2014 BOOK
S T I W E TH
RY, TR HISTO
ADITIO
NS
STING
TERE AND IN
S SPACE
COMPLIMENTS OF ALUMNI RELATIONS
Your gateway to the future
TABLE OF CONTENTS Welcome to the World of Wits
1
Defending Social Ideals
3
Wits Milestones
5
Alumni 15 Convocation 16 General Assemblies
17
Graduation Ceremony
19
The Mace
23
Coat of Arms
25
The Wits Mascot
27
Traditions, Superstitions & Rites of Passage
33
History of Traditions
35
Annual Events
39
Sport & Recreation
43
Spaces & Places
47
Illustrious Witsies
57
Johannesburg - City of Gold
61
If I only knew then ‌
63
The Wits Bucket List
69
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WELCOME TO THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF WITS 1 | THEWITSBOOK 2014
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E
stablished in 1922, Wits University has a proud and distinguished record of innovation, excellence, enlightened discourse, and
academic leadership. This handbook is your introduction to the world of Wits − its history, traditions, rituals, symbols, and interesting spaces. Over its long history some unique and quirky traditions have emerged. Some are formal and academic, others just silly and fun! They’re all part
You are a Witsie for life so truly make this a Wits to call your own.
of the fabric and fascinating legacy of one of the world’s top universities. Traditions are a way of connecting with an institution and give it a unique sense of identity. Some traditions have survived through generations of Witsies, others are lost in the mists of time, while new traditions arise
We hope that you will celebrate your identity as a Witsie for life. Be proud of being part of the Wits experience.
for new ages. As Wits evolves, so too will its traditions. Join us in this evolution that, for almost a century, has been a unique part of giving Witsies the edge. While this handbook can’t do justice to the rich tapestry and enormous variety of everything Witsie, it will give you a taste of the unique Wits experience as you progress from being a student today, to being a Witsie forever.
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DEFENDING SOCIAL IDEALS W
its is a vibrant University in the heart of
of the former “riot police”. From the time Wits defied
cosmopolitan Johannesburg. Throughout
segregation in the 1930s by permitting black students
its long history the University has been
to study, through the wave of student activism in 1948
synonymous with progressive thought and public
when the National Party formalised apartheid, to the
engagement. Its academics and students speak
hotbed of political unrest during the turbulent 1980s,
up and speak out. Although the University’s history
the University has always been the breeding ground
is inevitably tainted by the exclusionary policies of
for bold leadership and a diversity of voices.
apartheid, Wits has a proud record of standing up for social justice, freedom and democracy.
The University’s commitment to liberty and justice continues to this day. Wits holds regular public
Wits is renowned for its demonstrations in defence
discussions and debates on current social issues
of human rights and freedoms, from the splendor of
and has demonstrated on issues of media freedom,
formal academic marches in full academic regalia,
xenophobia, the right of the Dalai Lama to visit South
to messy skirmishes against the teargas and batons
Africa, and the Marikana mine massacre.
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WITSMILESTONES
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Timeline
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The University is formally inaugurated on 4 October at a ceremony at the Johannesburg Town Hall and Professor Jan Hofmeyr is appointed the first Principal. Full University status is granted and the University of the Witwatersrand is established with about 1 000 students. The Johannesburg municipality donates a site in Milner Park to the University and construction begins on what is now East Campus.
Wits University’s forerunner, the South African School of Mines, is established in Kimberley.
The School moves to Johannesburg and is renamed the Transvaal Technical Institute.
1896
1904
1939 The Right Honourable Jan Hofmeyr is installed as the University’s second Chancellor.
1906
1940 The Governor-General, Sir Patrick Duncan, officially opens the Great Hall in the newly completed Central Block.
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The Institute is renamed the Transvaal University College.
Prince Arthur of Connaught is installed as the University’s first Chancellor.
1922
1943 The first major Wits student protest – against increased fees – takes place.
Sir William Dalrymple is elected as the first Chairperson of the Wits Council.
1946 Wits launches its ‘crash’ programme for ex-volunteers returning from World War II. The University enrolls 2 825 ex-volunteers, more than twice as many as all the other South African universities combined.
1947 Honorary alumnus Dr Robert Broom and Professor John Robinson discover ‘Mrs Ples’ at the Sterkfontein Caves.
Mr H Hofmeyr is elected the first President of Convocation. Wits University Press established.
1923
The Central Block is officially opened by His Royal Highness, Edward, Prince of Wales. In a famous student hoax, a ‘bogus’ prince is initially presented to the crowd.
1925
1948 The National Party wins the South African election, prompting student politics to begin engaging with issues of national significance. Various student organisations become more politicised and involved in the antiapartheid movement.
Professor Humphrey Raikes is appointed Principal. His tendency to fall asleep during important meetings and even official public occasions causes alarm, but is later recognised as narcolepsy and treated.
1928
1957 Two-thousand academic staff, students and members of Convocation march from the University to the City Hall behind the banner ‘Against Separate Universities Bill’.
New Library, now the William Cullen Library, is officially opened by Prince George, Duke of Kent. Central Block is gutted by fire and the library destroyed.
1931
The University’s Council decides to begin admitting black students to Wits.
1934
1959 On 16 April, thousands of students and staff stand in silence on campus to mourn the end of academic freedom as the National Party passes the Extension of University Education Act (a follow-up to the Bantu Education Act of 1953). Both acts exclude black students from white schools and universities.
The University’s first ever General Assembly is held in the Great Hall to protest against the imposition of university apartheid. The opening night of the African jazz opera, ‘King Kong’ is staged in the Great Hall, starring Miriam Makeba and Hugh Masekela on trumpet.
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Pictured clockwise from the left: Chancellor Digkang Moseneke, Vice-Chancellor and Principal Adam Habib, President of Convocation Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng, and founder Principal Jan Hofmeyr.
Jan Hendrik Hofmeyr was a child prodigy, matriculating at age 12, obtaining his BA aged 15 and MA aged 17. At age 25 he was appointed as the first Principal of Wits University. He was later elected Chancellor of Wits and is remembered for a forthright address at a graduation ceremony in 1946 where he branded the tyranny of prejudice as the greatest evil facing South Africa. Throughout his life Hofmeyr was very attached to his many cats. 9 | THEWITSBOOK 2014
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1960 - 2007
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The University purchases the Sterkfontein site, an area with limestone caves that are famous for their fossil finds and palaeoanthropological significance. On 12 October the first full-sized planetarium in Africa, and the second in the Southern Hemisphere opens its doors on Wits Campus to the public.
1960
A plaque is unveiled at the Great Hall, declaring: “We affirm in the name of the University of the Witwatersrand that it is our duty to uphold the principle that a university is a place where men and women, without regard to race and colour, are welcome to join in the acquisition and advancement of knowledge; and to continue faithfully to defend this ideal against all those who have sought by legislative enactment to curtail the autonomy of the University.”
1961
1988 Wits confers an honorary doctorate on Nelson Mandela. Honorary Wits alumna Nadine Gordimer wins the Nobel Prize for Literature.
