M i campus magazine
November Sample Issue
The slow death of res traditions.
Found Yourself? “Afrocentic” or “Hippie” The kind of Pink that makes you think
The modern day DA VINCI Moroa Mosella: giving back to the community check out winning letter and letters of the month
M i campus magazine
November Sample Issue
CONTENT PAGE
The slow death of res traditions.
Found Yourself? “Afrocentic” or “Hippie” The kind of Pink that makes you think
The modern day DA VINCI Moroa Mosella: giving back to the community check out winning letter and letters of the month
Globalising South African universities and informing the youth
The slow death of res traditions.....................................04 Debates around first year residance activities
A simple observation.......................................................05 The kind of Pink that makes you think
Found yourself?.................................................................06 “Afrocentic” or “Hippie”
The morden day Da Vinci................................................07 Paris to Rome
Moroa Mosella: giving back to the community...........08
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The slow death of res traditions. Katlego Mkhwanazi
T
imes are quickly changing and people expect the human psyche to do the same. However it’s hard to introduce change in an environment built on traditions. This is the challenge that the University of Pretoria faces. The University of Pretoria is now phasing out res traditions, like first year initiation. This comes after numerous incidents of initiation practises got out of hand. Many of the senior students, however, feel that killing traditions will destroy the unity and sisterhood/brotherhood spirit in the residences. Some of the traditions have been around for over thirty years. The oldest residence at the university is 95 years old. The traditions are what make each residence different from the other. “It would be a shame to lose the res traditions,” said Mel Swart, a student in res. “I really like the traditions because they make res fun and interesting,” said Swart. According to Lize Meyers*, a House Committee member, the purpose of the res traditions is to build a culture for the different residences and to maintain unity amongst the students in res. “The traditions help the students to have pride in their residences and to feel like they are part of a res family,” said Meyers. Tumi Sekhu*, a senior student in res, said that it was not fun being a first year in res because of the traditions. But that she is glad she went through initiation because it’s what made her enjoy living in res. The university found that some traditions are outdated and unnecessary. Therefore, it has decided to stop certain traditions. “Some traditions are ridiculous and are humiliating to some individuals,” said Mary Duff*, the Res Co-ordinator.
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“Res is suppose to be a comfortable environment for students to live in, not one that depresses them because of some of the horrible traditions,” said Duff. It’s no secret that some of the traditions are outrageous. Certain residences expect the first years to shave their heads. While other residences make their male residents run to the girls’ residences in nothing but their boxers. All students are expected, but not forced to take part in the traditions. “We don’t force anyone to participate in the traditions, but we encourage everyone to take part because you’ll feel like an outsider in res,” said Thabo Mokone*, a House Committee member. Most of the activities done in res are demanding of the students’ time. Some students cannot cope with the pressure of their academics and res obligations. According to Duff, the university found that most first years fail their courses because they gave too much time to res activities and less to their academics. “The students should not forget that they are here to get a degree,” said Duff.
If one is in first year, she or he is expected to do everything because they are new in res and they are at the bottom of the ‘food chain’. Swart admitted that res does take up a lot of time, especially in first year. “But res teaches you time management, which is a skill one needs in the adult world; so why not learn it in your first year,” said Swart. “University shouldn’t be all about academics; there should be a balance between your academic and social life,” said Mokone. “Res reminds us to have fun,” said Mokone. Res traditions are clearly important to the residents in res. However the university is adamant about doing away with res traditions. Traditions as old as 45 years will have to fade out in the next coming years.
The kind of Pink that makes you think A simple observation
The ‘Jammie Plaza’ is a place at the University of Cape Town, which is used as a platform for different types of expressions. These expressions include opinion boards, performances as well as awareness campaigns. The Rainbow society: the gay society, has decided to use the ‘Jammie Plaza’ in order to spark a discussion about the gay pride week: 4th of October 2010-8th of October 2010, as well as issues surrounding homosexuality. The way in which the society has sparked a discussion is firstly by placing a pink closet in the middle of the plaza. This is an open closet, which is meant to encourage homosexuals to ‘come out of the closet’. Furthermore, different members of the society walk around the campus probing a range of people about their views about homosexuality. There has been confusion and different responses concerning the actions of the society. For instance, a small collective of students were under the impression that the ‘pink’ they saw on campus was in relation with the breast cancer month because of the fact that pink is associated with the breast cancer campaign. In addition to the confusion, there have been different responses to the society’s deeds. This is evident through the different comments that people wrote on the closet.
