-in was her lifeline, stating that if she had not taken that step she would have been academically excluded from UCT. Ntombini explains that throughout the year her coursework was inaccessible to her and the academic staff had a lack of understanding of her needs.

The Disability Unit is housed on the fourth floor of the Steve Biko building and provides support for students with a range of mental, physical and learning disabilities. They are working towards the removal of any policy, physical, information and attitude barriers which might prevent students and staff from reaching their full potential. The manager of the Disability Unit, Reinette Popplestone, says that the Disability Unit’s funds and resources are limited. The Unit does have specialised equipment for students to gain access to their coursework, but due to limited resources it is difficult to offer 24 hour services.

Differently-abled students have

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Image: American finger alphabet

had varying experiences at UCT. Allan Peterson, a final year PPA and Sociology student, is a quadriplegic who uses an electrical wheelchair to navigate around campus. Regarding his experience on campus, he says, “Often, able-bodied students are inconsiderate when I need to use the lift. They make me wait until the lift has space after five to ten minutes.”

Another student, Yaaseen Samuels, who is currently in his third year at UCT, has a stutter, which makes it difficult for him to express himself, particularly in tutorials and with fellow students.

He says, “I fear being mocked, after years of experiencing it.”

Popplestone has emphasized the fact that although the Disability Unit has limited resources, it is looking towards transformation and has made many strides since its inception.

She says, “In a perfect world we could help every single person on

this campus and there is nothing that I’d like better.”

Robyn Swannack, a postgraduate student in the Humanities faculty states that when she wanted to study, UCT was the only university in South Africa that was willing to provide sign language interpreters and note-takers for her. The interpreters are organised by the Unit and the note-takers are sourced from UCT students.

In a perfect world

Disability is a topic often excluded from the discourse of intersectionality at UCT. The labels used to define disabled persons often carry a stigma and create a contrast as to what is “normal.” The contrast that this stigma creates

has a negative effect on those at the university who live with disabilities.

Disabled students at UCT do not consider themselves disabled in the sense that they are the “other” isolated niche of society that is independent to those who are able bodied. They prefer to use the term “differently-abled,” as it is viewed as a more optimistic and inclusive definition of disabled. It does not label the student as “struggling” with a disability, but rather explains that the student has to navigate the systems in society in a different way from able-bodied students.

Differently-abled students want to be included in every aspect of UCT and treated with respect.

As evidenced by the experiences of differently-abled students, inclusion at UCT is moving at a slow pace. The majority of the staff and student body are unaware of the struggles faced by students with various disabilities.

SRC Funding Futures Campaign Julius Stopforth and Tinotenda Masando

The launch event for the SRC’s #FundingFutures campaign took place in Molly Blackburn on Thursday, February 4th. In lieu of the #FeesMustFall protests that took place last year, the financial situations of students were given widespread exposure on a national platform that aided the feasibility of the #FundingFutures campaign.

According to a statement released by the SRC on Friday, February 5th, the campaign aims to “provide financial relief to students who are unable to register due to historical debt.”

unable to pay outstanding fees The issue of historical debt arises from students who were unable to pay outstanding fees in previous years and were consequently financially excluded from re-registering. For students on financial aid, bursaries, or who have donors, it can be much more difficult to secure the necessary funds for their studies.

The problem compounds when students intend to graduate, but are unable to do so due to financial

Image credit: UCT/SRC

exclusion. Additional costs such as food, accommodation and expensive textbooks easily accrue into an unmanageable sum.

The campaign raises funds through donations from various channels, namely the Alumni Phone-a-thon, donation boxes and online donations such as EFT or SnapScan. The aim is to raise R1 million that will then be granted to students in need, following the same method of allocating funds as the SRC Assistance Fund.

Students who have outstanding historical debt or other financial difficulties were able to apply for assistance from the campaign via an application form which closed on February 12th. Additionally, the #FundingFutures campaign

also aims to help students by providing them with donated textbooks. In the statement released on February 5th, the SRC claimed to already have granted over R400 000 to help alleviate the historical debt of students.

provide financial relief

In late 2015, the South African Government decided to provide additional funding for National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) students, and convert debts into loans through the

signing of loan agreements. In a similar fashion, students from 2013 and 2014 who were excluded due to unpaid debts were also given the opportunity to convert their debt into a loan.

As of February 20th, the SRC and UCT Management have procured concessions for South African students with a historical debt (outstanding fees from 2015) of R10 000 or less. These concessions allow for students to “provisionally register” for 2016 as long as the students are able to find payment by the 4th of March.

Additionally, students with debts higher than R10 000 are able to apply for a “grace period” with their faculty which may extend beyond the deadline in March.

News

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Confronting Sexual Violence and Rape Culture at UCT Robyn Ausmeier and Megon Venter

“There are still high statistics of under reporting because of fear, because of stigma, because of fear of reprisal from the perpetrator and because of lack of trust in the structures,” stated Gwala.

n Thursday, February 18th, a mass meeting was held on Jameson Plaza to raise awareness around sexual violence and rape culture at UCT. The “There is No Excuse” campaign was organised by students and was intended as an educational space to speak about safety risks at UCT and to reinforce the message that sexual violence will not be tolerated on campus.

Representatives from the SRC, Patriarchy Must Fall (PMF), UCT Survivors, the Gender and Sex Project (GASP), the Safety and Violence Initiative, HIV/AIDS Inclusivity & Change Unit (HAICU), and Disrupting Whiteness all spoke at the meeting. These speakers touched on various issues around sexual violence, which included a discussion about consent, the perpetuation of rape culture, underreporting of rape cases and the failure of the current system to protect students.

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...lack of trust in the structures

Image: Aisha Abdool Karim

rape culture and genderbased violence Sianne Abrahams from HAICU noted that the measures in place to deal with sexual assault and harassment at UCT are inadequate, and that more needs to be done to address the lack of action. These sentiments were echoed by other speakers who also talked about the need to change the current system of reporting and dealing with cases of sexual violence on campus.

“Even when policies [to address sexual violence and rape] are in place, the realisation and actualisation are not there,” commented Nigel Patel, a representative from PMF. Before the meeting was concluded, one of the organisers noted that this is not the end to the campaign and that action will continue throughout the year.

Furthermore, all students were

encouraged to sign an online petition to allow them to comment on the review of the Discrimination and Harassment Office (DISCHO) before it is sent to Council. This review began in 2015, following calls for a reevaluation of DISCHO, and has not yet been made public. Only selected individuals were asked for input in the review, and student groups have called for a more transparent and open evaluation procedure.

The “There is No Excuse” campaign was organised following the recent occurrences of sexual assault near Rhodes Memorial as well as other incidences of sexual violence on and around UCT campuses.

Between December 2015 and February this year, there have been a reported three cases of sexual assault around Rhodes Memorial.

In addition, in 2015 multiple female students at Hiddingh Campus reported being sexually assaulted and harassed by a student on the campus, and another student was

raped at Azania House in November last year. In both cases there was no justice provided for the survivors.

VARSITY spoke with Dela Gwala, who runs the blog UCT Survivors, and Priyanka Naidoo, a member of PMF, about rape culture and gender-based violence at UCT. Both Gwala and Naidoo expressed their discontent with the way in which the university has dealt with sexual assault on campus.

WE ACCEPT MEDICAL AIDS

Gwala commented that the system has failed survivors of sexual assault, pointing out that students have been discouraged from pressing charges and told to rather go through mediation, while their perpetrators are able to roam free. As a result, she notes that female students have left UCT or been excluded because they are unable to deal with the trauma from sexual violence.

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

Furthermore, Naidoo called out the patriarchal culture exhibited in the university’s residences, as well as in other UCT spaces, and noted that the system needs to be dismantled in order for anything to change.

Naidoo also stressed the importance of adopting an intersectional approach when looking at these issues, and commented that it is necessary to be aware of one’s own positionality when appearing in certain spaces.

These issues are not new to the university, and there have been many previous complaints about the lack of justice for survivors. In response to the inaction at the University, Gwala set up a blog (uctsurvivors.wordpress. com) to tell the stories of survivors and highlight the ongoing problems.

VARSITY has also written about sexual assault on campus before, with an article titled ‘UCT lets down assault victims?’ published in 2012 and another entitled ‘Speak Up, Speak Out’ written in 2015. To access these articles, visit the VARSITY website.

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

The mini social justice dictionary Aisha Abdool Karim

Institutional racism: This occurs when the policies and practices in place at an institution are biased towards specific groups of people.

These accepted structures and systems place certain race groups at a disadvantage therefore leaving them in a position where they are unable to access equal opportunities. For this reason, institutional racism is often difficult to identify and is less visible to those not directly affected.

Intersectionality: Refers to the way in which oppressions and identities overlap and function on multiple levels.

These oppressions cannot be viewed separately as they all intersect and shape the lived reality of each individual. Examples of these intersecting identities are gender, class, race, sexuality, etc.

Patriarchy: A social system that normalises gender inequality and privileges men.

Rape culture: The normalisation of sexual violence through social practices, such as slut-shaming and victimblaming. It is reinforced through the objectification of women in media, such as advertisements and pop culture, and everyday conversation.

