Vol. 2 No. 5 4 June 2012

Page 32Page 6 Page 26Page 3 Page 12

Call it what you like – ‘weed’, ‘dagga’, ‘mari-juana’, ‘dope’, ‘hash’ or ‘draw’; one thing is for sure: the management of the Vaal Campus enforces a zero tolerance stance towards drug abuse, and will come down hard on anyone who thinks otherwise. The recent suspension of eight students from the off-campus resi-dence Faranani, due to drug related charges not only sent shock waves through the Cam-pus community, but also serves as a stern warning to all students.

The eight students – of which one is a senior student leader within the residence structure, faced a disciplinary committee hearing and now see themselves facing a six month sus-pension from the residence. According to the outcome of the disciplinary hearing the stu-dents have until the last day of the first op-portunity examinations to vacate their rooms, whilst the outcome will also impact very nega-tively on the end-of-year leadership evaluation of the student leader involved. Subsequently all students involved will have to re-apply for a room in a residence in 2013 – this whilst the outcome of the disciplinary hearing will remain on their student history.

According to Mr. Jacob Simango, the Direc-

tor of Student Affairs; the decision to suspend the guilty parties mirrors the campus’s commit-ment to ensure the overall well-being of all stu-dents and ultimately contribute to the vesting of a quality student life. “Apart from the dangers associated with drug usage it is important that we send out a clear and stern message that any transgression – be it the abuse of alcohol or other substances, or any other illegal activi-ties that will impact negatively on the reputa-tion of the University or the safety and welfare of students will be dealt with through the full force of the law.”

Sources close to Student 24/7 have indicated that the suspensions represent the start of an intensive clamp down on drug related activities on the Campus. Keep an eye out for our next edition – we will keep you updated on all new developments in this regard.

Cannabis Culture slammedAnnette Willemse

2 EDITOR’S LETTER 4 June 2012

Kinga Siejek

Just when you think you have a handle on the first semester, a doozy comes your way. That’s right; the semester exams are here, and they are taking no prisoners. I remember how I felt in my first year; every lecturer piling on more and more work for us to study. It was at times like that, when I felt like running away scream-ing, curling up in bed, and forgetting about the world. Fortunately for me, I pushed through it, and am happy to say I had my Honours gradu-ation just a few days ago.

Right now, you may feel like the world is try-ing to squish you, and your stress levels might make a blood vessel pop out you head. Trust me, it will be alright. Keep calm, use your time effectively to study, and stay positive through-out the month (I know easier said than done, but what good does it do to stress? Nothing.)

This edition can practically be called the exam edition. Reason for this?

Firstly, there are some helpful tips and infor-mation on how to deal with exams, advice from those who know. A few of our usual pages, have decided to give you advice for the exams;

so have a look, and even have a laugh!Secondly, this edition has a lot of fun facts and information to keep your mind from exploding. (Take a break once in a while and read through our pages). A lot has been going on while you have been fortifying yourself in a wall of books. Sport is really big this month, and July! The UEFA Euro Cup is just around the corner, and so is the 2012 London Olympics. Have a look in our sport section to catch up on who is play-ing, to pick a team to support!

As I said, graduation was last month, so in-side we have a few pictures of some of the new alumni of our campus. Other events also include the Golden Key New members Cer-emony, the Candlelight Memorial, and the BA Humanities Awards Ceremony.

Our competition is still up-and-running. Don’t know about it? Then LIKE our Facebook page, scroll to it, and have a try. Just another fun thing to do in-between studying. In case you’re not sure what to do... I have added the bucket list in this edition and some example photos to help you on your way.

So whether it’s back to studying, or paging through our newspaper; be strong and visual-ize your goals!

That time of year

3VUVU’S SOAPBOX4 June 2012

Vuvu’s Soapbox

Brrrrrr! Quack! My beak is freezing off….not to mention my tail feathers! One of these days I am going to resemble a plucked chicken – or even worse a frozen turkey! These days I find myself getting excited about going to sleep at night… simply because of the prospect of snuggling up to my hot water bottle (which by the way had to be patched-up twice already!). It would however seem as if yours truly is not the only one feeling the pang of winter. Shame – rumour has it that the two Polish exchange students also did not keep track of just how cold our South African winter can be and found themselves in quite a chilly predicament. Luck-ily South Africans are known for their hospital-ity – especially in our region, and they are now sorted with enough blankets and hot water bottles. If only someone could knit me a beak warmer… or even better still – a goose suit (which off course resembles a feathered ver-sion of a cat suit).

All activities on Campus have come to a screeching halt because of the coming exams and I must admit, even I find myself fighting off the exam anxiety monster! You see, in our gaggle of geese my cousin is known as some-what of an academic genius and all eyes are now on me to not only keep up the family name but also to outperform her – and by doing so prove to the rest of the feathered community that we are, indeed, intellectually superior. Now I find myself weighed down by expecta-tions and comparisons… not to mention the potential future damage to my ego (... if I were to underperform). And as life goes, I am al-ready on thin ice with the elders since I told them (and maybe a few others) that I am part of the new Golden Key chapter on Campus;

and word got out that I only attended the hon-ouree ceremony as a guest… or more precise-ly as an onlooker! They say it is the thought that counts and in that case I was really hoping for and thinking about academic astuteness! Congratulations to the students who (actually) received this honour – you make us proud (… and a bit jealous)!

But back to exam anxiety. If you suffer from the following symptoms you are surely falling prey to anxiety: difficulty in sleeping; constant fatigue (not brought about by socializing until the early hours of the morning), forgetfulness, poor appetite, aches and pains for no apparent reason and headaches - you might want to do something about your stress levels. Laughter and humour are both good stress remedies. How about an exam joke?

Father: How were the exam questions?Son: EasyFather: Then why do you look so unhappy?Son: The questions didn’t give me any trouble, just the answers!

Go on – giggle aloud! Wiggle your toes (if you have any), flap your… uhm…arms and jump in the air! Whatever you do – keep warm and good luck with the exams!

4 June 2012VICE RECTOR MESSAGE4

4 June 2012 CAMPUS NEWS 5

Kelebogile Mopeloa

Lights, Camera, Action!A talent search was held on campus on 11 May, at the Student Centre. The event was brought to the campus by Owami Entertain-ment House, “the only company of its calibre in the Vaal”, states Mr Thabo Makobe, the com-pany’s Associate Marketing Director.

“We are a full-fledged media house that was established in 2008, based in Three Rivers. A film and production company that produces movies, adverts and photo shoots”, says Ma-kobe.

“The purpose of this campaign is to create opportunities, and possibilities for employing young people”, says Makobe. He further elab-orated that, “as an agency, we train and regis-ter our stars into the media scene”.

The agents of the company are looking for scriptwriters, actors, musicians, dancers, and comedians. They also offer voice-over training opportunities. The company also specialises in events management.

Interested candidates can register with the agency for a fee of R500, which includes a full photo shoot plus editing. Then to keep one-self on their database, an amount of R50 per month is payable.

