MiCampus May|June 2012_Issue 15 by micampus magazine

M i campus magazine

Issue 15 |May-June 2012

there thereisisnonobetter betterfeeling feelingthan thangraduating graduatingwith witha adegree. degree.

Mi ed’s note

“Youth of 2012 what would You be remembered for?” asks the Youth of 76.

Editor:

Sylvia Mabogoshi

co-ordinator & salEs managEr

Its June already and so many things are happening includMarole Mathabatha ing the monster called exams. As much as the month of June comes with so many issues like winter and exams, it dEsign & layout: also reminds us that we are halfway through the year (That Skhumbuzo Mtshali is me looking at it from a brighter and warmer side). But most importantly it signifies a time on our calendar where we commemorate and celebrate the bravery that the youth markEting of 1976 showed against the apartheid government then. Brian Mahlangu I must say I am in awe of what they have done and have Nowell Duze deeply shaped our country. This makes me wonder whether financial managEr I would have done the same then or had the courage to be Phote Monyamane as bold as they were if I was faced with a similar challenge. contibutors: Bearing my sentiments in mind, one would not then be wrong in asking if our generation of youth today are capable, driven enough to stand up against adversity. Do not Mashudu Modau get me wrong the youth of today are faced with many and Mabogoshi Matlala different challenges from that of the youth of 76, but HOW Frances Van Jaarveldt are we dealing with them is the question. We have so many Abednigo Nkosi resources at our disposal and it becomes a pity if we just go through life without utilizing them. Hence the article about support structures on campus on page 10 will be enlightening for some especially in light of the exam period we are to advErtisE in. It is also essential to know what the lecturers that lecmarole@micampusmag.co.za ture us want from us in the exams hence page 3 gives exam 072 248 4434 tips that lecturers think can make exams more bearable. subscription: Thus as you go into the exams ,think about what chanSEND YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS OR CELL nels and tools you can utilize to bring about social change, NUMBER TO just like the youth of 76.It does not matter whether is new distribution@micampusmag.co.za media like twitter or radio like our cover girl Robyn is doing, ‘Like’ facEbook just do something. So that when the time comes, we the youth of 2012 could be remembered for something too. Micampus magazine

tWittEr

‘Follow’

@micampus1

mxit

‘Follow’ ‘Add’ ‘Add’

micampusmagazine

Page No.

Content

Crunch Time: The game never changes but the players do MiSocial Change Think like Smart Phone, Act Like Human Support structures on Campus MiEvents MiAd 1 Cruising on the airwaves with Robyn MiAd 2 The Story of Colours MiHistory (Mr Mandela) MiAd 3 MiAd 4 MiAd 5

3-4 5-6 7-9 10 11 12 13-19 20 21-22 23-24 25-26 27 28

P.22

P.13

P.23

Mi Education

eality tells us that knowledge needs to be tested. Winter is here, but that is not what is important, it’s what lurks in the darkness of the knowledge hubs that we find ourselves that is beginning to haunt us, whereas with some it has already caught up with them. It is not some abstract colossal creature, its E.X.A.Ms. It’s like the world cup fever, and you know what we use to say, “Feel It its here”, now when it comes to exams it becomes to, “Feel it, they are here”. The cliché goes; “the players change but the game stays the same”, and what better way than to dish out the 411 on the best student exam game plans, and with an added bonus of do’s and don’ts. The exam month on its own, is a rollercoaster that carries every piece of your life as a student in its seats and goes so fast and wild, you tend to loose track of time in between the loops and straights. Far too often we never plan for failure, but our plans tend to fail, that is when procrastination makes our choices for us. So are there game plans for exam war fair, or perhaps a Panacea to all our troubles as students? You should have guessed it right MiCampus would have your back on this. It was my pleasure to have an in-depth talk with some lectures on campus, and the student counselors about exam preparations, and what most students do wrong. And it all went down like this;

