AN ONLINE PUBLICATION STRUCTURED AROUND THE INTERESTS OF NELSON MANDELA METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS STUDYING JOURNALISM,MEDIA AND PHILOSOPHY
Last update: 3 October 2014
Varsity
All things concerning university happenings.
Be Wise and Specialize
Jade Botha. 3 October 2014.
There comes a time when you realize that Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University has done all it can to provide you with valuable education. It turns out that there are actually far more specialization opportunities than we realize – it may be hard to believe but there is a course to suit us all.
After slaving away for the past three to four years for your chosen degree, your time at NMMU has officially come to an end – and you are getting ready to graduate. As this time approaches, there is a burning question looming above your head: What now? Everyone ultimately gets to thispoint. After people have pocketed their degree, they realise that they need a strategy in place so that they can work towards establishing a solid career and, consequently, a great life. For some, the thought of entering ‘the real world’ is a challenge greatly accepted, but then there are some who just do not feel as though they have done enough to perfect their craft. The good news is that there are various new windows of opportunity that have yet to beconsidered. Spending a year or two studying elsewhere can actually be a very valuable experience.
For students who study Media, Journalism and Philosophy, the process of learning does not necessarily have to stop after graduation. Perhaps continuing on to do Honours at NMMU is not something you wish to pursue, yet you would like to further your education. The good news is that schools such as the The South African School of Motion Picture Medium and Live Performance (AFDA) and Vega, the school of brand leadership, are just some of the places to turn to. For someone who has studied media – and has perhaps come to the conclusion that broadcasting is the career he\she would like to pursue – NMMU might not be the place to further your studies as it does not offer a broadcasting course or degree. Thus, a school such as AFDA offers courses dedicated to broadcasting alone, where a student can learn all there is to know about every aspect of the field as well as gain practical experience (www.afda.co.za/disciplines/television/). This school also offers various degrees not only for those who wish to physically produce aspects of television, but also for those who wish to write scripts for film and television. For a student who has specialised in language and journalism, but particularly enjoyed the copywriting module offered by NMMU, Vega would be the ideal place to fine tune one’s writing for a career in copywriting specifically. Copywriting is directly linked to brand management and selling various concepts to the public. So for a future-copywriter to specialize in such a degree would make him\her even more desirable in the work place.
Even though you might have realised that your heart isn’t completely in sync with the degree you have obtained, there are various aspects of your degree that would aid you in taking on a new career choice. For someone who has studied towards a BA (Media, Communication and Culture) – and has realised by being exposed to modules such as scriptwriting and video production that his\her passion is actually being in front of the camera – it does not mean that his\her current degree is a dead end. Extending that degree through institutions such as AFDA will allow that student to use what he\she already knows and apply it to their new career path.
In recent talk, it has been mentioned that there is a possibility that an AFDA campus will be opened in Port Elizabeth; this makes extending one’s degree even simpler because right now the only South African AFDA campus are in Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg – larger cities which some people are unable to get to. At times financial circumstances are the reasons that students do not study further; university fees and accommodation are expensive, especially when one is far from home. If AFDA were to open in the Port Elizabeth area, it would make studying there slightly less expensive. NMMU is – in its own right – a wonderful university offering a diverse range of courses. However, for specialization in the above-mentioned careers, considering schools such as Vega and AFDA would be very wise.
Oh the joy of making choices...
Candice Bezuidenhout. 26 September 2014.
Choosing which career to pursue after school is already a battle, choosing the right stream for your chosen degree should not be one.
‘Eenie, meeniemineymo’, in which direction should I go? Many BA (Media, Communication and Culture) students are faced with this question during their second year of study. This is because they know that the stream they choose to follow in their third year will be one of the most important decisions that they will ever have to make. One’s chosen BA(MCC) stream is the gateway to their future, of course, the career that they are going pursuefor the rest of their lives. Therefore, it is not a decision to be taken lightly.
On the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University website, Dr Bianca Wright writes that the BA Media, Communication and Culture degree offers students the opportunity to explore many varied and exciting areas within the media field.There are six different areas of specialization that students move into during their final year of the course, namely: Print, Design, Video Production, Contemporary Culture, Scriptwriting and Public Relations.The BA (MCC) degree presents a broad spectrum of various fields; consequently, it is expected that the amount of information that you are exposed to in your first two yearscan become confusing. Hence one needs to plan ahead.
