1st years - easy target 4 seal clubbing!

‘Seal clubbing’ is when an older ‘scores’ (kisses, or anything more) a first year. It’s become quite the craze at Rhodes as it seems newcomers make for an easy target, especially during o-week where the phenomenon is at its peak.

Talking about first year guys, Kupe (a fourth year student), says “they're new to varsity and the prospect of older chicks showing interest in them is so appealing it’s almost complementary”, which corresponds with Duncan (1st year) saying “as a guy it’s always sweet to get with an older woman, kinda like bragging rights”. For boys it seems to be a thing of pride and ego boosting. Since they’re already open to the idea of being ‘seal clubbed’ they’ll embrace the opportunity making them an extremely easy target for older girls. They’re out to impress their newly made friends so anything to put them in higher status from the start is welcomed eagerly.

Girls aren’t usually looking for bragging rights, since being with an older guy is seen much more normal in society, hence the kick out of seal clubbing differs across genders. “Girls are too open to the new found freedom, and are attracted to the concept of being with an older and apparently "more experienced" man... and of course copious amounts of alcohol don't exactly stiffen one's inhibitions” says Emily (1st year). There seems to be a social mindset that it’s better for girls to go for older guys, hence their willingness when someone flatters them off their feet. They’re usually more naive to the idea of seal clubbing and welcome the attention of new people in unfamiliar territory.

Generally, most first years have come from school where their lives are largely restricted in comparison to the varsity freedom. Entering o-week, they’re keen to go wild and enjoy it as best they can. There’s a lot of socializing, partying and alcohol consumption. The naivety of it all is quite humorous to look back on, as drinking at Rhodes is way more advanced than drinking experiences through school. They can’t handle as much as they like to think so after the influence of a few too many and the exciting atmosphere, first years tend to completely forget their sober selves and run wild on the town doing things they may not usually do. They don’t know the older people yet, so past reputations don’t come into play. You could be seen as the nerdiest guy/girl around or the biggest jerk, yet an innocent first year wouldn’t have these reasons to judge so they give in to the older person anyway. They may also be a little insecure in their new life and jump towards any hint of affection.

Older girls don’t really have to charm the younger guys; the mere fact that they’ve been taken interest in by her is satisfying enough. Older guys on the other hand seem to know the perfect ways to seduce first year girls with cheesy phrases and pick up lines. Compliments like “you’re the most beautiful first year I’ve seen” can have a girl blushing in pride and seal clubbed in no time.

It is generally known at Rhodes that first years are the easy target due to their naivety and off-the rails nature upon arrival. Their inexperience and crave for attention and fun is their main weakness which allows the whole tradition of seal clubbing to continue, although for the clubbers it’s all fun and games in finding easy ways to just get some action, have a laugh or win a bet.

I Did It! I Promise!

(photo copyrighted by DeviantArt. original image at http://fc10.deviantart.com/fs12/i/2006/302/c/3/The_arch_again_by_mahleu.jpg)

Wake up at 9, only to find out that you have a Tut exercise to do for 10, or get back to Res after supper and discover through one of your friends that you have a 2000-word essay due for the next day. I’m pretty sure most of us have experienced something along those lines. The question is; what makes students at Rhodes (namely First Years) end up doing work last-minute or the day before? From personal experience, it just seems to happen – things get a bit out of control, and before you realise it, you’re staying up until 5am trying to finish an essay that was meant to have been done over three weeks. Some people try to reason that they “work better under pressure” or “had other work to do”, but we all know how it goes. All subjects have essays or projects, and we have all, at some point fallen victim to the unavoidable last-minute assignment. I, like many others have learnt the hard way, that this isn’t always the best option – especially when there is more than one assignment due for that one day. Lecturers complain about students doing work sloppily and the day before, tutors comment on students not preparing for tuts, and students believe that the workload is far too much. This issue affects all sides involved – and is more common than we think. Most of the time, its due to a late night before (whether it be partying until the early hours of the morning, watching series or movies until the sun rises, or naps somewhere), an innocent “lapse of memory”, or a genuine LOA-worthy excuse which lead to work being handed in late or just on time, and being “slack”. What many people don’t realise is that this problem has existed for much longer than any of us have been at varsity, and happens in probably every single university. I believe that its part of finding our feet as students, and that it’s an element of what university is and the life experience that we gain through coming to varsity. Pressure builds up students, and especially around the time of exams (like the one we are approaching now) people tend to become more forgetful and affected by the stress. And this in turn also leads to more sleepless nights and last-minute work. It is without a doubt, not easy to find a balance of when to do work, and when there is still space to put it off. I think it’s a learning curve that we all experience at some point, and only through the experience we gain from it, can we overcome it. In my opinion, the ever-present distant assignment is something we (as students) will never be without, and we need to get used to it. Getting in “The Zone” is quite tough, especially when it’s a Wednesday, and you know that at that very moment some of your friends are probably jamming under the air-con at Friar’s. But trust me, getting annoyed or irritated about the matter will only make it harder to deal with as a whole – I think its best to just play the deadline game, and try and get as much work done before its due date as possible. Not only does that clear the conscience, but it also means more sleep, and more time to do what Rhodents do best: party!