Contributes to the perpetuation of patriarchal domination.

middle-class white women.

Cultural appropriation: Adopting practices, expressions, or knowledge from another culture without permission or understanding of the context from which they originate. This practice is based on the misuse of a group whose culture has previously been exploited.

Cisgender: People who identify as the same gender they were assigned at birth.

Decolonisation: The process of reversing and undoing the effects that colonialism had on a country. This involves deconstructing the systems and practices put in place and normalised during the colonial period.

White feminism: A version of feminism which fails to address the needs of women from different racial backgrounds and prioritises the problems faced by

Ableism: Discriminatory practices against people with physical or mental disabilities. This includes negative attitudes and exclusionary actions,

such as the use of ableist slurs, as well as physical barriers for people with disabilities.

Racism: To discriminate against members of a particular race and treat that race as inferior. This system functions in a way that the oppression of others benefits the dominant race, therefore reverse racism does not exist (nor does the reverse of any form of oppression).

Systematic oppression: Practices and policies put in place that further entrench inequality based on the identity of a group of people. This applies even if the practices put in place are not intended to be oppressive.

Systematic oppression can relate to any social identity, such as gender, class, religion, sexuality, race, etc.

Black pain: This cannot be simply explained, as each individual experiences, expresses and defines black pain differently. Due to this, black pain is highly complex and nuanced.

Although individuals experience black pain differently, it originates from a common lived experience of the everyday consequences of deepseated racial oppression.

Interdict:) A legal preventative measure taken when there is a belief that the respondents are a threat to the complainant before a formal court proceeding can take place.

Consent: When someone explicitly gives you their permission to do something and both parties are in agreement.

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Editorial

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2016 Collective editor-in-chief Aisha Abdool Karim editorial@varsitynewspaper.co.za

Editor-in-chief Aisha Abdool Karim

deputy Editor 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 Nicola Norton and katherine Harris news Tanya Magaisa and Nico Nomyayi news@varsitynewspaper.co.za opinions Adam Kleinschmidt 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 Sang images@varsitynewspaper.co.za Social Media Mangers Claire Millward and Robyn Starkey socialmedia@varsitynewspaper. co.za Design Mari Mombers and Mohammed Razeen Hansrod design@varsitynewspaper.co.za Videographers Amy-Leigh Braff and Amy Rinquest video@varsitynewspaper.co.za Centerspread Editor Ashley Seymour centrespread@varsitynewspaper. co.za Web Editor Nikhil Gilbert and Saajidah Gafoor web@varsitynewspaper.co.za Online Content Editor Zanele Kabane Online Chief Subber Daniela Savoia Online News Correspondent Robyn Ausmeier Online Opinions Correspondent Claudia Harrison Online Features Correspondent Anthea van den Bergh online@varsitynewspaper.co.za

ello and welcome to the firsttime readers, and to those of you who are just returning for more.

While it is February and we are well into the New Year, I thought I’d share my New Year’s resolutions with you now. This is our first edition and I’m hoping to set the tone for Varsity Newspaper as it will be in 2016.

While New Year’s resolutions tend to slip away as the year progresses, I hope that by sharing mine with you it will help ensure that we remain on track throughout the year.

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New year, new me, new V

Our goal is ensure that Varsity is able to provide you with the most recent information about what is happening at UCT. If there is an event, talk, debate, protest or anything else of interest happening on campus, Varsity will be there. We want you to have access to as much information as possible so that you remain in the loop about what goes on at your campus.

To ensure that we report the facts There are a lot of things happening on campus, every time you turn around something new is happening and another issue is being brought to the forefront. While it may seem like the sooner you receive information, the better, we want to prioritise the accuracy and truth within our reporting. We may not be the first to break a story, especially given the efficiency of those of you who are on the ground and have mastered the art of live-tweeting, but I guarantee you that we will double- and triple-check our facts before we publish anything.

This is to ensure that we do not misinform you. We will be absolutely

certain that we report the truth and are a news source you can trust.

To remain objective As a journalist and a newspaper, your primary goal is always to remain objective and not let one side sway the content you publish.

However, recent coverage of events happening on our campus proves that mainstream media has forgotten this goal and misrepresentation is everywhere. . With bias in sources and selection of information being presented, it’s often difficult to ascertain what is the truth and what isn’t. Our job, as your student newspaper, is to let you know everything that is happening and provide you with the whole picture, in order to let you form your own opinion.

To maintain transparency You may have a hard time deciding who you can trust when it comes to finding reliable information. I know it is a great struggle for me, so we want to be completely open about how we operate as a newspaper in order to let you make that decision. You are welcome to come and speak to any of

Class is in SESSION! Greetings Freshers and welcome to UCT: The University of Consciousness and Truth! If you were previously unaware, I would like to inform you that your next few years here will be far from ordinary. This institution is changing from a conveyor belt for factory-made graduates into a “school of life” where ignorance will land you swiftly on the DPR list for Transformation1000W. So to help you avoid exclusion, I would like to serve as your tutor for this course of history.

There is only one prerequisite for this course: “stepping out of your bubble.” This may be exceptionally uncomfortable for a vast majority of you, but it is mandatory. If you are not willing to step out of said bubble, one of your classmates will happily extract you from it. Furthermore, if the sound of rubber bullets and stun grenades has not already prompted you, I’d like to announce that you will be required to engage with the reality of the fragmented Rainbow Nation which UCT represents.

For example, if you are a white individual, you are inherently in a position of privilege. Before you

raise your hand to object I’d like to remind you that despite your welloff or impoverished background, the colour of your skin still places you at the top of the pecking order. No one points out that you “speak well” or follows you around like a you are a petty thief when you enter a clothing store. More importantly, you are not forced to assimilate to a foreign culture to validate yourself to society.

A large part of “engaging” involves talking about race. If you’re rolling your eyes then unfortunately you’re still stuck in your bubble. There is nothing that will exclude you faster than choosing to remain silent.

Speak to people who are different from you, ask questions, make statements, get into arguments, have healthy conversations, whatever it may be, just ENGAGE. But as much as you speak, remember to listen, whether you’re Biko black or white.

Remember everyone has a chapter to add to this history book.

If you’re looking to get a first, then be quick to analyse and slow to criticise or condemn. Everything you read in the media is not fact and everything you see and hear first-hand is not always truth.

Your personal lens is clouded by

us about a story (our e-mail addresses are all here for you and our office is not hidden away), with a critique or a query, and we will provide you with an answer. If you want information or want to verify our sources (provided they have not requested anonymity), we will be happy to assist you. We are not in the business of hiding anything, nor do we let anything influence the content we publish, so feel free to come by and find out more about us and how we work (we sometimes get lonely on the 5th floor).

To represent you, the students We are the STUDENT newspaper, so you, the students, are our number one priority. We want to make your voices heard and we want to ensure that you are represented in the most accurate and fair way possible. We are not in the business of people pleasing, so what you want to say and what you want to hear about is what we will publish. You are the reason we exist and you are whom we are trying to represent. We want to give you a platform to express yourself and we want you to be engaged in the content we are producing.

Sandisiwe (Yogi) Shoba Deputy Editor

bias, preconceptions and your positionality. If you’re angered by burning paintings, yet are indifferent to the university funding crisis, then you’ve missed the mark.

Furthermore, if you’re annoyed by shacks on residence road but are completely comfortable with the plight of your classmate who can’t afford groceries then you’ve seriously missed the mark.

And yes, a surefire way to land yourself on academic probation is to exercise arrogance. Arrogance is expecting a people who have been oppressed for centuries based on the colour of their skin to simply get over something like apartheid. Arrogance is fighting to maintain the clearly problematic status-quo because it suits your lifestyle. Arrogance is saying ignorant things like “no offence but, you know that black guy…” as if his blackness is something offensive.

And most shockingly, arrogance is trying to police the revolution by sharing Facebook posts which read “Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on the bus. But she didn’t trash the bus. Big difference.”

People’s pain cannot be policed. It is

Finance Manager Lauren van Haght finance@varsitynewspaper.co.za

arrogance to believe that you know what the appropriate conduct is for a people who have been beaten, shot at, called monkeys and stripped of their dignity for longer than history cares to account for.

If you have any questions, feel free to attend any of the talks, seminars, protests or rallies on campus (they’ll definitely bump up your credits). Remember, there is no excuse for ignorance, so do yourself a favour and step out of your bubble. Include yourself in the revolution and you’ll fly in the school of life.

Positions available Be Part of the 2016 Collective Email: HR at hr@varsitynewspaper.co.za

HR Manager Marizanne Schade and Thando Ndita hr@varsitynewspaper.co.za Marketing Manager Shenghua Carrie Jiang marketing@varsitynewspaper. co.za

Deputy Opinions Editor

Operations Manager Nigel Paradza operations@varsitynewspaper. co.za

Online Sports Correspondent

Deputy Images Editor Advertising Manager

Newsgathering

app Developer Nikhil Gilbert app@varsitynewspaper.co.za

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

Michaela Findeis

Tsepo Ngwenyama

Copy Editor

Managing Editor

Julius Stopforth Online Editor

Tuesday 23 February 1pm Venue: T.B.A Check out Twitter and Facebook for more information.