Choosing a stream is not easy. Moreover, choosing that stream by way of playing the‘eenie, meeniemineymo’ game is not the best way to make that decision either. It is expected that you might have a preference for writing articles during your first year but then develop a love for designing logos or posters when you are exposed to the Design modules during second year. Many students are multi-talented and are able to thrive in three of the six streams. It is also possible that when you are halfway through your final year and find that the stream you have chosen is not ideal for you. This has happened to many students in the past. Not only does it lead to many sleepless nights, but it also puts one’s future at risk because it is then perhapstoo late to change to a different stream.
According to psychologist,Dr Heidi Grant Halvorson, research suggests that human beings are remarkably bad at predicting how they will feel when doing something in the future.“It’s not hard to find someone who started out thinking that they would love their chosen [stream], only to wind up hating it,” she says.In addition, Brian Humphries, a 3rd year MCC student majoring in Public Relations, discovered three months into his final year that he chose the wrong stream. “I feel like it might have been one of the worst decisions I have ever made,” says Brian. “I am happy with my course, but when it came to choosing a stream I didn’t think about my choices as thoroughly as I should have,” he adds.“Now that I’m in my final year I’ve realised that I can’t see myself doing Public Relations as a lifelong career.”
Thus, it is imperative to have a clear and open mind before making a decision and to explore all options available to you. Brian’s whole future could now be at risk because he made a hasty decision.Third year is tough enough but having the possibility that you chose the wrong career hanging over your head is only one of the consequences of a wrong choice. Choosing the wrong career path may cause some students a loss in confidence or even mere interest in their work. This could, of course, be at a crucial stage of the study-period. Grades could drop and one might even – with the worst case scenario – end up with no degree at all. According to the Preston University website, this lack of interest could make students predisposed to an array of unhealthy activities which eventually results in those students failing their university studies.
Fortunately not all BA(MCC) students choose the wrong stream. There are some who are very happy with their choice. “Design is my passion and stress,” says Christine Leong-Colom, also a 3rd year BA(MCC) student. “It is a lot of hard work and the long hours in the labs are exhausting, but I enjoy every single part of the designing experience and whenever I see my poster on the lecturer’s display board, I feel that my hard work has paid off,” she says. When asked how she managed to choose the right stream the first time around and whether or not she struggled with the choice, Christine merely smiled and said that there was never any other option for her other than Design. “I always knew that I had a little drawing talent and when I was introduced to Design in my second year, I discovered that I was quite good at it. I knew then and there that it would be my stream in third year”. Christine knew her skills and what she wouldenjoy and that helped her to make an informed decision on what her future career would be.
We all have our strong-and weak points and we all know what we are capable of and what we are bad at. This should be in the forefront of your minds when choosing a stream. For example, if you know that you are a bad writer then you wouldn’t choose the Print stream, right? Wrong. If that were the case, then no one would be unhappy with the streams they chose.In order to help with the decision-making process for your stream, here are some steps that could help with choosing your stream the first time:
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Be knowledgeable. Marochelle Geldenhuys, another 3rd year BA(MCC) student, feels positive about her chosen Print stream, but felt very confused at the start of her first year. “I felt confused and unsure about the whole course as it covers a variety of modules and it felt as if I didn’t know a lot about any of it,” she says. It is therefore important to become knowledgeable to avoid such confusion. Visit the NMMU website and gather all information related to the BA (MCC) course. The more you know, the better you’ll be able to make an informed decision.
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Be organised. Don’t wait for your 3rd year registration day before you make a decision. Make sure that by September of your 2nd year you have gathered all information and started looking at the pros and cons of the different streams.
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Getdifferent opinions. Speak to your lecturers and ask their advice on which stream to choose. They know all the streams and by the end of your second year they will know you well enough to advise you into a direction that suits your skills and compliments your strongest points.
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Involve your parents. Just because you are almost in your final year, does not mean that you are now above the opinions of your parents. They raised you and probably know you better than you know yourself. Their advice can therefore be helpful.
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Know yourself. According to Dr Halvorson, you can begin by choosing a stream that fits well with your skills and values. If you know that drawing was never your strong point, do not choose the Design stream!
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Know where you want to be in life. This is important because it gives you a goal to work towards. A part of working towards that goal is to choose a stream that is a good motivational fit for you.
With life, anything can happen so if you do choose a stream that is not suitable for you, remember to stay positive and keep working hard. In the end, you’ll still be educated – something that not even the wrong stream can take away from you.
NMMU Tunes In
Julia Holmes. 5 September 2014.
Spring promises to be a season of growth within the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) media circles, as on campus-radio station Madibaz Radio warms up its fresh, vibrant voice. With NMMU staff and students eager to hear what the student- run station has to offer, theJMP Chronicle didn’t have to look further than the first floor of NMMU’s South Campus Kraal for answers.