For more information candidates can visit the Owami Entertainment House at:81 General Hertzog, Riversquare, Milson. Or call: 016 423 1068. You can also email Mr Makobe at:thabomakobe@owamigroup.co.za

4 June 2012CAMPUS NEWS6

February has come and gone, but now we are bringing back a little reminder of one of our stories. For those of you who may have read the February edition (if you have’t; read it after this one), there was an interesting bucket list.We have decided to bring it back, and make it into a competition! Yes, we know the exams are around the corner, but take a break once in a while and try one or more of them. You may just end up having some fun!

How the competition works:Read through the bucket list, of course, and have an idea of what we are looking for.Take a photo of yourself, or a friend, or a whole bunch of you, partaking in something from the bucket list.

Send it to us via e-mail to:studentenews@gmail.comORTag us on Facebook at:NWU Vaal Student 24/7

The top three most funny and original photos will be published on our site, and in the July Edition. The top three will also receieve a little prize from us, just be-cause we can!

Closing date is 16 June, so start clicking away with the camera!

Bucket List:

• Get a photo with a goose. Now no need to stress, we’re not asking you to hug one. But try to get as close as possible without being pecked. It’s always a great thing to brag about, and reminisce later in life.

• Wear your pyjamas to class. Only have one class for the day? Dress up; or down, in your favourite pj’s. Nothing silky, satin or risqué, just funny. It gets everyone laughing, and lightens up the mood.

• Go to a music quiz night at M-Café. Think you know everything there is to about music? Prove it! Send a photo of your results or your prize.

• Hug a lecturer. Scary thought I know; but lecturers are people to. Brighten up their day; it may work to your advantage, wink wink.

• Participate in Spring Day, 1 September. Sun, wa-ter and lots of fun. Not near the classes, but a squirt with a water gun never hurt anyone. At least I seri-

Competition: Memories for life!ously hope not!

• Make a friend on Res. Personally, a great way to spend time in-between classes. Chill at your friends place, listening to music and drinking way too much coffee. Best relaxation ever!

• Take funny photos. Spotted a weird hairstyle? Found one of the monkeys sleeping in a tree? You and your friends just goofing off? A photo is the best way to capture life’s Kodak memories.

• Hug a tree. They give us air, and our graduation certificates. Repay them with a hug. It’s not just a Hippy thing…

• Hug a student. Someone looks stressed of fraz-zled? A hug always cheers up a person.

• Take a photo with a Student 24/7 journalist. They’re always lurking around, ready for action. Get them back, by taking a snap of them!

• Take a photo with all the twins on campus. This may involve research to find them; but they are out there! See how many you can find. It’s also a great way to make new friends.

• Go to as much events as possible. It’s a great way to socialise, make new friends and learn new things. Keep a lookout on Student 24/7 for the latest events!

• Read Student 24/7 every month! Keep up-to-date with what is happening on campus. You never know when you might be in it! Take a photo of you reading Student 24/7, that way we know you are reading it...

• Try something on the Student 24/7 Calendar. There is a reason why we publish funny holidays... So you can join in on the fun! So page through the May Edition, see what June has in store, and take a photo!

• Go to a sports event. I know this may not be ev-eryone’s cup of tea, but our teams are amazing, and they need all the support! You never know if you may witness the beginnings of a sport star!

• Join a society. There is a society out there just wait-ing for you! Have the same hobbies, likes or beliefs as one of our Varisty societies? Go visit Lethiwe @ the SRC building, and join up! Take a photo with her, or your new society members to keep the memories fresh!

4 June 2012 CAMPUS NEWS 7

The Global Business Roundtable hosted its monthly meeting on 1 June 2012 at building 12 G04 at 18:30. The topic was ‘’the role and significance of small and medium sized enter-prises in the development state’’.

Keynote speaker of the evening was Com-mander Tsietsi Mokhele, CEO of the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA). He was awarded the BBQ businessman of the year and the BQ platinum award winner 2011.

The Global Business Roundtable was estab-lished 21 August 2009 by Mr Sipho Mseleku, executive chairperson of Sakhumnotho Group Holdings. It first started as a discussion, as well as a support prayer group, for people in businesses and for various professions. It is a God inspired initiative which was prompted by a strong desire to start a prayer meeting for people in businesses as well as to support pro-fessionals in their careers.

This initiative motivates students in their re-spective fields of study, grooming them spiritu-ally and instilling business values within them. Students are encouraged to attend these meetings and for more information regarding the next meeting, they can inquire at any HK member of the Thuthuka residence.

Shaping tomorrow’s leadersLerato Lempe

4 June 20128 INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

16 May 2012

Die ongelooflike avonture van Karolania *The text has been translated from Polish to English.* The following blog has been shortened for reading purposes. No phrases or words must be taken out of context by the reader. These are the words of two Polish students, not that of any member of Student 24/7.

The last few days have been quiet – the rea-son being the upcoming exams, but we mean to attend the 30th anniversary of the Polish community in Vanderbijlpark.

Today; I want to talk about the South African weather.

Right now we are in autumn. Most people think South Africa has summer for 12 months, but that’s not true. This year, the weather is play-ing with everyone, because the temperature stayed just above 20°C; which is not really nor-mal for this time of year. People have been ask-ing “what is going on?”, but we’re happy that it is still warm and sunny, and the only ones still wearing short sleeve shirts and shorts. Every-one else is walking around in thick jackets and boots. But there is always a surprise – the cold is creeping in in the evenings, and its fricking cold.

Karolina has it the worst, since her room is on the dark side of the building. That’s why she is trying to beat the record with the most amounts of blankets she can sleep under.

We were surprised with how fast news spread that Polish girls are freezing, and blankets started arriving from everywhere. We got so many, that we can rent them to other students now.

It is also the first time in our lives that we are the proud owners of hot water bottles. They are so cute and covered in fur. There hasn’t been a chance to use them yet, but the time will come.

4 June 2012 9HEALTH

Cannabis, also known as Marijuana (as well as many other names) refers to the preparation of the Cannabis plant intended for use as a psy-choactive drug.

Contemporary uses of cannabis are as a rec-reational drug, for religious or spiritual rites, or as medicine. Since the 20th century, cannabis has been subject to legal restrictions with the possession, use, and sale of the substance currently illegal in most countries in the world.

What is Marijuana?Marijuana is a greenish-gray mixture of the dried, shredded leaves, stems, seeds and flowers of the Cannabis Sativa plant. The main active chemical present in marijuana is the THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol). Apart from this chemical; there are over 400 danger-ous chemicals in the plant as well.

How it is takenMarijuana is most commonly smoked with the help of hand-rolled cigarettes, while some peo-ple may use pipes or water pipes called bongs, to smoke. Marijuana may also be found to be used in tea, as well as an ingredient in certain foods.

Short-term effects:• Impaired memory and the inability to learn.• Difficulties in thinking and problem solving.• Distorted perception.• Anxiety attacks or feelings of paranoia.• Impaired muscle co-ordination and judge-

ment.• Increased susceptibility to infections.• Burning and stinging of mouth and throat.• Impairement in driving skills.• Increases the heart rate in normal people,

and worsens heart rate in people with heart disease or high blood pressure.

Long-term effects:• Studies show that the potential chemical

THC affetcs the human brain and mental health.

• Regular use shows the same respiratory

think twiCe before you roll a bluntKinga Siejek

problems as cigarette smiking. Persistent coughing, symptoms of bronchitis, and more frequent chest colds.