Opinions

House of Cads Tanya Magaisa

any female first years entering Tugwell Hall will remember the “slow clap” speech.

The speech — a warning from the house committee — is about the “slut-shaming” practice that is common at some UCT residences.

Essentially, when a female student is seen walking out of a male residence during an impromptu early morning fire drill, students begin to clap slowly and deliberately, in order to bring attention to and humiliate the female student.

The concept behind this practice is that any female student who is in a male residence after hours must have “loose morals”. Grown women, many of who are legal adults considered capable, intelligent, rational and responsible by the standards of society, are forced to sit through a meeting that is supposed to warn them about the “bad boys” at university. The message falls short of advocating chastity among female students.

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female student[s] ... in a male res after hours must have loose morals One very bright first year raised her hand and questioned these ludicrous practices. What right had they to police the behaviour of grown women? In fact, what business is it of theirs what grown women do with their bodies and their lives outside or inside of their place of residence?

Here the subliminal message is sent: as a woman, your identity is linked to whatever male relationship you maintain. Whether you are a wife, mother, daughter or mistress, you are reminded that your value as a human is observed through your allegiance to a man or through your ability to deflect the advances of those who aim to tarnish your “purity.”

Although the new house committee members in certain residences have made concerted first-step-efforts into breaking down these unfair, socially-constructed practices that perpetuate patriarchy as a normal standard of society, it is still important to recognise that patriarchy is endemic. It is institutional. It is systematic.

It is manifested palpably in the residence’s implementation of House Rules.

It is demonstrated in the different standards to which the male residences and the female residences are expected to conform. While men are allowed to have alcohol in their rooms, have no visitor’s signout time and are left to decide the number of opposite sex or non-male identifying individuals they wish to host, the female residences have strict, repressive rules, all in the effort to preserve the “fragility” of the female population at UCT. It is almost laughable, and maddeningly dangerous to hear that the rationale behind the restriction of female students at Tugwell Hall’s access to the rooftop is that wardens

fear that the women’s fragile mental states would result in suicide, while the men at Leo Marquard have no such restriction.

The rationale: men are stronger than women and are less inclined to fall into a depression or to commit suicide. This curiously illinformed misconception stems from gender stereotypes on which our patriarchal society has flourished and it undermines the reality of the university student.

While the stereotype that men are stronger and more capable is perpetuated, the truth of the matter is that, according to The South African Depression Anxiety Group, suicide is the second leading cause of death amongst university students.

This comes after motor accidents.

Furthermore, the rate of suicide amongst males has tripled since 1950, while female suicide rates have doubled.

Here is another interesting statistical fact by the National Centre for Education Statistics: the percentage of degrees earned by female students from 1999-2010 is between 60-62%, meaning that in

the 21st century, more females than males earn degrees. This data makes one wonder: how do these incapable, emotionally charged, rationally constipated and irresponsible women manage to achieve such a feat, what with all their mental and physical fragility?

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An Adamant View Opinions Editor

Adam Kleinschmidt

Shut Up and Read Me

The rationale: men are stronger than women The effects of patriarchy are obviously harmful. Patriarchal practices lead to gender-based violence, such as domestic abuse, that stems from the paternalistic conception of marriage to sexual violence as men begin to feel entitled to female bodies. Women are prevented from fully engaging in academic spaces and maledominated industries as they find themselves having to constantly deal with a litany of sexist practices and ideas from the males who benefit from the subjugation of women.

Image: Jian Yi Song

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

It would be remiss of me to ignore the past. A foolish decision I could make would be to ignore the cries of angry students at the gates of the Houses of Parliament and on the steps of Upper Campus. I’d be a moron if I said “it’s business as usual” for me and the other 26,999 or so students at this university.

In case you’re out of the loop, let me fill you in: things are changing faster than ever before.

What began as a largely peaceful protest move to highlight the inequalities of UCT’s residence deployment scheme became a violent clash between the South African Police Service and students. What began with a few social media blurts became a fully-fledged national protest strike against the government, run by students.

Yes, those people who walk alongside you at Leslie Social and complain about those confounded pigeons. Yes, the tutor with a Rolling Stones t-shirt and the earring. Yes, that loud chap in your lecture with a heavy lisp.

The people you see on your social media touting social revolution are just like you, the reader: a living, moving, feeling human.

However, what is it that sets you apart? There must be something that explains this activity on campus, on our Tweet Decks and our newspapers. Surely there’s something driving this surge of student activism, where people are risking life and limb to make a change.

Yes, there is: it’s called not being apathetic. Sure, roll your eyes and turn to the next page.

Perhaps the opinion pieces on sexism in residences or President Zuma’s new plans will excite you.

Or you could smell the burning tires and wake up. This isn’t just limited to UCT: it’s global now.

I’ve bleated again and again about how people need to stop sitting on their backsides and get involved. First it was voting in the 2014 general election, then it was the SRC elections, and then it was engaging in meaningful dialogue around C. J. Rhodes. To new students — and those who’re reading my writing for the first time — I’d repeat it all, but this tape is done. Kaput. I’ve done asking, so now I’m gonna give you a reality check.

You might not support Rhodes Must Fall and the groups like it, but

their role at UCT has gone beyond removing a colonial statue. They’re no longer “just some student rabble,” which is the politest criticism I’ve heard on social media. Much like the EFF, they’re a group that went from being a flash in a pan to an explosion that has shifted the ground.

It’s at this stage that your participation is called into question. Do you join in the fray, picking a side and playing it out according to your ethical code?

Or, like so many before you, do you only stick your hand up when it’s crunch time and your opinion is forced out of you like blood from a stone.

You’re actually entitled to an opinion, one that is free from others. Yes, relish on that one and enjoy it like a glass of Sauvignon Blanc. Then realise that you, as an individual, fit into a puzzle you can never escape. It’s called society, and it surrounds you entirely: your family, friends, colleagues, fellow students and every other individual on this planet has an opinion.

... smell the burning tires and wake up.

However, when critical mass social explosions like RMF rise to the surface, your opinion becomes a double-edged sword.

Muck about with it, and you’ll gouge your eye out as the social backlash puts you into a dire situation. It’s there to reinforce your position and make you an individual within a group. You can be the voice of reason, passion or encouragement, lending your personal attributes to a cause.

Maybe RMF is too intense a fire for you, and in many cases it isn’t the right kind of fire to sit by. As a middle class white man with an opinions column in the official UCT newspaper, I know all about that. But at the same time, your involvement in a meaningful and productive manner is essential. Whether you resort to violence, aggression and the like is up to you, although it can put you at great risk. Engage, but do so with a clear mind and a good idea of what you want from it.

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Misadventure of a Lifetime Jemima Lewin ultural appropriation is a concept almost as old as, well, colonialism. It is the exploitation of cultures through the misuse and representation of them. Stemming from a culture that has historically oppressed people of colour, appropriation occurs when the appropriator is ignorant to the significance of the culture.

Borrowing is a key concept here. Appropriation is a cause of concern as this “borrowing” can lead to theft from these cultural groups, taking years of history from them and selling it off as a mainstream trend. As a result, these groups continue to be stereotyped negatively while the group that does the “borrowing” is branded as innovative.

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Musicians, such as the band Coldplay and Katy Perry, have come under fire for using cultural appropriation in their music videos.

These musicians have failed to appreciate these cultures, choosing to rather misrepresent them. No, Coldplay, Indian children are not always running around in the streets throwing coloured powder at each other. This is only done during Holi festival.

A culture is not a trend

Media outlets admonish members of various cultures for openly practicing their culture and then turn around and congratulate those who appropriate it. Take, for example, African American singer

Appropriation occurs when the appropriator is ignorant to the significance Zendaya wearing dreadlocks to last year’s Academy Awards. Mainstream media tore her apart, calling her hair ugly and accused her of drug use. However, when singer Miley Cyrus donned the hairstyle, she was praised by various media outlets for being cool and different.

A culture is not a trend. It should not be sold as a costume either.

Native American headdresses are sacred to their people with each feather needing to be earned. A bindi is worn by Hindu women for cultural and religious reasons. Yet, many advertisements make use of these for solely aesthetic reasons.

Ralph Lauren had a campaign that made use of Native American

Think of the privilege needed to dress as an “African,” “Asian,” “Native American” or “Aboriginal” for the sake of fashion. Indigenous people were killed for looking and dressing different.

Privilege is being able to “try on” these cultures and getting to take them off at the end of the day. Their cultures, old and sacred, were branded barbaric, but now that they are in mainstream media, they are rebranded as edgy and hipster.

However, with that being said, in the society we are living in today it is absolutely preposterous to try and keep cultures separate from one another. Cultural exchange is real and inescapable.

Big cities are proof of how people are influenced and affected by their surrounding cultures.

However, when dealing with a culture that is not yours, respect is a necessity.