Q; - As lecturers who have been in academia for years, what entails good exam preparation. (Prof Links) :I think here you have to ask when does it start? The simple answer to that being, exam preparation starts day one when you enter the lecture hall. If you miss two lectures, more so as a science major, you might as well write-off 10% of your exam – that is if you qualify. But nonetheless, the way forward would be you acquainting yourself as student with your course work, cutting out the world for that two months of preparation, a month has never done an academic justice.” (Prof Brown: having observed university student behaviour here in South Africa, and back home (America), I have come to realize that the hunger for a pass and an A are the prime factor in how and when student prepare. I start with that because I can give you advice till I am blue in the face, but what justice is it when you are not aiming for an A in the exam. Settling for “just ok” has never done anyone justice. As a metaphysics lecturer, I need a student who will have a A-plan game for the exams, thorough preparation, not just study the weekend before, but be the living enigma of his coursework upon his or her exam. So my grand daddy of all advice, its two cents with in any case would be; 1) to isolate social circles till exams are over, 2) to have a time management

A good talk with Prof. Bertha Links and Prof. Andre Brown

plan, written on paper and not just a spontaneous plan, because that is where you guys loose it. Your futures are not just some “happening’ but a series of events you have influence on, the biggest in such an insular environment, being exams. Q; what are the key do’s and do’nts when it comes to exams? (Prof Brown: The one thing I always tell students is that; “get your mind in the business of doing greatness”. The best you can do, is to put in more time in preparing for exams, because your time is the only thing you can control, beyond that what is there to control? The do not part, is doing things that will deprive you of your record time success in your degree. One Do. one don’t – no monkey business. (Prof Links): I reckon I agree with Andrea, do what will aid you in attaining your degree in record time and might guarantee you a spot as cum laude. After that amazing conversation with two good academic friends and the best at what they do, I had a chat with Mr. Bongani Mnisi, a student counselor, who has been dealing with student academic advice for the past seven years at the University of the Western Cape (UWC), and what better way than to take pointers from him; in a nutshell this was his advice:

• Past papers have been the one thing that I have seen helps student, so thus that may be a strategic move on a students end. • Over confidence in an exam can paralyze you – completely without fail, so keep cool and calm. • Have time to distress but do not over do the relaxing and end up under-doing the studying. The game plan advice has been set in motion by these three key individuals, what I personally gather is a few key things. Exams preparation should be student specific, after all we are not all gifted with the mind of the likes of Stephen Hawking, so we ought to have our study methods, and as for me study groups help (nerd boxes as science students call them these days). Above and beyond that, let’s venture into the exams with our heads screwed on right, and our academic swag in a cool, calm and collected manner as Mr Mnisi has said. With all that said and done, be the A-grade player; bring the game to the exams. Deal or| be dealt with. (Picture by A. Nkosi: Prof Andrea T. Brown with a student)

• Exams test what is there, and what’s not there failure will take away. • Built a moat around you and isolate yourself from your social networks (friends and other people), because small distractions equal big losses in time and planning. • Have a plan to begin with, don’t just wingit. Exams were not meant to be surprises, and often than not students have panic attacks prior to test or exams because they think they are being tricked by lecturers, when the reality is that; they have not planned in accordance with their academic journey. (Picture by A. Nkosi: Mr Bogani Mnisi – Student Counselor and Academic writing coach)

‘‘Exams were not meant to be surprises, and often than not students have panic attacks prior to test or exams because they think they are being tricked by lecturers’’

Mi Change

Karabo Mkhasibe (UJ A personally think it woul only will it push student get to tertiary but it wil work and dedication wi want to go! Yes not eve intelligent in terms of b attitude, asking for help understand something a take you far! Currently t doing nothing but raisin everything on a silver p comes so easy! In the re you’ll find people with h required and it will be a adjust at that point. So standards at high schoo well-equipped these kid

Mkwebule (UJ Accounting)-“it’s a fantastic idea, problem is the government won’t be able 2 back it up! If kids are failing at 40%, what’s a 50% pass rate gonna change? You need to have a working education system, dedicated teachers & departments to achieve that, something we don’t have! So it’s just setting kids up for more failing qha!”