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United States Senator, Robert F. Kennedy addresses Wits students in the Great Hall.
The Graduate School of Business Administration (Wits Business School) is established in Parktown.
1966
1989 The Chamber of Mines Building for the Faculty of Engineering is inaugurated and the brick-paved AMIC Deck, linking the East and West Campuses, is built. Wits purchases the Umbabat Farm in Bushbuckridge, Limpopo Province, to launch the Wits Rural Facility, an interdisciplinary research facility to develop the local community.
1968
1993
1997
Honorary Wits alumnus Nelson Mandela wins the Nobel Peace Prize.
The new South African Constitution takes effect and contains a Bill of Rights which recognises the right to academic freedom in institutions of higher learning.
Wits alumnus Professor Ron Clarke unearths the first known Australopithecus skeleton, known as ‘Little Foot’.
The University expands into Braamfontein where it buys Lawson’s Corner and renames it University Corner. Senate House, the University’s administrative premises, are occupied.
1976
The University occupies two new buildings in De Korte Street – Campus Lodge and Convocation House.
1980
2002 The University incorporates the Johannesburg College of Education into the School of Education. The University’s Donald Gordon Medical Centre, South Africa’s only independent academic medical facility, is launched as a result of a R100-million donation by the Donald Gordon Foundation.
Felicity Steadman (nèe Wright) (BA Social Work) becomes the University’s 50 000th graduate.
1981
Wits alumnus Sir Aaron Klug wins the Nobel Prize for Chemistry.
1982
2003 Prof. Loyiso Nongxa is appointed as Wits’ first black Vice-Chancellor and Principal. International House, a residence designed for the growing international student population, and the revamped student mall, The Matrix, open.
The Wits Theatre opens.
The University purchases the Milner Park showground from the Witwatersrand Agricultural Society and converts the grounds into West Campus.
1983
1984
2007
2006 Wits alumnus Gavin Hood and five other Wits alumni win an Oscar Academy Award in the category ‘Best Foreign Film’, for Tsotsi.
Justice Dikgang Moseneke is installed as the eighth Chancellor of the University.
The Wits mascot, Kudos Kudu is introduced to inspire Witsies to greater glory.
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2008 - 2013
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The first FIFA® Medical Centre of Excellence in Africa is inaugurated at Wits. The Faculty of Humanities’ inaugural Wits Arts and Literature Experience (WALE) is launched in April to celebrate all things literary and artistic.
Seven-hundred Wits academics and staff, including the Vice-Chancellor, don their academic gowns and bear placards on Jan Smuts Avenue in protest against nationwide xenophobic attacks. The Wits Theatre celebrates mounting 2 000 productions in its 25-year history.
2008
Wits University serves as the training base for the Dutch football team and the South African national football team, Bafana Bafana, during the 2010 FIFA® Soccer World Cup.
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The University issues a public statement condemning the South African government’s denial of a visa to His Holiness, the Dalai Lama.
2009
2010 A groundbreaking discovery of Australopithecus Sediba fossils (one of which is named ‘Karabo’) is announced to the world by Wits palaeoanthropologist Professor Lee Berger.
The new FNB Commerce Building and the Commerce Library are completed.
The new Professional Development Hub and the fourth quadrant of the Chamber of Mines Building are completed. Bidvest-Wits FC (aka ‘Clever Boys’/‘The Students’) make history by winning the Nedbank Cup in the first match to be held in the brand new Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg.
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2011
2012
Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng is elected President of Convocation.
Wits Art Museum (WAM) opens at University Corner and houses the largest collection of African art on the continent.
A new student residence complex in Parktown, Wits Junction, and the Science Stadium on West Campus are opened to students.
The new School of Public Health building opens in Parktown. Wits celebrates its 90th birthday with a party on the Library Lawns on 4 October. Dr Randall Carolissen is elected Chairperson of the Wits Council.
2013 The new School of Construction Economics and Management building opens in May. Professor Adam Habib takes office as ViceChancellor and Principal on 1 June. A R75-million upgrade to the Richard Ward Building on East Campus is completed. Construction begins on the Phillip V. Tobias Health Sciences Building in Parktown.
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ALUMNI ‘Alumni’ comes from the Arabic word aalim (‘scholar’) and alumnus, Latin for ‘foster son’, comes from the verb alere − ‘to nourish’.
alumna
alumnus
alumnae
alumni
ALUMNI
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The university you graduate from is your Alma Mater − ‘nourishing mother’
C
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onvocation is a statutory body and the name given to the University’s largest constituency – its alumni.
Around 130 000 graduates, Wits academic staff, and retired academics with 10 years’ consecutive service to the University make up Convocation. You automatically become a member of Convocation when you receive a degree from Wits. Convocation’s role is “to discuss and state its opinion upon any matter relating to the University.” Convocation elects the University Chancellor, the President of Convocation and ten members of the Executive Committee of Convocation (EXCO).
What Wits does today can influence the value of your qualification tomorrow. Convocation enables alumni to have a say in University matters, ensuring that the quality and reputation of your Wits qualification is maintained and strengthened.
CONVOCATION
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GENERAL ASSEMBLY 17 | THEWITSBOOK 2014
A General Assembly is a special gathering of Convocation members
18 The University held its first ever General Assembly in 1959 in the Great Hall to protest against the imposition of university apartheid.
Affirmation of Autonomy General Assembly On 19 October 1987 the old South African government renewed its systematic violation of the autonomy of universities. On 28 October, a Wits General Assembly affirmed that: “The University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg is dedicated to the acquisition, advancement and imparting of knowledge through the pursuit of truth in free and open debate, in the undertaking of research, in scholarly discourse and in balanced, dispassionate teaching. We reject any external interference designed to diminish our freedom to attain these ends. We record our solemn protest against the intention of the government, through the threat of financial sanctions, to force the University to become the agent of government policy in disciplining its members. We protest against the invasion of the legitimate authority of the University. We protest against the proposed stifling of the legitimate dissent. In the interest of all in this land, and in the knowledge of the justice of our cause, we dedicate ourselves to unremitting opposition to these intended restraints and to the restoration of our autonomy.”
General Assembly and Special Graduation Ceremony On 24 September 2005, a special General Assembly and graduation ceremony was held to enable alumni who had boycotted their graduation ceremony in protest against apartheid education to reclaim ownership of their alma mater, and be formally awarded their qualification. In honour of the ceremony, the Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Loyiso Nongxa, made a landmark proclamation, stating:
“We can never claim that this country is completely liberated if there are places that are not ours, that are perceived to belong to the ‘other’. Wits is your University, it is our University as South Africans. Wits belongs to all of us: Black and White, Muslim or Jewish, Christian or Hindu, gay or straight.”
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GRADUATION CEREMONY The ultimate university experience
A
graduation ceremony is held so that the
Convocation, Chairperson of Council, Vice-Chancellor,
Chancellor of the University can formally
Deputy Vice-Chancellors, guest speaker, honorary
confer a qualification on a student. It is the
graduands, SRC President, and academic staff) led by
ultimate university experience and the culmination of
the bearer of the University mace and accompanied by
your years of hard academic slog.
the processional song, sIhele.
