Bashing bigotry

If the curiously-named azab'sh was out for a plethora of mark-boosting commentary when she banged out her bigoted and semi-literate drivel on the corrupting influence of homosexuality, she could hardly have asked for a better outcome. All over the Rhodes-based blogosphere, students straight and queer are airing their umbrage. "What exactly are you talking about here?" squeals one. "Sexuality is a personal choice; it is part of who you are." "[H]ow in God's name," bellows another, "have you made it to university? Did you bribe your way through primary and high school? I think that my 7 year old cousin could have written this piece better than you did."

For myself, I have succeeded in keeping the indignation down to a stubbed toe, a broken window, several sleepless nights and a subtle musing on azab'sh's post-post silence: "I have naught to add to all this [an opinion, obviously, that I have since revised] other than my keen amusement at the reticence of the OP, who has had almost a week now to defend her bigotry. An apology, one feels, would suffice, but this silence betokens cowardice of the most pathetic strain."

All of which is something of a pity, really, when you consider how modestly the post begins. Never before, in fact, has the pre-storm calm been so cozening. "I really admire the University," she writes, "that [sic] it is encouraging students to be proud of their sexual status, whether they are gays or lesbians."

But almost immediately we are slaked with this artful buttering, her true colours are illumined and shown to be quite at odds with it. One is left to conclude at best that azab'sh is erratic and forgetful, at worst that she is a deceitful little turd. Glancing over at the contradiction again, I know where my money lies: "The old [gay] students have corrupted a lot of first years, who came here straight but because lesbianism and being gay is a fashion at Rhodes they have lost their values. [...] This lesbianism thing affects other people who have nothing to do with it because they start asking out innocent people, innocent people become victims of gay people and lesbians."

Seldom does writing of such derisory quality speak so eloquently for both itself and its author. "azab'sh" is plainly a zealot and a homophobe, and as such has no place at this university. Whatever reaction comes her way next (be it confined to more angry input on her blog or, as I believe condign, a rustication to sensitivity training), it is wholly merited. The fellowship that we once enjoyed has evaporated as quickly as her reputation.

First Year Spread: Rhodes Could Make Degree Attainment Better For Many Ambitious People....

First Year Spread: Rhodes Could Make Degree Attainment Better For Many Ambitious People....

A Response To Homosexuality at Rhodes

What exactly are you talking about here? Sexuality is a personal choice; it is part of who you are. It is not something that can change just because it is "fashionable" to be Gay, Lesbian or Bisexual. When you make a statement like this: "lesbianism and being gay is a fashion at Rhodes" you are insulting those people who are Lesbian and Gay. These people go through incredible difficulties in their home, work and public environment because of who they are. They feel safe to come "out" at Rhodes because this campus provides a safe and understanding environment. A society like OutRhodes aims to make lesbian, gay, bisexuals and transgendered (LGBT) people on campus feel like they can be themselves. The society exists to stop people ostracising LGBT’s and not to ostracise straight people. I can’t possibly see how straight people can feel ostracised when we live in a hetero-normative society.

Comment on the "Risky Business" cartoon

Discombobulated about the question of whether comments on other bloggers' cartoons belong on their blogs or those of the commentators, I have decided to go for both and hope that one holds the kitty. My verbose and disingenuous praise reads thus:

"At last a cartoon worthy of the designation, an example that serves not to profane the work of such deities as Zapiro and Dr Jack. I am particularly enamoured of the application of a dominant colour scheme to each of your strip-blocks and the general quality of your camera work. The dialogue captures splendidly the rustic flavour of the Western burr, while the outfitting and scenery reflect the no-doubt considerable effort that you have put into the entire project. Self-deprecating without being farcical and risqué without being vulgar, it makes for a most enjoyable read. I do wish, however, that you would not insist on straining my already-myopic eyes to such unreasonable lengths: picking up the bubbles' content and often even the action itself is a task nigh on impossible. Is there not some way to enlarge the thing?"

For said cartoon and other falderal, visit Risky Business now.

