By:
On:
In: EditorsPicks, UPEditorialNews

The first week back was busy for everyone. Classes started, campus opened for some, and students protested nationwide. But, disappointingly, UP had some of the least effective and smallest meetings and marches to address financial exclusion and the various funding issues some students face. This is largely because so many UP students don’t care about what they dismiss as ‘politics’. But the issue isn’t just politics and protests. Students who have earned their entrance, just like everyone else, are being excluded on the basis of money. We shouldn’t be so okay with this, and we shouldn’t be silent when the government and universities aren’t willingRead More →

By:
On:
In: UPNews

KENDALL BEHR The UP Merensky Library is one of the centres of academic activity on Hatfield campus that provides students a space to study and concentrate. The UP library has been closed for the duration of the lockdown, but the library services have not stopped working to ensure that students can access the resources they need for assignments and other academic work. Lindiwe Soyizwapi,the Director of Library Services, said, “during this time uppermost in our mind as the Library was to align our support and programmes to the needs of our students and staff. We gave priority to enhancing access to academic texts and informationRead More →

By:
On:
In: Features

STEPHANIE COOKSON In the age of online learning, students are experiencing the downsides of spending extended periods of time sitting at the desk with a computer in front of them. PDBY spoke to Dr. Elzette Korkie from UP’s Department of Physiotherapy about some of the ways students can avoid these downsides and stay healthier during online learning. In a non-representative survey of a group of [-]students, PDBY asked students what physical side-effects students have experienced more since the move to online learning. Almost 90% of the surveyed students reported more back pain and eye strain, with 76% of students experiencing more headaches. Just under 30%Read More →

By:
On:
In: Entertainment

CASSIDY BESSA AND DANI VAN DER HORST Robyn Ferguson is a talented South African guitarist. In addition to her impressive solo career, Ferguson also plays for numerous bands. PDBY had the opportunity to catch up with Ferguson shortly after the release of her latest EPs.According to Ferguson, “music is a form of expression”. She explains that she “fell in love with the guitar by watching someone else play and seeing the sparkle in their eyes” and that “[she] wanted to experience that sparkle.” The talented guitarist draws inspiration from “everywhere”, as she explores her own experiences, but also feels as though she is “mostly influencedRead More →

By:
On:
In: Books, Entertainment

KAYLA THOMAS The UP Library has been sharing regular short stories on their Instagram account as #InstaNovels. The short stories can be read in one sitting and offer a “moment to unwind” while scrolling on Instagram. The initiative was suggested by Library Director Ms Lindiwe Soyizwapi, and is run by Project Manager Kelly Liebenberg as a “first in Africa”. Liebenberg explains that the initiative was inspired by a similar project of the New York Public Library and was started by UP Libraries as a way to encourage meaningful engagement and reading on Instagram, and “tap into a generation of digital readers”. Liebenberg said that studentsRead More →

By:
On:
In: OnlineExclusive, Trending, UPNews

Susanna Anbu and Amukelani Makamu An announcement sent out by the Vice Chancellor of the University of Pretoria, Professor Tawana Kupe on 24 July confirmed that the duration of the second semester would continue online. Furthermore, the announcement stated that “as soon as negotiations with service providers have been finalised and the University has clear timeframes regarding the conclusion of the 2020 academic calendar, a decision on fee rebates will be taken”. The Student Representative Council (SRC) published a statement on 28 July that reiterated the timeline of deliberations that were undertaken regarding the topic of fee rebates. The statement mentioned that the SRC sentRead More →

By:
On:
In: UPNews

NOKWANDA KUBHEKA The SRC Postgraduate and International Students Affairs office with University of Pretoria International (UPI) Student Society have raised concerns with the university. They argue that international students, some of whom are paying higher fees than local students, have not received aid from UP during the national lockdown. The petition requests that they be exempted from paying residence fees since they are not using the facilities, a fee adjustment of 20% to 25%, and no fee increment for international students for the 2021 to 2022 financial calendar. They also request that UP forms a solidarity fund aimed at assisting international students with tuition credit,Read More →

By:
On:
In: Entertainment

AARON CLOETE Mo Malele is an entrepreneur and poet who is passionate about storytelling. She is closely involved in promoting the use of technology in marginalised communities. PDBY conducted an online interview with her to discuss her poetry. She describes herself as a “spoken word artist and a slam poet” and went on to explain exactly what spoken word meant to her. For her, poetry is about authentic and organic storytelling which by necessity, must not only speak truth to power, but also peel through your own layers. Malele’s work is very personal as it has a startling focus on self-awareness and self-love, and theRead More →

By:
On:
In: OnlineExclusive

  JAMEO CALVERT A group of students are driving a #WriteALetter campaign, which aims to encourage and motivate matriculants through the academic year. Boitumelo Mbangeni, a second year LLB student, and seven other colleagues, from various  academic institutions including UP, NWU, UCT, and Oxbridge Academy are behind the campaign. According to Mbangeni, she and her counterparts started the We Make A Change organisation in 2017, when they were in grade11. Their objective was to create a platform to help their community and their former school, Princess High School. She says that their first project was tutoring Mathematics and English to primary school learners in Soweto,Read More →

By:
On:
In: Latest PDBY News, UPInternationalNews, UPNationalNews, UPNews

JAMEO CALVERT The Chairperson of the residence sub-council, Lara Thom, was happy to share with PDBY that the fund has turned out to be successful. According to her, they are ahead of their schedule, and have since been able to make the first round of payments on 27 April. She says that they were able to assist approximately 98 residence students with a disbursement amount to the value of approximately R 47 000. Thom explained that the second round of payments was processed over the weekend of 1 May, and states that “hopefully, this will aid around 150 residence students”. As of 3 May, theRead More →