The station’s (which will initially be broadcasted through NMMU’s website) focal target audience is all NMMU associates, both past and present, followed by the local community and national markets.Madibaz Radio programming manager and NMMU Corporate Communications Honors student, Musa Mosweni says that an on campus radio station has been in the pipeline for a while and that “media students and journalists need a place to practice what they have been taught and to do their internships”.
Former NMMU Journalism, Media and Philosophy Head of Department and current senior lecturer in Digital Journalism at Coventry University in the UK, Dr. Bianca Wright, was approached by student governance to assist in the setting up of an on campus radio station and to be on the advisory board. Dr. Wright says: “I provided input into the business plan and championed the involvement of Media and Journalism students in the project as well as providing opportunities to integrate the radio station into the curricula of the MCC and NDipJourn programs”. In terms of radio and its effectiveness as a communication medium, Dr. Wright believes that “student media, be it a radio station, a newspaper, a digital project or a TV station, is vital to a healthy university environment, provided it is independent and able to critique the institution it is housed in. There are two parts to this idea: firstly, it provides a real-world learning experience for Media and Journalism students and offers opportunities for integration into modules in innovative ways. Secondly, the press/ media plays an important watchdog role in society”.
In support of NMMU and its diversity, the station will broadcast, after the final approval by ICASA (Independent Communications Authority of South Africa), in a language ratio of 80% English, 15% isiXhosa and% Afrikaans. To avoid the presence of students on campus at unreasonable hours, broadcasting will take place from 7am-10pm, and music will be looped from 10pm onwards. Madibaz Radio encourages NMMU musicians, DJ’s and bands to use Madibaz Radio as a platform to launch their music, advising students, on their Facebook page, to drop off CD’s for musical consideration. Local music talent and NMMU Psychology student, Wandile “Warra” Mbambeni, says: “I’d love to make use of Madibaz Radio to showcase my music as it is important to have the support of my fellow students and the local community”.
Alongside musical talent, Mosweni encourages Media and Journalism students to become involved with the station as it not only places their textbooks into perspective, but at the station they will receive an integrated approach of what radio entails and will not be viewed as “just interns”. She says: “Students will be a part of something new and will be able to learn from managing, marketing, producing and presenting departments”.
In the beginning phases of the station, those interested in listening to the station can tune in via the NMMU website.Once the station is on the FM it will have the potential to reach up to 1.1 million listeners! Mosweni recognizes that being an online radio station has its challenges and disadvantages, but as any internet user can log on to the NMMU website, it allows for members of the international market to become involved, alongside past and prospective students. Dr Wright is looking forward to listening in from the UK, and says: “This [Madibaz Radio] is especially precious to me because of all the familiar faces and voices, my former students who I miss, who are involved”. By following the stations Facebook page, Dr Wright has recognized the excitement, commitment, and passion of the Madibaz Radio team, and feels that this means “they have won half the battle already!”
The station has not modelled itself on existing stations and takes pride in its unique identity based on NMMU’s core values of: diversity, excellence, ubuntu, responsibility, environment and integrity. Mosweni describes Madibaz Radio as “Edutainment”, where educational and entertaining content is balanced. In terms of content, Dr Wright elaborates that “the challenge will lie in ensuring that content and programming resonates with the student audience; that means tapping into what your student staff members know about what they (and their peers) want to listen to rather than prescribing it”.
Mosweni predicts that students will perceive the station well as NMMU is in need of a radio station and says that “everyone at the station is looking forward to becoming part of such a big initiative and project”. She views the station as one for different races and cultures to become a part of as well as an opportunity for students to learn from, grow and “build themselves as brands”.Mosweni has always been passionate about radio and was very excited that the job opportunity graced her email inbox. She favors Metro FM presenter, Idols judge and singer Unathi Msengana as she acknowledges her as a strong female figure in society.As Msengana is from the Eastern Cape, she believes that figures such as the bubbly radio personality proves that the Eastern Cape has indeed got the talent, but that the local talent needs to be dealt with correctly. Furthermore, Mosweni says:“I think radio is the most immediate way to know what’s going on around us – locally and internationally. Madibaz Radio is vibrant, fresh and something that is relevant to the NMMU students and their needs”.