• Studies show that long-term use of mari-juana suppresses the production of hor-mones that help regulate the reproductive system both in men and women.

• Highly increases the risk of heart attack in regular users.

• Increases the likelihood of cancers such as head, neck and lung cancer.

• Badly affects the immune system’s ability to fight disease.

• Chronic marijuana use causes high levels od depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, psy-chosis, and depersonalization disorder.

• Adverselt affects the power of memory and learning.

So before you think it’s cool to join; think twice about what it can really do to you.

4 June 2012ADVERT10

4 June 2012 11ALUMNI

The Alumni Office of the Vaal Campus recently welcomed more than 800 graduates into the fold during the May grad-uation ceremonies. During the graduation ceremonies, also referred to as the Au-tumn ceremonies, a total of 88 certificates, 41 diplomas, 691 degrees, 14 masters and 11 doctorates were conferred. Apart from the large number of new alumni members, the first Social Work graduates of the Faculty of Humanities also re-ceived their degrees.

As part of a new alumni recruit-ment campaign, all graduates were invited to join the mem-bers of the newly established Alumni Advisory Committee as well as the alumni coordinator, Ms Alwine Naude for a cup of tea after their respective grad-uation ceremonies.

In his address to the new alumni members, Dr. John Maloma – the Director: Mar-keting and Communication on the Campus, commended the graduates on achieving aca-demic success and motivated them to cherish their commit-ment to their academic alma mater. He furthermore invited them to join the more than 10 000 members of the campus’s strong and vibrant professional network – located around the globe, and by doing so con-tribute towards the knowl-edge and skills economy of the University.

According to Ms Naude be-ing an alum-nus represents much more

Graduates join alumni fraternity

than a sense of belonging; it makes every graduate a shareholder of their alma ma-ter. She adds that she believes that a healthy alumni fraternity waters the seeds of wisdom, opportunities and also paves a way for the upcoming gen-eration whilst explaining that shared dreams and vision do not have to be in the form of money only but can also take the form of advice, physical in-volvement and time spent.

4 June 201212 STUDENT 911

EXAMS!!!!!

They are a force to be reckoned with. They can make or break your Varsity career. Yes; the ex-ams are back!

In the next few pages, you may think you are expirienceing deja vu. The reason for this is because we have included a whole lot of tips and information about the exams, from a few different sources. Now repetition is good; that way it becomes easier to remember things.

So if you see the same tips on different articles, that just goes to show that those are important tips that can help you!

So have a look and take some notes. You never know when the information may come in handy!

Have any tips of your own? Let us know! E-mail us at: studentenews@gmail.com

4 June 2012 STUDENT 911 13

Mpho Nakana

Stress? What stress?

For many of us, the concept of exams equals stress. Unfortunately, there is no way out and we simply have to learn to make do with it, de-spite the pressure despite the stress. I went looking for ways on how to cope. IT’S AN EMERGENCY! So I thought I would share them with you.

1. Organise your life and activities- I’m guess-ing that this means we got to manage our time better and PRIORITISE.

2. Think positively and act assertively- believe

in yourself and your abilities, and tell yourself that you are going to kick that paper’s a$$! This is the ‘I can’ attitude. Also be realistic about your strengths and weakness. I’ve been caught off guard a few times and it’s not the nicest feeling ever #sigh

3. Do physical exercise- before we shut down from the mention of that word, it’s said that ex-ercise helps the mind to focus on things other than the stressor (passing exams in this case). And we could kill not two but three birds with one stone since it will help us become fitter as well, body wise and health wise. But if like me, you’re not into the intense stuff, a little walk outside always refreshes the mind.

4. Get enough sleep and rest- 6-8hours sleep is rec-ommended. As students, we sometimes make do with less, but as a friend once advised me, if you’ve slept too little you should have a time when you catch up and deposit on that sleep-debt.

5. Follow a healthy diet- as you know junk can make us feel all sluggish and tired, and who wants to study when they’re in that state?

6. Establish a support sys-tem- family, friends and/or colleagues; they help give an outlet for all those pent up feelings regarding stud-ies or life in general. They also boost your self-con-fidence. Support groups which can be made up of fellow classmates are also an option.

So we’re now well-armed to kick all that stress to the curb, time to rock ‘n roll and claim those marks.

Courtesy of the ADS De-partment

4 June 2012STUDENT 91114

Portia Motsoeneng

Study, study, studyIt is common knowledge that exams can be very stressful and nerve wracking. How to go about studying for the exams is a contributing factor to our stress levels. Here are a few easy and effective study tips to help keep your head above water during the exams.

• Drawing up a study timeta-ble might seem old fashioned, but it works! Having a time-table helps you allocate your time wisely, reminds you of set goals, as well as what you need to achieve daily.

• KNOW YOUR HOUR!! Al-though some may be more productive in the morning hours, others rise with the

moon. Knowing what time works for you not only makes your studying effective, but it also gives you enough resting time.

• Avoid procrastination. The exam timetable has been out for weeks now; there are no excuses for delaying on your studying. Studying too close to the exams can prove to be more stressful and later, insuf-ficient. Give yourself enough time to make notes and go through them a few times be-fore the actual exam arrives.

• You are going to need fuel for the race. The need to eat healthy may be a cliché, but that does not change its im-portance. Your diet should be

a priority. Remember to stock up on brain foods such as, fish, whole-wheat products, fresh fruits and veggies. Drink lots of water!

• Seeing that most of us are products of the mass media generation, social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, BBM and the rest may make it difficult to stay focused. Plac-ing your mobile phone and PC somewhere you cannot see them might help. Out of sight, and out of mind.

At the end of the day, acing the exams all boils down to being disciplined. You have come this far in the semester, make this last lap count and go on holiday with a clear conscious.

"Knowing is not enough, we must apply. Willing is not enough, we must do." ~ Jo-hann van Goethe

4 June 2012 STUDENT 911 15

Preparing for the exams1. Plan your study time- it is suggested that you plan your exam timetable three weeks ahead of exams. Each module should be divided into learning units whereby 45mins will be for studying, 10mins for revi-sion, and a 5mins break in be-tween.

2. The night before- have enough rest so that you can be alert he next day and be able to concentrate on the exam pa-per. Do not be late and make sure you got all your stationary with you. And don’t be late for the exam because the rush-ing often gets you into panic mode.

Mpho Nakana3. The morning of the exam- have a good breakfast and avoid too much liquid as that could cause you to con-stantly visit the bathroom, which means valuable exam time lost. Also try to not dis-cuss the work with other stu-dents on the day as that could lead to confusion or panic that you haven’t studied other stuff. Once in class, sit where you will be comfortable.

4. During the exam- listen and carry out the invigilator’s instructions carefully when fill-ing out the details on the exam answer sheet. Read and make sure you understand the in-structions on the exam paper.

DO NOT write in pencil as that may be considered rough work and will not be marked.

5. After the exam- do not discuss the exam paper with other students as that may make you depressed if others seem to have answered bet-ter than you did. Forget about the exam, take time to relax, and then start preparing for the next exam.