Before
graduates
During the ceremony, graduands, wearing black
traditionally pose for photographs with the mascot on
the
graduation
ceremony
academic gowns, cross the stage to be ‘capped’
the steps of the Great Hall with the majestic pillars as
and ‘hooded’. The Chancellor taps his hat on the
a backdrop.
head of the graduate, thereby conferring the degree,
Graduation ceremonies are a dignified occasion held
and the President of Convocation places the ‘hood’,
in the iconic Great Hall. The ceremony begins with
representing the particular degree qualification
the academic procession (Chancellor, President of
obtained, over the graduand.
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Alma Mater
Nourishing Mother
During the graduation ceremony, tribute is paid to the University and to graduands with the singing of the Alma Mater and sIhele
S
.B.P Mnomiya, who wrote sIhele (also known as the ‘black’ Gaudeamus Igitur - Let Us Rejoice) uses poetic language to describe a graduation
ceremony. The soloist sings of the ‘strange’ procession of people in long robes and head gear. The choir responds by saying that these people are academics who read profound books of knowledge. Mnomiya goes on to say that the graduands are an inspiration to all of us, and we will graduate like them one day. The song goes on to wish the graduates well and it ends with a resounding “halala” (well done!).
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Alma Mater
Nourishing Mother
Stans in monte Alma Mater
Standing on the mountain, kind Mother,
Ubi alba fluit aqua,
Where the water of good fortune is flowing
Omnes doces nos virtutes,
You teach us all the virtues,
Artes et Scientam;
The Arts and Science;
Digni simus aula tua,
May we be worthy of your princely dignity
Fortiter et recte stemus,
Let us stand powerfully and upright,
Una voce te canamus
Let us celebrate you in song unanimously
Tui nos discipuli.
We, your scholars.
Dure laborabimus,
We shall toil relentlessly/rigorously
Semper te amabimus,
We shall always delight in/love you
Crede Alma, crede, Mater,
Have faith, kind Mother, have faith
Nobis concinentibus.
In us, harmoniously singing your praises.
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23 Vertical blades
symbolise the horns of the springbok
Central vertical spike depicts a mining rock drill, representative of the University’s mining heritage
Amber stone
is a tribute to a former Chancellor, Bertrand Bernstein
Cogs symbolise
the cogwheel in the University coat of arms - a tribute to mining and industry
Gold and silver plated
1070 mm long | 180 mm broad
7kg
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THE MACE The University Mace is presented at all graduation ceremonies
M
aces (sceptres or ‘swords of state’) were
The heraldic decoration reflects the character of the
originally weapons of defence. In medieval
University as an institution of learning within a mining
times, bishops carried a mace instead of a
centre in the Republic of South Africa. The spreading
sword into battle to enable them to defend themselves.
vertical blades at the head of the mace symbolise
Over time, the mace has come to be regarded as a
the horns of the springbok. The central vertical spike
symbol of delegated authority vested in a person or an
depicts a mining rock drill, representative of the
institution. At Wits, it is a symbol of the authority vested
University’s mining heritage. The amber stone is a
in the Chancellor, and a reminder of the mandate given
tribute to a former Chancellor, Bertrand Bernstein
by the legislature of South Africa to the University, to
(‘bernstein’ being German for ‘amber stone’). The cogs
grant degrees.
symbolise the cogwheel in the University coat of arms,
Edinburgh silversmith and engraver, William Kirk,
again a tribute to mining and industry. The words,
created the Wits mace. It is plated with gold and silver,
Universitas Witwatersrandensis Johannesburgi and
measures 1 070mm long by 180mm broad and weighs
MCMLXXVI (roman numerals for 1977) depict the year
7kg.
of dedication of the mace.
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COAT OF ARMS
T
he Wits coat of arms is an adaptation of the South African School of Mines badge. It has evolved over time to reflect various influences
on Wits and the academic nature of a University.
The motto,
“Scientia et Labore”
is Latin for “through knowledge and through work”
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26 Above the shield is the
head of a Kudu,
a powerful southern African antelope
The gold background in the upper part of the shield represents the Witwatersrand gold fields The open book represents learning/ knowledge, overlaid on a cog to represent industry The two wavy silver bars in the lower half of the shield symbolise the Vaal and Limpopo Rivers which border the Witwatersrand gold fields
The crest reflects the University colours of
blue and gold
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THE WITS MASCOT 27 | THEWITSBOOK 2014
The mascot of Wits University, Kudos Kudu, is a cool and cosmopolitan Joburger who is proudly Witsie, proudly South African and a global citizen.
KUDOSKUDU
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ffectionately known as “Kudos” or “Kudu”, he is imbued with the characteristics that generally typify successful Witsies: He is a leader and
an achiever; intelligent, confident, and with a wild independent streak. Naturally curious and inquisitive, Kudos is an innovative and progressive thinker and problem-solver who is socially aware, charitable, compassionate, tolerant and civic-minded. His innate stamina and endurance enable him to work his magic relentlessly towards unifying Witsies, lifting their spirits, pride and passion and bringing them good luck. Although Kudos is hard-working, he isn’t averse to kicking up his hooves and having fun! He loves meeting Witsies and celebrating their achievements. He is an extremely loyal friend to Witsies and does everything he can to make sure all Witsies are his BFF. Nothing makes him sadder than when he loses touch with a Witsie who moves without telling him. Kudos is tolerant, gentle and kind, but he’s no pushover. Some of Kudos’s natural irritants include the African Hoopoe, which nests at the University of Johannesburg, and the gnome-like ‘Oom Gert’ who, since being kidnapped by Witsies in the 1950s, seldom emerges from his hideout at the University of Pretoria. Ikey Tiger, who prowls the University of Cape Town, and Pokkel S. Quirrel, a rodent at the University of Stellenbosch, remain on Kudos’ radar.
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29 Where does Kudos Kudu come from? Kudos has resided quietly on the Wits Coat of Arms since 1922 and has always been looking after Witsies. However, in 2007 he decided to make his presence more visible on campus to unite students in support of a “Proudly Witsie” campaign, initiated by the Student Representatives’ Council. Kudos made his debut appearance on October 20 at the Bidvest-Wits vs Santos football match. Other Witsies met Kudos the next day, at the University’s 85th anniversary celebrations on the Library Lawns.
A Kudu is a beautiful, large and powerful African antelope with magnificent annulated spiral horns, a remarkable sense of hearing, a keen sense of smell and sharp eyesight. Kudus can outrun most animals, jump a 1.5m fence from a standing start and can kick with a force strong enough to break a jackal’s back.
Kudos soon found comfortable lodgings for his sister, brother and himself at Alumni House on the West Campus. He entranced the Alumni Relations staff with his magnetic appeal and they gave him a permanent home. The Alumni staff consider it an honour and a privilege to keep Kudos well-groomed, run his errands, and manage his busy schedule of appointments and appearances.
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You can also find him on Facebook where you can “friend” him and join the Wits Fan Page.