An idealist goal would be for everyone to exist peacefully in a multicultural society. As long as the media perpetuates negative stereotypes about the nation of origin while giving credit to the people appropriating, we are a long way off from that. Media and society needs to learn how to properly engage with a culture that is foreign to them. Trying to erase painful pasts is not the way to do it. Ignorance should no longer be tolerated.

get funding for this film with the response that black films did not have an audience.

Omotoso sought to disprove this narrative and his film made it to the third ranked film by screen average.

It proved that there is an audience for black films. However, the film was unrealistic and in no way reflective of the multiple identities that black people who have been urbanised have in South Africa today. In his open letter, Omotoso explained that he sought to “give the audience a

positive experience in film about successful, handsome black people falling in love in Joburg.”

While this is definitely a narrative that we need to push, the film did not do that well. The plot used in the film is a tired and typically Western plot.

This, in itself, shows the way in which Hollywood has infiltrated our film and media. The latest movies and shows to gain popularity seem to be edging towards Western narratives (think Ayeye). Perhaps these films should be more representative of the multiple identities that we have.

Finally, I think it is important to note that marginalisation in the media industry doesn’t occur subconsciously; the people responsible for it are well aware of what they are doing. Black power will not come from whites. It will come from us: black people.

culture, using only white models.

While it is okay to show appreciation for a culture, having no actual members of the culture participate is not. Were there no Native American models available to model their own culture, Ralph?

Privilege is being able to “try on” these cultures

Vanity Unfair Esinako Ndabeni At the beginning of the year, the Academy Awards came under fire for how overwhelmingly white and male the Oscar nominees were.

Artists like Jada Pinkett-Smith took to social media to express their grievances about the lack of representation – and thus lack of recognition – of people of colour by the Oscars. Shortly after this, Vanity Fair released a magazine cover highlighting various female superstars in Hollywood. However, this was also criticised for not being diverse enough as there were only three women of colour in the cover.

Hollywood has mastered the art of global domination in the entertainment sector. American film and media has infiltrated South African culture greatly. This is clear with the kind of music that is popular today and the kind of language we use, fam. This is why it did not come as a shock that the #OscarsStillSoWhite rose to prominence here as well. The South African youth, being no stranger to discrimination, was outraged by the lack of diversity.

While this is a noble response, there is a lot that needs to be transformed in terms of the way the South African youth views foreign – read American – media.

We have witnessed a wave of black consciousness among the South African youth in the last few months.

While this is a state of mind which, rightfully, seeks to empower and embrace the marginalised, it seems as though this is only done through the Western lens.

We seem to be very quick to jump on the American bandwagon; interpreting “black music” as “hiphop and RnB,” interpreting “good

black filmmakers, directors and writers” as “Shonda Rhimes and Spike Lee,” as though there is nothing that South African entertainment has to offer. This issue has a few complexities within itself, seeing that greatness deserves recognition (but should never come at the expense of local recognition).

Perhaps the core of this problem and this refusal to acknowledge local black films lies in the issue of funding. The amount of funding that goes into white films is

Image: Jian Yi Song

overwhelmingly more than that of black films. Because of privilege and supremacy, filmmakers such as Leon Schuster, Grey Hofmeyr and Neill Blomkamp are at the forefront of big budget films, whereas black films still struggle with budgets.

A film called Tell Me Sweet Something made it to the cinemas in 2015 and the filmmaker, Akin Omotoso, wrote an open letter explaining the process that he went through to make this movie. He explained how difficult it was to

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The South African Skinner Box Quentin Coetzee resident Jacob Zuma has recently made the decision to uphold the findings of Thuli Madonsela and pay back a portion of the money spent on the Nkandla security upgrades, despite fighting the verdict for almost two years. This is becoming a pattern whenever a costly battle looms: fight for as long as possible, then surrender before the court cases begin.

This is the third time that such a pattern has occurred. His sudden willingness to pay the money back feels as sincere as Rupert Murdoch’s willingness to adhere to journalistic ethics.

The first time in recent memory that Zuma has suddenly backpedalled on a major decision was when he tried to take the cartoonist Zapiro to court over a series of supposedly defamatory cartoons.

Shortly before the case, which Zapiro expected to win, Zuma dropped the charges.

Secondly, there was the issue of the spy tapes. The Democratic Alliance had been trying to acquire the tapes that Zuma’s lawyers used to get criminal charges against him dropped. Zuma fought to hold on to the tapes for as long as possible, defying a court order in the process, before his lawyers surrendered, admitting they had no legal grounds to withhold them.

Image: Jian Yi Song

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This time, with the Nkandla Report, Zuma and his allies claimed that the findings of the Public Protector were not binding, released an alternate report exonerating him of any wrongdoing, set up numerous

committees to investigate the matter and claimed that he shouldn’t have to pay for the upgrades on the grounds that he didn’t ask for any of it.

With this court case, Zuma has announced that he will find an

amount suitable to repay the public for Nkandla. This is something the DA had already done in March last year, arriving at a minimum value of R52.9 million.

Some think that Zuma’s decision

to backpedal on the Nkandla issue might be a publicity stunt, especially considering that this year is an election year (a time where you can make people forget about terrible track records with a food parcel bribe and some good PR in the short term), but a number of voters are nevertheless going to take the bait.

While it is important to hold people in power to account and not to give up until they do answer for their crimes, it is equally important not to fall into a trap of thinking the battle is over if they cave.

This has happened before, as referenced with the Zapiro and spy tapes cases above, where there was a long fight that more or less ended when Zuma caved. Almost nothing has happened after the fact. In a way, it almost feels like we, the public, are being conditioned into subservience with a surface reward when there might be something else going on at a deeper level.

Therefore, the continued efforts of the DA and EFF to not back down from the Constitutional Court battle are to be applauded. They have shown that people can recognize when they’ve been wronged, and they’ve shown that they can recognize when they’re being conditioned to accept a placebo in lieu of a proper resolution.

In the end, the important lesson to take away is: keep an eye out, and recognise when you are just being led up a garden path.

T E K C U B E TH Lose a food fight to a pigeon Bunk a lecture to sit on Jammie Steps Sign up for a new society

Get in an elbow fight for a jammie

Discover the mythical cereal dispenser in Menzies

Have a date on the roof of the library

Fall over in a jammie

Have an epic fall on campus

Get locked in a UCT building after hours

See the view from the war memorial at night

Go to an Ikeys rugby game

Run up jammie stairs

Write for Varsity

Have pre-drinks at Graca Lawns, never leave

Pull an all-nighter

Eat noodles for breakfast, twice in a row.

Go to campus in pyjamas Walk through Rondebosch in your best turn-up gear Explore every building on campus Post a UCT Confession Accidentally ride the jammie to Hiddingh Campus

Count coins to pay for R8 campus coffee Swim in the UCT dam Go to Mcdonald’s at 2am Start an essay the day before it is due Go to the UCT pub Sleep through your alarm, sprint to lectures.

Cartoons by: Raz Hansrod

!

T S I TL

Have a tutor crush.

Wear no shoes to campus for a day Be drenched by a surprise rainstorm on campus Try food from every stall on campus Take a mid-lecture nap Try UCT’s fine dining @Rainbow

= 1 Point = 2 Points = 3 Points

Take a book out from UCT libraries (and read it!)

Participate in the Wednesday rap battle

For the more brave at heart...

Walk up signal hill Explore Kirstenbosch Gardens Forget the student budget and live it up on Long Street RIde the train to Muizenberg, and beyond

Go to Sticky Fingers

Compiled by: Ashley Seymour, Ali Findlay and Nicole Arends

W e In lcom m cas e t a we kes e yo o th be ’ve the u w e ne u f Co ore com ltim ere w se wh mpa you pile ate wo mes rt d va nd ter th o c re a i rs er ! e l an wi me i i t l n i y ist at st sco th ex g w ! o pe re yo UC f Meet someone from Killindini rie hat u m T th r n u e e m frie nds st-d ce, os o’s t p nds .

See Dr Price in the flesh oin to ts s fro ee m Educate yourself at a transformation workshop

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Tutorial BEYOND UCT Do’s and Don’ts Ali Findlay

e chatted to Mason Sinclair, past UCT student and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the online employer-employee connecting platform The Inspiration Lab. Thinking about what I’m going to do with my post-UCT self is exciting, but it also makes me want to hide under my bed breathing into a brown paper bag. Job interviews, dozens of applications, scary people I don’t know and potential awkward social situations are just a few of the terrifying thoughts that cross my mind.

What if there was something that made becoming a real adult with a real job a whole lot easier? This is the thought that wedged itself into Mason Sinclair’s brain and it is the thought that led him to create The Inspiration Lab.

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It’s definitely more exciting than your average job Launched in 2015, the free web app essentially allows students and graduates to find a plethora

of employment opportunities in one place. The site matches you to internships/jobs that are relevant and available. If you’re interested, you can apply with a single click.

“You can then track the status of your applications online and you’ll get notified when new positions become available, so you never miss out on opportunities,” explains Mason.