Madibaz Radio on-air staff amounts to 57 members, excluding off-air staff such as the marketing, programming and technical department. Mosweni says: “Until we are on air it is difficult to determine how risky or controversial we can be, but it is important that we remain impartial”. Madibaz Radio marketing manager, Themba Molongoana says: “I am interested to see how the diverse radio personalities will interact and learn from one another’s cultures, and I feel that the manner in which they have been placed together will bring about change and something different.”
While members of the station, such as the presenters, are still mastering and adjusting their newly acquired skills, content will be predominately musical, with an estimate of 60 % music and 40% discussion.Discussion, which includes NMMU lecturer involvement, has been divided into a vast range of categories, including: current affairs, campus news, community news, local news, national news, talk radio, current affairs, campus politics, my society your society and Madibaz sports, where campus sporting events will be profiled. Campus politics includes discussion points such as the SRC elections, student funds, accommodation and other student needs. Show titles include the Ultimate Takeoff and Afternoon Cruise, and presenters have been granted creative freedom when teaming up with their producers to analyze ideas and potential content.
Presenters and news readers, who include first, second and third year registered NMMU students, are currently being trained at local stations, including Algoa FM.Algoa FM’s Daron Mann and Lance Du Plessis, and Jacaranda FM’s Martin Bester were all involved in the former University of Port Elizabeth (UPE)’s campus radio ventures. Amongst the legacy is Radio Uppie, a product of UPE, which, in later years, progressed into the current independent station Metro FM.
The station is currently using Facebook as a means of advertisement, and is planning on conducting a marketing road show, which includes the George campus, to create brand awareness. Molongoana says: “during the roadshow the station will engage with the students and allow them to ‘get with the brand’ and talk to the presenters”. Competitions centered on recreational dancing, gaming, and rap are on the cards and The Cottonfields fans can look forward to an on campus performance by the band.
Prior to their online broadcast, Madibaz Radio has already demonstrated their ability to communicate student interests, by posting information ranging from student politics, The Color Run and video interviews with popular South African house group Mi Casa on their Facebook page. So, what are you waiting for fellow Media students? Update your CVs, take a walk down to the Kraal and become a part of the blossoming venture that is Madibaz Radio.
Some of the presenters of the new Madibaz Radio station chilling with members of South African band "Mi Casa".
Image: Van Wilder, portrayed here by actor Ryan Reynolds and the inspiration for the college life-sentence.
The College Life-Sentence
Jonathan Fryer. 5 September 2014.
In 2002, a film was released by the National Lampoon film group that documented the college life of a student named ‘Van Wilder’ who had spent seven years studying while attending little or no classes. Therefore he passed none of his registered courses. The film dealt with the hugely popular ‘party liaison’ and his efforts to aid other students, party, help local charities and generally enjoy the college life without necessarily focusing too much on what seemed to be pesky academics. Despite this film being a fictional tale, it certainly is not too much of a stretch compared to some student’s lives at NMMU. It would be a fair wager that most of the university’s current students possibly know at least one person who fits into a similar, slightly less-dramatic scenario.
However, this is a reality in university life and not everyone is equipped to navigate their way through their respective degrees or diplomas the first time and this is not necessarily always a bad thing. For example, Andrew Collier, a 2013 BCom Accounting graduate found that in failing his third year in 2011, he was better equipped to handle the pressure of the rest of his degree. Collier said:
“I don’t think I would’ve been able to pass honours first time if I hadn’t done third year twice. Honours is quite extensive and you have to accept that each afternoon or evening, depending on which you prefer, you’re going to be grafting through a few hours of work. The basis of that extra year made that a lot easier to cope with, not to mention the fact that failing a year gives you such a shock that your work ethic almost basically doubles.”
It is common amongst students nearing the end of their degrees to find themselves either confused or indecisive with regards to their next step in life, and while it can indeed be a massive waste of time and money to study unnecessarily, it can provide students with the personal growth required to be able to make more effective decisions once done with studying.
Perhaps seven years as a first-year is a bit lengthy and the exploits of the protagonist of a comedy film are not exactly designed to be aspirational but essentially, there shouldn’t be a right or wrong amount of time to spend studying. Tertiary education should be approached as an extension of oneself a varying experience that prepares for the challenges that lie ahead in adulthood. It should thus be understood that tertiary education is different for everyone.
The Race Begins: NMMU Elections 2014
Sinazo Mtshengu. 5 September 2014.
The Student Representative Council (SRC) elections are on the horizon, 17 September 2014; the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University will take to the polls to vote their new ruling party into the SRC.