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Where did Kudos get his name? Alumna and Wits librarian, Diane Hillman (BA 1974, BA Hons 1990) submitted the name ‘Kudos’ in response to a competition the Alumni Office ran in 2007 to name the Kudu. ‘Kudos’ is derived from a Greek noun meaning ‘honour, glory and praise for exceptional achievement’ – all attributes that typify successful Witsies.
Where you can find him Kudos can be found wherever Witsie spirit, pride and passion is needed. Family is important to him and he enjoys spending time with his sister, Witsie Ms Kudos,
Some of Kudos’s regular haunts include: Graduation ceremonies, where he congratulates graduands and welcomes them to the Alumni and Convocation fold; major campus sports and social events; O-Week and surprise walkabouts around campus to meet and greet Witsies.
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MASCOTHISTORY Phineas The earliest Wits mascot was a wooden Scottish highlander called Phineas. He was associated with Men’s Residence and first appeared in 1922. During Inter-Varsity tournaments – particularly between Wits and the Universities of Cape Town and Pretoria – Phineas was often kidnapped and then boldly rescued. These shenanigans took their toll on poor old Phineas, who had to be resurrected as Phineas II and even Phineas III. The end of the Inter-Varsity with Pretoria heralded the end of Phineas III’s public appearances after 1971. He emerged again in 1987 as the Wits Rugby mascot and was insured for the princely sum of R10 000. Phineas retired from service a long time ago and now resides in the University Archives in Senate House.
Mr Wu In the 1980s, Mr Wu (short for “Wits University”) emerged as a cuddly mascot based on TV character, Alf. Some traditions endure, other don’t – and such was the fate of Mr Wu, who now also resides in the University Archives in Senate House.
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Zorro, the Men’s Residence cat Zorro, the Men’s Res cat, was more a residence fixture than a mascot. Zorro distinguished himself in the noisy act of lovemaking. According to legend, one such particularly noisy occasion, Sunnyside Residence’s Sec-
ascot, Zorbo: RAG m s 1960s and 70
ond-year students were unable to endure his amorous side any longer. The result was an infamous assault to which Zorro succumbed. He was buried with a bottle of Claret, to keep his memory sweet. Zorro’s monument (erected with ‘borrowed’ bricks) is at the back door garden of Old College House.
Ducks & Pigeons Ducks loom large in the student psyche, especially as the various campuses are home to many wild creatures that look like ducks but are actually Egyptian geese. The most famous “duck” is Penelope, the Knockando residence mascot, co-custodian of the Duck & Bull pub. While these birds can be feisty, wild rumours of First-years being eaten by ducks, pigeons or Hadedas on campus have not been independently verified. According to our resident ornithologist, the best strategy if “attacked” is not to run, but to show your Witsie courage and calmly stand your ground.
RZO.IR.RP O
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TRADITIONS Superstitions & Rites of Passage
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Engineering Spring Breakfast
Skiffyskofbaas Day (Miners’ Day)
Engineering students gather early in the morning on
Mining Engineering students don their underground
the first day of September each year and prepare
mining gear for Skiffyskofbaas Day in July/August each
breakfast to celebrate the arrival of spring. While they
year and traipse around campus in a mining-related
are meant to wear pyjamas, many students nowadays
rendition of ‘trick or treat’. ‘Skiffy’ translates loosely
just dress outrageously.
to menial worker (‘skivvy’), while ‘skofbaas’ refers
Superstition of the Jacarandas
to a shift boss. After the festivities the students down
Spring in Jozi brings with it the blossoming of the
Skiffyskofbaas Day is known as the more politically
beautiful Jacaranda flowers. Witsies believe that if
correct ‘Miners’ Day’.
one of the purple flowers falls on your head, and you haven’t started studying for your year-end exams, then
a pint at Ore House on West Campus. Nowadays
Pillow Fight
it’s probably too late and you’re doomed to failure.
In what originated as a fundraiser to beat a Guinness
Knock Streak
World Record for the number of participants in a pillow
Not condoned by the University, this risqué tradition
September, armed with pillows to pummel each other
of Knockando Residence students running naked
in a riotous explosion of feathers, fabric and foam.
fight, Witsies now gather on the Library Lawns every
through Parktown to visit the women’s residences after imbibing ‘Courage Juice’ has endured for decades.
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HISTORY OF TRADITIONS
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37 Inter-Varsity Today Wits University sport is most famous for its
It’s hard to believe that Wits, a bastion of free-thinking,
Premier League football team, Bidvest-Wits FC or the
would dictate what students wore, but up to the 1960s
“Clever Boys”. However, back in the day, rugby was
women were only allowed to wear formal dresses and
the most popular game on campus and the Inter-
men were required to wear trousers and shirts with a
Varsity tournament against the University of Pretoria
collar and tie, as decreed in the 1922 dress rules.
(“Tukkies”) was the highlight of the sporting calendar.
In the mid-1960s students rebelled, wearing more
For weeks prior to the match, students would gear up for the game with sing-songs to boost morale and student support. New students would learn the varsity song, led by cheerleaders.
casual clothing. As a result, the rules were relaxed. In 1967, women were allowed to wear trousers, and men were permitted to wear open-necked shirts without ties or jackets. Shorts were allowed – provided they were
There were also clandestine raids between the
worn with ‘long stockings’. Women were permitted to
two universities, mainly involving students living in
wear skirts, blouses and trouser suits, but only in the
residence. The raids were a fun way to rile up the
libraries; trousers could not be worn in lecture halls.
opposition ahead of an important match. In 1956, a
Mr and Miss Wits
Wits University raid resulted in Tukkies’ administration buildings
being
painted
red.
The
controversy
generated by such events resulted in the raids being banned in the 1950s. Though students continued the raids illicitly, they eventually stopped in the 1960s when a student was killed in a car-chase.
Student dress-code The standard ‘uniform’ for students at Wits University today is jeans and a T-shirt, but just 40 years ago the University had strict rules about acceptable dress on its grounds.
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The Mr and Miss Wits beauty pageant used to take place annually in the Great Hall with a panel of celebrity judges. During their reign, Mr and Miss Wits were required to do charity work and to encourage students to do the same.
Wits Rag For many decades, Wits students held an annual Rag (Remember and Give) Parade after an intensive sixweek charity fundraising campaign. After many festive nights spent decorating their floats, students would
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take to the streets of Johannesburg in their finest fancy dress, parading through town and showing off their fabulous floats in an attempt to win the award for best float. In the run-up to the parade, students would hit the streets selling copies of Wits Wits Rag magazine, in a campaign commonly known as the “Wits blitz�.
Graduation Ball Graduation Ball was a festive and formal annual event organised by students. The Ball, usually held at the Wanderers Hall, saw a host of high-profile guests mingle with recent graduates dressed in their finest attire, in the hope of being mentioned in the local
Each year, a Rag Queen was elected and, after the
newspaper. The Hall was decorated in Wits blue and
parade, a Rag Ball was held in the Examinations Hall.
gold, and dinner, drinks and dancing to a live band
The ball was always a most elegant affair where only
were the order of the day. The SRC election results
evening gowns and dinner suits were considered
were traditionally announced at the Ball.
appropriate attire.
