Song of the Week

Girl Like You - Edwyn Collins

 

 

 

A United Monash For A United Africa

On Thursday, 23 April 2015 at 13:00, MUSASA and Monash South Africa clubs and societies will be hosting an anti-xenophobia campaign - A United Monash For A United Africa.

 

 Students and staff members are invited to join the protest in order to display unity against xenophobia and to celebrate the diversity, multiculturalism, and internationalism of the campus.

The purpose of this campaign is to show South Africa, Africa and the rest of the world, that Monash South Africa embraces and accepts the differences that we all have, including differences in race, ethnics and religion.

Esther Benjamin said in an email addressing the increasing concern about xenophobia attacks, “Monash South Africa has always been distinct and unique in the way we embrace multiculturalism, internationalism and diversity.”

The protest will start off with a march of solidarity around the campus grounds. Students are encouraged to come up with catchy slogans to shout as they all walk together, linking arm-in-arm or holding hands.

The march will then end in Lekgotla Square where a few volunteers will speak about the importance of unity and how students can make a difference in this world by respecting and accepting those from all around the globe.

Community Engagement has also arranged to have a poster at the ready where students and staff members can show their support by painting their hands and leaving a hand print on the poster – a symbol to say that each individual is making a mark in this initiative.

Community Engagement says, “On Thursday we would like to ‘take over social media’. Instead of all this negativity that is circulating all domains, we want to flood Facebook, Instagram and Twitter with positivity and good vibes. We are making our mark!” Community Engagement encourages everyone to take as many pictures as possible and post them with the hashtag links: #walkofshame, #NoToXenophobia

 

 

An Open Mic Session will take place on Wednesday, 22 April, in Lecture Theatre 6 from 13:00 to 14:00 to inform students of the procedures taking place on Thursday.

This is a Monash University South Africa initiative and it is being led by CRIMON, Monash South Africa and Society of MUN-msasmun, MUSASA, MoTimes, MoTV and many other organizations.

 

Song of the Week

Don't Stop - 5 Seconds Of Summer

 

 

 

Concern For Student Safety Increases

Due to recent xenophobic incidents involving people of different cultures and nationalities in South Africa, concern for student safety at Monash has increased. Security staff at Monash have urged students to be vigilant at all times.

 

Esther Benjamin, the CEO of Monash South Africa says, “Monash South Africa has always been distinct and unique in the way we embrace multiculturalism, internationalism and diversity.”

Security staff have added that everyone needs to be vigilant at all times, while being respectful of people around us from different cultures, religions, beliefs and nationalities.

Professor Alwyn Louw, the Academic President of Monash South Africa says, “The safety and well-being of our students and staff is our highest priority and we have taken precautionary steps to increase the safety of everyone. We are also in regular contact with SAPS to remain appraised of developments.”

Security staff requested that students pay attention to all announcements related to security and adhere to all safety-related guidelines.

 

Some of the safety tips include:

-          Avoid places with reported cases of unrest

-          Travel in groups, when possible

-          Avoid walking alone at night off campus

-          Use shuttles for transport at all times

-          Report any suspicious or unusual activity

 

In the unlikely event that anyone feels threatened or has been a victim of any attack, please contact Campus Protection Services on 011 950 4099 for immediate assistance. 

Additionally, Student Development Department can provide counselling and support for any of the students. Please call 011 950 4117 for an appointment.

For more information about the security at Monash, click on the link.

Expert Speaks To Journalism Students

Special guest speaker, Michael Schmidt, spoke to students about Investigative Journalism in South Africa.

Michael Schmidt

Second year and third year Journalism students were invited to attend the lecture on 17 April, in order to gain a more in-depth view on what the field of Investigative Journalism is all about.

Michael Schmidt is an investigative field reporter, journalism trainer, free press activist and former special investigative writer for the Independent Newspapers Group and his book, entitled Drinking With Ghosts: The Aftermath of Apartheid’s Dirty War, has been long-listed for the 2015 Alan Paton Award.

Schmidt began his talk by asking students whether they thought the ‘Investigative Journalism hat’ fit them or not. He continued to speak about the different forms of investigative journalism including Systematic Investigation (document-based), Narrative Investigation (interview-based) and Experiential Investigation (legwork-based). He also spoke about the different forms of journalism found within these categories including counter-intelligence, structural, conflict, forensic, sociological and process journalism.

Schmidt says, “Investigative Journalism is great because it gives you a holistic and nuanced understanding of your world – behind the curtain of PR, propaganda and appearances, self-confidence to speak to anyone at any level of society at any time about anything, a passport full of stamps relating to unbeatable experiences that will be the envy of dinner-party conversation anywhere, and the respect that comes with the ease with which you will wield the combined skills of a lawyer, negotiator, researcher, political analyst, psychologist, historian, raconteur and sociologist – not to mention multimedia expert.”

Schmidt added, “People in power sure don’t like investigative journalists and yet they get some of their most crucial non-intel information from us.”

He ended his talk by asking students, “So, do you want to venture behind the curtain? Does the Investigative Journalism hat fit you?”