The views were not only expressed on the closet, but they were expressed through actions whereby on the night of the first day of the campaign, the closet was burnt. There are different speculations about who is responsible for the burning. In a passing comment a student said that he suspected a religious group. According to the Christian faith, one with sin ought not to cast the first stone. In other words, if someone disagrees with someone else’s way of life he ought not to be the first to judge. Furthermore, in other religious groups the idea of tolerance is preached. Therefore, the individuals responsible for the burning are people who are probably using their religion to mask their intentions. Although I stood and simply observed the events of the pink campaign unfold, I cannot say that this is something that can be easily assessed. One ought to seek wisdom and then think.
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One does not have to step into varsity premises to realise that diversity in characters as well as lifesyles exist. Since scholars making up the higher learning population are borrowed from the various societies permeating outside of school, the students then come already with their variants of lifestyles. My brain that has been moulded much by the insane activities that it partakes in while in university perceives no other options for a new student at varsity either than to: a) Look as hard as he can at all the surrounding people within their comfort zones and choose which he’d rather be a part of, b) Look as hard as he can at all the surrounding people within their comfort zones and choose to borrow their styles and integrate them into his own, c) Look as hard as he can at all the surrounding people within their comfort zones and choose to be the person he has always been prior to commencing varsity, The first option looks enticing as it offers the chance of a new life that many of the youths under the iron grip of their parents and other elders during high school days crave for. The idea of living a life accompanies by new style of clothing, hairdo and possibly even a new way of talking and mannerisms sound totally rad. This offers those (a very high percentage at that) people who have often felt ignored and uninteresting during high school an opportunity to finally fit in somewhere.
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FOUND YOURSELF? A step into the campus territory and alas! one gets to be engulfed into a realm filled to the brim with seemingly conflicting characters. Your eyes are bound to see mohawks marking many with traits of rebelliousness, thinly built emo kids clad in black versus buffed up rugby loving okes. It doesn’t end therethere are also those diligent looking peeps characterized by nerdy glasses and big bags as well as the arty like with often cascading hair, be it dreadlocks or blonde straightened hair, and apparel that just screams “Afrocentic” or “Hippie” in your confused face. This shift does guarantee happier days as one may be expected to abandon certain habits and traits that the person is accustomed to, resulting in an incognito, pretentious life. Some may opt for the second option. Creating a combination of lifestyles suitable to different environments and all sorts of people may also sound pleasant. You are minimally guaranteed harmony with many as you will have a spectrum of personalities that most people may relate to. The other side of the coin however suggests that you will be suffering from connotations of multiple or even split personalities, a difficulty in balancing the conflicting oddities and just as the first option, a pretentious lifestyle far from originality and trueness. If you’re feeling that cannot alter the being that you are in order to try please others and ultimately yourself gnaws at your mind constantly, then the last option is for you. You won’t have to deal with oddities and learning new ways dressing, chilling or even simply verbally responding back to everyday conversations. Though you may find it extremely difficult mingling in an appropriate manner with others not of your make, you will nonetheless enjoy much more freedom springing from being your true self. It is such obstacles that alert you that you are now a part of a massive environment that supports diversity and cherishes ideologies brought about from the most distant of societies. Be it country folk rich in rural garments or the urban hyper lads from the city, the differences perceived in university helps it have the awesome atmosphere that so many fall in love with.