Khezwane Maluleke (UJ Town-Planning Student)-“I agree with the pass mark being over 50,that way we have a common objective as students and we also have a standard to reach. Although 50% means you only know half of the work, it’s better than knowing only a quarter. However it could still be a high target to reach as some students struggle naturally”

Lunga Macu (Uj Accounting)-“I don’t think it would work, too many kids are already failing, what’s going to happen if they implement something like this?”

Apart from a few outlie points to one conclusion adequately prepare stu lot needs to be done to prepared. Raising the pa count among one of the this challenge. But with lants increasing but the level decreasing will thi the students who are ha Would it inspire and en and hard work? Would for what lies ahead? I d know is, this is a drastic system that is failing yo and apart from its hone cripple a majority of lea struggling to keep up w the current pass rate sta

Accounting)-“Well I ld be a great idea! not ts to aim high in order to ll teach them that hardill get you wherever you eryone is brilliant and books but with the right p whenever you don’t and determination will the 40% pass mark is ng a generation that gets platter and everything eal world and workplace higher standards that are a huge problem to even the sooner they raise ol level, the better and ds will be!”

ers the general opinion n: High school does not udents for tertiary and a o help students be better ass rate would definitely e extreme solutions to h the pass rate of Matricue quality of the passing is not only serve to cripple ardly coping as it is? ncourage a lot more effort it better equip students don’t know, what I do c solution to an education oung people every year est intentions it will only arners who are already with the mere 30% which ands at.

“High school does not adequately prepare students for tertiary and a lot needs to be done to help students be better prepared.”

Thabiso Gama (Uj Law) it will be great, in fact I’ve been saying that high school fools a lot of people. Firstly the level is easy yet pass marks are very low, then you get to varsity where the pass mark is suddenly 50 and the work load 10 times as difficult which results to many students struggling to adapt in varsity. So yes I fully support that idea because high school fools people & makes them think 40% is a pass when in the real world it’s a fail”

Motshedisi Mahlatsi (Biotechnology student at Cape peninsula university of technology) –“i think a 30% pass mark is ridiculous!! I mean it’s like saying you do not have to know 70% of the work. No university is gonna take you with a 30% pass mark. People go to school to get educated and make something out of them, now where would 30% get you? The minimum university entry mark is 50%, thus it makes sense increasing the pass mark of all subjects to 50%!! Poor education contributes to unemployment, crime, and economical issues. Government should invest more on the quality of education in South Africa”

Lwazi Makama(Rosebank College, Business Management)-“I think that’s a good idea due to the fact most if not all high school children will be granted access to varsity education and it gives them less time to do all these stupid things like ubukhothane and ish so I think its a great idea. And another good thing is that most can get bursaries and this will help with the development of this country”

Mi Reality

hen last did you think, or even hear yourself speak? We have moved from speaking to one another, to spexting one another. We lol (laugh out loud) every now and again, study breaks are ended off with brb’s (be right back’s), and oh not to forget the hash tagging(##) like its oxygen. Have we really become our phones or have our phones become us? I see myself bumping into zombies- I do mean human – who are so glued to their objects of affection, you would swear FHM and Cosmo are loosing readership. Theses objects of affection, we have come to love and perhaps hate are, Smart Phones. What is your poison? Blackberry, HTC, iPhone, or Nokia, sorry to the rest that cannot be mentioned (no offence to Motorola of no name brand users). The genesis and history of smart phones is not my niche, but my greatest interest is the way forward and what exactly we love about these toys. We adore them lie adopted kids to Madonna or Angelina Jolie. I ask myself every time I get that “oops sorry” when a smart phone user bumps into me. If its as an apple smart phone I would understand, I mean there is Apple, and then the rest – if you catch my drift. I will avoid any polarity towards going on and on about iPhones

