Sex or NO! mark

Four Walter Sisulu University lecturers have been suspended in a sex-for-marks scandal that has rocked the institution. The scandal erupted when a BTech student in the South African University complained that she might not graduate in May. "I went to my supervisor to find out why he is not giving me marks for my project, (and) he said we will have to have sex first," the 23-year-old student said.

During exams in November last year. On her return to campus last month, she again approached him, but she claimed the lecturer again demanded that they have sex.

Attempts to resolve the matter through the student representative council three weeks ago failed, and she has since reported the matter to the office of the public protector.

The student alleges that the lecturer repeated his shocking demands in front of SRC members and an academic affairs representative. She said she was humiliated when, in the presence of fellow students, the lecturer told her again: "I want to have sex with you. It's that or no marks." She said: "I realised that this is normal practice for him to be so bold. For him to say that in the presence of the student leadership showed that he is used to victimising students and thinks it's the norm to exchange sex for marks."

SRC president Ayanda Gantsho confirmed that he was at the meeting. He told the South African Sunday Times he was shocked when the lecturer went even further and agreed to put his demands in writing. He allegedly wrote a letter which reads: "Akapasi kuba ndifuna ukulala naye," meaning "She won't pass because I want to have sex with her."  In another case, a student passed only after the lecturer was suspended.
The university's council chair man, Dr Somadoda Fikeni, admitted that there were gaps in policies which created problems when dealing with some disciplinary cases. Three institutions - the University of Transkei (Unitra), Border Technikon and Eastern Cape Technikon - merged to form the university, but their codes of conduct have yet to be merged into one.
"We have instructed the vice chancellor to deal with the policy issue as soon as possible," said Fikeni.
Among the suspended staff is a senior public management lecturer on the university's Zamukulungisa campus in Mthatha and three law faculty lecturers on the former Unitra campus.
Vice-chancellor Professor Marcus Balintulo confirmed the suspensions this week, adding that charges against another staff member had been dropped owing to a lack of evidence. He said the suspensions were handed down between November last year and this week.
Balintulo said: "There is a standoff at the university, with students asserting their rights to be protected from victimisation, while staff feel that they are being portrayed as predators.
"There's a lot of anger around this, but we have to act and follow due process."
Students boycotted classes on Tuesday after they spotted a suspended lecturer on campus.
Balintulo then called a meeting with student representatives and the unions on Wednesday.
The next day, staff members pledged support for their colleague, which led to students boycotting classes.


Source:   elombah.com   

World literary celebrity

Chinua Achebe, one of the world's most influential authors, has been chosen to receive the 2010 Dorothy and Lillian Gish Prize. With approximately $300,000 from silent film stars Dorothy and Lillian Gish, the Gish Prize is one of the largest and most prestigious awards in the arts.

Gish Prize recipients are nominated by the worldwide arts community and selected for their unprecedented impact in their chosen fields.



Nigerian author Chinua Achebe

Achebe will receive the prize and a silver medallion on October 27, 2010, at the Hudson Theatre, Millennium Broadway, New York City. Leaders of the arts including curator Lowery Sims, former NEA chair Jane Alexander, PEN president Kwame Anthony Appiah, author Ekwueme Michael Thelwell, poet Sonia Sanchez, and musician Baba Ola Jagun will be among the presenters and guests celebrating Achebe's work and his impact on the international diasporas of African fiction and voices.

"When I was a boy, growing up in Nigeria, becoming a novelist was a far-away dream," says Achebe. "Now it is a reality for many African writers, not just myself. The Gish Prize recognizes the long journey my fellow colleagues and I have taken, and I am proud and grateful for that."

Now in its 17th year, the annual Gish Prize continues to reflect the spirit of the pioneering Gish sisters, paying tribute to artistic trailblazers who have redefined their craft. Gish Prize recipients have shaped the cultural landscape in drama, music, dance, art, architecture, lighting design, film, and literature.Achebe joins an impressive list of past Gish Prize winners including Robert Redford, Ornette Coleman, Merce Cunningham and Frank Gehry.

Source: Saharareporters

Photo source: geosireads.wordpress.com

Try a cliché

In business communication we came across so many clichés, the clichés are basically on unoriginal ideas or it can be good ideas that have been floating around for a while.In business communication is all about duplicate the same weary business expression or using old ideas that have been compressed into the ground in order to drum up business which is followed :

• Expression that have become overused
• Make reading monotonous and can make the writer or speaker seem like a copier.
• A damaged expression can convey such messages as "you are not special"; I won’t bother to think; the phrases I used in talking with others are surely good enough for you.
• Using overly strong adjectives and adverbs may damage people’s credibility.

In business environment, No one can be unique on a daily basis but keeping away from office clichés can at least give managers a fighting chance of staying relevant in the workplace and keeping the respect of employees.

 

The day of my graduation!!!

The thousands of students rocked the Multi-purpose hall when the guest of honors entered. Everyone was so excited about who the guest was. When they had reached his seat, we rose and sang the South Africa National anthem. Although the first speech was quite dry, the second was pretty interesting. Another round of applause thundered in the hall after the speeches while students from formative and design faculty lined up along the sit numbers. Many waited excitedly for their turn to go onto the stage to receive their certificate from their form Vice Chancellor. When it was my turn, I was so excited that I can’t wait to see my brother and friends who are watching me on the stage.

Kingsley at Multi-purpose hall

Kingsley, Pumeza ,Adile and Bethadwa

 

Odinaka kingsley okoli



My big Brother Ossy and his wife, Kingsley, Chike and Bethadwa



kingsley and Bathadwa at E-learning

My families are extremely proud of me. I can't imagine the sense of relief they are experiencing. I know my late father will be enjoying anywhere he is, and talk of my mother who is dancing the first time she heard that I received a letter for graduation. I sincerely believe that after graduation my dreams will come true and I will succeed in anything that is my desires; and is bold and full of dreams since that keep me going! I am waiting to make a significant contribution to the development of my country Nigeria. After live here!