NMMU has four parties running for the year of 2015. Two of those are new at the institution, Pan African Student Movement of Azania (PASMA), which was initially part of the University of Port Elizabeth (U.P.E) and the Economic Freedom Fighters Student Command (EFFSC), while there is five year-old Democratic Alliance Students Organization (DASO) which has had the opportunity to run the SRC for two consecutive years 2012 and 2013. DASO then lost to the South African Student Congress Organization (SASCO), the oldest Student Organization in South Africa. SASCO had won the elections and was the ruling party for eight years before DASO won the election in 2012.
The campaign elections for the seats 0f 2015 have been underway from the beginning of August. While some students are unaware of the structure that is the SRC and what it does, the two largest parties have made it their mandate to introduce their organizations to new students and gain the trust of old students. The SASCO SRC of 2014 is under scrutiny for corruption and using students’ money (the SRC budget) to host a two-day policy at the cost of R250 000 at Boardwalk/Sun International. Consequently, SASCO is now trying to gain the trust of their followers. According to an anonymous source from SASCO, the claims of money laundering that the SASCO lead SRC has been charged with are untrue, “they are lies spread by the cockroaches of the Democratic Alliance, how can we use that much money with out having to account for it? “ the source added “ the SRC budget is under students governance and every cent needs to be accounted for, and unless they have the proof to back up their claims, they must sit down.”
The parties had an opportunity to take part in a debate, where they could exhibit their mission statement for the SRC of 2015. The debate turned heated when PASMA, EFFSC and DASO questioned SASCO on the misuse of student funds. EFFSC representative, Lukhanyo Douse, called for students not vote for SASCO who misuses their money. The three parties seemed to be uniting against one cause that was to remove SASCO from office. Mbali Mthetwa a first year Law student, says although she is not affiliated with any of the parties, she came to the debate in the hope that it would help her choose a party she would vote for. “I was considering SASCO but I am not sure, I don’t think there is smoke without a fire, why would all the other parties unite under one similar notion against [SASCO]?” But SRC president Luzuko Ntshongwanasays that R250 000 that they allegedly spent on the policy summit is incorrect. He said SASCO has good relations with the manager of the Boardwalk where the summit was held, “he is part of the ANC,” which SASCO is affiliated with.
DASO lost the elections in 2013 for 2014 and BaxolileNodada, campaign manager and deployed DASO member in the SRC, says that it was humbling.
“The students were not happy, and it was our fault, we take full responsibility, but we owe it to the students to win these elections,” The DASO lead SRC of 2013 left students unhappy and feeling betrayed. Athi Madolo third year BCom Marketing student says, “DASO leadership last year was too stuck up and did not communicate with students.” Madolo says that DASO promised tablets and did not deliver in the manner in which they had promised, instead they told them about a pilot project. While Madolo was concerned with tablets, Zuzole Msingata says that the intervarsity was a fail, artists did not show up and not enough tickets were provided for students. Msigata says, “in a university with 27 000 alone, how do you only make 2000 tickets available?” The 2013 intervarsity having experienced bad weather, a lot of students were left in the cold and the rain and that resulted in a stampede that left a number of students injured.
As the elections are getting closer, SASCO and DASO, the strongest parties in the institution, don’t just have each other to compete against, but also have to go against the EFFSC that has a reputation of fighting for the rights of the poor majority in South Africa. With 70 percent of students at NMMU coming from the Eastern Cape and 50 percent of those students supported by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme(NSFAS), EFFSC may have an opportunity to gain followers and votes. With a manifesto that promises to fight for NSFAS to be free for students rather than a loan that they need to pay back. With a high number of students at NMMU being from lower and middle class income homes, the EFFSC has seen a need to fight for economic freedom for these students. According to Ashton Mbebi a political student from WITS University, EFF as a party has been able to win the hearts of the poor struggling class in South Africa. It made itself relatable to the man who works in the mines, the gardens, who is the garbage collector and the one sitting at home thinking of his next meal. The EEFSC has an opportunity here to relate with the students who come from those homes, being in the Eastern Cape the poorest province in the country is a great strategic location for the newly formed organization.” Mbebi says if the EFFSC can use SASCO and DASO’s fails to gain the trust of the students, it may have an opportunity here to win.
