26 Januarie ‘13 6 The who’s who of Tuks politics Choose AYANDA NDLOVU
The University of Pretoria holds annual student parliament elections. But in order to vote, you need to know who to vote for. Here at Perdeby we want you to be informed about Tuks’s political societies and what they stand for. AfriForum Youth UP AfriForum Youth UP markets itself as a nonpolitical human rights organisation. They have won the majority number of seats in Student Parliament in the previous two elections and do heavy election campaigning. They believe in mother-tongue education and the development of healthy student traditions based on Christian principles. They say that they contest political elections because they want to keep political organisations out of student governance and represent the true mandate of the students. Democratic Alliance Student Organisation (DASO) DASO is the oncampus branch of the Democratic Alliance (DA) youth division. They stand for student rights, and they want to build a university that offers equal opportunity to all and want Tuks to be united. Delivery, diversity, reconciliation and redress are the four pillars the organisation runs on. They aim to use these four pillars to build an inclusive university that works for all. DASO wants to teach students to be active participants in creating their own future outside of campus. African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) The ANCYL is in a progressive youth alliance with the South African Students Congress (SASCO). Together these two organisations push for the reform of the university as a whole to include all those within the student body and not only the minority. They believe in the championing of free education for all students and to redress the problems created by Apartheid and its legacy on the youth. They want the abolishment of quota systems in residences and they want an
honest conversation when it comes to racism on campus. South African Students Congress (SASCO) SASCO, in addition to being in an alliance with the ANCYL, are also in a goal-driven partnership with the Muslim Student Association (MSA) to champion the rights of the oppressed in Palestine. They believe that the voice of the students has to be heard on campus and that student governance must be taken seriously. They also champion free education and wish to redress the university structure to be inclusive for everyone. COPE@Tuks COPE@ Tuks is an organisation that wants students to have a balanced student life. They push for organisations like RAG to be able to continue organising the type of events they do and for the creation of a student aid fund to help those in need. They pushed for the creation of a 24-hour library space and want students to lead balanced lives. Pan Africanist Student Movement (PASMA) PASMA is the student wing of the PAC. They believe in effective and accessible education for all. PASMA sees education as a way to transform society to be non-racial, non-sexist and classless. They are therefore committed to helping educationally excluded students. PASMA is dedicated to the destruction of capitalism, neo-colonialism and imperialism.
Images provided
News
your day house
MAXINE TWADDLE Tuks’s day houses were created to allow students who do not live in residences to participate in organised student life. By joining one of the four day houses students can participate in RAG as well as sport and cultural activities. Only students who live in private accommodation may join a day house. The newest day house, Luminous, was officially recognised in March 2011. It describes itself as “a diverse and value-based day house, dedicated to [giving] every student a holistic experience in student life.” Kris Hamersa, Head of Marketing and Communications for Luminous, told Perdeby that the house “excelled” in activities such as Ienkmelodienk and RAG and would like to build on this foundation in 2013. “Luminous is more than just a day house, we are a family, a brotherhood, a collection of random and unique souls, where everyone is accepted,” their website says. Vividus was created in 2003 and separated into men and women day houses in 2006 when the number of members reached 1 000. Vividus Ladies describes itself as an opportunity for students to “passionately and proudly participate and set new standards in all areas at Tuks”. The Vividus Ladies’ mascot is a phoenix named Aspiros (which is Latin for “full of fire”). The mascot was adopted in 2008 to celebrate the house’s five-year
Feesjaar (anniversary). Vividus Ladies won Ienkmelodienk last year and Day House of the Year and Serenade in 2010. 2013 will be a big year for Vividus Ladies as they celebrate their Feesjaar. Mideé Buizer, Primaria for 2012, told Perdeby that Vividus Ladies aims to win Day House of the Year in 2013. She also said that the ladies will aim to finish in the top five at Ienkmelodienk, Serrie and Serenade. Vividus Men is Tuks’s only men’s day house and won Day House of the Year last year. According to its page on the university website, Vividus Men creates the opportunity for day students to participate in the same activities as residence students. The house provides students “with opportunities to socialise and to participate in cultural and sports activities, providing them with the ideal platform to meet new people and develop their own support network”. Zeus, Tuks’s oldest day house, was established in 1999. Zeus won Serenade in 2010 in the men’s category and in 2011 in the women’s category. Thomas van Schalkwyk, a Zeus house committee member for 2012, said that Zeus “had a disappointing year in terms of culture, but in all other areas we improved from 2011”. Follow the day houses on Twitter to keep up to date with their activities: @HouseLuminous, @Vividus_Ladies and @vividusmen. Illustration: Modeste Goutondji
Meet your Tuks service providers KEVIN VAN DER LIST The various campus service providers are largely student-run organisations that serve the student community. They offer students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience and develop leadership skills. UP’s service providers are: Tuks RAG Tuks RAG (Reach out and Give) is a studentrun non-profit organisation that raises funds for several charities. Funds are raised through various events, including the RAG Procession, Spring Day and UP Beats Festival, as well as sponsored by several large companies. Tuks RAG annually hosts the Tuks RAG Queen Competition which allows female students between the ages of 18 and 25 to actively participate in fundraising and community projects. The competition gives the girls the opportunity to become the face of Tuks RAG by becoming RAG Queen. See pages 14 and 15 for this year’s RAG debutantes. Perdeby Perdeby is UP’s official student newspaper which has 75 years of history behind its headlines. It is one of the top student newspapers in the country with a readership of over 40 000. Between 20 and 30 issues of 10 000 copies each are printed annually making it the most regular student newspaper in South Africa. The paper covers news, entertainment,
features and sport. Editor-in-Chief Carel Willemse said he is looking to expand the paper this year with more copies to ensure a wider distribution. Student Culture (Stuku) Stuku is responsible for student culture at UP and ensures the continuation of cultural events
and the promotion of healthy participation. Stuku organises events such as UP Arts Week, Tuks Debate, Expression, Serrie, Ienkmelodienk and Serenade. JC de Jager, 2012 Stuku Chairperson, said Stuku hopes “to expand and better represent the cultural diversity of UP [and] to provide first class service to all Tuks
students”. De Jager added that “all students express their culture in their own unique way and Stuku provides a platform to facilitate these expressions. Stuku is always open for a new challenge to broaden the cultural representation on our campuses.” Tuks FM Tuks FM “sells itself as a ‘rock lifestyle companion’ and supports not only local bands but also its local community,” said Station Manager Loutjie van der Merwe. Tuks FM is situated on Hatfield campus and has been the sound of Tuks for over 30 years. The station is one of the most respected campus stations in the country. It received the MTN Campus Station of the Year award in 2012 as well as various awards for its staff members. Tuks FM is strictly staffed by students, giving them experience in broadcasting. They have produced the likes of Gareth Cliff, Barney Simon, Anele Mdoda, Marius van der Walt, Sias du Plessis and Rob Forbes, just to name a few. Student Sport Committee (SSC) The SSC manages sporting activities at UP and strives to promote participation in sport at the university. According to the university website the SSC hopes to “create an efficient and positive organisational structure and to positively promote the image of the university through excellent sport management”. Illustration: Talifhani Mathode