by sthandiwe | Mar 23, 2011 | News
Law Students’ Council (LSC) elections for 2011/2012 are under way. The LSC represents law students and their interests.
The LSC serves as a bridge between management and l aw students, says outgoing LSC secretary, Thabang Madileng. “The main aim of the organisation is student governance.”
Campaigning started yesterday outside the Law building. Voting day is today (24, March) and the handing over will take place on the next day.
Madileng says the duties of the LSC entail “helping 1st years understand university life,” by orientating and integrating them. One of the big projects is to run the writing centre which helps first years, and everyone who needs assistance, with their assignments.
Jeffrey Madonsela, a 3rd year LLB student, expects the incoming LSC to carry on with the duties which were executed by the outgoing LSC. He says: “The incoming LSC needs to be conscious about our education.
“They need to ensure that we have enough resources in our library” and bring Law firms to do presentations about what they want/expect from graduates. “
3rd year BA Law student, Leigh Rodgers, is expecting “a high level of administration and better organisation within the department,” from the incoming LSC members.
A group of candidates campaigning for the LSC, Parody, believe in a united goal and vision. They want to create an “LSC that is transparent, accessible, actively involved, dignified and composed of hard-working leaders.”
by sthandiwe | Mar 18, 2011 | News
Sign on a Wits bus Photo: Sithandiwe Mchunu
The ‘No Overload’ sign on Luxliner buses has no meaning during peak hours when large numbers of students wait for the circuit bus.
Luxliner bus drivers complained last year about the overloading in buses as it does not comply with the certificate of fitness which orders that no passengers stand on buses.
The ‘No Overload’ sign was a response by Wits management to the drivers’ complaints. It was implemented to reduce the high number of students who find themselves standing in the overcrowded buses.
Bus drivers said that students who overload the bus sit on the dashboard and the engine cover. In a situation where they have to brake suddenly this could lead to them falling over or backwards into the windscreen as there are no supports. They also said overloading is dangerous as the extra weight on the bus changes its braking capabilities.
“In case of an accident I will be the one to blame as the traffic cops will find me responsible for the overload,” said a bus driver.
Students crowded while getting on a bus. Photo: Sithandiwe Mchunu
Drivers said they find it difficult to leave students behind as they sympathise with them being late for class. Although they have complained to Wits about the lack of buses to make more trips, the situation has not been rectified.
Bongani Jacobs, SRC media and publicity officer, said the overloading can be solved if students wait for buses allocated to their residences, especially the JCE education campus buses.
Kreneshan Gopal, a PDM masters in public policy student, said the situation was ridiculous as during peak hours a high number of students struggle to get into the bus. “For me, being a big size, I have an advantage to get a [seat] because I push my way in.”
Vuvuzela tried to contact Wits Transport Services but they did not respond at the time of going to print.
by sthandiwe | Mar 11, 2011 | Featured 1, News
Photo: Sthandiwe Mchunu
With assignments, projects and tests under way, a number of Wits students are still eager to empower and give back by doing voluntary work.
Ten Wits students have devoted a day of the week to tutor school children in Soweto every Saturday. They work under Teboho Trust which helps Grade 0 to 12 pupils. The programme was co-founded by a Wits part-time lecturer, Jose Bright.
The programme started on March 5. Transport and lunch is sponsored.
Bright says Teboho Trust started as a programme aimed at empowering orphans. It was later extended to an educational support programme for children from disadvantaged schools.
Fhulufhedzani Madzivhe, voluntary programme manager for Teboho Trust and a 3rd year BSc student at Wits, says, “It is difficult getting Wits students to join. The first thing they ask me is how much I get paid. They tell you they can’t do something without getting paid.”
The reason he does voluntary tutoring is that he enjoys helping others. “Teboho helps me reach 200 people a day, while Wits tutoring allows you to help one or two pepeople at a time.”
One of the tutors, Nelisa Cata, a 3rd year BCom student, says she has always believed that she has a social calling. “The dearest thing to my heart is education. The dearest thing to South Africa’s heart is South African education.” That is why she gives back by teaching pupils.
Bright said Wits students are surprised at what they get from it. “They are growing confidence, public speaking and communication skills as they address a class.
“Through the tutors, the kids get role models. They like that the tutors look like them and it makes them feel like they can do it too.”
Cata describes the kids they teach as intelligent, but they have doubt and lack confidence. “It’s just that they have never had a platform to articulate and voice their opinions or no one has had the chance to listen to them, but they know things.”
Cata says the moment she got to the school “it felt emotional and overwhelming to see what happens in the world outside my own”.
Madzivhe says, “After the first session tutors feel good inside having helped someone from the heart – not for money.”
The children’s parents came to thank them, saying they see improvement in their school work.
by sthandiwe | Mar 4, 2011 | News
Political organisations contacted earlier this week had no specific plans to encourage students to register for municipal elections. According to the IEC, this weekend is the last opportunity for registration.
Students interviewed on Monday had not seen any advertisements or campaigns on campus.
According to IEC figures, only 11.4% of young people between 18 and 19 are registered to vote in the upcoming municipal elections.
Mukondeleli Mphigalale, chairperson of the Wits Congress of the People Student Movement (COPESM) said on Monday her party was going to try to place posters around campus to advertise the registration process, but they were struggling with time constraints.
Mphigalale said they were focusing on “word of mouth” to convince students to register.
African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) secretary at Wits, Lebohang Matshaba, said his party was concentrating on new media to get the message across.
But a check of the new media sites such as Facebook and Twitter could not find any such campaign about the upcoming registration.
“No, I’ve never seen any organisation creating that awareness,” said Jones Matlakala, a 4th year Media Studies student.
On Monday the Progressive Youth Alliance (PYA) had organised flyers which contained registration details, while the Democratic Alliance Students’ Organisation (DASO) had theirs up on Tuesday near the Matrix.
The last date to register is this weekend. Registration stations around Wits are to be found at Wits Old Mutual Hall and the Metropolitan Theatre, 158 Loveday Street, between 8am and 5pm.