or any smart Apple product. The reality of the age we live in is that, we are being swamped with smart phones like there is not tomorrow, not cause its 2012 and the world might end, but because the companies are fighting for our mind space and perhaps lives. When asked what your poison, I meant taste or like in smart phone. I read an article that had foreseen the fall in Balck berry sales, that was a year ago, and today we live to see such a trend but why do we still have campuses full of BB users? Truth o the matter is, Blackberry has transformed university-life, social dogma and circles. Introverts come alive on BBM, and whatsApp. Guys have done away with corny pick up lines; they just get to the gist of the matter and perhaps even more. This is not mw psycho-analyzing BB users, just exploring why my fellow students love blackberry. Though I have always had a theory that, if someone wanted to control the way, the gate to all minds today would be a black berry, just saying – do respect that school of thought here. Competitors and challengers of BlackBerry have it had, and HTC has been one that has taken the hit hardest. When last did I see an HTC user on campus, let’s see – NEVER. Ok I am not being 100% honest, I have a few

Mi Reality

friends that own those, and believe me it’s the hype around BBM that has people adrift. HTC has some major junk in its trunk, with features that would blow that casket out your funeral. I am no fan of phones, that is why I do not refer to them by there names surname and clan names. You might wonder where this all comes from. Simple dishout examples of a name, surname, and clan name let me use what I know best apple. Name; iPhone. Surname; Apple (or Jobs) clan name: the new 4s. Ok, back to HTC, we can’t loose focus of the fact that HTC has some social class connotations to it, as though only a person with a name like “Joshua Billing” can carry one instead of a “Jabu Mahlangu” who may or may not be from gugulethu or Soweto as Josh is from Constantia. Now campus life can be crazy as Drake said (never thought I would quote a rap artist, but hey I just did). Nokia has been there since time immemorial. Today it produces a variety of the most affordable smart phones this age has ever desired. The sad reality is that; Nokia has been showed by a cloud that has “old folk phone” over it and campus life can make sure you feel like a minute social bug in a zoo full of animals. So we as student tend to drift away from buying such. The buying trends favour blackberry

foraafew fewyet yetpivotal pivotalreasons. reasons.Blackberry Blackberry for impartsaacertain certainsocial socialclass classon onpeople, people, imparts itsbring bringsocial socialcircles circlescloser closerand andsome some its whatisisbreaking breakingdown downthe thesocial-philossocial-philoswhat ophyof of“clicks’ “clicks’in inuniversities universitiesaround aroundthe the ophy country,and andmost mostof ofall allits itsbring bringthe theidea idea country, ofevery everyperson personhaving havingaacomputer computerto to of life.But Butthe thetrue truequestion questionis, is,are arewe westill still life. intellectswith withthese thesetools toolsin inour ourhands? hands? intellects Canwe wereally reallysurvive survivewithout withoutthem? them?And And Can doesthe thefuture futurelook looklike likefor forus usas asstustudoes dentin interms termsof ofour ourlives liveswith withsmart smart dent phonesas asour ourthird thirdhand. hand.Lets Letsengage engage phones onthe thenext nextissue issueon onthe thesubject subjectwith withII on interviewsfrom fromcampus. campus... interviews

“I reAd reAD An AN ArtICLe ArTICLe “I THAT hAd HAD foreseen FOreSeeN thAt THe fALL FALL In IN BLACk BALCk the BerrY sALes, SALeS, thAt THAT Berry wAS AA yeAr YeAr Ago, AgO, wAs AND todAy TODAY we we LIve LIve And TO see See suCh SuCH AA to TreND But BuT why wHY do DO trend we stILL STILL hAve HAve CAmCAMwe PuSeS fuLL FuLL of OF BB BB puses uSerS?” users?”

t has become a norm in universities around the country to hear of reports about studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; suicides and attempted suicide especially towards exam time. As much as this is a shock, one then tends to think that these cases go on without being dealt with accordingly at campus and that is why they keep occurring every year. The main important question to ask throughout the campuses is that how can these cases be prevented and avoided? Most university run programmes and support groups that are especially designed to help students cope with their schoolwork and their lifestyle. Some of these programmes are not marketed enough and hence most students do not know about them.