Courtesy of the ADS Depart-mentAnyone who requires help can visit the ADS Department:B9A-G19 (offices & training room) Tel: 016 910 3316

16 EXAM FUN 4 June 2012

Exam Fun!In this section, are just a few things to make you think, and make you laugh at the same. Have a look at the following ten answers given in American exams. Before you look at the ex-planantions given by the teachers, try to find the mistakes!

1. Ancient Egypt was inhabited by mummies and they wrote in hydraulics. They lived in the Sarah Dessert and traveled by Camelot. The climate of the Sarah is such that the inhabit-ants have to live elsewhere.

2. The Bible is full of interesting caricatures. In the first book of the bible, Guinessis, Adam and Eve were created from an apple tree. One of their children, Cain, asked, “Am I my broth-er’s son?”.

3. The Greeks were a highly sculptured peo-ple, and without them we wouldn’t have his-tory. The Greeks also had myths. A myth is a female moth.

4. In the Olympic Games, Greek ran races, jumped, hurled the biscuits, and threw the java.

5. In midevil times most people were alliter-ate. The greatest writer of the futile ages was Chaucer, who wrote many poems and verses and also wrote literature.

6. Another story was William Tell, who shot an arrow through an apple while standing on his son’s head.

7. During the Renaissance America began. Christopher Columbus was a great navigator who discovered America while cursing about the Atlantic. His ships were called the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Fe.

8. Gravity was invented by Issac Walton. It is chiefly noticeable in the autumn when the ap-ples are falling off the trees.

9. Queen Victoria was the longest queen. She sat on a thorn for 63 years. She was a moral woman who practiced virtue. Her death was the final event which ended her reign.

10. Charles Darwin was a naturalist who wrote the Organ of the Species. Madman Curie dis-covered radio. And Karl Marx became one of the Marx brothers.

Explanations1. Ancient Egypt was inhabited by mummies and they all wrote in hydraulics (Hieroglyph-ics). They lived in the Sarah Dessert (Sahara

17EXAM FUN4 June 2012

Desert) and traveled by Camelot (Camel). The climate of the Sarah is such that the inhabit-ants have to live elsewhere (If they live else-where, how can they be inhabitants?)

2. The Bible is full of interesting caricatures (characters). In the first book of the bible, Gui-nessis (Genesis), Adam and Eve were created from an apple tree. One of their children, Cain, asked, “Am I my brother’s son?” (These are very strange versions of the biblical stories of Adam and Eve and Cain and Abel!)

3. The Greeks were a highly sculptured (cul-tured) people, and without them we wouldn’t have history (really? No history??). The Greeks also had myths. A myth is a female moth (???).4. In the Olympic Games, Greek ran races, jumped, hurled the biscuits (hurled discusses), and threw the java (javelin).

5. In midevil (medieval) times most people were alliterate (illilerate). The greatest writer of the futile (middle) ages was Chaucer, who wrote many poems and verses and also wrote literature (aren’t poems and verses literature?).

6. Another story was William Tell, who shot an arrow through an apple while standing on his son’s head (it was the apple that was on his son’s head when William shot it!).

7. During the Renaissance America began (the place had actually been there for a long time by then!). Christopher Columbus was a great navigator who discovered America while cursing (cruising) about the Atlantic. His ships were called the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Fe (Robert Scott points out that Columbus’ third ship was the Santa Maria. The Contract of Santa Fe confirmed his payment for the voy-

ages by the Spanish crown).

8. Gravity was invented (discovered) by Issac Walton (Newton). It is chiefly noticeable in the autumn when the apples are falling off the trees (this refers to the story about Newton discover-ing gravity when an apple fell on his head).

9. Queen Victoria was the longest (reigning) queen. She sat on a thorn (throne) for 63 years. She was a moral woman who practiced virtue. Her death was the final event which ended her reign (hard for her reign to continue after her death).

10. Charles Darwin was a naturalist who wrote the Organ (Origin) of the Species. Madman (Madam) Curie discovered radio (radium). And Karl Marx became one of the Marx brothers (Karl Marx was the co-author of the Communist Manifesto and died in 1883. The Marx brothers were a famous comedy team who made many movies between 1929 and 1949).

4 June 2012EVENTS18

Annette Willemse

A graduation ceremony does not represent the end, but rather the beginning of the next chapter in life. With these words the Campus Rector, Prof. Thanyani Mariba, recently con-gratulated graduates during the May gradua-tion ceremonies (also known as the Autumn graduation ceremonies) of the Vaal Campus.

More than 800 qualifications were conferred during the weeklong graduation ceremonies that took place at the Quest Conference Es-tate and included 88 certificates; 41 diplomas; 480 Bachelor degrees; 208 Honours’ degrees; 14 Masters’ degrees and 11 Doctoral degrees.

In his address to the graduates, Prof. Mariba referred to a graduation ceremony as the com-ing of age of the next generation of leaders; opinion formers; educators; entrepreneurs; technical experts and artists and as such it represents the fulfilment of a promise of fu-ture greatness. “As graduates you stand on the verge of joining the global workplace and hence forth become economically active mem-bers of society – members with a clear intend to serve a greater purpose to the benefit of all mankind,’ said Prof. Mariba and added that graduates are nothing less than visionary ar-chitects of the future.

The graduation ceremenoy also brought to-gether the Campuses first group of Social Work graduates. Three years after the incep-tion of the Social Work subject group on the Vaal Campus; the first intake of students re-cently received their degrees. The May gradu-ation ceremony saw ten Social Work students graduate – two of them with distinction.

According to Dr. Ansie Fouche, the Subject Head of Social Work, the graduation ceremony represents a very proud moment for the sub-ject group. She explains that apart from the dire shortage of skilled social workers in the country, the demand for well-developed prac-titioners with a sense of discernment and re-sponsibility is very high.

Apart from the more than 800 certificates, di-plomas and degrees that were conferred dur-ing the weeklong graduation ceremonies, a number of academic achiever awards were also made by to graduates who excelled in each of the disciplines.

Bachelor of Education (BEd)The top achiever in the School of Educational Sciences, Me. Marlene Isabelle Groenewald, she maintained an academic average of 84 percent during her studies.

Bachelor of Arts (BA)The award for excellent academic achieve-ment within the Faculty of Humanities was awarded to Me. Carolina Monika Piotrowska, she passed 24 of the 27 prescribed modules with distinction and maintained an academic average of 80 percent.

Bachelor of Social Work (B SW)The first-ever recipient of the excellent aca-demic achievement award in the Social Work discipline was received by Me. Collet Nokuth-ula Msimanga, who 40 of the 61 prescribed modules with distinction and maintained an academic average of 80 percent. Bachelor of Science in Information Tech-nology (BSc)The top achiever in the Faculty of Economic Sciences and Information Technology, Mr. Craig Hugh Fraser achieved an academic av-erage of 90 percent during his studies and ob-tained distinctions for 28 of the 34 prescribed modules. Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) Accounting SciencesIn the discipline of Chartered Accountancy the award for excellent academic achievement went to Me. Cilné Reinette du Toit. She ob-tained 23 distinctions and maintained an aca-demic average of 83 percent.

Well done to all graduates!

Academic Achievers

Graduation marks the age of excellence

4 June 2012 EVENTS 19

4 June 2012EVENTS20

I was afforded the opportunity of attending the Miss Acacia and Mr Oryx beauty pageant on 17 May; front row!!! To say it was funny, amaz-ing, great and all the other words that could emphasize what a great time I had would, un-deniably, be the understatement of the year.