Named as a finalist at Startup Istanbul last year

Mason studied Electrical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering at UCT, graduating in 2012. After developing a prototype, Mason sought the help of his classmate and friend, Harry Lee, who became co-founder and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of The Inspiration Lab. Named as a finalist at Startup Istanbul last year, the new business has had a successful start. “We have just under 100 companies who have linked up to the platform,” says Mason. “It’s very quickly becoming the quickest and easiest way for businesses and students in South Africa to get in contact,” he says.

One of the most interesting features of The Inspiration Lab, is their voucher system. “Every time a company connects with your profile, instant cash vouchers are sent to your phone. These can be redeemed at shops all across South Africa such as Vida e Caffe, Kauai, Nandos etc.” Mason explains, “it’s an incentive to connect with as many companies as possible to make sure you find the perfect fit.” Since when are companies so concerned about your well-being that they reward you for helping yourself? Oh the benefits of small businesses and entrepreneurship…

“It’s been an amazing roller coaster of an experience,” Mason says when I ask what it’s like to be a young entrepreneur. “It’s definitely more exciting than your average job,” he answers. “It’s great to be able to put my time into something I’m passionate about, so I’m really loving it.”

So venturing into the big-bad world doesn’t have to be as scary and tiresome as it seems. Who knows… maybe you’ll be the next young entrepreneur to feature in Varsity.

To read Mason’s best tips for aspiring entrepreneurs head over to the Varsity website and to visit The Inspiration Lab head over to www. inspirationlab.io.

Ronel Koekemoer The Good Tutling’s Guide to the Unspoken Rules of Tutorials.

Orientation week was spent plying you with the basic do’s and don’ts of tuts — do attend most of them to get DP, don’t plagiarise. But here’s a list of some of the unspoken — and more important — rules of tutorials.

Do get keen. While commerce students may entice you with stories of hard drinking followed by 8am bunking, it is best to be eager and go to most — if not all — tutorials.

Arriving early is also a good idea.

Leslie Social is basically a giant Hogwarts staircase — after a steep climb you find yourself in corridors you never knew existed and that you will most likely never be able to locate again.

Don’t swipe right. I learned this one the hard way. Don’t project your high school sexual repression on your tutors by developing romantic feelings for them. These are serious postgrads who spend more time hitting the books (and their postdoc boyfriends) than thinking about bad-skinned you who doesn’t even know how to footnote. Learn from them and ask them questions but do not flirt. Tutorials are not spaces for Freud and Chill, Mamdani and Chill

or any such activities. Believe me, it hurts when your tutor stops replying to your redundant emails and you sit through tuts channelling Drake (You used to call me on MyUCT...).

Don’t sign-up for 8am tuts (and do avoid this by signing up early).

8am sounds late to 7am schoolgoers, but 8am becomes very early when you realise that you have a 5am wake-up to finish your readings and assignments on time. Avoid this by being on Vula at the time of the sign up. Put your feelings aside and Hunger Games it.

Do be open minded. Tuts are the space where you will come into contact with ideas and opinions that may threaten your own. It’s tempting to say “Imma let you finish” and assert your own views. Instead, enjoy being challenged. Use your tuts to broaden your horizons.

Don’t be that person. Tuts are going to teach you about identity politics. Don’t be that guy in gender studies crying #NotAllMen. Don’t be that person in philosophy who phrases their comments as questions so as to get more airtime (even if you did read Kant when you were five and no longer snigger at the name).

You know that adage, “if you can’t tell who the black sheep in the family is, it’s probably you?” Same rules apply here: check your privilege.

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UCT’s Hidden Gems

Image: Max Klingensmith

Lorena Lesna-Maranetto

Whether you’re a newbie or a returnee, here are some of the best secret spots for eating, studying and chilling at UCT.

FOR THE FOODIES Higher Taste Cuisine

Tucked away on the lower level of Leslie Social, this little store has loads to offer. The samosas, carrot cake and chocolate crunchies are amazing. Bonus — it’s vegetarian too!

Centilivres

We’ve all heard of “Builda-Bear,” now you can build-asandwich. Located at the entrance of the architecture building, you can

choose your bread, filling and sauce.

Completely delish and totally your choice.

School of Economics

Walking all the way down to middle campus can be a schlep, but the School of Economics canteen makes it worthwhile.

Get your dose of healthy salads, sandwiches, and everything in between.

STUDY CAVES The Basement

If you haven’t been lost in the library yet, then you probably haven’t discovered the basement. Take a trip down the spiral staircase and be opened up to the world of literature and language, as well as absolute silence.

Hiddingh Library

where you can sit and read or just chat to a friend.

If you’re in the mood for something a little different, the Hiddingh library is cosy and quaint with creaky floors, wooden chairs, and old school fans.

Not only is it quiet enough to study, the book shelves that surround the study spaces will keep you from feeling lonely.

The Secret Garden is situated behind the Fuller Residence, and can be accessed on Residence Road (behind Beattie and Centlivres).

It’s one of the best secret summer spots that Upper has to offer.

CHILL ZONES

VIEWS

The Amphitheatre

PD Hahn

Situated between Leslie Social Science and the Neville Alexander Building (previously the Humanities Building), this area — although not actually named the amphitheatre — sure does look like one. There are trees that shade the large steps

The Secret Garden

The top of PD Hahn must go on your UCT bucket list. If you can navigate your way to the top, you won’t be disappointed.

The Window to UCT

You’ve probably seen it as you walk up and down University

Avenue; a large window with a ledge close to the Geology Building. If you manage to get yourself up there, you can enjoy watching the students of UCT go by without them really taking notice of you.

The Rooftop Garden

Unfortunately, this is only reserved for Honours Students, but if you get the chance to go to the fourth floor of Leslie Social, you may just find yourself on an outdoor balcony with synthetic grass and a spectacular sight of the Southern Suburbs and beyond.

The list could go on, but some places are best kept a hidden gem for you to discover yourself.

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Introduction Ronel Koekemoer early everyone underwent clumsy sex education at school. For many, “cunilingus” is Latin for “sly linguistics major.”

When people say “labia,” most Capetonians think of “film” before “vagina.” Many among us continue to misgender and assume pronouns all the while wholly avoiding the gender neutral bathrooms on campus. If this is you, then your sex and gender education has been lacking. If the most comprehensive sex ed you ever had was Game of Thrones, then The Gender and Sex Project (GASP) is here to set you straight (or queer or bi or pan...) and help rectify the situation.

GASP is a student led organisation that seeks to promote holistic and intersectional education regarding sex and gender. This includes reproductive rights, gender identity politics, sensitivity training, safe sex, nonheteronormative sex education and sexual violence. In every issue of Varsity we will be exploring an issue related to gender and sex with the aim of educating and advocating for a more inclusive campus where people of all sexual orientations, sexualities, gender identities and expressions become protected and valued bodies.

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The idea of GASP is ongoing learning and unlearning about things that have been neglected due to stigma, prejudice and assumption. GASP hopes to mitigate some of the very real and harmful implications of ignoring the lived realities of individuals or not exploring that reality for ourselves. High schools tend to be places where we are taught to simplify sexuality and to take mainstream ideas at face value.

This is why GASP focuses on high school intervention and teaching.

To achieve this goal we invite potential peer educators to join us in our school programs to facilitate discussion and broaden horizons.

If this sounds like something you would be interested in, pop us an email at communications@ genderandsexproject.com and join us for training on the 27th or 28th of February.

Topics in this column will include the urgency of gender neutral spaces, body politics awareness in tutorials and lectures, LGBTQIA+ spaces on campus, reproductive rights and sexual health testing.

This column hopes to spark conversation as well as individual introspection because at GASP we believe that learning—like sex—can be just as stimulating when done alone.

Image:m Benamile Zwane

Netflix or Nah? Image: www.netflix.com

Megon Venter

Now that you don’t have to unblock Netflix to access it, is it really worth a subscription?

The art of television has grown in its multitude and reach over the past decade. The once unexplored and somewhat underestimated little sister to film has now created a reputation for itself by producing award-winning series and drawing in big names from the film industry.

is this really so different than from your parents’ DSTV decoder?

The most important question for an avid television lover is how to watch and enjoy these engrossing shows. In recent years, a relatively fast Wi-Fi connection paired with a tablet or computer as well as access to one of the dozens of online viewing platforms available has become the ultimate way in which to enjoy series. In the US, one of the most popular platforms is Netflix, which has just become available in South Africa.

Competing with only one other provider — namely ShowMax — it appears to be the front runner for portable viewing pleasure — provided you have a mobile device. If you don't have this kind of technology at hand you can still watch all your shows online from your desktop. But is this really so different than from your parents’ DSTV decoder?

For starters, there is an element of privacy to watching online. Even though nothing digital is sacred, at least you don't have to watch Game of Thrones with your entire family over dinner. If you don’t mind who sees your watch-list, your series can be viewed almost anywhere.

If you do, in fact, have some sort of tablet or even a smart phone, it has never been easier to access series in public spaces. While you’re at your favourite coffee shop, there’s no reason why you can’t pass the time with your favourite show as well (provided you’re logged into their network).