Firstly as a student, find out if you campus has a sick bay/clinic so that when you are ill with flue or anything you can have a convenient and close place to go for treatment. Most universities have this kind of facility where is a walk-in centre and students can be treated for any kind of ailment and it is usually cheaper and affordable. There are some schools or faculties that run support programmes for students so find out about those as well. For instance the psychology departments usually have divisions for counseling and careers development that students can access if they feel overwhelmed or stressed. They are usually free or they may charge a small fee. But the fact is to understand and know that facilities and support programmes such as these exist for oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s growth. Most schools also run academic programmes for students that are having difficulties in their courses and the varsity libraries also run these kinds of programmes. Then as a student you need to enquire more in order to improve your circumstances. As the going says: prevention is better than cure so search and enquire about these kinds of support structures in order to succeed.

MI Events

I Events presents a photo summary of the past two months of events all over your top varsities. from the WITS WALE Festival, to UJ and Wits Open days. By Mashudu Modau

12 May seemed to be an overwhelming day for learners as both UJ and Wits opened their doors to high school learner

UJ opened its doors to thousands of learners who took the opportunity to learn more about their prospective University

The Wits WALE parade on 9th may was a celebration of Wits Arts and Literature.

Ujâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s VC Prof Ihron Resburg interacting from various schools at Ujâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Open Day.

More from the Wits WALE p a r a d e

Mi Story

Image By: Frances Van Jaarveldt

Mi Story

Image By: Frances Van Jaarveldt

Mi Story

Mi Enterprenuer Mashudu Modau looks at how three young entrepreneurs are changing the face of photography and graphic design.

The story of C. O.L . O. U.R . S.

n South Africa six out of every ten businesses that begin, end within the first six months. Two out of those will not finish their first year. That leaves only two businesses out of every ten that start will complete their first year and only one will reach five years being fully operational. That is the reality of business and entrepreneurship in South Africa. And even with these statistics and many more to discourage young entrepreneurs from taking the risk of starting their businesses, every year hundreds of young people take the initiative to build sustainable and thriving businesses. We found a business that is defying the odds and constantly defying the rules of business and entrepreneurship. A company run by three young, driven, excited, innovative and creative individuals who constantly reinvent their business to meet the needs of their market. C.O.L.O.U.R.S is more than a photography business, it is a visual arts company, a graphic design house and a group using a photographic gallery which tells a story of the new South Africa. With a humble story that begun with Thembani Manganyi buying a Digital Nikon camera of only 12 megapixels on Small Street in Johannesburg for R1500, they have gone on to build an online gallery, construct a photography studio, win multiple photography competitions and earn articles in a Leading South African Newspaper. This is the story of a small business defying the Everest of challenges that face young entrepreneurs and challenging the norm by providing innovation on demand. This is the story of C.O.L.O.U.R.S. We Interviewed the three young entrepreneurs- Thembani Manganyi ,Katlego Ramela and Musuli Splash to find out what their secret is.

1. What is colours (Business Description)? COLOURS (Cool Outrageous Lovers Of Uniquely Raw Style) is a photography collective made up of three members (as in the three primary colours red, blue, green (RGB) that make all the other colours. These are three different, hardworking, and passionate individuals who do photography and graphic design as a passion more than anything else.

2. How did Colours start?

It started of as three friends- totally different in all respect, but shared a common interest for art, fashion, and storytelling. What inspired them to come together was because they felt the need to express themselves and their experiences not through words but through visuals because at the end of the day a picture does tell a thousand words.

