Rhodes is 'chilled' ?

The first year at Rhodes University is what some refer to as the year between high school and university. It is exclusively there for the inside look into university life but more than actually living it, a first year Rhodes student is an explorer and is discovering all the perks that there are without any of the responsibilities that come with it.
Some refer to first year as ‘chilled’, and it has come to my attention that it is not only the view of the first years in this regard but also of generally everyone on campus. I often hear lecturers say that first year is there so as to get you into second year “and then that is where the work begins”. A third year student once said to my friends and I as we were sitting on a Friday night watching television “This is the only chance you will get to go out so take it before it’s too late because once you get to second year, the fun is over.” After speaking to some second and third years about their first year at Rhodes some say that they actually remember bits of it because they were drunk half the time. The rest say that first year was fun but exhausting because a person had to balance their hectic social life with their academic one but once you get to second year “you don’t have a social life”.
This then made me wonder about how people made into second year at all. A later discovered that some of those that could not remember bits of their first year had to repeat it and the rest just found a way to balance their lives out. The normal routine was to attend lectures regularly until Wednesday, then miss the really early ones for the rest of the week and get notes from a friend at a later stage. If a person had an assignment due on Friday they would go out Wednesday and stay in on Thursday to do it. Some alternated between weekends so as to do work on one weekend and then celebrate doing the work the next.
After speaking to some first year Rhodes students, my speculation and suspicion into this matter appears to be confirmed. Rhodes first year students love to “get sloshed” as they would refer to it, and they are not shy about it. I have a person at my politics tutorial who is constantly late and does not have the work done most of the time. This person always excuses themselves by saying “last night was Thursday” which to this particular person seems to be a very reasonable excuse. Some first year students seem to disagree with this state of mind though and do not think that university is no fun and games whether you are in first year or not.

I for one think that everybody is crazy. Just to prove this I would like to state that I did this assignment at six o’ clock in the morning and that is just the beginning of my day. Journalism alone makes me stay up some nights now to combine it with all my other courses seems to be suicide. I happen to be only one of a large number of people who believe this to be true. I have no idea how people can manage to pass and still go out five nights a week. I am not a jealous person so I must say that I truly admire these people for being so ‘chilled’.
The first year at Rhodes University is ultimately a different experience for everyone but I would just to point out that just because I am in first year it does not mean that all I have to do is to be here in order to get into second year, it takes hard work, but I would also like to say that as a first year at Rhodes, being an explorer I encourage other first years like myself to go out once in a while and as some would say, its only first year.

Integration? What integration?

When I first came to Rhodes University, all seemed well and ‘honky dory’. I easily got along with everyone regardless of their creed and background. We all tolerated each others’ space and differences. I thought I had finally reached my ideal destination whereby a person is not judged by his race and class, but by what he does at a given time and place.
Little did I know that my overly idealistic assumption would come crashing as the time went by, when true colours dared to reveal and expose some of the condescending racist bigots that live amongst us. As the time went by, I have been driven to behave in the most ruthless of manors, when a generalised racial comment or two, slips past the mouth of a self righteous nineteen year old fellow student.

I am deeply concerned about the levels of the lack of understanding of African people’s culture and way of life. When certain values and standards are imposed to the wrong people in a wrong way. I am referring to the prevalent of racial undertones directed at those who are not yet ready to accept the “better life”. Questions about other races in public discussion forums that show complete arrogance ignorance on the part of the introducer.
Questions like these (sourced directly from Facebook):

“Hey guys, I need some questions answered please? Can anybody help?- Have you ever heard of a white person raping a six month old baby?- How often do you hear about white hijackers?- Why are ghettos the most violent neighbourhoods anywhere in the world?- Why are 90% of our prisons populated by non-whites?- Can you name 5 famous black inventors (Without google'ing)?- Why do black people breed like rabbits, even if they can't afford the child?- Why is HIV by far more prevalent in black communities?- Why are our pass rates and education standards some of the lowest in the world?- Why don't you see white people striking and burning schools for example - Why do black people litter everywhere they go if they have so much respect for SA?- On which other continent do they hack off the limbs of women and children?And it's such a mystery why white people are so frustrated!”