“What is the catch to this viewing freedom?” you may ask. It’s definitely not the cost. Depending on who is paying, an online viewing subscription is significantly cheaper even with data charges. A DSTV

subscription is R899 per month for the full explorer package while a Netflix subscription is approximately R126 per month.

The only downside is the limited content that South African Netflix provides. Everything that is made

by Netflix and most popular shows are available (such as House of Cards, Orange is the New Black and Louie), but some are not accessible as Netflix does not have the broadcasting rights to all of the US content.

significantly cheaper

Again, broadcasting rights are an issue in terms of sports as DSTV has rights to live sport broadcasting while Netflix does not. There are, however, a variety of films ready for immediate watching on Netflix, unlike DSTV which requires a download first, even with the Explorer package.

Ultimately whichever you choose, there will always be endless content to devour as the television obsession continues to grow.

The Keen Bean Guide

Kudzi Manase

irst week enthusiasm has a funny way of vanishing as assignments and responsibilities start piling up. Before you start mourning the loss, here’s how motivation, de-stressing, handling procrastination and managing your goals can prolong that initial eagerness.

Motivation It isn’t a once-off thing — reminders of your aspirations and constant words of encouragement are the best way to keep things moving.

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Keep a notebook or visual journal (Pinterest anyone?) with examples of what you want to achieve. Repeating positive affirmations daily is great but it can be taken further with visual reinforcements. Write positive phrases on colourful, attentiongrabbing pieces of paper and place them in your planner, on a bathroom mirror or on the fridge. It’s corny but it makes the biggest difference.

De-Stress Exercise is one of the best ways to de-stress. It releases endorphins and can serve as a form of meditation.

Paying attention to your body’s movements distracts from everyday

stresses. Maybe you’ve been going back and forth between R.W James and Neville Alexander and don’t particularly feel like exercising.

Do the next best thing: close your eyes and lie back with some music.

According to Meredith Melnick of The Huffington Post it doesn’t have to be slow and classical because whatever you enjoy releases “feel-good neurochemicals like dopamine.”

Procrastination Maggie Heath of Lifehack says we procrastinate for a number of reasons, like the desire for perfect timing. No such thing exists. When

you find yourself counting the reasons you can’t begin, just start (small)! You don’t have to complete it in one go. Turn on your laptop and look up relevant articles or have a brainstorm session. That’s far better than lying around doing nothing.

Susan Jeffers, author of Feel The Fear and Do It Anyway, says fear is, in part, due to the belief that decisions are only ever completely right or completely wrong. The reality is a single decision can be both good and bad. Putting something off because you want to avoid negativity makes no sense. So what is the solution?

Make a decision and deal with it!

Goals Instead of only focusing on your ultimate goal, make a few smaller ones. The final goal may be far away and you may become impatient working towards it. Smaller goals can help you avoid this. Once you’ve decided what they are, celebrate and acknowledge them as this encourages commitment and excitement for future goals.

The unfortunate reduction in eagerness is, to say the least, not ideal. Remaining enthusiastic about your studying doesn’t just happen though, it takes time and effort. So get out there and keep it alive!

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What’s your society?

The ultimate guide to finding the right society for you.

Image: varsity images team 2012

Safiyya Karim and Ali Findlay laza week can be overwhelming for “freshers,” but deciding which society to sign up for can be as easy as answering a personality quiz.

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Ikey’s Vibe —

for the cool kid.

This is for the rugby enthusiasts and the so-called “jocks” on campus.

If you love to socialise and shop at stores such as Typo, Cotton On and Vida, then an Ikey’s card will save you some pennies. This is the most popular club on campus — just like its members.

SHAWCO —

for the altruist.

Almost as popular as Ikey’s, this society raises money to help the less fortunate. This club has two main divisions: Education and Health. It’s a great club to join if you want to play your part and meet compassionate people.

Art of Living — for the yogi’s.

With yoga classes twice a week and stress-relief courses throughout the year, this club is perfect for re-aligning your chakras. It’s no surprise that the members are so relaxed!

The Hip-hop Club — for the modern poet.

If your Facebook friends don’t appreciate your SoundCloud shares enough, then maybe you’re in need of some fellow hip-hoppers to relate to.

This club is home to the infamous UCT cyphers who have free-style rap battles every Wednesday during Meridian outside the AC Jordan building.

We are Animals —

for those that get along better with animals than people.

This society focuses on volunteering, fundraising and spreading awareness. If you consider yourself a bit of an activist and an animal sympathiser, this society is perfect for you.

Rainbow UCT — for the passionate.

Whether you are part of the LGBTQIA+ community or you just care about helping create an environment that is accepting, tolerant and free of homophobia, then this society is definitely one to proudly join. They’ll even give you a T-shirt to flaunt your #Pride!

Film Society — for the creative.

This society is great for people who either enjoy making their own movies or those who like to watch Lord of the Rings marathons on campus. They have industry-level equipment and create amazing films.

Green Campus Initiative —

for the environmentally conscious.

This society is suitable for all of those 21st century hippies.

They do naked cycling, wear cool green overalls and organise all the environmental events on campus.

Vegilicious — for the foodie.

You don’t have to be vegan or an animal-rights activist to join, but tasting one of their vegan brownies will make you realise that plantbased food is worth the hype. With

interesting cooking courses for you to enjoy with your friends and an alternative diet to incorporate into your lifestyle, Vegilicious is definitely not only for the herbivores.

If you love anime and gaming, this is the society for you. They host gaming tournaments, anime screenings, LANs and UCON… you certainly won’t be bored.

Maths Society —

The Collective—

The name pretty much says it all. If you like to spend your time reading up on maths explanations or you find yourself laughing at maths jokes on the internet, then perhaps this is the society for you!

“I Am, because We Are”, this organisation believes that all life is inherently connected by virtue of existence. They are committed to social upliftment, egalitarianism, the pursuit of justice and encouraging self-empowerment. If you feel passionately about these topics, this is the space for you.

for the overachiever.

Varsity —

for the wannabe writers.

We’ve been around for a long time, but that doesn’t make us any less fresh. Home to some of the most awesome people on campus and perfect for anyone who loves words, current events and the chance to express themselves.

Ikey Ability—

for those wanting to make a difference.

A new society aiming to raise awareness around the disabilities and abilities of students on campus.

Their aim is to make UCT a more inclusive space by acknowledging the abilities of students to overcome the everyday obstacles they may face.

Women in Computer Science—

for the technical female.

In short WICS encourages women to pursue a career in computer science—a field dominated by men. Offering socials, formal talks, mentors and outreach programs, this society will help inspire you when you’re lacking motivation.

CLAWS/ Genshiken— for the gamers.

for the thinkers.

Mad Hatters— for the low days.

Although they aren’t an official UCT society due to the fact that all members are anonymous, Mad Hatter’s is an important group to know about. Essentially it is a support group for students suffering from mental illness. You never have to be alone. Check out the vula site for more information.

Societies add more dimension to your UCT experience, so go out and find the one that’s perfect for you.

Features

V75 E1- 23 FEBRUARY 2016

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Diaries

s we slowly begin easing into 2016 we’re faced with the inevitable “new year, new A me” monologue which precedes every New Years Eve. You’ve got your healthy lifestyle promises and the commitment to pre-read and summarise for lectures everyday but —

what does all of this mean without a new look? Follow some of the hottest trends that have been gracing the runways this season and you’ll be as hyped about as Kanye West’s new album (well, almost).

How to make the world your runway

MONOCHROME MAYHEM By Nicole Arends Black is edgy. White is classic. Put the two together and you have a masterpiece. Monochrome tones were all the rage on the runway this PERFECT PRINTS

season — particularly at the SA Menswear Fashion Week. This trend is timeless and can almost never fail. So if you’re all about simplicity then this is the look to go for.

Less isn’t always more. Gone are the days of being a plain Jane and sticking to conventions. 2016 is all about pushing boundaries and breaking the rules.

Prints are all the rage, and more than ever mixing and matching different prints are what it’s all about. Plaid and pastel. Stripes and spots. Floral and fluorescent. The crazier the better. If you’re worried about looking too crazy, you can always opt for a statement piece and keep your accessories and the rest of your outfit neutral.

Jess Weisz

Anya Bruwer Claudia Segura

Saneh Memela Nathan Sher

BIGGER IS BETTER

Inspired partly by Yeezy and partly by Cape Town hipsters — the oversized look is all the rage.

Essentially, the baggier the better. One of the biggest trends making waves at New York Fashion Week was “the cape” – and no, you don’t have to be Little Red Riding Hood. Think large capes, baggy sweaters and boyfriend jeans. So ditch the little black dress and grab the baggy black sweater. 2008 Soulja Boy would be so proud.