A modern day Da Vinci Zinhle Mncube
Imagine the grandeur of the royal monarchy’s art collections. The redbrick towers and colourful onion domes of Russia’s St Basil’s Cathedral. The immaculate gardens of the Château de Versailles or the palatial furnishings of Paris’ Hôtel de Crillon. Fast forward to the minimalist architecture showcased in Dezeen design magazine. This is where Lesedi Lesalaisa’s love of art, fashion, architecture and design comes from. The 19-year-old Marketing student, from the University of Johannesburg, is an aspiring furniture designer, rapper, clothing creator (not ‘fashion designer’, he insists) and a creative director of “everything that interests [him]”. His current project is ‘Paris to Rome’, an audiovisual capsule project set to be released on his fashion blog, AfterDef Museum. It is a fashion short film inspired by French monarch lifestyles and the simple elegance of the Italians. “‘Paris to Rome’ is a like warm up to the greatness that I am going to achieve,” he said. “It is where my mindset is at right now. If we (South Africans) can make album covers, videos and posters worthy of showing at the Louvre or Uffizi, then we can compete globally and against legends.”
Ambitious, you might think. But with a prized internship at Louis Vuitton’s Johannesburg store already under his belt, Lesalaisa has reason to be proud. He joyfully explains how spent a year preparing to work at Louis Vuitton. “I would read every single thing that had Louis Vuitton on it,” he said. “I spent eight months bugging the manager at the Johannesburg store. I would impress him with all the knowledge I had on the brand, until he decided to give me an interview.” It worked. He got the job as intern, and now he is looking forward to bigger things. He wants to create artistically credible art and clothes and music that transcend time Lesalaisa speaks with an unwavering confidence, reminiscent of a certain Kanye West. Fittingly, he cites Kanye West amongst his role models. His other role models are equally formidable – Pharrell Williams and Leonardo Da Vinci.
Confidence is a skill he learned early, as a youth growing up in Soweto, Johannesburg (amongst a variety of places), he obsessively dreamt about being the most fashionable kid in class. “I wanted to be the best dressed in the class,” he said. “I wanted to have a pink gold watch and I really wanted to be an overall cool person.” Today, he is still a perfectionist, admitting that he suffers from Napoleon Syndrome – being aware that you have flaws in one area and then overcompensating for them in other areas of your life. “I am an obsessive student of everything that intrigues me,” he explained. “Since I’m a student, I want to learn more than I know. This ends up in me realising that the more you learn, the more you realise you knew so little.” Lesalaisa is convinced that he has not reached his peak yet. When asked where he sees himself in life and career in 10 years time, he coolly replies, “In 10 years, I am going to be sitting on a chartered yacht, looking for a beach house somewhere. Career wise, I am going to be a renaissance artist… A modern day Da Vinci.”
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Up Close And Personal With “Wonder girl” Calvin Maphoso
Mosella took a gap year this year from studying because her Mother, who is a breadwinner, could not afford the tuition fee. “I did not meet the requirements of the bursaries that I applied for”, Mosella said with absolute disappointed. However, she will be studying for a degree in Psychology at the University of Johannesburg in 2011. She hopes that one day she will help people in need, professionally. Moroa Mosella (18), who is on a life changing quest volunteering at an orphanage, says she does it all out of compassion. It took a nearly the death of an infant, for her to realise her so called “calling”. Nearly four years ago Mosella found a one month infant left to die on a walkway in the early morning on her way to school. She had always thought that her neighbourhood- Windmill Park, Boksburg- “was a harmonious place” and that such a horrific thing would never happen. Months later she devoted her life to helping people in need. She helps out at a local children’s home called “Zenzeleni children’s home” where neglected and homeless children are taken in for care and nurture. Auntie Rose Molepo (62) said that “she started the home in the comfort of her home in 2001 with only two children” of which none belonged to her. Mosella then joined Molepo seven month later. The home now has 20 children of which 4 are still infants. Mosella “has a heart of gold and lots of love to give” said Molepo.
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“I am in love with fashion so much that it has developed into an obsession” said Mosella. It all began when she attended her first fashion show at the Sandton conversion centre in 2008. Mosella said that she has made it tradition to attend the shows at all costs. Mosella loves going to the movies with her best friend Tumi Zwane. Zwane said that Mosella’s favourite all time film is “confession of a shopaholic” by Isla Fisher. She added that her best friend does not mind getting her hands dirty but cleans up pretty well and loves looking fashionable and staying in good shape.