THEWITSBOOK 2014 | 38
39
ANNUAL EVENTS
39 | THEWITSBOOK 2014
40
THEWITSBOOK 2014 | 40
41 Founders’ Tea Founders’ are alumni who graduated forty or more years ago. Annually in November, Founders gather for tea on the Gavin Relly Green to reminisce, engage in spirited debate and catch up on the latest developments at Wits. Up to 400 alumni attend the Founders’ Tea, held until 2009 at Savernake, the Vice-Chancellor’s residence.
Wits Arts and Literature Experience (WALE) WALE is a public festival celebrating the music, drama, film, literature and art of Faculty of Humanities academics, students and alumni. First conceived in April 2008 by the Dean of the Faculty, Professor Tawana Kupe, WALE took place annually from 2009 until 2012. This week long festival of the liberal and classic arts usually kicked off with a campus parade.
Yebo-Gogga and amaBlomo Since 2003 the School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences (APES) has transformed the Life Sciences Museum, for three days each year, into an exhibition of live bugs, plants, animals and critters to engage and educate the public – and school children in particular – about the fascinating world of APES.
41 | THEWITSBOOK 2014
42
Lenn Smith Inter-Faculty Campus Road Race Lenn Smith was a stalwart of the Wits Metallurgy Workshop and a running enthusiast. The first race took place in the 1980s, off campus (around the Gas Works), with the Chemical and Metallurgical departments the only contenders. Nowadays, this annual 4-5km race takes place on East and West campuses and attracts some 350 Witsies across all faculties. Lenn Smith himself, who turned 90 in October 2013, traditionally drops the flag that starts the race.
Wits Road Race The first annual Wits Road Race took place in July 2011 and it’s now a fixture on the Central Gauteng Athletics calendar. More than 2 000 Joburgers, Wits alumni and Varsity Kudus (Wits’ running club) participate in the scenic 21km, 10km races or 5km fun-run through Parktown and Westcliff . Wits Alumni Relations and Varsity Kudus host the race, which culminates in a festive prize-giving and social gathering by West Campus’s Wits Club.
THEWITSBOOK 2014 | 42
43
Witsies work hard and play hard
SPORT & RECREATION Sports colours awarded by the University are: Team Badge The coat-of-arms surrounded by a green laurel wreath, below which appears the name of the sport
Half Blue As for the team badge, but with a silver laurel executed in wire
Full Blue As for the team badge, but with a gold laurel executed in wire
Cum Laude As for the full blue badge, but with Cum Laude appearing below the name of the sport
43 | THEWITSBOOK 2014
The colours are awarded at the annual Sports Awards dinner at which the Sportsman and Sportswoman of the year is announced.
44
THEWITSBOOK 2014 | 44
45
W
itsies work hard and play hard. Sport and
The Wits Rugby Club now competes in the prestigious
recreation is an important part of the life
Varsity Cup after “The Clever Kudus” won the Varsity
of many students. Wits boasts some of the
Shield final in 2012. Witsies are encouraged to “back
finest sports facilities in Johannesburg and students
their boytjies” during the challenging top-tier Varsity
participate in over 40 sports ranging from snow ski to
Cup.
squash, rock-climbing to rowing.
The Wits Sports Council awards colours for sporting
For many years Wits was the only University in the
achievement. The highest sporting award the Univer-
country with a soccer team in the premier division of
sity can bestow is a Wits Full Blue awarded with hon-
the soccer league. Bidvest-Wits, popularly known as
ours (Cum Laude). This award is granted to students
“The Clever Boys”, is jointly owned by Wits and Bidvest.
who represent South Africa or who have played in a
“The Clever Boys” won the Nedbank Cup at Soccer
representative national side; for exceptional sporting
City in 2010. Some students show their support for the
performances; sportsmanship; or outstanding contri-
team by wearing blue and gold, or lab coats to games.
bution to a club.
45 | THEWITSBOOK 2014
00
THEWITSBOOK 2014 | 46
47
A Wits to call your own
SPACES &PLACES
47 | THEWITSBOOK 2014
Adler Museum of Medicine
48
Located in the foyer of the Wits Medical School, the Adler Museum of Medicine preserves the history of the health sciences in southern Africa and Gauteng. The Adler supplements the medical historical teaching and research of the Medical School and arranges regular public lectures, tours, film shows and exhibitions.
Art on West Campus The development of West Campus into an ‘art route’ began in 2008. Artworks by eminent artists and alumni including William Kentridge, Cecil Skotnes, Azwifani Ragamanzi, Deborah Bell, Roy Ndinisa, Francina Ndimande, and Jurgen Schadeberg enhance Witsies’ overall experience through displays of tapestries, photography, sculpture, paintings and beadwork.
Champion Blue Gum Tree The giant Blue Gum tree on the Gavin Relly Green by the lake on West Campus is 35m high and 7.6m wide, with a crown diameter of 40m. Planted sometime in the 1930s, this Eucalyptus grandis is the largest tree in Johannesburg. It has been declared a Champion Tree in terms of the National Forests Act of 1998. THEWITSBOOK 2014 | 48
East Campus
49
The original University buildings were erected in 1922. The iconic Great Hall (which is a national monument) and Central Block were built in the late 1930s. The steps of the Great Hall are a favourite meeting place and Witsies love to relax on the lawn between the Wartenweiler and William Cullen libraries.
Graduate School of Business Administration (Wits Business School – WBS) The WBS was established in 1968. The WBS is internationally renowned and respected. It’s an entirely postgraduate school offering, amongst others, a Master of Business Administration degree.
Health Sciences Memorial The sculpture outside the Medical School depicts two figures, representing medical students, holding books. One figure looks down, indicating the years of shame when apartheid limited the participation of black students in medical schools. The sharp barbs represent the pain of this indignity. The other figure depicts a student looking up towards the future, representing a united, non-racial faculty. 49 | THEWITSBOOK 2014
Linder Auditorium
50
The Linder Auditorium is a concert and cultural venue widely recognised for its acoustic merits. The Linder features concerts and musical productions, eisteddfods and exhibitions, choir festivals, ballet and dance. Its satellite facilities include the Space Frame Foyer and the Space Frame Theatre. The Linder is located on the Wits Education Campus.
Medical School The British Medical Association established Wits Medical School in 1916. First-year medical students took classes at the Tin Temple in Hillbrow. A dental school was established in 1925. The Medical School moved to Esselen Street in 1969. In 1972, construction began on the Parktown premises, which opened in 1982. Dentistry and medicine amalgamated in 1997 to create the Faculty of Health Sciences.
The Origins Centre The Origins Centre is the world’s only museum dedicated to exploring and celebrating the history of modern humankind. Conceptualised by Wits academics and designers, it boasts an extensive collection of rock art and the earliest images made by humans. Cutting-edge technology enables a journey of discovery that explores human origins through fossils, and humankind’s artistic, symbolic and technological development in Africa.