Images: Nicole Arends

Paige Romburgh

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Sport

V75 E1 – 23 FEBRUARY 2016

From the Bench elcome back everyone and a special welcome to the new students of UCT. I’d like to introduce myself as your new Sports Editor this year. Together with my diligent deputy, Jess Moore, we aim to bring to you a more diverse and interesting sports section. We hope to bring more awareness to all of the wonderful sport societies that UCT has to offer. For those of who are more interested in the fitness side of life, I have created a permanent “fitness fanatics’” column to provide fun tips, facts and other fitness related stories throughout the year. Also, don’t forget to have a look at our “sports bites” and “what to watch” for the latest updates. So, have a read around and remember to check online; we have a full report and list of the 2015 sports awards as well as fun and wacky articles such as Japanese Binocular Soccer. So long and happy reading!

W

Catherine Fulton

Fitness Fanatics: The ultimate guide to UCT fitness

By Catherine Fulton

ew Year resolutions are underway but with the gym filling up, it can be rather intimidating to start exercising with all of the fitness fanatics around. For those of you who are keen on getting started but aren’t so excited about joining UCT’s fitness center, this article is one to look into.

Home ‘gym’ Gym prices can be pretty hefty for a student, so why not do a gym workout in the comfort of your own home/residence, without the use of gyming equipment? There are many ways to use your own body weight for strength training, and alternatives to weights can be found around the house. Numerous exercises can be found on the internet; the best thing to do is to print out a workout routine and use it wherever you decide to workout, be it your bedroom or living room floor.

Challenges A fantastic way to start your day is a fitness challenge and there are quite a few that one can find

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on the World Wide Web. Challenges generally provide a workout routine for up to a month, such as the 30 Day Ab Challenge (core workout) or Journey to Splits (flexibility routine), both of which can be found online.

These kinds of challenges are a great way to keep yourself fit as they already have a set routine, as opposed to trying to make your own schedule.

Following fitness blogs can give you regular updates and tips on how to stay fit and healthy and can help you implement an exercise routine.

Some proper cardio training but lack the space Workout videos We all know that there are all sorts of fun ways to exploit Eduroam but if you want to waste your gigabytes constructively, find some video workout routines on the internet.

There are plenty of routines available,

from dancing to yoga and other forms of strength and cardio fitness routines.

If you have access to a television, you can also find some fitness classes on certain programs.

A couple of students had fantastic ideas Limited space?

If you want to do some proper cardio training but lack the space, a good way to burn calories is to use a jump rope. It’s convenient in size and you don’t need too much space to be able to have a decent workout.

Another good idea would be to join a society at UCT, as there are many sport societies that have their own venues.

For example, the Mountain Club grants access to an indoor climbing wall to its members! There are many different sporting societies out there, so there is something for everyone to enjoy.

Ways to stay fit while at varsity A couple of students around lower campus had fantastic ideas on how to stay fit while studying at UCT, and the results were quite creative: -Run up and down the Jammie steps during meridian -Repeatedly walk to the fridge and back -For those who live on the 10th floor in Tugwell or Leo Marquard, do squats every time you’re in the lift.

Better yet, do squats every time you pick up or put your bag down.

-Do weight-lifts using heavy books in the library. You can find many books of varying weights to suit your needs.

-Stop using the Jammie busses and just walk everywhere -Be late for everything so that you have to run everywhere -Sit in the lecture hall seat furthest from the exit.

So there you have it, staying fit this year can be easy and fun if you set your mind to it. Happy exercising and good luck!

I didn’t think that girls could play golf Jessica Still Everyone knows that golf is not a man’s sport. I mean, theoretically, all it takes is for someone to club one object with another. But subconsciously, I’ve always excluded myself from the idea of golf just because I am a girl.

On the odd Sunday my father takes my brothers on 9-hole expeditions and he has never invited me. I don’t resent him for this. He does it for the same reason that he recommends books and forwards some emails only to me. He is simply playing to our interests.

Yet, it is odd that neither my dad nor I even considered that I might be interested in golf. That’s when I think that there is something tragic about gender-stereotyped sports. A whole bunch of people miss out through the subconscious exclusion of themselves and of one another. The fact that my father didn’t think to include me is evidence of his mind being shaped by a false gender dichotomy with regard to leisure activities.

People miss out through the subconscious exclusion of themselves

Image: Keith Allison

I pondered some of these issues with a friend over the holidays, and promised her that we would go to the driving range to practise our swings. We received some free consultation from her obliging brother before collectively clubbing two buckets of balls as far as we could into Killarney Golf Course’s grassy abyss. And it was definitely one of the best days of the holiday.

I don’t know if I’ll ever get into all of golf ’s balls and whistles. The intricacies of its etiquette would

frustrate me – much like the practice of laying out multiple knives and forks for a simple meal. It also costs money. Although, I can see myself winding down after a long day at work with a formidable driver and a bucket of to-be-projectiles. One day I would love to stand on a cliff and hit them straight into the sea – something I’ve observed my brothers doing and been slightly jealous of.

Many girls stay clear of unfamiliar territory

At another point in my holiday I came across a boy who sincerely believed that girls could not play pool. Nearby were a few women who served as prime exhibits for his case. Again; the elements of pool are not foreign to females.

But when one imagines a dingy pool-bar with Jack Daniels themed table-lights and foreign currency stuck to the walls, the people sitting on the side-lines are usually women. Many girls stay clear of participating because it is unfamiliar territory and those playing are intimidatingly cunning cues-men.

Boys aren’t born knowing how to play sport. They grow up in a sporting culture in which they are automatically included in a wider scope of activities. This allows them ample time to practise. Some turn out decent, some do not and some are never interested. But they are invited; that is the difference. Women should not be on the side-lines because they are afraid to appear less competent than their male counterparts, or because they believe that the activity was never meant for them. Trust me; hitting that golf ball was a hoot.

Sport Sports Bites Catherine Fulton Witbank FIFA match: SA Loses to Ghana

On Saturday, February 6th, South Africa played against Ghana at FIFA 2016, which was held at Hullabaloo, 72 Steenkamp Road, Witbank in an official LESF test match. The South African team was noticeably younger than their Ghanaian counterparts, which falls in line with Mind Sports South Africa’s (MSSA) policy of developing teams for international competition. Part of MSSA’s development program encourages the inclusion of females into the national team in order to get rid of gender bias.

UCT Ikey Tigers lost to Shimlas University of Free State

The match took place on Monday, February 8th, between the UCT Ikey Tigers and Shimlas on a windy evening on the Green Mile, UCT Campus. Shimlas claimed a 2317 victory in the season-opener.

It proved to be a tough match as multiple handling errors occurred on both sides due to the howling winds.

Skiing Champion Lindsey Vonn overall World Cup Leader

Vonn became the first woman to win multiple downhills on a Kandahar course, which took place in Garmisch Partenkirchen, Germany on Saturday, February 6th. Vonn won a downhill on a demanding course by a big margin and has upped her record to 38 downhill wins, the most by a woman in a specific discipline.

Two more national titles for Pro Cyclist Nettie Edmondson

Edmondson has continued her journey towards the upcoming World Track Championships (as well as the Rio Olympics), with the most recent claim of two national titles from the Australian Track Championships.

Edmondson claimed that she felt very positive about leading into the world championships. Sporting the colours of the South Australian Sports Institute, the 24-year-old took a victory in the Points Race on Friday, February 5th and then went on to take a hard-fought victory in the Scratch Race on Saturday, February 6th.

Aditi Ashok first Indian golf player to win Ladies European Tour

At the young age of 17, The Bangalore teenager set a new women’s course record, with a round of ten under par at Samanah Golf Club in Marrakech. Ashok recorded her first win at the age of nine years and during her last year as an amateur, she won the St Rule Trophy, Ladies British Amateur Stroke play and Singha Thailand Amateur. She also earned a silver medal at the International European Ladies Amateur Championship, and has gone on to win two professional tournaments on the Women’s Golf Association of India (WGAI), turning pro and ranking 11th in the world.

V75 E1 – 23 FEBRUARY 2016

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Park Run in the Sun! Shelby Labuschagne

s a student it can be difficult to find “fun runs” that fit the student budget whilst also accommodating all fitness types (even those who don’t fit the “Olympic Runner category”). Park Run is well suited to the average student; it is a free running event that takes place weekly (every Saturday at 8am) and so there is no need to worry if you miss one.

The event is not restricted to one area alone and takes place in locations such as Paarl, Stellenbosch, Rondebosch Commons and the Cape Winelands to name a few. If you’re looking to add more fun to your run, you can pick up a case of wine of your choosing in the area, or have a late breakfast after the event as there are so many locations to choose from. One of the great things about running events is that it can

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Image: Stephen Craven be a fun, social way to exercise while taking in all the picturesque views that Cape Town has to offer.

Park Run is not restricted to South Africa as it holds events all

around the world in countries such as Italy, America and Singapore.

Because it caters for all fitness levels, it is a very encouraging environment where beginners are welcome and

muggings on the bicycle trail. As a club, we aim to be socially responsive to what’s going on around us.

Is your role in the club a demanding job?

Koloko: It is not necessarily demanding as you are teaching things that you know well and that makes it easier because it’s a passion. It is always a very emotional experience as you get to witness the progress of those you teach every step of the way and every teaching moment becomes a proud one.

Paine: As Chairman, depending on how seriously you take your job, it can be very demanding or not at all. Because I am still new to this position, I haven’t truly felt the weight of it yet. However, I plan to be the chairman that does his job properly.