During the question and answer session, when asked about the impact of journalism and the difficult scenarios field journalists are exposed to, Schmidt explained, “Most journalists excel by getting their hands dirty. But you have to keep your mind clean.” He also shared that he suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) but has received help for it. Schmidt added, “You’ve got to be human in whatever situation you’re in. It is difficult sometimes to talk about it, but you have to learn sometimes to not emotionally overcommit. It’s important to look after your own mental state. Investigative Journalism changes you, but you’re still human.”

 

 

After the first Mental Health Awareness Day held on the Monash campus in March, Journalism students were able to identify with Schmidt and understand what could lay ahead when venturing into the journalism field. Cameron Gunn Mackay, a second year journalism student said, “After listening to Michael, I personally feel very motivated to go into the field of investigative journalism. It seems exciting and you get to see the world and experience things that others can only dream of.”
For more of what Cameron thought of Michael Schmidt, listen to the clip below:

Students say that they hope more guest speakers like Michael Schmidt will visit the campus and speak to them in the future.

Open Day To Be A Success

Monash South Africa will be hosting the annual Open Day this Saturday, 18 April 2015, on campus from 9:00 to 14:00.

 

The iDiscover: Pursue your Passion Seminar Series will take place throughout the day with industry expert Monash academics presenting various ‘teaser’ lectures in the different units that are offered at Monash; including Social Science, Business Science, Public Health and Computer & Information Science. Numerous fun interactive workshops and activities will take place during these lectures.

Visitors and potential students will be able to meet with academics and have a one-on-one conversation with a Career Advisor to discuss study options. They will also have the opportunity to meet current students and graduates as they take a tour of the campus.

Amazing performances by student clubs and societies will take place in Lekgotla Square and the groups hope to inspire and encourage prospective students to sign up and join multiple cultural groups.

Visitors will be informed on topics such as accommodation that is available for enrolled students both on and off campus, the various sporting facilities Monash has to offer including tennis courts and soccer fields, as well as the Monash Study Abroad programme which allows students to go and study for a semester either in Australia, Malaysia or one of the many other international exchange partner universities.

Jeswin Leckram, the Marketing Director at Monash said, “The Open Day is sure to be a great day with a welcoming atmosphere for our prospective students and their parents.”

The Open Day Programme Schedule is available online, along with a Pre-Registration form.

Prospective students who wish to apply and enrol while on campus are reminded to bring a copy of their results and ID.

Song of the Week

Vindicated - Dashboard Confessional

 

 

Eskom To Implement Stage 2 Load Shedding

Eskom has announced that Stage 2 load shedding will be implemented from 10:00 today and is likely to continue until 22:00 this evening.

Red My Lips - Against Sexual Assualt campaign

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and everyone is wearing red to speak out against sexual violence.

 

Red My Lips is an international non-profit organisation based out of the U.S. Annually, this global awareness campaign encourages supporters to wear red lipstick all throughout the month of April to demonstrate solidarity and support for survivors of sexual violence. Red My Lips is designed to raise visibility and awareness about the realities and prevalence of sexual violence, while combatting rape myths and victim-blaming.

The founder of Red My Lips, Danielle Tansino, started the organization in December 2012, after she was raped by a friend of her then housemate in April 2011, when she was 29. After she had filed a police report, and gone through a traumatic experience with the court system, she was told by a female district attorney that they would not prosecute because, “Jurors don’t like girls that drink.”

Danielle realized it was not ‘the system’ that fails victims of sexual violence, but everyone who suggested that the attack was a mere ‘misunderstanding’, or an attempt to frame it as a natural consequence of ‘not being careful enough’.

Most people continue to convince themselves that rape only happens to 'those girls' who 'weren't careful,' 'gave mixed signals,' or 'put themselves in a bad situation.' This tendency to deny, shame, or blame survivors who come forward only serves to convince other survivors that they are wise to keep quiet, giving those who perpetrate these crimes free reign to continue doing so without consequence.

Additionally, rape and sexual assault is frequently misunderstood as something provoked by uncontrollable sexual attraction or desire instead of what it is: an act of domination, entitlement, and violence.

This mentality was echoed in the infamous statement made by a Toronto police officer in 2011, when he said, "Women should avoid dressing like sluts in order not to be victimized". This statement triggered worldwide protests known as 'Slutwalks.'

Red My Lips combines a core message of the Slutwalk with the campaign format of MOvember to promote the idea that: The problem does not lie with tight or revealing clothes, make-up, or 'letting your guard down.'  The problem lies with one person's decision to overpower and violate the body and spirit of another. Until the global community acknowledges and addresses this reality, the worldwide pandemic of sexual violence will continue.

The Red My Lips campaign aims to transform the culture of sexual violence by educating, inspiring, and mobilising a global community to red their lips, raise their voices, and create real change in the world. Wearing red lipstick in April, or for men, a red shirt, allows supporters to speak out against these damaging myths and victim-blaming attitudes. It allows everyone to stand in solidarity with survivors and refuse to be invisible. Refuse to be silent.

The silence and myths surrounding sexual violence will be broken.

So show your support and Red My Lips.

Song of the Week

Move Along - The All-American Rejects