THEWITSBOOK 2014 | 50
Science Stadium
51
The Wits Science Stadium is located on West Campus on the site of the former Charles Skeen athletics stadium. Officially launched on 7 June 2012, the Science Stadium accommodates up to 3 400 students in world-class, state-of-the-art teaching and learning facilities and laboratories.
Postgraduate Club (a.k.a the Blind PiG – “because there’s no ‘i’ in postgraduate…”)
The PiG was established in 1976. It has been in its present location on East Campus, opposite the Origins Centre, since 1990. The PiG is exclusively for Wits postgraduate students and staff. Over the years, activities at the PiG have included quiz nights, live music, boisterous participation in televised international sport, and spontaneous games of darts, dominoes and backgammon.
Senate House Senate House was built in 1977. It houses the University’s senior management and central administrative staff. The vast internal expanse of Senate House, known as the Concourse, accommodates the Wits Shop, the Student Enrolment Centre, the International Office, the mailing and post offices, and a café. The Concourse used to be the main meeting and eating place for students 51 | THEWITSBOOK 2014
before the Matrix was built in 2003.
West Campus
52
West Campus used to be Milner Park, where the Rand Easter Show took place annually from 1907 until 1984. It was here that one David Pratt attempted to assassinate Prime Minister Dr H.F. Verwoerd on 9 April 1960, while he watched a cattle show. The iconic Tower of Light was built on West Campus in 1936. At the time, a cable car ran from the Tower to Empire Road.
Wits Club and Barns Complex The complex includes the Wits Club restaurant with an alumni pub, a conference centre, and Alumni House, which houses the Office of Alumni Relations. The complex is popular with Witsies who enjoy a meal in the stylish and elegant restaurant, or under the majestic Oak trees. The barns, now a conference centre, is ideal for alumni weddings, 21sts and birthday gatherings.
Witwatersrand ‘Spruit’ ‘Witwatersrand’ is Afrikaans for ‘ridge of white water’ and a ‘spruit’ is a stream. This ridge runs east to west through Gauteng with Wits directly on the water divide, so rain falling north of Senate House ends up in the Indian Ocean, and rain falling south of it, in the Atlantic Ocean. On West Campus, a waterfall carved out the rock flows into a lake by the Gavin Relly Green. THEWITSBOOK 2014 | 52
School of Public Health
53
A new building for the School of Public Health, located opposite the Medical School, opened in January 2013. The School serves as a regional hub for Public Health academics and researchers throughout Africa.
Planetarium In the 1950s, the Johannesburg City Council sold a Zeiss Projector to Wits to teach with and for public use. Construction began on a building to house the projector in 1959. On 12 October 1960 the first full-sized planetarium in Africa opened. The Planetarium is located on Yale Road, East Campus and offers shows, children’s parties, and astronomy training.
Professional Development Hub The Professional Development Hub (PDH), a shortcourse training and conference venue, opened in October 2010. Based on the corner of Empire Road and Jan Smuts Avenue, the Hub is equipped with state-of-the-art audio-visual, video-conferencing and internet technology. It is home to Wits Enterprise (the commercial arm of Wits) and the Wits Language School. 53 | THEWITSBOOK 2014
The Wits Theatre Complex
54
The Wits Theatre Complex includes The Wits Theatre, the Downstairs Theatre and the Amphitheatre. There’s a bar and a cafeteria. The Wits Theatre complex is one of the finest performing arts facilities in the country. The Theatre opened in 1983 with William Shakespeare’s The Comedy of Errors.
University Corner – WAM and VOW University Corner, on the corner of Jan Smuts Avenue and Jorissen Street in Braamfontein was originally a 12-floor office and apartment block known as Lawson’s Corner, famous for its revolving rooftop restaurant. When Wits bought the building in 1976, it was converted into a dentistry and dental hospital, later housing the School of Oral Health until the school relocated to the Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital in 2002. In 2010 construction began on University Corner to transform the ground and lower floors into the Wits Art Museum (WAM). WAM opened to the public on 19 May 2012 and boasts one of the largest collections of African art on the continent. The 9th floor of University Corner is home to Wits Journalism and Media Studies, which produces the weekly newspaper Vuvuzela and operates the campus radio station, Voice of Wits (VOW) 90.5FM.
THEWITSBOOK 2014 | 54
Richard Ward
55
One of the quirkier buildings is the Richard Ward on East Campus next to Senate House. Legend has it that no one realised there was no internal staircase when the building was built in 1966, so a spiral staircase was tacked on outside afterwards. Richard Ward was upgraded in 2013 to accommodate the School of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, and more classrooms and laboratories.
School of Construction Economics & Management In May 2013, a new building for the School of Construction Economics and Management (SCEM) was completed. With 700 students, the SCEM is the largest in the country. Almost half of all Building and Quantity Surveying graduates in South Africa are Witsies.
‘Mandela Square’ This quadrangle is outside the New College entrance of Men’s Residence. Students unofficially named the quad ‘Mandela Square’ to commemorate the historic release from prison of former President Nelson Mandela in 1990.
55 | THEWITSBOOK 2014
Wits Junction
56
The Wits Junction is a residential complex in Parktown that opened in October 2012. It is home to over 1 200 Witsies, mainly postgraduates and visiting academics. The complex comprises bachelor, two-, three- and four-bedroom units. The naming theme of buildings in the complex celebrates the folklore and cultures of the many nationalities and people who helped build Johannesburg into what it is today.
Wits Education Campus Wits has been teaching teachers since the Johannesburg Normal College opened in Eloff Street in 1909 with 67 students. In 1936, it was renamed the Johannesburg Teachers College, and rechristened the Johannesburg College of Education (JCE) in the 1940s. JCE relocated to its Parktown campus in 1978 and merged with the Wits School of Education in 2001. Girton, Medhurst and Reith Halls women’s residences are based at the Education Campus.
Wits Rural Facility The WRF is the University’s base for rural-focused research and teaching. Situated in Bushbuckridge, Limpopo, the WRF is 500km from Johannesburg between the Timbavati Game Reserve and the Kruger National Park. Set on 350 hectares of Lowveld savannah, the WRF boasts an abundance of birds and wildlife. Self-catering accommodation options include rondavels, a lodge, a bush camp and dormitories. Witsies enjoy preferential rates.
THEWITSBOOK 2014 | 56
57
ILLUSTRIOUS WITSIES Wits has produced a vast number of illustrious alumni who have excelled in every field of endeavour. Almost 100 Rhodes Scholars are Wits alumni and four alumni are
Nobel Prize Laureates
Sir Sydney Brenner (BSc, BSc Hons, honorary DSc) 2002 Nobel Prize in Medicine
Nadine Gordimer (honorary DLitt) 1991 Nobel Prize in Literature
Sir Aaron Klug (BSc, honorary DSc) 1982 Nobel Prize in Chemistry
Nelson Mandela (honorary LLD) 1993 Nobel Peace Prize For the full list of illustrious alumni, go to www.wits.ac.za/traditions. 57 | THEWITSBOOK 2014
58
GLO BALRANKINGS Wits University was ranked
Alma Mater Index
24th
in the world
in the Times Higher Education’s 2013 Alma Mater Index, based on the number of Global Fortune 500 companies that are led by Witsies.