How long have you been

involved at UCT’s Jujitsu club and what brought you here (or motivated you to join)?

Koloko: This year is my thirteenth year of Jujitsu. The reason I had decided on Jujitsu was that I had dreams of being a famous wrestler and had figured that a martial art would be a great way to start. In 2003 I spoke to the (then) chairman of jujitsu at UCT, who convinced me to try it out. Since then I have never stopped and it was in 2008 that I became the sensei at UCT’s Jujitsu club.

Paine: I have always wanted to learn a method of self-defense and back home this was quite limited as there was little access to martial art classes. I did a lot of online searching and jujitsu seemed best. When I found out that UCT has a Jujitsu society, I joined up. This then led me to become Chairman of the society.

This will be my second year as part of UCT’s club.

In what way is Jujitsu beneficial?

Koloko: It allows you to push limits of coordination as well as challenge you mentally and physically. Although it sounds

Jujitsu Catherine Fulton Sensei Muya Nzo’Ola John Koloko and Chairman Donovan Paine have allowed us to delve deeper into the martial art of Jujitsu; a unique style of self defense that is recommended to any student looking for something a little different. I had the opportunity to interview both of the young martial artists, who together answered some questions regarding the UCT Jujitsu club in the hopes of bringing more awareness to their society and the sport itself.

What is jujitsu?

Jujitsu is a self-defense system based on leverage and economy of motion.

Gain a better selfconfidence What does a membership at the jujitsu club entail, and how can one sign up if they wish to join?

Signing up allows you to train with two official sessions a week, as well as the option to go to an extra session on the weekend. Our club also holds social events, where food and entertainment is provided. It also enables you to attend special events during the year, for example cross training with other martial arts to allow us to learn from others.

Does the club take part in competitions or events?

Not so much in competitions, but we do have events where we collaborate with other societies, and provide workshops for self-defense to others, even outside the university.

We often work in conjunction with Shawco to provide educational workshops. For example, an external cycling club approached us wanting self-defense due to the rise of

the volunteers are very supportive.

One of the anonymous reviewers on parkrun.co.za stated that her first experience was “superb”, and although she only came 199th out of 203, not once did she feel “anything but encouraged and supported by everyone.”

Paul Sinton-Hewitt founded this idea in 2004, and it was initially called Bushy Park Time Trial, but in 2010 was changed to Park Run. Since Park Run was launched in South Africa in July 2013, South Africa has had 68 events as of November 20th 2015, making it third in the world for having the most Park Run events.

At the end of 2015, there were over 2 million registered Park runners globally.

If you would like to join Park Run, you only need to register online once. To register, visit https:// www.parkrun.co.za/register/.

For more information visit: http://www. parkrun.co.za/. cliché, it definitely helps with selfconfidence, attitude and general awareness. It does wonders in keeping you humble as it doesn’t matter how good you are - training teaches you that you’re not invincible.

Paine: For me, Jujitsu provides an escape from the stress of university and keeps you focused. Not only do you gain a better general selfconfidence but also a confidence in your ability to defend yourself. For

Challenge and increase toughness; physically and mentally example, walking down the street alone is not as frightening as it was before; it can be something that simple that changes your way of thinking.

Aside from that, Jujitsu allows you to meet new people and make friends; there is nothing better than having another person throw you around.

Now that’s real friendship!

If you would like to join the Jujitsu club or have any more questions, email Muya at muya. koloko@gmail.com

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Sport VARSITY

What to Watch

Saturday, February 27 05:45 - 08:25 Rugby Vodacom Super Rugby Round 1 - Sunwolves v Emirates Lions 20:00 - 01:00 Golf PGA Tour The Honda Classic Day 3 16:50 - 19:00Football Barclays Premier League Matchday 27: Stoke City v Aston Villa 16:55 - 19:00TennisATP World Tour 500 Dubai Tennis Championships Final Sunday, February 28 14:55 - 17:00RugbyAviva Premiership Rugby Round 14 - Exeter Chiefs v Bath Rugby 9:45-19:00CricketSA Cricket - Momentum One Day Cup Final - Cape Cobras v TBC

Sport: It’s for all of us Lauren Taylor rom my very first tennis lesson on how to hold a racquet, to cheering with friends at UCT’s last rugby game of the season, to watching the Olympics on the TV with my mom, my experience of the world of sports has always gone hand in hand with experiences of support and community. Whether on the couch, in the stands, or on the field, people are brought together by supporting their teams within the sporting world.

Or at least that’s how it works for teams without disabilities. Think about it for a moment—when last did you see an advertisement for an Inter-varsity Goalball tournament?

How many disabled athletes can you name beyond Natalie Du Toit and

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Image: Kyle Cassidy

Oscar Pistorius? Or, if you are an athlete, how many disabled players have you heard of trying out for your team? Disabled athletes and sports that seek to include them are on the rise in South Africa but we as viewers need to start showing some interest before they can actually start achieving the support and community on a level that is still not granted to disabled athletes.

Already being a marginalised group within the university context, students with disabilities have so much to gain through the social aspects of sport. After speaking with a few members of DisMaties at Stellenbosch University, one student said that sport, even if it is not your main priority, still provides many health and social benefits.

For disabled people, it can also be a stepping stone to improving your situation—it can give you confidence and teach important life skills.

Sport brings athletes and supporters into a community based on common interest. A higher visibility of disabled sports on campus is a great way to bring students with disabilities into a space where they are represented and united with the university sports community at large.

More should be done to develop sporting opportunities An anonymous disabled student athlete stated “I am worried that not enough is being done to develop and retain players. I think more should be done to encourage playing of sports, identifying of talent and further fostering of that talent.

There are people doing good

work, but it’s not incentivised and they often operate without the support they need.”

There are few opportunities available for disabled athletes. The opportunities that do exist are not in the public eye and therefore the facilitators aren’t held under the same scrutiny as organisations facilitating popular sports. Two examples of the consequences of this are the disbanding of the provincial Goalball League in 2014 because of disagreements between the organisers and teams. Also, South Africa has not had an official national Goalball team.

This is a call for awareness and action for us at UCT—we have fallen behind other universities in this regard. For example, our neighbour Stellenbosch University is home to the Disabilities Service but also DisMaties, the Maties Parasport Club, Goalball, and wheelchair

rugby amongst other opportunities for disabled students to get involved in the campus sports community.

This is a call for awareness and action for us at UCT As a UCT student, I was welcomed to play wheelchair volleyball with them this weekend.

This contrasts completely to being unable to find any mention of disabled sports or societies on the UCT website.

There is a great opportunity for inclusivity and communitybuilding within the sporting world here at UCT, but it has to start with us, the students, taking an interest and calling for representation within our sporting programme.

My first-time run Liam Devendish We all do it, have done it, will continue to do it (and envy those that do it for real). I’m not talking about your average, frenetic sprint between lectures or a dash to the dining hall in the vain attempt to be punctual. No, what I am referring to is that first, glorious moment that I was able to say “sorry I’m late - I went for a quick run.”

People everywhere run and for different reasons too; escaping traffic, angry exes or your run-ofthe-mill mass evacuation. So, it’s not so much the action that astounded me in my first weeks as a brighteyed fresher at UCT but rather the attitude and respect that runners possess and command.

The day I first entered this enclave of the elite (that is to say, stumbled onto a road on upper campus, shoelaces barely tied and went for a run) I was immediately struck by two things. The first, and most difficult to ignore, was a seizing pain in my chest accompanied by a difficulty to breathe; the second was the strangeness of it all.

Apart from the well-documented benefits of, you know, not succumbing to coronary artery disease, the entire culture behind fitness and working out baffles me somewhat: you run to tire yourself out as much as possible in order to be less tired the next time and (this is the real clincher), we make people watch. While I'm not implying that the UCT community is alone in its scent of Nike rubber and youthful vitality, it seems that the fervour with

(well, sort of)

which this caste of fitness is applied is slightly overbearing.

As a first year dealing with the perils of time management and the equally devastating effects of ‘Res’ diets, running might be easy to be hoisted up and dragged along in the frenzy.

It might be easy

So, the classic “learn from my mistakes, sweet child” lesson is coming your way—don’t chase

after that crowd for the sake of it, for that elusive “runners’ high” or enviable derrière. Run because you love to smile at strangers, because you want to look good on Clifton 4th, because racing gives you thrill, because a charity needs you to finish that marathon.

Shallow reasons are still reasons, and so long as your reason is anything more than dogmatically following the status quo, you’re good to go. Though running may seem like a strange way to apply a general life principle, you have to start somewhere, right? So, make your first-time run one that has a purpose, and if you don’t like it, change it.

Read Online: Japanese Binocular Soccer....

“If ever there was a way for the Japanese to combine their serious aptitude for innovation, and play sport while looking cool at the same time, it would be in Binocular Soccer. Yes - it’s a real thing.

Imagine men in striped jumpsuits who look as if they have stepped out of a Dr. Suess story, with backwards-facing binoculars strapped to their heads. . .”

by Katya Minster