Snippets
Dear Old Rhodians
We would like to include you in the process of the naming of new buildings at Rhodes. Please feel free to email Prof Walker at r.b.walker@ru.ac.za
REQUEST FOR SUGGESTED NAMES THAT MIGHT BE GIVEN TO NEW BUILDINGS ON CAMPUS
At the end of last year the university’s Naming Committee set up a working group with the task of compiling a list of possible names that might be given to new buildings (mainly residences) on campus. Over the past few years there have been cases where the naming of such buildings has become protracted, as in some instances a name proposed by members of a particular residence has been questioned at higher levels of authority. This has led to delays and frustration.
In an effort to expedite the naming process it is now proposed that a list of acceptable names be compiled. Names from this list can then be chosen and given to new buildings (or possibly even to renamed buildings).
In the meantime members of the university community are invited to put forward suggested names for consideration by the working group. In submitting suggestions please bear in mind the underlying principles of the university’s naming policy:
• Naming processes must be in accordance with the university’s vision and mission in support of human rights and the rejection of all forms of unfair discrimination, and are compatible with the values of human dignity, non-racialism and non-sexism.
• Names should if possible promote the redress of past imbalances, as well as a celebration of the cultural identity and geographical location of the university in Africa, South Africa, and the Eastern Cape.
• Names of living persons should generally be avoided.
• Especially desirable are names that are likely to inspire the occupants, users or members of a particular entity to be named.
• Names likely to cause offence or sow division are to be avoided.
• Suggestions need not be restricted to names of people. For instance, the names of indigenous flora or local geographical landmarks can be considered.
Please submit your suggestions, together with a short motivation, by Wednesday
9 February, to Prof Walker at r.b.walker@ru.ac.za
Anzet du Plessis (2006) - SA Solar Challenge
I was asked by a small newspaper in Bloemfontein to do a story about the SA Solar Challenge passing through Bloemfontein. Since I had heard about the race before (it was also held in SA in 2008), I jumped at the opportunity. Once in Bloemfontein, i was dazzled. Having been a car fanatic for years and very interested in solar technology, I began asking questions and talking to team members. At the time, the Tokai University was the only team that had arrived, so I quickly built up some great sources. Professor Hideki Kimura, the project leader, gave me a lot of info, but it was so fascinating that I just couldn't get enough.
The next morning my photographer and I went back to the control point to see the cars set off. They were all preparing, and setting up their cars. Before I could even ask, the PR guru on the project, Jonathon Rees, said that I was welcome to join the race until Beaufort West. He arranged for a spot on the Tokai team for me, and I quickly booked a Greyhound back to Bloem the following evening. Within about 10 minutes, my arrangements were made, I quickly handed my car keys to my photographer with instructions to take it back to Bloem and jumped into the Tokai team combi as it drove past me.
On the way to Beaufort a few things became clear to me. Firstly, the Tokai Challenger is a fantastic piece of equipment. It took 100 days to manufacture, and is the fastest solar car in the world. Second, the Tokai team are the most hospitable, friendly and helpful group of people I have ever met, and lastly, it was clear to me that I couldn't get onto that bus in Beaufort West. Once in Beaufort, the offer was again made for me to continue before I could ask. I quickly rearranged my bus ticket for Grahamstown the next Tuesday, booked a room for the night and headed out to the control point to chat some more to engineers, electronics students and drivers. Soon I met other teams. I helped the University of Johannesburg team set up their tents and learnt that they were using the race to do fascinating research on a laser program which would enable quadriplegics to drive and to race. I learnt that the Sonnenbrand (from the Deutsche Internationale Schule Johannesburg) was predominantly built by learners, most of whom are only Grade 10!
The race then took me to Cape Town along the nerve wrecking Hex River Valley pass, with racing legend Kenjiro Shinozuka taking the wheel. The team were amazing to me. I was assigned a Nikon of my own - which I could only dream of affording - and proceeded to lean out of car windows at 140km/h (to pass the Challenger going 120km/h), sit in the middle of highways and climb bridges to get shots of this fantastic machine.
In Cape Town the team were relieved to have a day off, and spent their time sightseeing. I was relieved to get to a shopping centre and buy some clothes, having jumped into the combi with no luggage a few days before. I charged up my phone, borrowed a laptop and wrote a few articles.
We resumed the race on Monday morning from Stellenbosch, with Miss Earth sending the cars off. At each stop, the Tokai team would buy me something to eat and something to drink, and I began to feel like more than just a freelance writer. The team is incredibly spontaneous, pulling pranks on each other and making jokes. I soon became part of the team, and driver Sagawa (whose camera I was using) dubbed me the seventeenth member. The atmosphere jumped from light hearted to anxious and back as we drove through Knysna watching the Challenger perform at its best.
In Grahamstown I was very reluctant to leave the team. I was rather ceremoniously presented with two team t-shirts, and hugs all round. I left on the promise that I would meet up with them at the end of the race in Pretoria, and finally got onto the bus.
This has been one of the most amazing experiences - travelling and writing as I go, buying clothes and toiletries along the way, and meeting some absolutely amazing people!
I have already organised to be an observer on the 2012 race, and it can't come soon enough!
Rhodes Cheerleaders
It surprised many and continues to baffle those that know of his “alleged” inability to dance, to discover that Andrew Matatu (Student Sports Council) is the founder of the Rhodes Cheerleaders. Trying to come up with ways to control crowds during Rhodes games, Andrew decided that Cheerleaders would fit in perfectly. He had four weeks from start of third term to Inter-Varsity to build a team, get them learning cheers and dance routines and most important of all, to get them a uniform. Andrew called on the help of Ms Bongiwe Ngubeni, who loves to work on start up projects and is very driven. Bongiwe then became a co-founder and the team’s first captain. Many hours were put into it by her and instrumental also, were the Committee Bongiwe and Andrew set up, three very talented ladies (Ashmitha Ramgathi, Sarara Husselmann, Palesa Tembe and Lelethu Mxenge. These ladies have given their best and picked up on the vision Andrew had for Rhodes Cheerleaders. Chief among his long list of demands was that they would not go the American route, i.e. they did not look for a certain physical build in their members and they were not to be too revealing in their dress. They were looking for people with energy and passion for Rhodes Sports. The Cheerleading squad has room for male students to join, however had not had anyone brave enough yet.
It is Andrews vision, a vision now shared by the entire squad, to build a cheer squad that will change the focus of sport in their community (Rhodes and Grahamstown), and are available to help establish cheer teams at the local schools in order to open up sport to the students who do not participate in sport. He remembers in High School that it was a very proud moment to stand and cheer as one voice for their rugby or basketball team. That unity brought them all to the field and helped build a sense of family. For that one moment everyone is united under a common spirit and that is what they are trying to do here at Rhodes.
Student Sports Council was generous and donated ten thousand Rand toward the uniforms, which was half the cost and they are looking for ways to fundraise for the other ten thousand. They have also had great support from their supplier nine and Three Quarters, who sponsored all the print and embroidery, work.
Please click on the photograph to enlarge:
Back row (from left to right)
Valerie Muganda, Langalethu Hadebe, Palesa Tembe, Priscilla Sekhonyana, Cacherel Wroots, Mohau Maleeme, Satara Husselmann, Taryn Kerr, Maxine Isenberg, Sinalo Mabula, Sibongile
Middle Row
Carla Ford, Ni?a Hammond, Candice Issit, Lelethu Mxenge, Emma Richardson, Nokukhanya,
Front Row
Bongiwe Ngubeni