Wits University was ranked
Top 100 global universities for producing millionaires
57th
in the world
for the number of millionaires it has produced. Extensive data on the world’s top 500 universities was compiled for wealth management and luxury lifestyle media brand, Spear’s in association with WealthInsight, a leading wealth consultancy company.
Wits University was ranked
Global Employability Survey
139th
in the world
in the Global Employability University Rankings 2013. The survey, designed and commissioned by the French education consulting firm Emerging Associates, asked recruiters and senior international executives to profile an ideal university graduate — and the ideal university producing such graduates. Wits is the only university in Africa to appear in this ranking.
THEWITSBOOK 2014 | 58
59
RICH&POWERFUL ALUMNI Wendy Appelbaum (BA 1982) Net worth: R1.99bn (2012) | #1 Intellidex Richest Women in South Africa | Forbes Africa’s Richest Women (at least $50m)
Sharon Wapnick (BA 1984, LLB 1986) Non-Executive Chairman and Director Premium Properties Ltd | Net worth: R334m (2012) | #3 Intellidex Richest Women in SA | Forbes Africa’s Richest Women
Dr Patrick Soon-Shiong (MBBCh 1975) CEO Nantworks LLC | Net worth: $9bn (2013) | #45 Forbes 400 Richest People in America (2013) | #145 Forbes Billionaires
Koos Bekker (LLB 1978) CEO Naspers | Net worth: $450m (November 2012) | #36 Forbes Africa’s Richest 40
Steven Collis (BCom 1982, BCom Hons 1983)
Dr Judy Dlamini (MBA 1999)
CEO AmerisourceBergen | Forbes Global
Chair Aspen Pharmacare Ltd | Net worth: R124
Fortune 500 Company CEO | Total compensation AmerisourceBergen Corp: $4,609,882 (Forbes, 2011)
59 | THEWITSBOOK 2014
million (2012) | #5 Intellidex Richest Women in South Africa
60 Patrice Motsepe (LLB 1988) CEO Africa Rainbow Minerals | Net worth: $2.9bn (2013) | #490 Forbes Africa’s Billionaires (2013) | #8 Forbes Africa’s 40 Richest | #4 in South Africa
Maria Ramos (BCom 1986, BCom Hons 1987) CEO ABSA | #93 Forbes Power Women (2011)
Gail Kelly (MBA 1986) CEO Westpac | #62 Forbes Power Women (2013)
Ivan Glasenberg (BAcc 1982) CEO Glencore International | Net worth: $6.7bn (March 2013) | #175 Forbes Billionaires | #2 Australia’s Richest
THEWITSBOOK 2014 | 60
61
JOHANNESBURG CITY OF GOLD 61 | THEWITSBOOK 2014
62
Wits University is based in the heart of the City of Johannesburg
Joburg,
Jozi
A
ffectionately known as Joburg, Jozi or Egoli, the city was born in 1886 when gold deposits were discovered in the area. Since then, the city has
grown into the commercial and financial capital of the country and is known as a city where people come to realise their dreams. Wits campuses are located in the historical suburb of Parktown, which bristles with heritage buildings, and in the cosmopolitan and vibrant suburb of Braamfontein - currently enjoying a massive resurgence as a place to live, work and play. Alumnus Adam Levy has rejuvenated historical buildings here, including The Alex Theatre, Kitchener’s Carvery (one of the city’s oldest
or Egoli
bars) and penthouses overlooking the iconic Mandela Bridge. Braamfontein nestles in a cultural arc that includes Newtown, Wits University, Constitution Hill, the Wits Art Museum (WAM) and the city’s metro centre.
[
Almost 4 million inhabitants | The second largest city in Africa | One of the world’s leading financial centres | Hillbrow Tower dominates the Joburg skyline and is the tallest tower in Africa | Hosted the 2010 FIFA©World Cup Final at Soccer City
[
THEWITSBOOK 2014 | 62
63
advice from alumni & students
IF I ONLY KNEW THEN The following is verbatim advice posted on Facebook and LinkedIn.
Advice from
ALUMNI
to First-years
D
E
xplore Wits, its people, and the courses on offer. Sit in on classes you don’t take. Get involved in sports
or recreation on campus. Join at least one society a year. Don’t take yourself too seriously. Join the annual fee increment protests at least once. Run for SRC at least once. Make sure you visit BAQT! But most of all
o your best in every class so that your average
enjoy the time you spend there, you’ll never get it back.
will be high and your options will stay open. Be
Everyone is in a rush to get out, get a job and start mak-
prepared to do your honours degree so that if you end
ing money, but when you’re out you’ll wish you could
up oversees your degree will be recognized (North
spend a bit more time there.
American degrees are all 4 years long). There are too
Sivene Lolwana (BSc 2005)
few jobs for the amount of graduates so be prepared to do your very best and start networking early.
Gareth Dunn (B.Comm, CHRP)
D
on’t be shy to ask questions when you’re not sure about something. Make sure you keep your
grades good - well above 65%. Be active around campus - i.e have a balanced student life.
Yolisa Mfaise (LLB 2010)
63 | THEWITSBOOK 2014
Slow down, relax and make friends ;-) It actually took me a while to absorb the whole “I am at university” thing that I forgot to enjoy the moment, think laterally and smell the flowers ;-) Mpho Langa (BSc 2003)
64
Have more fun and network. Steven Lea (BSc 1988)
smell the flowers
U
niversity is a wonderful time to explore new experiences with new people. Embrace new ideas,
debate your mates in the Senate House coffee area
B
e yourself. There’s more than enough friends to choose from so don’t compromise who you are
to “fit in”. Ask questions before choosing specialised
(is it still there?), change your clothes, kiss someone
majors and find out about what is required to get into
you never thought you would, make friends with people
restricted courses. Follow your passion because it’s
you’d never have met at school. Learning takes place
hard to study and even harder to study something that
in and out of the lecture theatre.
doesn’t interest you. Don’t let one bad mark throw you
Tony Cave (BA 1987, MA 1992)
off, just work harder at improving it. Look for bursaries
U
or courses early on in the year prior to the year you
are responsible for yourself....no one is to be blamed. It’s ok to skip lec for a few drinks just
make sure its doesn’t become a habit!
Karishma Tulsi (BSc 2006)
relax and make friends
need them as most application deadlines begin from June onwards. Most importantly ask questions and keep an open mind to what you are taught - educators know a lot but they don’t know everything.