3. What would you say was your big break?

I believe the Transforming Wits Photo competition was a huge break for us and being in The Star newspaper was also a big step in our progress. Those two have definitely been the highlights of our young business

5. What do you believe will help your business become sustainable and have longevity (success factors)?

We've come this far because of unity and teamwork; no one is beyond the COLOURS team. We work as a team and make decisions together, building, motivating, and learning from each other. We i n c o rp o rat e d o u r re s p e c t i ve personalities and created a powerful combination, far beyond just a brand or any team

6. What has been the biggest challenge in the start-up of your business?

It would have to be equipment and finding all the resources to run our business and being appreciated by the masses. We're in the process of obtaining the necessary tools we need to get us where we would love to be and become legendary. Ambition over everything, and we don't plan on settling for less.

7. Tell me about a memorable project, one success and one failure. To what do you attribute the success and failure?

Our most memorable moment would be winning the Wits "illuminating change" of which brought us more closer and gave us a life-line into further believing in our own capabilities as COLOURS and we can achieve. I know it sounds clichĂŠ but we haven't experienced any failure of some sort, unless not having R50million in the bank is regarded as a failure...lol

8. What would you say is the biggest challenge for young entrepreneurs like yourself in South Africa?

I would say the biggest challenge would be lack of information and resources. The youth need to take what belongs to them and realize their dreams by any means necessary and refrain from making excuses.

9. How would you advise young people on starting and successfully running their own businesses? I would advise the youth to do what they love, not what they think will make them a lot of money, and like Sean Combs says "chase the dream not the money."

The greatest shock is not what they can do with their cameras and their editing process after the pictures are taken but the fact that none of them are formally trained in photography, business or graphic design. And yet they run a business which thrives on talent, professionalism and innovation. Having interviewed them and experienced their process in action I can positively say this is a group of young people who see innovation and creativity as being daily chores of not the supernatural but any man on the street. They have taken simple images and turned them into photographic stories of a renewed city, a refreshed youth and a world of impossibilities. Their talent shines in every photo and their determination in every graphical effect. Their work ethic is nothing short of professional and their commitment to quality is undeniable. If you just happen to be on the Internet someday, and in our lives thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all the time, get lost in their photo gallery and discover photography not just a business, but an art form of expression, a story telling experience and a journey into the story of C.O.L.O.U.R.S. With all that said, we hope this young thriving business, makes it way past their first year.

Mi History

It was freedom day in South Africa on the 27th April and Micampus Magazine took a look at the words that were said by a man who fought for this freedom that we as varsity students and South Africans are engaging with. The man who went to prison for 27 Years and became the first president of a democratic SA, Nelson Mandela • In my country, we go to prison first and then become president. • It is better to lead from behind and to put others in front, especially when you celebrate victory when nice things occur. You take the front line when there is danger. Then people will appreciate your leadership. • . Never, never and never again shall it be that this beautiful land will again experience the oppression of one by another and suffer the indignity of being the skunk of the world. Let freedom reign! The sun shall never set on so glorious a human achievement! God bless Africa! • For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others. • I stand here before you not as a prophet but as a humble servant of you, the people. Your tireless and heroic sacrifices have made it possible for me to be here today. I therefore place the remaining years of my life in your hands. Speech on the day of his release, Cape Town (11 February 1990) • During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die. As we celebrate this day, We must remember our history and how far we have come to be where we are today .I can’t help but quote another amazing leader Dr Martin Luther King who in his ‘I have a dream’ speech says: Free at last, free at last, Thank God Almighty we are free at last!

Nelson Mandela at the Rivonia Trial source: http://doepelganger.com/2011/07/20/rivonia-trial-part-3-implications/

Nelson Mandela at his inauguration May 10,1994.Source: http://cowlingreport.blogspot. com/2012/01/monday-motivationnelson-mandela.html

Mi Ad

Mi Opportunities