Acacia had 24 contestants and Oryx only 17. The pageant started off with all the contes-tants introducing themselves, coupled with a background on their course, year and why they chose to study at our campus. Then we had the boys and girls parading their casual wear for us...one of the girls almost picked her teeth up from the ground because of her sky-high heels but, we won't go there.

The houses chose a special 'Masquerade' theme, which added tons of flavour to the event, especially because the HKs played it out all so well. The costumes worn during one of the sects also added a touch of fun to the festivity. Each contestant went all out with their costume which was pretty impressive. During

intervals we had performances by a very cute, young World Hip Hop Champion and also by David de Wet and Mr Oryx 2011, Raputse Grobler. I'm not a fan of Josh Groban and Af-rikaans music but the boys really outdid them-selves.

The formal wear saw all contestants bringing out their best! Some in matric dance outfits and some in their grandparents' clothing, but that's irrelevant as everyone looked good in their own special way.

Then it came down to the cutting off of final-ists. The top ten! Which amounted to 20 final contestants. The competition got tougher and all 20 finalists were given a question to answer. Now this part right here is tough, only the brave and confident survive. Most of the contestants that were good throughout the show stuffed it up at this point because they stuttered when answering questions and, let's face it, it's a beauty pageant and you're only as good as your last performance. Needless to say; the deserving took the throne.

Here are a list of the winners:(Not all winners are listed due to not staying after event for information)

Miss Acacia: Marissa

Mr Oryx: Olivier Tshimbidi

Congratulations to all contestants and winners. Winners of Miss Acacia and Mr Oryx automati-cally become finalists in the Mr and Miss NWU pageant. Winners of that pageant proceed to the Mr and Miss SA Universities. Good one, guys! Wishing you all the best for your reign.Overall, it was a great show. Very entertain-ing and we were all well accommodated. Ev-erything went well with the exception of a few minor technical glitches but those can happen to anyone. I enjoyed myself thoroughly and I'm going to ride on the optimistic assumption that everyone who was there did too. Kudos!

Vuyelwa Qobo

A night of music and magic

4 June 2012 EVENTS 21

The RAS Society recently held their launch, where various art-ists got to showcase their tal-ents and artwork. The event featured music and dance by the likes of Sechaba, Maki from the Jerusalam School, M.R. and Shades of Grey. DJ Nkosko and the RAS’ very own DJ Mandla, were on the decks entertaining everyone with the sounds of Reggae and House. The crowd was also taken on a poetical journey by Lucas, Grimlin and the hosts, the RAS Society. Pakiso Thoka-one and Lerato Kubu enjoyed themselves and said how the performances showcased cul-ture and its diversity. The two friends further said that they also enjoyed the music.”It just takes you to another place.”

The guys from ‘Humble Africa

Arts and Crafts’ and ‘Boiketlo ba ka Art Galleries and Cu-rio Shop’ had their handmade goods on show; which the au-dience got a chance to look at and bought items such as ear-rings, necklaces and key hold-ers.

This was without doubt a fun and interactive event, with members of the audience get-

ting a chance to also show their skills in poetry and dance. Some even expressed their wishes for such events to be held every Friday. Well done to the RAS Society for a memo-rable event.

Anyone interested in buying the artwork and accessories which were on display can contact the exhibitionists on:Mohau Kutoane- 0731829778 and Albert Ledimo- 0733041210

Society shows its talentMpho Nakana

The Sedibeng region has an alarming high HIV/Aids prev-alence with an infection rate of nearly 60% whilst only an estimated 4% of the region’s population has undergone screening. This is according to Dr. Victor Fiqueora – a HIV/Aids researcher, who took part in the Campus’s annual HIV/Aids Candlelight Memorial Service that took place on 23 May 2012.

Sr. Sara Kok – a local Health

Care Promotor, told students that now is the time to take ac-tion and not indulge in mere lip service. “HIV/Aids is out of the coffin,” said Sr. Kok, and explained that through healthy lifestyle choices, sexual absti-nence and antiretroviral medi-cation the disease is no longer a death sentence.

The Annual International AIDS Candlelight Memorial Day is the largest grassroots move-ment against the disease that aims to cripple our society.

During the event the Campus community joined 115 coun-tries world wide to honor those who have lost the fight against the disease and to raise aware-ness about the pandemic.

During the memorial event on both staff and students were afforded the opportunity to un-dergo a voluntary HIV screen-ing test. Knowing your HIV status is very important since it allows you to make informed decisions regarding your fu-ture and your life.

Time to take responsibilityAnnette Willemse

4 June 2012EVENTS22

Kinga Siejek

Academics at its bestIt was an afternoon that made many parents proud of their children. The Golden Key Inter-national Honor Society held their New Member Ceremony on 29 May 2012; welcoming stu-dents to a life of possibilities. The ceremony was held to welcome 114 new members from our Campus to this prestigious family.

Hope Khoza, the Chapter Relations Officer for the South African Office, gave greetings, as well as words of wisdom to all the new mem-bers and their families. She told the students, “don’t wait for the next big thing,”, and to un-derstand the value of this global recognition.

Being part of the Golden Key will give the stu-dents a closer grasp towards their futures as leaders and business makers. As a whole, they stand the opportunity of scholarships abroad, as well as being part of not only a national; but international networking system, that brings all Golden Key members closer together.

Khoza went on to name but a few profound leaders in South Africa who are members of the Golden Key; such as Archbishop Emeri-

tus Desmond Tutu, Naledi Pandor, and Trev-or Manuel. Showing the students the type of shoes they have to fill one day. Khoza finished with a last thought for all students to remem-ber; “you are the leaders, you are the thinkers, you are the doers. Be part of the change.”

Before the recognition of the new students began, Peter Mahasela, the treasurer of the Golden Key on Campus, introduced the rec-ognition of their Honorary Member. A lady who has worked hard in her life, and achieved even more. Mrs Maggie de Beer, has been with the Campus for many years; starting with the SRC in 1992, and went on to work in Student Devel-opment from 1994 to present.

After much applause; it soon came to the mo-ment when the students would take their place in the Golden Key, as members, friends and future leaders.

The Golden Key was founded in 1977 at the Georgia State University, as a way to give rec-ognition to students for their academic perfor-mance. To date, there are over 390 chapters in countries such as United States of America (USA), Australia, Malaysia, Canada, New Zea-land, India and South Africa; with over 2 million people worldwide as alumni and members.

4 June 2012 SA NEWS 23

Winnie Theletsane

When the National Party in-troduced Bantu Education in 1954, many schools in South Africa went through ma-jor changes. The number of black children that enrolled in schools increased, and result-ed in overcrowded classrooms. There were approximately 60 learners per classroom. In 1976, the government intro-duced Afrikaans as a medium of instruction from standard 5 (now grade 7). English and Afrikaans were to be used in schools as medium of instruc-tions on a 50-50 basis. Maths and social science were to be taught in Afrikaans, and prac-tical subjects such as house-craft and woodwork in English.