Andrea Olga Papadopoulos (BSc 2009, BSc (Hons) 2010)
THEWITSBOOK 2014 | 64
65
Learning at Wits is not limited to academics only.
be yourself You must be streetwise. Social life can be shocking and then interfere with one’s studies. There is never balance, one must just know the correct side the scale must tilt (period). Jafta Lejwe Namo (BSc 2000)
Moeketsi Makhalemele (PDM 2008)
M
y comments might seem obvious but nonetheless, here they are. Listen well in every class and
do not fall into the trap of not attending lectures. School is a lot more strict than Uni and one needs to remain disciplined. If one attends all lectures, pays attention and properly focuses then the job of studying is halved. Also, Wits is an amazing campus and can be really impressive. Try to see one new thing on campus each day. At least for your first year!! If nothing this will keep you fit. C arl Dos Santos (BA 2005)
enjoy the experience! 65 | THEWITSBOOK 2014
A
s a long-time ex Witsie (BSc 1985) I wish I had taken the opportunity to sit in on non-course lec-
tures. There is a wealth of opportunity to explore other disciplines / subjects - for pure interest rather than academic scores. Use your free time to stretch yourself and sit in on a lecture that falls outside your sphere of specialisation. Enjoy every minute of being a student it is your time to stretch and grow!
Vivienne Gordon-Turner (BSc 1985)
66
I
f it is a challenge you are after, Wits will definitely give
kiss someone
you one! However, don’t be too quick to “throw in the
towel”. The start might be different and challenging but definitely gets easier as you catch up. Catching up will definitely cost you some of your newly found “freedom” and requires more discipline/maturity than in your
B
y being accepted into Wits it means that you have the potential and the intellectual capacity to com-
plete your studies successfully, and that applies to
High School days. Don’t be scared to ask questions on
every other student in campus. What will set you apart
things you don’t understand no matter how stupid they
is the extra mile that you are willing to go to make your
may sound to you! Once you have your study routine
dreams a reality. Approach your studies like it is a job,
sorted, take some time to socialise and learn things
put in the necessary hours into getting familiar with
outside your discipline or curriculum. No matter what
your course work, engage/network with other students
you do, make sure you enjoy the experience!
and consult with your lecturers. Some of your biggest
Paul Nkamankeng (BSc 2004)
challenges will be coming from your personal life and
B
beyond the lecture room, do not let this deter you from
eyond the academic challenge, be open and willing to learn from your fellow students. Every per-
son you come across has their own dream and story, all differences whether they may be faculty, year, belief etc should rather be seen as a bridge to facilitate per-
your goals. Keep focused and keep strong, you can do it... Neo Nong (BAcc 2008)
Y
our first year is the best year of your studies, the trick is to make sure it does not become the best
sonal growth in a nurtured environment. Every Sunday
two years of your study!
evening decide on how many new people you plan to
Obed Matlala (BSC-2003; Dip Eng 2006)
meet during the week and on Friday morning check to see if you managed or need to sprint the last hours. Networking skills practiced at Wits will be one of the best gifts you could ever give yourselves - Enjoy with passion . Colin Kramer (BSc 1981, MSc 1986)
Get involved and volunteer; make every activity part of your education. Employers look for things like that. Use every resource available, they are there for you. Terence Mbulaheni (BA 2008)
your time to stretch and grow! THEWITSBOOK 2014 | 66
67 Advice from
STUDENTS
to Firstyears
Be honest to 1st Yrs: Wits is harder.... the secret is simple either a Genius or a hard Worker! R hulln Stephan
H
Hardwork reaps success! study hard! play hard! and dnt fall off the edge Ajayson Gopie
do ur work!
ere is some practical advice - learn where you can and can’t park. If you are going to arrive later
during the day, plan for delays in finding undergrad parking. And if you are going to risk parking somewhere you shouldn’t, be prepared to pay fines. The guys are sharp and you will not talk your way out of it!First year is so much fun, enjoy the difference in Varsity life as opposed to school life. Find your feet, play
T
hat first year is the hardest and panicking will not help my case. Don’t stop living now that you’re at
varsity. Those random, senseless conversations can gain you a lot of much-needed information, instead of spending all day trying to find the page! Walkabouts do help de-stress. Shereen Abrams
around a bit, take as many courses as you can so you
yep dat Wits either gives u or pushes u over da EDGE..
can find where your passion lies. Tertiary studies are
either way expect 2 b der an extra year... hw u use dat
about learning how to think outside the box and stretch
year is up 2u. Princess-Maemu Chestnut
your analytical thinking skills. M elanie Gard
O
I
doubt this will make much of a difference, it’s always about first hand experience, I wish I had studied
ne thing i wish i had known, appropriate behaviour, especially on the internet. I never knew
that the rude feedbacks i gave were traceable and you
more, but i kept on not studying as much year after
could be charged with misconduct. which goes into
year. typical of students really. T ebello Mofokeng
your record. Brian Mabilu
dnt fall off the edge 67 | THEWITSBOOK 2014
Remember to consider your fellow beings for they are a crucial part of what you are. Musa Kurhula Baloyi
68
study hard! play hard!
E
nglish has always been a 2 language 4 me so during my 1 year at varsity i tried by all means nt
2 communicate wit othas coz i ws afraid thy’d laugh
Don’t get intimidated - try hard and make sure you keep up to date - you would be surprised how quickly you get behind. Make the transition from having to get a degree ....to making learning a lifelong pursuit. Renee Hoon
at my messed up english if only id put 2 gud use da saying dat practise makes perfect...as luck wud hv it i ended up as a tutor in final yr :) N aledi Mosikare
i
say ur studies must be a priority no matter what. Learn to use the library asap.writing centre is there to help
with academic writing. consult as much with u tutors n lecturers n have fun being a student cos life change in the workplace...n read as much anythn from ur course packs to any book... Nthabiseng Mofokeng
W
hen u see the plants on the walls of the buildings near greathall going brown then green and the
jacaranda trees blosoming outside Watenweiller and cullan libraries and u havent passed your 101 or 102 assignments and tests and you havent started preparing for exams know u r in hot waters. Oh, ATTEND ORIENTATION WEEK very very impotant, at least u can explore and experiment spare yourself the stress of having to look for a lecture hall u cant find on a monday morning b4 class. J ennifer Mamabolo
always a witsie THEWITSBOOK 2014 | 68
69
its ThBeuW cket Lisdutating
to 10 Things
Do Before
Gra
ts Theatre
1
Watch a play at The Wi
2 3
Watch a Bidvest-Wits
4
Visit the Wits Art Muse
5
Back your boytjies! me Go to a Varsity Cup ga
game
Engineers’ Breakfast.
Enough said um
6
Join a protest march. There are a lot of them
7
Be engulfed in feathe
8
Sit under a Jacaranda
9
Be part of the WALE Pa
10
High five Kudos the Ku
rs in the Pillow Fight tree rade
du
Adapted from Vuvuzela February 6, 2013, pg4
69 | THEWITSBOOK 2014
facebook.com/witsuniversity
youtube.com/witsalumni
umni flickr.com/witsal
twitter.c
om/wits
alumni
www.wits.ac.za/alumni
First published by the Office of Alumni Relations, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg in 2010 © Alumni House | West Campus Tel +27 0 11 717 1090 Fax +27 0 11 403 4493 alumni@wits.ac.za | www.wits.ac.za/alumni Second edition, 2011© | Third edition, 2012 © | Fourth edition, 2013 ©
For more information of Wits’ history and traditions visit www.wits.ac.za/alumni/traditions