While some students are still confused with the manifesto of PASMA at NMMU, no one from the organization could be reached for comment. PASMA is the student body of the Pan African Congress, with a famous slogan, “Izwelethu” (our nation), in the belief of African supremacy, they posted this on their Facebook page to help students understand what PASMA is,” Pan-Africanism is an ideology and movement that encourages the solidarity of Africans worldwide. It is based on the belief that unity is vital to economic, social, and political progress and aims to "unify and uplift "people of African descent.” While NMMU is amulti-racial university, PASMA does not focus on all students but on only those whom they consider Africans. The organization was first introduces in U.P.E in 1997. Andile Somdodo a former U.P.E students and member of PASMA says “I am moved, reminded of the 90's we were the 1st branch to launch PASMA nationally in '97 at PETECH. We had the likes of Lupoko and M'Afrika Teddy in U.P.E, the likes of comrades Mamkeli, Msizi and Maliza at Vista! I was worried to learn of the University without PASMA!” in the response of the formation of PASMA in NMMU.
The election campaigning has begun and the first posters have been put up on South Campus by the DASO. These elections are possibly the most competitive election the university has had yet. With two new parties and two older parties that need to prove themselves to students, 17 September will be the day that students will have to put their trust in one party, to govern the institution for 2015.
The Choice to Pursue Humanities
Asanda Mzayidume. 29 August 2014.
Renowned author and the acclaimed motivational speaker Steve Maraboli has the following to say about choices: ““How would your life be different if…You stopped allowing other people to dilute or poison your day with their words or opinions? Let today be the day…You stand strong in the truth of your beauty and journey through your day without attachment to the validation of others”. This quote speaks volumes to the decision for one to actively pursue a career in the humanities, amongst the disappointed and questioning voices, lies a resonating theme.
What is the purpose of humanities when one can opt to rather pursue a more financially rewarding career? What purpose do humanities fulfil when one has been met with employment? Which doors to humanities open in the harsh economic realities of the world?
Thus at social gatherings the voices of those in Humanities are reduced to a quiver, people often belittle the contributions of those in the field of humanities to the conversations that will permeate the air. Humanities are dubbed as the shortcut for those who would rather not study but could do with a qualification. With the increasing costs of tertiary education a lot of parents and family members have put their feet down to prevent their own children from walking this path. So are humanities as mundane of a vocation to pursue as is the public perception of the day.
Perhaps at the centre of the debate one should first and foremost unfold what it is that they expect a humanities degree to equip its graduate with?
When one pursues this path is it solely for the material benefits of a pay cheque. Yes these cannot be ignored, but are they the end all and be all of accomplishing a qualification? Are the expectations of sitting behind the desks of academic institutions only achieved through the drying of ink on diplomas? Wendy Earle, contributing writer on The Guardian Professional highlights that: “The arts and humanities are special because they investigate, excavate, create, critique, and celebrate the many achievements, ideas and values of our human world. At their most challenging, they grapple with the problem of the human condition.” It is all good and well for students to align themselves with financial ambitions but when they all flock to this choice, this leaves little room for the critical thinkers, the analysts and those who have a passion for engaging in debates.
What also fails to be taken into consideration is the grooming process that students encounter while pursuing a qualification. People fail to take into consideration who and what one has become after leaving the passages of academia. The debate is settled with the consideration of how the Arts fail to produce high paying jobs, how students in Humanities fail to be employable.
Why then do academic institutions still place humanities in their offerings?
In her book titled The Value of Humanities, author Helen Smalls continues the debate on the relevance of humanities in the current world. She tackles the debate from a five-point tier, focusing on the over emphasis of critical thinking in the field of humanities, not only does she warn that this approach poses the risk of robbing humanities of its other offerings but also may lead to the assumption that other educational offerings cannot offer critical thinking. When we open the platform to discuss the values of humanities, the approach taken should be significant. Are the arguments we lay on the table in an effort to compare and contrast it to the more widely accepted choices, so as to prove its validity or are we highlighting its differences in order to say that in life other alternatives of thinking are acceptable and in fact can be of benefit to the individual based on their own personal criteria as to what produces their success and happiness.
Like any other life altering choice, the choice to pursue humanities should be based on extensive research into one’s individual self. This decision can only be welcomed by yourself if you are at ease with where the path can take you. It is understandable that the choice can be made at a time where one is unaware of where they aspire to be.
Humanities do often fall into the critical and harsh voices of those who deem their career paths as the be all and end all of achievement, so when the question is answered, you stand a better chance of walking away with a head held high, if you have already familiarised yourself with why you opted to align yourself with the curriculum offered by Arts. Maraboli is right that the pursuit of other’s validation often traps one within the bars of constantly having to explain themselves, even when an explanation is not required.
The world is big enough a place for every passion to be realised, thus actively pursuing humanities should not be easily dismissed as a shortcut to obtaining a mere qualification that which the degree can provide one with begins outside the doors of academia.