Good luck,
Nev

Seal-Clubbing: Sport of Sorts

Rhodes legend has it that older guys love coming back for O-week. This is because they like to be the first to spot the new ‘talent’ and take advantage. This drunken past time is known as seal clubbing and one of the first things that your house comm. tell you when you arrive for O-week is to watch out for older guys. This trend no longer seems to be a past time exclusively for males, Rhodes women seem to have got in on the trend as well. For which I say well done! If men can do it so can we.

Yet if we look at seal clubbing you will find that it happens during O-week when it is generally regarded as easy picking because, lets face it, the majority of first years spent the week in a drunken stupor. I mean, can anyone really remember any of the lectures that they went to? Did you go to any lectures? This is however beside the point. Seal clubbing is the first year trying desperately to look cool, fit in and make new friends, for the older student its all about seeing how many people they can hook-up with and seeing if they can get with the hottest person they can find on that particular night. I suppose it is a sort of sexual competition.

Yet what about the fact that women are joining (and loving) this trend? It is another victory for women or it just sad. Maybe it is as simple as another drunken night in good old Grahamstown. Everyone knows how it goes, a big night out, lots of drinks and plenty of dancing and then just like that you are hooking up with someone that you never intended to. (And more often than not these hook-ups happen under the air-con at Friars. Don’t say that you haven’t been warned!) These things happen and for the most part, it’s okay. The general rule is what happens in O-week, stays in O-week. However does this rule apply to everyone or just first years?

Personally, I think that people who go out with the intention of hooking up with as many first years as possible are slightly twisted, be they guys or girls. It’s as if it (seal-clubbing) has become a sport, just another thing for people to measure their popularity, or lack of, with. I think that the ‘legend’ of seal-clubbing makes it seem worse than it actually is. Amy Green, a first year, thinks that “seal-clubbing is pretty sad but the reality is that these things happen, so it’s not really our place to judge.”

I have a problem with people going out with the express purpose of ‘seal-clubbing.’ How sad that their idea of a good night out in O-week is getting with as many first years as possible! I guess it is the whole ‘fresh meat’ concept and this university is a small place so I guess that an influx of new talent is a cause for celebration!

Cane Train to the Rescue!

Here it is!!!

For your enjoyment, our very own, Sotally Tober web photo-comic!
http://hosted.pikistrips.com/comic_strip/s/image/28/288/528/comic-p.jpg

Enjoy!

some famous drinking quotes

Always do sober what you said you'd do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut. --Ernest Hemmingway

Always remember that I have taken more out of alcohol than alcohol has taken out of me. --Winston Churchill

Sir, if you were my husband, I would poison your drink. --Lady Astor to Winston Churchill
Madam, if you were my wife, I would drink it. --His reply

When I read about the evils of drinking, I gave up reading. --Henny Youngman

Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy. --Benjamin Franklin

The problem with the world is that everyone is a few drinks behind.--Humphrey Bogart

All right, brain, I don't like you and you don't like me - so let's just do this and I'll get back to killing you with beer. --Homer Simpsonre

You're not drunk if you can lie on the floor without holding on. --Dean Martin

Feeling Mumpalicious?

It seems that developing a new face is the latest trend at Rhodes, making people look like they've rapidly come about an extreme case of first year spread or have a packet of marshmallows shoved in their cheeks. Those who get it on both sides of their face are particularly unfortunate, luckily only my left cheek came victim but it's still one of the worst, most uncomfortable and painful things you can get (depending how bad it hits).


To be honest before I got Mumps I didn't really know what it was so I didn't object when the San told me I had 'ear infection' - yeah right! I was planning on having the week off lectures and being all recovered and on form for Tri-Varsity which I’d been psyching up towards for ages like you all. The week passed though and it only got worse, bed bounding me for 10 days! Clearly my immune system isn't very efficient. I was devastated to hear there isn’t a cure – you just have to take pain killers (which, believe me, are really needed! It’s PAINFUL!)