This is the most suitable reply that immediately comes into mind:

How many times must the African people answer these questions to their European-African peers? How many times must we go out of our way to shatter all the misconceptions that the European-Africans residing in Africa have about us? How many times must we remind them to use logic before they ask lame, demeaning questions about us, the racial group they have lived with for decades, but still know very little about; while We understand and never judge their way of life? It baffles me. Yes we have adopted the European lifestyle; yes we have made an effort to learn their culture and language. We also subscribe to their ideologies and indeed aligned ourselves with some of their old age values, which some of us now also strive to preserve. That does not mean we have abandoned our lifestyles for the "better" European culture. We are merely making means to co-exist within a dominantly capitalistic society. I am angry that at this day, I am still expected to for example, speak “fluent, proper” English when I am at tutorials; but what about my own? When can I perfect it? When can I get a chance to also abruptly correct a none (native language) speaker when they make a mistake?
As far as I am concerned all the things that the Europeans value and imposed upon the world are not so important when you really come to think of it; look at formal education, economics, structural governing systems (democracy) and of course biblical values.

Personally, if I decide to live in an isolated mud rondavel/hut, slaughter and eat beasts, have 74 children, have a chief as my leader, if I believe in ancestors or if I choose acquire my knowledge from grandparents and peers while herding stock in the veld I do not need anyone telling me that my ways are "filthy", "heathen", "need to be changed or to improve, even". I do not need infiltration and suggestions. I would be happy, if they keep their cultures to themselves.
Before people decide to ask questions like that, slander or judge the African population (faults and all), look at how far we have gone and always know that the Africans were very happy with their "old" ways, until Europe came along....

Therefore, as a proud (brown skinned) African, I choose not to directly answer your list of questions as I feel they undermine my race. Your questions are generalised and highly biased; probably no answer will satisfy you as you seem to have concluded about the doom of the African nation.

Sourced from a Facebook discussion.

A Personal Journey

“KNOW THY SELF” A touching story about self discovery and faith
As you enter the room it seems to be chaos. There is a gnome with a yellow pointy hat and an orange top in a corner; there are drinking glasses on the window pain; there is a surfboard lying next to the wall behind the bed; the desk is covered with books and what at the beginning appears to be a hat flowing in the air but then you soon realize that it is on a jewelry stand; the cupboards are open giving a view of many colourful tops and hats, the shelf is filled with countless books. Her board is covered with notes, timetables and pictures, but no one can miss the large poster that says “Footprints”. As you begin to read the writing underneath you begin to realize what it is that makes you feel relaxed and calm in all this chaos.
‘Footprints’ is a poem about a person walking on a beach with God, and looking back on their life. The person notices that during the trying times, there appears to have been one set of footprints and not two. The person then proceeds to ask God why at these times he was not there, and the Lord answers that at those times was when God carried him or her. Courtney B then looks at the poster and says how important that poem is to her and more importantly, how her faith is what makes her life make sense “I guess I was searching for something and I found it.”
Coming from a background with no Christian affiliations it was hard for her to practice her religion and to do what she felt was right for her “I had to choose between what my family believed in and what I believed in.” She started getting involved with Christian groups and going to church by herself regularly from grade ten. Her family did not support her but eventually became accustomed to the idea. As her faith grew she began to discover more about herself and to become secure in who she was “You’ve got to know yourself”, but she still had to face the challenge of Rhodes University “The city of the devil”.
Upon arriving at Rhodes she admits that she was scared. She was confident in herself and her faith but did not know what to expect “I felt way out of my depth.” That did not stop her however from becoming an involved member at the university. She joined three societies including the African Drum Society and on top of her work schedule, she manages to go to church every Sunday “I feel like I’m stronger now,” and she is no longer scared to be herself “If I speak about my religion in public and someone frowns, I don’t mind anymore.”
She lives by the philosophy “Let the world feel the weight of who you are and let them deal with it.” She loves nature and colour, her favourite colour is white because reflected it shows all the colours of the rainbow. She has made a home for herself in what they call “the city of the devil” and she has influenced those around her to do the same “Don’t loose yourself, figuratively and literally, where you come from, who you are, and what you want.”