The Penetrative Presence of The Plagiarist
“Thou shall not plagiarise!” This is the first and most important commandment of any tertiary institution; with the warning that the varsity careers of those who try to plagiarise will surely perish. This commandment is no different at our beautiful and diverse university, N.M.M.U. It would seem that – more often than the students in any other faculty – that the Journalism, Media and Philosophy (JMP) students are told the gospel truth about plagiarism. This does make a lot of sense, as JMP students will essentially work in a field where they are expected to come up with new and original ideas. However, first yearstudents come from all different walks of life and are baffled by this commandment. Gone are the years when a bibliography was nothing but a decoration to add to the back of your assignment, because at university level, a bibliography is so much more than that.
For this reason, first year students study the prospectus and all other NMMU guideline materials to ensure that they know exactly what they can and cannot do when they write their assignments. The university clearly states in its guide for students that copyright “is the right of an author to prevent unauthorised copying of his/her work” The infringement of copyright is therefore seen as the act of committing plagiarism. Plagiarism is therefore committed when a student uses (per the definition of the NMMU plagiarism declaration) “someone else’s ideas” as their own. “These ideas or words can come from a class mate, an ex-student, an encyclopaedia, book, journal, magazine, newspaper, the Internet, or even a pamphlet”. Therefore, in order to acknowledge that a student understands what plagiarism is, the student is expected to sign his/her name at the bottom of this declaration. The signature serves as promise that the student has not committed plagiarism in the given assignment, and that if they were to be found guilty of plagiarism, disciplinary action could indeed be taken.
As intellectual beings, we therefore shouldunderstand thatafter a warning like that, committing plagiarism simply is not worth it. However, there are those daring souls who just cannot resist taking that risk. Lasheigh Lucas, an experienced journalist and third year National Diploma (Journalism)student said that she felt students plagiarized because: “it makes it easier for them. Often [they] are expected to produce content at a rapid pace and writers block strikes and so copying and pasting part (or all) of an online article is far easier than writing it all[themselves]”. However, those students do not make things easier for themselves; they make it ten times worse.
Third year, BA (Media, Communication and Culture) student, Tsholofelo Lebethe relates a story about her (then terrifying) experience with plagiarism. “We were first year students and we had a group project for Communication. There were members of our group who decided to plagiarise, but as a group we were called to a disciplinary hearing. I was so nervous and scared. A part of me was angry, because I personally did not commit plagiarism. Luckily, the director and the rest of the panel recognised that because it was a group assignment we could not all be suspended, as most of us were not guilty. Those who did plagiarise only got a warning, but that didn’t make the experience less scary”. Lebethe asserts that after that experience, she would never consider committing plagiarism. “Not only is it an ethical and moral transgression, but it is a decision that could cost you your future”.
Although there are those students who have enough integrity not to commit this misdemeanour, the recent allegations against former Dean of the Arts, Professor Velilie Notshulwana has students talking about how serious they actually consider plagiarism to be. The allegations against Professor Notshulwana have not been confirmed yet, but The Herald publication did have concrete evidence that illustrated exactly how the former dean presented the words of the famous Dr Phil, as his own. NMMU has distanced themselves from the allegations and have pleaded that both the staff and students wait for the results of the formal investigation before making their own assumptions. Whether the allegations are true or not, the mere fact that the former dean is involved in such a scandal has JMP students questioning how ‘holy’ NMMU’s first commandment truly is.
Chardé Meyer. 29 August 2014.
Dean of the Arts, Professor Velilie Notshulwana
A first year BA (Media, Communication and Culture) student (who prefers to be anonymous), who is also related to Professor Notshulwana said that the whole situation had brought the integrity of the entire faculty under scrutiny. “If it is true, then it sure is a shame, because as a student you expect your leaders to be an example, so it is saddening as a student to think that he could be found guilty. As his nephew, I do not want to comment, because the entire ordeal is just unbelievable”. The student in question continued by saying; “that the scandal makes us as students develop a never-minded attitude towards plagiarism. As childish as it may sound, we kind of feel that well if he could do it, then surely we can do it too.”
A concentrated survey amongst JMP students shows that the scandal makes them devalue not only their qualifications, but the respect and hope they entrust to their leaders. A Public Relations stream student felt that were the allegations proven to be true that he would not appreciate having studied for three years. Besides being accused of committing plagiarism, Professor Notshulwana is also being investigated for falsifying his qualifications and experiences on his curriculum vitae. “Studying for three years is not exactly easy and yet there are people who get away with making up doctorates and it enrages you,” said the irate student. “I remember how my friends and I always acted like we had seen a celebrity whenever we bumped into the dean in the lifts, but now, how do you respect someone who does not practise what he preaches? On these occasions, the dean would tell us to study hard and encourage us to keep at our studies. I was in awe of the man and his story, and to find out that it might be false makes me feel that all my hard work was for nothing”.