The reason government gave for using Afrikaans as a me-dium of instruction was that black children were becoming too assertive and forcing them to learn in Afrikaans would be a useful form of discipline. Gov-ernment also argued that since it was paying for black educa-tion it could determine the lan-guage of instruction. This was not entirely true, white children did have free education but blacks paid schools fees and bought their own stationary. On 13 June 1976, nearly 400

black learners held a meeting and were addressed by Tsietsi Mashinin, one of the learners who was very influential at that time. In the meeting it was sug-gested that a peaceful protest would take place on 16 June to voice their grievances. The chosen venue for the gather-ing was Orlando Stadium in Soweto.

On the 16th, learners came from different schools, met on Vilakazi Street and made their way to the stadium. Over 15 000 learners protested that day and the event did go not as peacefully as planned. Their plan was to make a list of their grievances and send

Young and brave

the letter to government; but the police arrived and thought they should “call the learners to order”. Teargas was used to end the protest; when that did not work, police settled for gun shots.

Hundreds of learners were in-jured and a few killed. Some died on their way to the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospi-tal and others did not make. Sam Nzima, a photographer, took the famous picture of Hector Pieterson, the young-est boy who was shot dead in the struggle. Today the youth faces different kinds of battles, and just like the youth of 1976, they do not back down.

4 June 2012VOX POP24

Shawn Tseladimitloa

Vox PopI asked a few ladies about this trend that guys use in order to charm them. They were able to share with me the worst pickup lines guys have ever used on them:

Malethabo Mmabatho who is a 2nd

year in IT said: “He asked me if I be-

lieveinloveat

firstsightors

houldhe

walk past again. That really cracked

me up”

Happiness Motaung who is a 2nd year

sports management student said: “He

told me he lost his number along with

his heart so can he have mine. I found

this really pathetic”

Joyce Pue who is a 1st year commu-nications student said: “He asked me if I was related to Beyonce or Jenifer Lopez because I am more beautiful. It was sweet though but funny and lame”

Thabile Lentjies who is a 2nd year in

communications student said: “He

walked up to me and asked me if my

mom was a baker because she sure

made a cutie pie. I laughed about it”

Liesel Hanekom who is a 3rd year

accounting student said: “He asked

meifmydadwasatrafficofficer

becauseI’vegotfinewrittenallover

me”

Joelene Smith who is a 2nd Psychol-

ogy student said: “He asked me if

I have ever been arrested because

having such beauty is a crime. I was

laughing”

Everyone is heading home for recess. After all the hectic studying that took over your life due to the exams. Now that is a thing of the past. Recess is here and it is time to have fun.

1. Firstly you need to forget about school, ex-ams and all its stress that comes along with it. Leave your school stress on campus.2. This is the time to catch up with your family, bond with them and talk to them about abso-lutely anything.3. Go out with your friends for another catch up session like to a mall for either shopping or to catch a movie.4. Facebook every day, Tweet every day, and enjoy social networks by getting in touch with your friends and seeing what they are up to.5. Find out about concerts that you can attend with your friends. Many events happen almost every day in our country.6. Entertain friends by throwing a braai and have a chilled-out relaxing time without talking

about school or exams.7. Do the things you missed most about being at home. For example the guys, play a soc-cer match with the guys. For the ladies play a wonderful session of netball. Become a sport-ing fanatic during this recess.8. Have a session that I call ‘Me time’. During this time it is all about you. Focus on you for a change. Pamper yourself. I know the ladies will love this one. It is time to be selfish and only think about you.9. Play board games with your family members or friends. This will help you to relax and have a great time with loved ones10. Watch a whole lot of movies and Television programmes. Plays play station games and video games.

This is a time where you forget about school and it is also a time for you to refresh yourself for the next semester that is coming up. Make sure that you have a fun relaxing time. This is the time to get back your social life.

How to: have a safe fun-filled recess

4 June 2012 REVIEWS 25

Clash of the titansMpho Nakana

Recently I had the honour of adjudicating over the debate between the BA and BCom Com-mittees. I must say that it was a fun and quite interesting experience. The motion put forward was, “Should the APS be standardised in all South African universities?” The participants of each group got a chance to put forth their arguments, and although the nerves were high and they tried their best; it was pretty clear that the BA side (arguing for the motion), with the exception of their last speaker, was not that prepared. My fellow judges, Mfundo Hadebe (SRC Academic Officer) and José Andre, and I agreed that amongst other things, they made a number of technical errors.

The first speaker did not introduce us to the motion, nor did he take us through what the overall arguments would entail. As much as their argument concentrated more on the principle of equality, as stated in the Constitu-

tion, they failed to relate or link it to how that equality works in the sphere of education. The BCom side (opposing the motion) was not per-fect in their presentation, however I did enjoy the energy of their first speaker; he really chal-lenged and gave the BA a run for their money. The BCom side also had some data to back up their argument; which is vital in any debate and not only solidifies your argument but also shows effort. I would have preferred that their data be in the South African context though.

It seemed as if both parties had no full under-standing, nor formed clear perimeters of what the content of the debate should include; but all in all, the debate was nice and we got to hear different but good perspectives. Based on these conditions, it was a unanimous decision between the judges that the BCom Committee be the winners of this round. Interesting as it was, I’d say that the level of debating still needs some work. Once again, I would like to thank Nokwazi and the BA Committee for inviting me to join in the debate, and congratulations to the BCom Committee and all the participants.

Coming soon:

4 June 2012REVIEWS26

Paul Kriel

The Mr Oryx and Ms Acacia event was one of an atmosphere of beauty and extravagance. The theme of the event was the Phantom of the Opera, with Phantom inviting us to come see the people of Oryx and Acacia sharing their looks, talents and dreams with us and the judges. The evening was alight with Phantom of the Opera décor, lights were trained on the entrance of the contestants and people were packed to come and see the finalists of Mr Oryx and Ms Acacia showing their stuff and some serious talent.

After the introductions there was a crazy wear piece with contestants dressed in the most bi-zarre and funny costumes while showing off their funny side. Some were wearing funny costumes while men from Oryx showed some body in their underwear.

After the crazy wear, contestants showed us some of their talents, ranging from poetry to dance numbers. While some preferred to use their vocal talent, others just liked to show the judges what they do best; such as baking a cake in a cup, in a microwave. The contestants sang across different songs and genres, even an opera/rap was done by one of the contes-tants. There were minor technical difficulties during the talent event, which was shown to throw some contestants off their game a bit, but all in all it was a success.

After the talents had been shown, a small break was given before the formal wear event. After a 20 minute break, to quickly eat a Tex chocolate bar, the formal wear began with con-testants showing some beautiful and gorgeous dresses and suits that were as formal and fan-

cy as though they were going to a matric fare-well or a true masquerade ball.

Soon enough, the night came to a halt, as ev-eryone waited with baited breath to hear who would be crowned the next King and Queen.

The night was filled with laughter, music, tears and cries of joys; and a happy ending for the new Queen of Acacia, and King of Oryx. I give the night and all its magic 9/10!

Past the point of no return

4 June 2012 REMEBERANCE 27

Another beautiful soul was lost to us. A girl so full of life, and with so much to live for. It is with a sad heart, that it is time to say good-bye to another friend.