Testily,
Cock

The Vicious life cycle of a Rhodent

The Vicious life cycle of a rhodent
If you have been under the pressure of being “mashed” by so many assignments during the week and have resorted to excessive alcohol ,to get away from that pressure, during the weekends, then you are the typical “rhodent” living the typical “viscous life cycle”. Being a typical rhodent myself,I know the feeling after a week of excessive workload and partying. It feels as if a truck ran over me paralysing every muscle in my body.

The root cause for the “wild party animal” tag that only the Rhodes University first year students have especially the B.A students, is not because of the alcohol but due to the excessive work that the Humanities department here burdens students with compared to other universities . When I interviewed a first year Bachelor of Arts student, Bhavesh Ram, from the University of Witwatersrand regarding the workload for B.A students in their university, I found out that they don’t have compulsory tutorials and they only have one or two assignments a term. That work leads to excessive drinking and which in turn causes many students to let go of their moral values and end up doing something they will be ashamed of the next morning.

My journalism lecturer Sim Kyazze knows that the Humanities department has a bad reputation for the workload but he thinks it’s important for everyone to know that it’s not like that. According to him,it’s the students complain because they just don’t want to work. In my opinion, that’s not true because what lecturers don’t see the stressful students working in the Jac labs till 4 am in the morning working on a linguistic assignment just after they have finished writing a profile comment for journalism and still have to study for a sociology test that counts 25% of their year mark.

At the end of five days of innumerable assignments and compulsory tutorial workpoints, I would also say what Ryan Haynes, first year B.A student said in his facebook status, “Fuck work, I am getting drunk tonight…”.

On a Friday, students are seen walking up the Prince Alfred street with bottles of vodka for a “massive” night. Among those students, there are first years like Kelly Styane who don’t enjoy drinking but end up getting drunk on the weekends since there is no other form of entertainment in Grahamstown. But as Roxanne says “Binge-drinking is an activity many first years engage in but not many acknowledge the vicious consequences that it induces”. While many end up in a stranger’s bed the morning after a “massive” night, many end up injuring themselves. So is it not true that the workload is lowering the moral standards of the first years at Rhodes University?

Like a merry-go-round ,this vicious cycle of work to alcohol to “walk of shame” or bumpy forehead continues week after week.The only thing that can disturb this cycle is the realization by the Humanities department that students really need a “BREAK” .we can only learn from our mistakes and grow as better human beings if we have the time to think about what we have done in the past nine months.
By-Ayushi ChhabraAshness

Comment on a photo comic

“Love and Crime” http://www.pointingpurple.blogspot.com/

I really enjoyed your comic guys! It was great how you used an audience from another production as your audience. But are you sure you won’t cause yet more drama – excuse the pun – over the incident that happened in the drama department? I’m surprised none of the drama teachers or students haven’t made any comments yet! I mean it’s almost like you’re mocking the whole thing in a way. Should I now be scared of the theatre?

I think it was a good idea however, for you guys to show that CPU caught the baddies but did they really in the original incident? Don’t get me wrong, CPU is an awesome campus protection but I think you’re giving them credit for something they didn’t initially do. But I see why you did it in your comic, so as to not portray CPU as being totally unreliable which is good because they aren’t! Very cool comic – I can see you guys put a lot of effort into it. Nice!

Jess http://www.fourhensandacock.blogspot.com/

Comment on a Profile story

“Letter To My Younger Self” http://www.etto-pressurepoints.blogspot.com/

Ettione, I agree with your letter completely. I also find that in order to survive first year at Rhodes University , one needs to find a balance between work and play; a balance between social and academic life. I think that drinking forms a major component in making friends. My ‘letter to the younger self’ focused on making friends and the challenges thereof. I think drinking, for some, honestly leads them to believe that they will ‘fit in’ and ultimately make friends. Binge drinking with people to make ‘friends’, for example.

Alcohol and the abuse thereof is a big issue for many first year students on all campuses. I believe that in order to survive first year one needs to be “greater than that” and have the “self-control to say no”. A “balance between social and academic life” needs to be built. Only then can one make true friends.

Jess http://fourhensandacock.blogspot.com/