It’s spread by direct contact with saliva and discharges of the nose and throat of an infected person. No wander it’s spreading like fire, next time you find yourself standing under the air-con at Friars with a cute guy (or girl), think twice! A random score isn’t worth the days of hell to follow. Also, make sure you’re out of coughing and sneezing range, and don’t stand too close when you’re talking too people... the virus is floating around in that air gap between you and dying to dive down your throat too.
Mumps linger in your system 12-25 days before symptoms show. Don’t listen to people who say that the only infectious stage, you’re just as infectious when you’ve got a fat face until the swelling is properly gone. Don’t try function while you’ve got it, the only way to get rid of it is to sleep and let your body build up its own immunity. Unfortunately this means no partying or drinking for a while, and from experience I’ll tell you that it seems like months of not going out (especially when it’s over tri-var weekend!) But don’t be tempted, you’ll just make things worse and there are severe complications like meningitis and infertility.

Apparently the reason why so many people are getting mumps is because parents in the late eighties didn’t get their children vaccinated as rumours said it caused autism. I had the MMR vaccine, so just because you’ve had it don’t go thinking you’re safe, you’re all at risk (except me since I can’t get it again :) ). So if you’ve been an unfortunate victim of mumps, help out your friends who get it, since everyone else will be ducking and diving in all directions to avoid them. Thanks Cit for being the one brave soul to venture into my room, and those who shouted through my door or stood at the window. 10 days of hybernation get extremely boring, especially if your only communication to the outer world is 'facebook'.
If you have it at the moment, hibernate in your room, relax and take advantage of losing a few kg's while you sip on yogi sip (since you can’t chew and don’t have the appetite for anything real anyway). Catch up on all the movies and series you’ve missed out on. Be sure to avoid any acidic drinks, especially lemon juice. Of corse, if there’s anyone who’s been really mean to you or an ex-boyfriend who you’ve yet to take revenge on, make sure you talk to them, but otherwise try keep your distance. It's time to hang those party boots up, but don't worry you'll be back in the game soon and able to continue that Sotally Tober lifestyle (which is probably the reason you got mumps in the first place)!

A Typical party animal?

Dylan van Musschenbroek is doing a balancing act. Student, Barman, hockey-player and D.J. are just a few of the aspects of this first year’s life. A large proportion of first years spend their year getting used to the demands of university-both academic and social. Dylan chose to make first year a bit more challenging for himself by getting a job as a barman at the popular local nightclub ‘Friars.’ For someone who describes himself as “quite lazy” it may come as a surprise that he chose to increase his workload. “One drunken night my mate Ryan and I decided that we needed more money to drink. We went up to the manager in friars and asked him for a job and he told us to come back on Monday” explains Dylan. Both of them retuned on the Monday, made it through training and can now be found behind the bar serving up all sorts of weird and wonderful alcoholic concoctions to Rhodents.

“Rhodents will do anything for free alcohol.” This statement seems to sum up Rhodents relatively well and its clear from the mischievous smile on Dylan’s face that his job allows him to see Rhodes at its best (or should that be at its worst?). “You see people who have to literally hold onto the bar, then those people who come and order another four shots that they don’t need and then those who will do anything for free alcohol such as flashing.” Serving students who are reputed to be the ‘the biggest drinkers’ it comes as no surprise that he often has weird drink requests. “Things that I would never think about ordering such as double cane and water and the weirdest one I have ever had is Stroh (rum) and Appletiser.”

Despite a busy working life Dylan still finds time to cultivate being a true Rhodent. “The first six months (of varsity) was just jolling, I didn’t do much work and this showed up in my June exam results.” After his June results Dylan had to change his degree from a Bachelor of commerce to a Bachelor of social science. Although Rhodes was his second choice for university he says that he can’t think about a terrible experience at Rhodes and
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from the sound of things he does not regret the decision he made in coming to Rhodes. Having a job and coping with academic pressures are difficult but according to Dylan can be done if you plan ahead. “It’s not so much about time management as time construction.” Although he does confess that he is “a last minute orientated guy” he does work hard when it is required of him.

“O-week was a big jol, I’m not gonna lie”, says Dylan as the talk turns to aspects of Rhodes life. For Dylan going out, especially during O-week, is not simply about partying and getting drunk. “It’s a chance to network, which I think is an important skill. You need to put yourself out there. Chances are if you meet 500 people you will end up with 50 new mates who will introduce you to other people.” Yet partying and “networking’ will take a toll on you. “If you wake up with a hangover go back to sleep. Sleep is the best cure for a hangover” advises Dylan.

This first year may be seen as a typical party animal but there are definitely other dimensions to him. Coping with academics, a social life, a job and sport commitments can’t be easy as Dylan found out the hard way, but from all that’s been said it seems as though he is managing to strike the balance.

Asked for advice for next years first years Dylan says: “Be yourself, don’t be afraid, get involved and have a jol!”