Ms Vuyelwa Violet Shirley Cindi; a first year BEd student, was tragically lost last month. The Acacia resident will be missed by all those who knew and loved her.

Our condolences go to the family, friends, and every person who knew and loved this vibrant young lady.

Motivational Quotes

“I’m not telling you it is going to be easy — I’m telling you it’s going to be worth it” ~ Art Williams

“There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work learning from failure.” ~ General Colin Powell

“You may never know what results come of your action, but if you do nothing there will be no result.” ~ Mahatma Gandhi

"Destiny is not a matter of chance, but of choice. Not something to wish for, but to attain." -William Jennings Bryan

“You’re never a loser til you quit trying.” ~ Anonymous

4 June 2012INSPIRATION28

Feeling blue? Stressed? Under pressured? Here’s something to ease your mind. Most stu-dents listen to this song during exams, and it has worked wonders, so why not give it a try. So let’s sing along, one two, one two…

"Can't Give Up Now" – Mary MaryThere will be mountains that I will have to climbAnd there will be battles that I will have to fightBut victory or defeat, it's up to me to decideBut how can I expect to win If I never try.

I just can't give up nowI've come too far from where I started fromNobody told me the road would be easyand I don't believe He brought me this far to leave me

Never said there wouldn't be trialsNever said I wouldn’t fallNever said that everything would go the way I want it to goBut when my back is against the wallAnd i feel all hope is gone, I'll just lift my head up to the skyAnd say help me to be strong

I just can't give up nowI've come too far from where I started fromNobody told me the road would be easyand I don't believe he brought me this far to leave me

[Hook:]No you didn't bring me out here to leave me lonelyEven when I can't see clearlyI know that you are with me(so I can't)

I just can't give up nowI've come too far from where I started fromNobody told me the road would be easyand I don't believe He brought me this far to leave me

Poetry CornerThe Nameless Poem - Paul Kriel

We're building a wall between us two. A barrier between me and you.

Arrogance, the Gatekeeper Jealousy, the Door. Old memories litter the shattered floor.

Acceptance, the Lock Forgiveness, the Key. That is the part missing in me.

What would make you happy? Just name your price. Take my heart and life. Would this soul be suffice?

Please understand these hazel-coloured eyes sees a different truth on these mono-coloured lies...

4 June 2012 FREAKY FACTS 29

Bonjour etudiants!(Hello students!) I have some freaky facts for you this month and some freaky facts about exams, school and so forth! Also I have some funny exam answers for you to entertain you in this time of studying for the exams!

Synesthesia is the neurological condition in which sensory information is misconstrued in the brain and interpreted differently. A common example of synesthesia is known as graph-eme. This is when letters or numbers can be perceived as colours, tastes, forms, or even to have personalities!

Intelligent people have more zinc and copper in their hair.

The longest word in the English language, ac-cording to the Oxford English Dictionary, is pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanokonio-sis.

Soldiers in the Israeli army who play Dungeons and Dragons are sent for psychological help!

A group of unicorns is called a blessing. A group of frogs is called an army. A group of rhinos is called a crash. A group of kangaroos is called a mob. A group of officers is called a mess. A group of owls is called a parliament.

The fear of having to look at your own reflec-tion in a mirror is Spectrophobia.

Here are some freaky facts about exams,

studying etc. and some funny exam answers!

Testophobia is the fear of taking a test or exam!

Home-schooling is illegal in Germany!

Sophophobia is the fear of having to learn any-thing new.

Didaskaleinophobia is the fear of going to school.

4 June 2012PONDERING PEARL30

Pondering Pearl...My heart was torn in two and ground with gravel from being stepped on, thrown around, and tossed aside. My carpet was wet with tears and I was sprawled face down on my floor, wondering if the pain would ever go away.

Why was this battle crippling me so? –S. Larson

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate; our deep-est fear is that we are power-ful beyond measure... We ask ourselves, who am I to be bril-liant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous, actually who are we not to be? Your playing small doesn’t serve the world, do not be a shrinking violet. We were born to manifest the glory of good that’s within us, and as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other peo-ple permission to do the same. Being an apprentice in varsity has taught me toughness and showcasing the emphasis that goal is key. I have found my life too stifling and absolute inte-gration seemed to overwhelm my status. In every situation that I’ve encountered dur-ing my first year to date, I’ve learned to seek opportunities and have forced privileged cir-cumstances.

Having to be part of the new season got me thinking of switching ordinary into extraor-dinary student life. Body, mind and soul are the essence of existence, therefore it’s impor-tant not to get attached to the

dreadful times. Turning off the parts of the brain associated with stress and anxiety is ide-al for every dedicated student who might be reading this. This is something that money can’t buy and known for originality, multifarious is our campus that creates free-spirited finish.

Easing the strains in our aca-demics and upcoming con-stricted exam time-tables can be a hard method. But in this edition, a set of techniques on how to manage the tight-fisted exam by force but yet genuine routines that can help you ACE the question paper!!!

Education is the greatest en-gine of personal development. It is through education that the daughter of a peasant can be-come a doctor, that the son of a mineworker can become the head of the mine and that a child of a farm worker can become a president –Nelson Mandela

Pearl Mavunda

A million miles away from nor-mal.

4 June 2012 SPORT 31

Mzwakhe Tshabalala. Keep note of this young stars name. The 21 year old, who plays de-fender and is the captain of the campus soccer team, was recently awarded the much coveted NWU Soccer Player of the Year for 2012. This he received as a result of his sterling perfor-mance at this year’s University Sport South Af-rica (USSA) Games.

Also known to his peers as “Matala” and “Die beste”, amongst his many nicknames; Tsha-balala is certainly on the right track to soccer stardom. His other achievements include rep-resenting Gauteng in the South African Brew-eries (SAB) Games, Coca-Cola Youth Tourna-ment as well as the U/19 Gauteng team for the Metropolitan Tournament, for which he won bronze medals. He was also selected to play for AmaGlug-Glug, the U/23 national team; and now has Provincial and National colours in the code.

Tshabalala said that he owes his achieve-ments to the support which he receives from the people he works with. “It’s not because of my abilities that I’m where I am today. It is the

Our very own soccer wizMpho Nakana

support I get from the coaches and (my) team mates, without them I wouldn’t have gotten the award.” Tshabalala, who hails from Evaton and is currently busy with his third year in Sports Science, has been playing soccer for 13 years now. “I’ve known him since the age of 11 and he’s very committed. I just want to tell him to con-tinue working hard, but to also not forget about his academics,” said Thulani Mthimkulu, the NWU soccer coach.

The NWU Vaal Rugby Club once again showed why they are one of the best clubs in their league, after the 1st team beat Raiders 19-11 in a tightly contested away game on 26 May.

With the league being so com-petitive, it is crucially important to get maximum points in one’s

away games, especially when it comes to the playoffs after the group stages has finished. The NWU Vaal’s first team is now on a two game winning af-ter beating Benoni at home the previous weekend.

The under 21s unfortunately lost a closely fought match by 17-13, but the under 19s were on a rampage as they defeated

their opponents by a 33 point margin, with the final score amounting to 54-21.

Matches are played every sec-ond Saturday at NWU Vaal’s rugby grounds. Come support our Rugby teams, as crowd support is lacking at these games. Creating a “home” at-mosphere will motivate our teams even more in their quest to become champions at the end of the season.