As of March 2014, Professor Notshulwana is no longer the dean of the arts faculty, but was appointed the head of the family studies unit. However, he has been suspended until the investigation has been completed. Although he is no longer the dean, the JMP students still feel personally affected. Lebethe added the closing remark that regardless of the level, “plagiarism is plagiarism and it is wrong”. Until the investigation has been completed, the students are expected to continue studying hard and working to obtaining their qualifications.
“Thou shall not plagiarise!” This is the first and ‘holy’ commandment of any tertiary institution, but for those who are JMP students the commandment extends to more than just university. In the case of Notshulwana the allegations of his plagiarism caught up to him and he is being dealt with accordingly. Therefore, it ultimately up to the individual whether or not they will tread into the ‘unholy’ ground of plagiarism. For those who do, they will surely face their judgement day.
Racial Divisions at NMMU
Sinazo Mtshengu. 29 August 2014.
Recently NMMU has been in the news for racism and this time the attention is centered on the racism of black against white. The racial divide in the university is highly visible, walking through South Campus; groups can be seen that are grouped according to their racial and cultural groups. Is it racism or is it ignorance of other cultures?
An interesting question was posed to me by a friend, who like me went to a multi racial school, he walked into my room and saw pictures of white people all over my wall and asked me, why I have so many white friends and where I got them? This was alarming to me, so I decided to find out from NMMU students, why there was such a clear divide of coloureds, Indians, blacks and whites in students, from classes to recreational spaces at NMMU.
Residences at NMMU are 90% black and are catering for their black students more than white or other races. “The orientation program is designed in a manner that excluded anyone who is not black,” say’s Heidi a white third year BA student, “I felt left out” she added. The question of cultural accommodation in NMMU races has been a question that has been asked by many students, in particular those who are outside the cultural or racial groups of the South African black students.
In the case of Second Avenue’s democracy board, where boards posing the question “what does democracy mean to you (students)?” Racial slurs were written all over the boards. With the university’s elections getting closer, it seems no press releases have been made by any of the student political organizations, raising an alarm of lack of care from these organizations. “Had it been black students that had been racially insulted, this would have been a bigger deal”, says Heidi. The Herald, a local Port Elizabeth publication covered the story, where an anonymous NMMU Second Avenue student reported that: “The university has taken the board down, but it still lies in the passage where people walk by, and people are still writing racial slurs and hate speech. The university has not offered an apology to any white students and no disciplinary action has been taken against anyone.”
Where can NMMU start this transformation of uniting their students and breaking down racial division bearers? According to Kgobo Mphato the Marketing manager of Madibaz Radio, NMMU needs to start with the residences, integrating them and making them more diverse and accommodating to other racial groups.
“If they can create a res culture that is not any particular class specific, then we will see more diversity and integration in NMMU” Mphato says, “because there are too many cultural lines”.
Mphato also suggested than NMMU, needs to have an identifiable campus culture, as there is nothing concrete in terms of the identity of NMMU culture. According to him, NMMU is an institution with many different campus cultures but not one unifying its students.
The institution of NMMU has five values, which includes diversity. This value is visible in the students who attend the university but it is the lack of integration and interaction of the different cultures that may be seen as not achieving full diversity. Michael, an exchange student from St. Clouds University USA, said, “ I love the university and Port Elizabeth, but I wish we could get to know some the local students and the cultures of South Africa. I love living with the other international students and I’m learning about their countries as well, but I came to know South Africans”. Michael feels that NMMU has so much diversity, but no one is sharing that diversity with the international students. He says his favourite part of being in South Africa has been his trip to the township. Johann, a business management German student, who is dating a black South African says, “I think South Africans don’t want to understand each other’s cultures, they feel comfortable in what they know”.
Coloured, White, Indian and Black South Africans study in abundance, but the division may be causing low tolerance of each other. “It is not racism, it ignorance of students”, says South Campus SRC representative Anele Zondi. “It is because students don’t know how to interact with each other outside the classroom, because of this they are ignorant of other cultures. A Xhosa student may feel that his Afrikaans classmate is rude, because he does not greet him, but for an Afrikaans student he may not understand why he would greet someone who is not a friend. There are different norms within different cultures, and diversity week does not provide the correct platform to share these cultures and unite a divided campus.