NWU rugby continues winning streakWouter Pienaar

SPORT32 4 June 2012

Viva Espana! These were the cries which were heard four years ago, when Spain finally si-lenced its critics by winning Euro 2008; their first major international football trophy, which in turn has led to a golden age for Spanish Football. Four years on, and we are steadily closing in on the next chapter of this intrigu-ing battle for European football’s top prize. Will Spain once again be crowned champions of Europe? Will the Netherlands or England aim to take home the throne for the very first time in this year’s edition? These questions and more will be asked when the cream of Europe’s foot-ball crop will compete in the action packed tournament known as UEFA Euro 2012, which will be held from 8 June until 1 July in Poland and Ukraine.

The origin of the European Championship goes back to 1960 when Frenchman, Henri Delaunay conceptualized a tournament in-volving Europe’s football giants from different regions. The first tournament was won by the former USSR when they beat Yugoslavia 2-1. The country with the most Euro wins is Ger-many with three, followed by France with two wins. France further dominates the Euro lead-erboard, with Michel Platini and Lillian Thuram holding the record for most goals and appear-ances, with 9 goals and 16 appearances re-spectively.

The UEFA European Championship is the sec-

Europe’s elite aim for football prizeWouter Pienaar

ond biggest international football tournament, after the FIFA World Cup, and is hosted ev-ery four years with a total of 14 teams gaining entry into the tournament through a rigorous qualifying series of games against a range of nations. Poland and Ukraine, being co-hosts of the tournament, qualified automatically, result-ing in a total of 16 teams to participate in the tournament. The teams are placed into four groups of four teams each, with the top two teams going through to the knockout phase of the competition. The remaining teams then battle it out in the knockout stages until only one team will walk away with the Henri Delau-nay trophy in Poland’s capital city of Warsaw on 1 July.2012

4 June2012 SPORT 33

Meet the teamsGroup A, consists of hosts Poland, Greece, Russia and the Czech Republic. Poland, ably cheered on by a vociferous home crowd could sneak through to the quarter finals as they are drawn in arguably the easiest of the four groups. If striker Robert Lewandowski can continue his prolific goal scoring form then Po-land could upset a few bigger names in this tournament. Russia looks like a strong team this years with the likes of Andrey Arshavin and Roman Pavlyuchenko providing the firepower in front of goal. Arshavin was one of the stars of the last 2008 Euro’s in Austria and Switzer-land, and will be a player to look out for.

Group B is the proverbial “group of death” with The Netherlands, Germany, Portugal and Den-mark vying for top spot. The Dutch are one of most eye catching teams in this year’s tour-nament, primarily for their attacking flair and secondly for their orange kit. Robin van Persie, Wesley Sneijder and company will definitely be trying their best to relive the glory days of the 1980’s when they last lifted the trophy in 1988. Germany and Portugal will not make it easy for the Dutch, with Mezut Ozil (Germany) and Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) aiming to provide the spark in their teams’ surge for European glory. The match between The Netherlands and Germany promises to be one of the high-lights of the group stages.

Group C features champions Spain, Italy, Cro-atia and Republic of Ireland. Expect Spain to cruise through with midfield general’s Andres Iniesta and Xavi controlling the possession. Croatia could be the dark horses of the tour-nament, as they have a team ethic and Luka Modric, one of Europe’s hottest properties. The battle for second spot will be one to sa-vour as Republic of Ireland, Italy and Croatia each have crucial games against each other in the pool stages.

Group D features France, England, hosts Ukraine and Sweden. France is one of the hot favorites in this campaign and seems to

have taken their football into a refreshing new direction based on young exciting talent, as opposed to previous tournaments where ego’s and poor management was the order of the day. In Karim Benzema and Samir Nasri and Franck Ribery, they have three of the most exciting players in Europe, each capable of unlocking any defense. England have for long now been the perennial underachievers at ma-jor tournaments. Off-field drama has curtailed this exiting generation of players, such as Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney for far too long. Euro 2012 could be England’s time for retribution by turning talent into trophies. Ukraine with home advantage and Sweden with star striker, Zlatan Ibrahi-movic, may also upset the apple cart, if they pull off a victory over France or England, which could make things even more interesting for football fans.

The first European Championship to be hosted in Eastern Europe and the 14th overall prom-ises to deliver goals, fouls, penalties, acrobatic saves and plenty of drama. The 1st of July will see another chapter written in the annals of the European Championship. The question is who will be Euro 2012’s success story? Watch and find out!

Wouter Pienaar

SPORT34 4 June 2012

Gold, silver and bronze. It is the greatest multi sporting event on the planet. It is an event which unites different countries, cultures and races in a spectacle of determination, grit and achievement. This event is the Olympic Games – the true embodiment of the human spirit in the race for gold.

The Olympic Games in modern times was first held in 1896, fittingly in the birthplace of the ancient games – Athens in Greece. The event has since grown into one of the must see sporting events, which take place every four years in a different city. The 2012 version of the Olympic Games will take place in London, England from 27 July to 12 August. This will be the third time that the Olympics takes place in London, as it previously hosted the prestigious event in 1908 and 1948. The Olympic Games has a truly global feel, as an expected 205 nations from around the world will compete in around 300 different events. These include the usual sporting codes, such as athletics, swimming, gymnastics and weightlifting, but also other minor sports such as kayaking, table tennis, archery and fencing. It is always interesting to follow the heroes of the minor sports, as they are not in the spot-light as often as football or rugby stars. This is their chance to shine and show the world their skills in their respective sporting codes.

There is a plethora of athletes who will be aim-ing to make their mark on the hallowed turf with legendary and awe-inspiring performances. Team South Africa will look to improve on their performance in Beijing in 2008, where they only brought home one silver medal, thanks to Khotso Mokoena’s efforts in the men’s long jump. South Africa’s biggest medal hopefuls include, Khotso Mokoena, LJ van Zyl in the 400m hurdles, Caster Semenya in the women’s 800m, Oscar Pistorius on the athletics track, as well as Chad le Clos and Cameron van der Burgh in the swimming division. For those who enjoy extreme sports keep a lookout for our BMX-rider Sifiso Nhlapo, as he hopes to bring

Wouter Pienaar

London 2012: Fueling the Olympic flamehome more medals for South Africa. On the international front, there will be a few names that will most likely dominate the head-lines and steal the show during the 2012 Olym-pic Games. The first name, which appears in everyone’s head when thinking of an extraor-dinary super athlete, is Usain Bolt. The flashy Jamaican sprinter took home the glory at the previous Olympics by setting a new landmark for pure speed by breaking the world record in the 100m, 200m, and sprint relay. American swimming sensation Michael Phelps will be looking to add to his extraordinary tally of 16 Olympic medals, as he only needs three more medals to become the most decorated Olym-pian of all time. It would take a brave man to bet against him dominating the swimming pool again in his third Olympics.

The 2012 London Olympic Games is set to be the most watched event in the history of Olym-pics, as viewers will be treated to some magi-cal awe-inspiring “I was there” moments which will forever be engrained in our memories. We here at Student 24/7 can’t wait!

4 June 2012 SPORT 35

CALENDAR36 4 June 2012